In Providence this month:
| “Awaking Through Abstractionism a Sym·bi·ot·ic Journey” Sprout CoWorking, 166 Valley St, Bldg 6M, Ste 103, Providence, RI On view September 5 – September 28 Hours: Monday – Friday 9AM – 3PM Opening Reception on Tuesday, September 6th from 5 – 8PM |
“Awaking Through Abstractionism a Sym·bi·ot·ic Journey” Sprout CoWorking, 166 Valley St, Bldg 6M, Ste 103, Providence, RI Join us on Gallery Night Providence! Opening Reception on Thursday, September 15th from 5 – 8PM |
Awaking Through Abstractionism a Sym·bi·ot·ic Journey:
The month of September The Gallery at Sprout CoWorking Providence (166 Valley St) will be hosting a solo gallery exhibition themed “Awaking Through Abstractionism a sym·bi·ot·ic journey” by Rhode Island artist and visual arts activist Mike Rodrigues. Mike brings us on a visual and tactical journey through his large abstract acrylic paintings inspired from within, during a time of global isolation and segregation, using broad palette knife motion and textured layers of emotion. The artist urges the viewer to touch, feel, and experience what he was experiencing as he created each piece. The artist takes you on a personal mental health journey through his heart, soul, and mind using heavy bodied acrylics and flat house paints to demonstrate what his every days where like during a global pandemic, relationship breakups, career challenges, visual arts activism, and empty nest syndrome, as a single father of three young men.
Mike has found that this medium and expressive outlet, over any other in his 42 years as a professional creative with his lifelong challenges and struggles with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), allows him to illustrate what he experiences when he comes to the canvas. The show will run for the month of September with an opening reception on Tuesday September 6th and on the Third Thursday of September as part of Gallery Night Providence. The Gallery at Sprout CoWorking is free and open to the public for drop-by visitors weekdays 9am to 3pm.
Gallery Night Providence September 15th:
Please join us at Sprout CoWorking Providence on the Third Thursday of the Month for Gallery Night Providence. Thursday September 15th 5-8pm will be an opening celebration of artwork by Mike Rodrigues. Stop in to the Gallery at Sprout Providence anytime between 5-8pm on September 15th to enjoy the artwork, wine and appetizers. All are welcome to attend.
If you’d prefer a guided tour experience, Gallery Night Providence will have free free guided trolley tours available to visit the Gallery at Sprout as a stop on the itinerary. Self-guided tours are also an option with participating art spaces open across Providence’s art scene. We hope to see you! Visit us at 166 Valley Street, with free parking located across from Easy Entertaining.
About the Artist:
Mike is the founder of Crit BMX Products and manufactures Crit Plate Number Plates and accessories along with 401MADE handcrafting custom cut & sew race wear for competition used in the Olympic action sport of BMX racing. He first designed and developed his iconic Crit Plate Number Plates in the Spring of 1980 at the age of 14 in Providence Rhode Island and 42 years later that Iconic Crit Plate shape has stood the test of time and has adorned the handlebars of the best of the best in the sport of BMX racing.
Mike’s first solo exhibition at the Sprout CoWorking Gallery in September 2017 brought over 350 gallery goers from five states to see the living history exhibit entitled “37 years defined by a single shape…The Crit Plate Shape”.
Mike was a Gallery Night Providence Community Board Member, serving a 2 year term for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He brings enthusiasm and creative ways to draw attention to the arts in Providence. Recognizing a need to help educate the general public and bring awareness to Rhode Island visual art and artists, Mike started his organization, Rhode Island Creative. Mike’s philanthropy efforts through his Rhode Island Creative initiative, now in its 5th year, has also created Rhode Island’s only visual arts daily arts calendar, artSKD.com, which highlights each RI community’s visual art events daily.
Mike’s personal studio is located at 66 Eddy Street in Cranston, RI. To inquire about purchasing work or to learn more, contact Mike Rodrigues at 401-524-2314 or visit www.ricreative.org.
Sprout is in accordance with the Reopening RI guidelines and is protected by Ocean State Shields. Contact: [email protected] for more information.