INSPIRED BY A TRUE ARTIST
In 1995, Fay Chandler was to be featured in a major retrospective exhibit of her work at the Boston Center for the Arts. Of the many works in the show, Fay thought, surely not everything will sell, and there's no point in bringing the remaining pieces back to sit in storage at the studio. Why not donate whatever is left at the end of the show to groups in the community who couldn't otherwise afford to buy art, so it can be seen and enjoyed?
The idea behind the Art Connection is still simple: making art accessible to everyone lends power to inspire, challenge, heal, communicate, and transform.
"I was making art to go out in the world, not to be in storage"
– Fay Chandler
Wendy Ingram (ACRI Founder), Fay Chandler, Peter Hacunda (former ACRI Board Chair)
Iona Dobbins Art Fund
Iona Dobbins was a vital force in the Rhode Island arts community, a bright sun that enabled all the arts to grow and flourish throughout the state. It was her deep belief that the arts are an essential part of everyday life. Her work, especially with emerging artists, helped Rhode Island enjoy an artistic Renaissance.
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Throughout her decades of work in the arts, Iona was a catalyst for change. Where there was a need she moved to fill the void. She brought creative opportunities to the disabled; she brought the business and arts communities together; and she founded enormously successful events that benefitted the state.
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Art Connection Rhode Island is proud to be supported by the Iona Dobbins Art Fund. To make a donation, visit the RI Foundation website. To learn more about Iona Dobbins, visit the Iona Dobbins website.
OUR CORE VALUES
Power of Art
Making and experiencing art is an essential element of the human experience. Regardless of socio-economic circumstances, ACRI believes everyone has the right to experience art in their life.
Art in Public View
The nonprofit organizations we work with serve the public onsite where the art is enjoyed by their constituents, employees and volunteers.
Original Works of Art
The artwork that we receive is always original. Our preference is to receive and place the works of local artists but we gratefully accept donations from all generous donors.
Trusting Relationships
We develop relationships with organizations that apply for donations, starting with our initial contact and continuing through selection and hanging of art and beyond. Artists and collectors who donate their art can feel confident that their work is respected and well-cared for.
Free Choice
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We do not influence the selection of artwork by the receiving organization. There is great value in the conversations that occur as organization employees and constituents discuss their preferences for the work, and come to agreement on their selections.
Participatory Selection Informed by Constituent Voice
We require participation including a diversity of voices in the art selection. We believe that the people served in the agency should be part of that discussion and strongly encourage organizations to involve constituents in the selection process.
Diversity of Art and Artists
The visual artwork available for selection includes many genres. We seek to ensure that artists of all backgrounds are included in the pool of artwork available for selection.
MEET THE TEAM
Rhea Levin
Program Manager
Art Connection-RI is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rhea Levin as our new Program Manager. In this pivotal role, Rhea will oversee communications, social media management, event planning, and the coordination of artwork donations to Rhode Island-based nonprofits that serve individuals in need.
Rhea holds a BA in Media Communications and a Minor in Dance from Roger Williams University ('13). She brings a wealth of experience in social impact, program management, sustainability, and nonprofit work to this position, along with a deep commitment to fostering positive change in the Rhode Island community.
Rhea’s dedication to the arts spans nearly 30 years. She has taught, performed, and choreographed across a variety of dance styles throughout New England, including notable contributions such as choreographing for Danceworks Boston, launching her own dance crew, SistaMadic, performing with Liv3lihood hip-hop crew, teaching master classes at the Cambridge Dance Complex, and becoming a dance teacher at High Voltage Dance Academy. Her love for the visual arts is equally strong, and she is excited to engage with the local community to ensure that others have access to the transformative power of art.
We are excited to welcome Rhea to our team and look forward to the positive impact she will have in supporting and enriching Rhode Island’s artistic and nonprofit landscape.
