Looking Back, Moving Forward

Looking Back, Moving Forward is inspired by Andy Warhol’s 1969 exhibition Raid the Icebox I that took place at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. In the same fashion of asking Warhol to go through the museum’s permanent collection and curate an exhibit based on his findings, Ryan N. Dennis, PRH’s Public Art Director and curator of the Round asked five artists to go through the PRH Archive and use it as a springboard to create a site-specific installation based on their findings. Looking Back, Moving Forward will include the work of Houston-based artists Jamal Cyrus in collaboration with Ray Carrington III, Troy Gooden, Lovie Olivia, and New York-based artists Valerie Piraino and Jessica Vaughn.

The other component of the Round seeks to engage educators in a conversation based on the PRH principles and programs. An education house located at 2515 Holman will provide hands-on art-based learning for students and educators through a series of workshops and an education guide. The house is being realized by Michelle Barnes and Anthony Suber. The art-house located at 2517 Holman is conceptualized by Ryan N. Dennis and Gabriel Martinez who are working with graphic designer Lisa Garrett to create an interactive timeline that tracks the 20-year history of PRH and runs around the interior walls of the house – other didactic components will inform the viewing experience for visitors.