Chazan Gallery @ Wheeler is a nonprofit artists’ space which exhibits a wide range of contemporary work by artists living or working in the area. Providence is a city with a very large community of artists, and the gallery provides an excellent space for these artists to exhibit their work. Through an open jury process, the gallery shows work from among the strongest artists in the area in a series of varied and interesting exhibitions each year. Bill Van Siclen, the Providence Journal’s art ... view more »
Chazan Gallery @ Wheeler is a nonprofit artists’ space which exhibits a wide range of contemporary work by artists living or working in the area. Providence is a city with a very large community of artists, and the gallery provides an excellent space for these artists to exhibit their work. Through an open jury process, the gallery shows work from among the strongest artists in the area in a series of varied and interesting exhibitions each year. Bill Van Siclen, the Providence Journal’s art editor, has called the gallery "a model of quality and consistency. The artists have been among the best the state has to offer." Located on the East Side of Providence near Brown University and RISD, the gallery is totally supported by Wheeler School, a gift to the Providence arts community from the school.*
Exhibitions: The gallery is open to all area artists working in any medium. A "call for slides" is sent out in the Fall. Regular exhibitions are juried by a panel which looks at around 100 proposals per year and awards only 5 shows each year. The jury is composed of area artists, curators, art educators, etc.; its composition changes each year. The panel selects what it feels is the strongest work from the submissions. (No consideration is given to whether work will sell or not.) The selected artists split the costs of the exhibitions with the gallery. Proceeds from the sale of work go directly toward future exhibitions. Special curated exhibitions are also scheduled and are fully funded by the gallery.
Gallery History: The present gallery was completed as part of the school’s new library building in 1990. Sue Carroll has been the director since that time. Prior to 1990 a smaller gallery was housed in a building on the same site; Gertrude Pardee was its director since its founding in 1969.
*Wheeler School was founded in 1889 by Mary C. Wheeler, an American Impressionist painter. The gallery has always been an important teaching resource for the school and an extension of its strong art program. Students view the exhibitions, write about the shows and have the opportunity to meet the artists during gallery talks. The exhibitions are an integral part of the School’s art curriculum and are also well attended by classes from RISD, Brown, and RIC, as well as the larger arts community in the Providence area.
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