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I-195: A Photographic Excavation

Presented by City of Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism at Gallery at City Hall

July 26-August 27, 2012

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Mayor Angel Taveras and the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism are pleased to announce the opening of I-195: A Photographic Excavation: A Selection of Works by Bill Benson, Paul Clancy, Warren Eve, David Gong, Erik Gould and Paul Shelasky. Featuring the work of six local photographers, this exhibit documents the evolving cityscape as I-195 was demolished and relocated. Each artist contributes a distinct perspective, creating a varied look into this historical moment in the layout of Providence. The exhibit will be on view from July 26 to August 27. There will be a reception for the artists from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 2.

The photographic project began in November 2010, when the Rhode Island Department of Transportation demolished a 5,000-foot stretch of I-195 that had meandered through the heart of Providence. This de-construction marked a closing chapter of the Iway project to transform the city plan; however, the work of these photographers was only beginning. The simultaneous demolition and re-construction of two monumental structures several hundred feet apart served as fertile subject matter for these artists. Braving twisted steel and crumbling stone, each photographer executed a unique vision and technique, celebrating the evolution of the Providence cityscape.

"We photographed the deconstruction of the old I-195 highway and ramps in an artistic and documentary way," writes Paul Shelasky. "This was done to create a record of the past as well as to show the changing landscape of Providence." Shelasky, who coordinated the group show, has exhibited his work in the Brooklyn Coffee and Tea House in Providence and in the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, MA. Following the example of Andre Kertesz, Shelasky states, "I keep it simple and wander around my city looking for moments I want to photograph."