Trip Part I: Gallery Night Providence

I'm on my two-week marathon trip to Providence, New York (Long Island and New York City), Kitchener-Waterloo (work trip), back to NY, and then home. The first leg of this trip was organizing a bunch of people (Judy, John (her boyfriend), AJFBS & Guy, and their friend Matt) to hang out in Providence for an evening.


We were getting together for Gallery Night Providence--a free, fun-filled introduction to Providence’s exciting art scene! On the third Thursday of the month, from March through November, nineteen of the city’s hot “art spots” open their doors inviting you to a visual arts party.

The galleries ranged from an alcove in a bank lobby with half a dozen works, to the upstairs of an optometrist's shop, to the RISD's graduate student exhibit hall, to full-blown commercial art galleries (with salesfolks swooping down on the members of our party who looked like they might be in the market).


There were many interesting works; it was just fun to be immersed in art in a less-formal, pick-and-choose, non-museum environment. One oddly delightful work was a series of womens' underwear, made of thoroughly unsuitable materials: plastic grocery bags, burlap, bubble wrap. I was also struck by several photographs by Paul Clancy--mostly wanted to make a note to myself. I liked his Artist's Statement: During my own, personal journey in search for meaning, I most recently discovered the power of natural and architectural elements – both decaying and becoming – as potential reminders and symbols of guidance and transformation: what has been, what is, and what could be.

We spent a chunk of time at the Mathewson Street United Methodist Church--not just for the art, but because they had a 45-minute pipe organ concert.


I was familiar with one work he performed (Adagio in G minor by Albinoni)--it was used in the film Gallipoli (if you don't know the piece, you can play it on YouTube). As a music geek, it was wonderful to see a full-on pipe organ being run through its paces--many stops and voices; using the three manuals and the foot pedal keyboard (pedalboard). The number of controls on this organ was immense (600+, I think he said?)--although I ended up imagining Microsoft Pipe Organ: "...oh yeah, that's under Start -> Control Panels -> Stops, then use the left-click menu to go to 'Couplers'..."

Anyway, after we finished with art, we wandered around town and ended up having dinner at McCormick & Schmick's (a seafood place--a chain, but pretty darn tasty). Once again, I decided I need to spend more time here in Providence, exploring the city. Then again, perhaps similar activities in Boston proper are warranted as well.

We ended up leaving dinner around midnight; I had predicted that this would be the case, and had booked myself a hotel nearby. When searching on Expedia, there was a good deal ($70 for a three-star hotel) at a place called NYLO Hotel. The NYLO mission is simple: to create affordable, design-oriented hotels that are equal parts corporate, creative, and convenient. Huh... thought I'd give it a shot.

It actually turned out to be a pretty neat experience--they have a modern, loft-style design sense that is worlds away from the generic Courtyard Marriott/Hampton Inn universe. Check it out--polished concrete floors and walls, exposed pipes and ducts, laminated wood furniture, nicely selected industrial-looking door hardware. Actually, it was like spending a night in the house that I'd love to build someday.



Unfortunately, not many choices for locations right now--they're in Warwick, RI, and, uh, Plano, TX (um, what?... not all that useful). Although it had neat decor, I don't think I would have bothered going there except for the discount price--when I'm traveling for work, I'm looking for a bed, a wireless connection, and a localized crime rate that's under control--not an aesthetic experience.

Anyway, I took today off from work, and drove to my parents' place on Long Island, then spent the day puttering around (flushing the hot water heater, reinstalling McAfee on mom's computer, Home Depot run for project parts).


Weekend in NYC--woot!