UPP Arts Collection

This collection documents the artistic, administrative, and educational activities of UPP Arts.The materials in this collection reflect a decade of interdisciplinary collaborations between artists, educators, students, and community members who used place-based art to celebrate and build awareness for Providence’s urban ponds. Their work focused particularly on Mashapaug Pond and its environs, which include the site of the Gorham Manufacturing Company and the former West Elmwood neighborhood.
This collection is part of Providence Public Library Digital Collections, hosted by Providence Public Library.

Items in this collection

Shadows and Sounds art installation

Shadows and Sounds art installation

Providence Public Library

Photograph of the Shadows and Sounds art installation at Mashapaug Pond. The installation interpreted the history of the neighborhood of West Elmwood that was in demolished during urban redevelopment for an industrial park in 1962 and was created by students at the John Nicholas Brown Center at Brown University. Image shows the installation which included the frame of a house and a clothesline of memories.

Sam Hough at Sophia Academy

Sam Hough at Sophia Academy

Providence Public Library

Sam Hough talks with students in the stairwell of Sophia Academy in Providence, R.I. as part of Urban Ponds, Silver Lining, UPP Arts project.

Residents of West Elmwood at Shadows and Sounds art installation

Image of a group during the opening of the Shadows and Sounds art installation. Included are Holly Ewald of UPP Arts and several residents of the West Elmwood neighborhood that was demolished in 1962 during urban redevelopment. The installation interpreted the history of the neighborhood of West Elmwood that was in demolished during urban redevelopment for an industrial park in 1962 and was created by students at the John Nicholas Brown Center at Brown University.

Residents of West Elmwood

Residents of West Elmwood

Providence Public Library

Photograph of three men during the opening reception for the audio cellphone tour of "Stories from Beyond the Pond". They are standing at the fifth stop on the tour which discussed the West Elmwood neighborhood that was there before urban redevelopment.

Reservoir of Memories exhibit

Reservoir of Memories exhibit

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Dawn Dove, Loren Spears and Tall Oak Weeden, all members of the Narragansett tribe, in attendence at the Reservoir of Memories exhibit about Mashapaug Pond in 2011.

Reservoir of Memories exhibit

Reservoir of Memories exhibit

Providence Public Library

Image of the opening reception of the Reservoir of Memories exhibit about Mashapaug Pond taken from above showing guests viewing the exhibit.

Reservoir of Memories exhibit

Reservoir of Memories exhibit

Providence Public Library

Photograph of Holly Ewald, UPP Arts and Tall Oak Weeden, Narragansett tribal elder, at the Reservoir of Memories exhibit about the history of Mashapaug Pond in 2011.

Reservoir Elementary students

Reservoir Elementary students

Providence Public Library

Students stand in line in the playground of Reservoir Elementary School in Providence as they measure the dust bowl.

Reservoir Elementary students

Reservoir Elementary students

Providence Public Library

Students stand holding hands across the playground at Reservoir Elementary School in Providence to estimate the distance between the dust bowl and the storm drain.

Public workshop at Wat Thorikaram

Public workshop at Wat Thorikaram

Providence Public Library

Children at craft table at Wat Thorikaram Buddhist temple at 177 Hanover Street in Providence as part of UPP Arts public workshop.