Robert Malley
Development Manager
He has served as a trustee of the Memorial and Library Association of Westerly for 13 years where he served as chair of the Board of Trustees' Development Committee. After a 32-year career as a corporate and banking lawyer in New York City and Boston,
Bob changed careers to work for Colgate University on its development staff, responsible for soliciting major gifts and planned gifts from prospects in the New England states, New York City and Baltimore/ Washington.​
Herman Brewster
Board of Directors
B.A. Psychology, Southern University, Baton Rouge, La.1962
MAT English Concentration, Brown University, Providence, RI, May 1992
Jordan Towle
Board of Directors
Jordan Towle is an oil painter and nonprofit professional with a passion for community. As an artist, she has honed her craft by teaching classes and creating captivating paintings as a freelance oil painter. In her early career, she worked leading Dorcas International’s refugee housing program, organizing the logistics for placing over 300 refugee clients and supporting client needs as they transitioned to life in the U.S. She has a passion for languages and communicating across cultures. In her current role as Visitor Services Manager at the Providence Children's Museum, Jordan continues to weave her passion for connection, community and creativity into her professional endeavors.
Edilberta Trejo
Board of Directors
Edilberta Trejo works for the South Providence Library as a youth services specialist. She graduated from the UNAM of Mexico, in Psychology. Rhode Island Art Connection has supported the South Providence Library for over two years with art classes for children and parents. Edilberta has enjoyed and appreciated the connection with Rhode Island Art, so she is always willing to help when the organization needs it. In addition, Edilberta is part of the Committee Board of Trustees.
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Wendy Ingram
Founder & Board of Directors
Wendy, an exhibiting artist in New England, began her career in a studio at the Boston Center for the Arts. As a graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Wendy continues to create artworks, specializing in pastels and handmade paper. In 2008, she became the Co-founder and Director of Art Connection RI. To date, 11 of her artworks have been generously donated to non-profits throughout the state. Wendy contributes her time to the Providence Art Club, Athenaeum, Southside Community Land Trust, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Association and the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Rhode Island Chapter.
Karen Rand Anderson
Board of Directors
Karen is a Rhode Island painter working in a studio in a Pawtucket mill, and exhibits her vibrant abstract landscape work in a number of venues throughout New England. She grew up in upstate New York, and first came to Rhode Island in 1971 to attend Rhode Island School of Design. After graduating in 1977 with a degree in ceramics, a move to Connecticut took her away from Providence until 2010, when she happily returned to make it her home. She holds a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from Northern Vermont University.
Karen’s support of Art Connection RI began when she met Wendy Ingram in 2011, and
donated a number of paintings which found homes with several Rhode Island non-profit
organizations. She has served on the boards of several arts organizations, including Art League Rhode Island and the Mystic Arts Center, and currently serves on the Pawtucket Advisory Commission of Arts and Culture.
Vera Gierke
Board of Directors
Vera is an exhibiting artist at the Providence Art Club where she maintains a studio in the Deacon Taylor House. Her main art focus is collage, but she also works in various forms of printmaking, photography and photoshop. She is a member of several artist organizations locally and nationally and has been awarded Signature Membership in the National Collage Society. Her work has been published in Create! Magazine, Contemporary Collage Magazine and Artists Magazine. She has served on the boards of Habitat for Humanity of West Bay and Northern RI, Women’s Center, Crossroads and Art League Rhode Island.
Lauren Pearlman Sugita
Board of Directors
Lauren Pearlman Sugita has been a paper researcher, provider and educator for about 35 years. In 1995, Lauren founded Paper Connection International,LLC, a Providence-based importer and distributor of specialty (mainly Eastern) art papers. Paper Connection has grown to one of the largest fine art paper resources in North America- stocking mainly papers made from sustainable fibers made by traditional craftspeople.
In addition to helping artists find paper for their work, writing and lecturing about paper and facilitating handmade paper events, in 2023, Lauren realized a long-time dream of opening a paper, fiber and book arts educational space called the Art Annex, in Pawtucket, RI. The Art Annex provides community access to professional equipment, and most importantly access to space for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Through these two organizations, Lauren remains committed to ensure the art of handmade paper is preserved for future generations. This vast endeavor is accomplished through supporting the remaining papermakers throughout the globe, communicating their diverse histories and cultures, and educating the community via lectures, discussion panels, and hands-on workshops.