Last summer, two full-time working artists in Providence organized a small outdoor festival called The Lemonade Stand. They wanted to provide a welcoming space for artists in the community to collaborate and give the public a chance to witness the creativity of local artists first-hand.
This year, they’re expanding, adding live performances from Providence-based musicians, an interactive public arts display, and more. Morning Host Luis Hernandez spoke with the organizers of The Lemonade Stand, Eva Okrent and Liam Anastasia-Murphy.
Interview highlights
On what makes The Lemonade Stand different from other festivals
Eva Okrent: It’s so different because we’re all a community of artists who actually know each other, and so it’s not just a bunch of band names coming for a show that was organized by, I don’t know, a larger music-only event. It’s our friends’ bands who introduced us to their friends, who are also artists. We just wanted to make a place where the people who are playing shows or getting to sell their art aren’t in galleries necessarily yet, and they’re not playing the Fete. But eventually, I think that the road there is made easier when you have opportunities to play publicly.
On hosting an interactive public mural at the festival
Okrent: The artist who designed the mural is a good friend of ours, Ryan Dean. Last year (at the festival), we noticed there were just really all ages. We’re in a time period of our lives, too, where a lot of our friends have little kids. And by creating spaces where young families can hang out in a safe, relaxing environment, it’s like a real joy because they’re tired. The mural piece will be completed, and then the backside is a huge chalkboard. Anyone who’s there can draw all day long on the chalkboard what they love about summer.
On local musicians playing at the festival
Liam Anastasia-Murphy: We have Surnames and Vvife, which is actually our two projects; we’re performing together. We have Hawk In The Nest, Avi Jacob, local to Providence, an incredible artist; Olivia Dolphin Band, also local to Providence; Zion Rodman out of Boston, but has performed in Providence a bunch and is incredible; Stace Brandt, who played last year, a good friend of ours — they are an incredible songwriter and performer. We’re just so excited to have all of them.
On whether Providence is still a welcoming place for artists
Okrent: I would say 100%. I lived in Boston before I moved here for, like, six years and couldn’t possibly live the life I’m living right now up there. I think the artists who I’ve met here want more community, want more opportunities to do non-competitive art making. The RISD-Brown environment is super-competitive. If you’re willing to put the energy towards making something, Providence is rife with possibility and people are really hungry to join. They just don’t always know how to organize it.
