Mi Gente Siempre Responde Public Art Project

Mi Gente Siempre Responde Public Art Project

Seven local Latinx artists were selected to create large public art banners celebrating and recognizing Latinx health care workers in Rhode Island who are helping to manage the COVID-19 crisis. The banners were installed throughout Providence on venues important to the Latinx community in the neighborhoods of Elmwood and Olneyville. Artists received an Artist Fee, and their work was included in a virtual exhibit, a bilingual community coloring book, and artist video interviews.

Participating artists included Raúl Velasquez, Atabey Sánchez, René Gómez, Antonia Lara, Tracy Jonsson-Laboy, and Lead Artist and Project Manager Shey Rivera Ríos. Support for this project was provided by the RI Department of Health, Mayor Jorge Elorza and the City of Providence’s COVID-19 Latino Ambassadors Group, the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism with funding from RI State Council for the Arts (RISCA), the Healthy Communities Office, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Power 102.1 FAM & Poder 1110 WPMZ Radio, Puerto Rican Institute for Arts and Advocacy, and RI Professionals Latino Association. Project collaborators: Tony Méndez, Sussy Santana, and Oliver Syde-sho Arias