Pawtucket, RI, October 27th, 2022—Riverzedge Arts, a Woonsocket-based nonprofit youth organization, is pleased to announce an exhibition of staff and alumni artwork at art gallery Machines with Magnets in honor of its 20th Anniversary.
The exhibition, titled “Parallel Lines,” nods subtly to the railroads running through Woonsocket and the city’s industrial history. But it also suggests the parallel career- and life-trajectories that youth in Riverzedge Arts’ programming have taken over the years. Alumni artists felt the connection between Woonsocket’s history and their own should be a real focus for the event. Executive Director Kristen Williams says this is a key part of the organization’s mission: “We’re really invested in placemaking through the projects we take on. It not only helps foster a sense of civic identity but also empowers Woonsocket youth to be civically engaged. When youth participate in projects with us, they’re literally helping to rebuild our city.”
Teens at Riverzedge Arts are wage-earning employees, working alongside professional artists to complete commissioned projects for real-world clients. In doing so, they build the skills they need to become professionals themselves. “There’s nobody else in northern RI using the industry-standard skills and equipment that we are,” said Williams. “And our youth take the skills and the pride of making they learn here into fields ranging from design to manufacturing to entrepreneurship and beyond.”
Made possible by the generous support of the United Way of Rhode Island, the opening reception will be held from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, October 27th at Machines with Magnets in Pawtucket, and is free and open to the public. The exhibition will run from October 24th through December 16th. Light refreshments will be served.