Bert Crenca is one of the most recognizable artists in Providence. A well-known painter, performance artist, sculptor, and musician, Crenca is co-founder of AS220, a nonprofit arts center. His most recent work is a series of paintings called DIVINE PROVIDENCE, which aims to capture images of everyday life in the city.
Crenca sat down with Ocean State Media’s Ian Donnis to discuss the establishment of AS220, the impact of the affordability crisis on local artists, and the importance of an arts scene that allows people of all kinds to engage, from artists, patrons, critics and skeptics.
Interview highlights
On the importance of art
Bert Crenca: I think we are all born with some level of creativity. It’s hard-wired into us. It’s problem solving. And yet there was – and still is to a large extent – this kind of elitist attitude about art and artists and who has talent and who doesn’t have talent. And for me, that’s all (expletive). Anybody can be a productive artist if they choose to and apply themselves and work at it. It’s a learned skill. I don’t possess any particular talent. I just worked at it. It’s a job.
On how the affordability crisis impacts local artists
Crenca: I think housing is the main issue. It’s really bad and it’s a desperate situation, I think, right now. I meet a lot of young new artists that are coming to town and they love this place. I mean, there’s a whole generation of young artists that are making things happen. There’s alternative spaces that have bubbled up, but they struggle to find an affordable place to live and that could kill it. I think it’s a critical issue and I think it could destroy what we built here if we don’t solve this.
On how to bring more vitality to downtown Providence
Crenca: I mean, people have been debating this issue for the last 30 years. They’ve tried so many different things on those first-floor retail spaces and all of this stuff. And I think there was some real momentum before the pandemic and we have yet to [recover]. I mean, my brother had a restaurant for 10 years downtown. He had to close it; Nicobellas.
So I don’t know what the solution is. I just don’t know. I mean, art and culture is a tremendous catalyst for change. But I believe a lot of the art and cultural institutions – and I don’t know this intimately – are struggling right now. I mean, some of the real foundational organizations in town. It’s just very difficult.
On the importance of art critics
Crenca: Having critics is part of the ecosystem and we don’t have it so much now. The internet has been sensational for me. I almost only post artwork on Facebook and Instagram. I’ve made sales, any number of sales. I’ve gotten commissions as a result of people seeing my work on the internet and stuff like that. I’ve built a following, so I do get some exposure.
Art is a cycle. It’s like, you come in your studio, you’re alone in your studio, you make your work or your music, whatever kind of art you do, but it’s about communication. You’ve got to get it out there. That’s part of completing the cycle of creation and critics played a big role in that. Whether I agree with them or I don’t agree, it doesn’t matter. It’s about the dialogue that is created and the conversation that’s created as a result of their critique.
