Artifact: Black Lives Matter

Biography: Alton is a self-taught artist who has shown his work widely in Rhode Island, and has also been featured at the NYC Outsider Art Fair. While he is best known for his black and white pencil portraits, Alton also works in acrylics, colored pencil, markers, oil crayons and digital tools. Alton has facilitated classes throughout RI for local outsider artists.

Artifact: THE MOMENT X THE MOVEMENT

Biography: Naya is a twenty-year-old multimedia artist and dual degree student at Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design. She is pursuing a BA in History at Brown and a BFA in Furniture Design at RISD. Naya was born and raised in the California Bay Area and is a 2019 YoungArts winner.

Naya's work spans many disciplines including woodworking, book arts and mixed media painting. Her emphasis on fine craftsmanship is matched by her dedication to pertinent concepts. Naya’s affinity for humanities research influences her artistic work, which often addresses American culture and identity, current events and social (in)justice. Equally inspired by historians, journalists and activists, Naya seeks to make work that is informative yet accessible, critical yet hopeful.

Artifact: RHODE ISLAND SLAVERY COMPLICITY: FROM MARITIME TRADE TO TEXTILE MANUFACTORIES: "NEGRO CLOTH"

Biography: Mr. Stokes is presently Vice President with the 1696 Heritage Group. Mr. Stokes has a long and distinguished career in business and community development, with degrees from Cornell University and the University of Chicago. He has also been an Advisor for Rhode Island with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and served on numerous regional and national historic preservation boards, including Chairman of the Touro Synagogue Foundation, Vice President & Trustee of the Preservation Society for Newport County and Newport Historical Society. Mr. Stokes is a frequent national, state and local lecturer in community & regional planning, historic preservation what's going on and interpretat is it what worked out or noion with an expertise in early African and Jewish American history.

Artifact: Can I be a princess?

Biography: Liz is a storyteller through the arts. She is 42 years young, Cape Verdean American, born and raised in Rhode Island. Most of her life she lived in Central Falls, a small city with so much culture and love. Liz is married to her Best friend. She is the oldest of 3 girls. She has no children but has four amazing nieces and nephews. Everything she does and stands for is for them. Liz’s parents are her number fans and because of them, she holds the love for ART and culture so close to her heart. Liz is a person who values growth and change. She has found growth to be a very important process in life. She is hoping to save the world with her love for the ARTS. She believes there is kindness and hope in all of us.

So, we asked Liz who are you?

She replied with:

“I am ART. I breathe, live and embrace ART.

Though my eyes, though my ears with all of my soul.

With My camera in my hand, my eyes through the lens, my hands with a pen or even through the vibrating sounds of music ...

I am Art.”

Artifact: When I dream

Biography: Paige grew up in Wilton, Connecticut and was raised by two loving parents who taught her about racism and what privilege was. She studied criminal justice at Roger Williams University, and later, social work at both the University of Toledo and Rhode Island College. Her MSW is her proudest achievement, second only to her two children. She strives to set an example for others as a woman, daughter, sister and mother who believes that we need to be kind to our neighbors and stand up against hate of all kinds. Hate has no home here.

Artifact: Black

Biography: The most important thing to know about Miche'le in relation to this piece is that she is a woman of color. She is a mother, organizer and activist. A scholar and a teacher. She continuously strives to be an added rung on the ladder to the liberation of Black people, and Black women in particular.