The sudden emergency closure of the Washington Bridge has disrupted lives across our state. As we report on this massive failure of infrastructure, we’ll continue to deepen our engagement with you—our community. How has this crisis affected you? Where have you found hardship, support, and hope?
This space is for your stories - the struggles, the workarounds, and the ways people have come together to explore what’s possible. We’ll be sharing them here.
“The whole idea behind (HeARTspot) is art for everyone—welcoming, inclusive, the opposite of those cold, exclusive galleries. I make some money from the gallery, but classes pay the bills. The kids’ classes are the anchor. They’ve stayed strong. I have loyal parents, and many students I’ve had for years. They do beautiful work.
It was horrific for the first few months when the Washington Bridge first closed. I live and work in East Providence, and my business, HeARTspot Arts Center Gallery, is right next to the high school. It’s mainly an art education space, but I also run a gallery with rotating exhibitions every month and a half. I lost a lot of clients and teachers.
Traffic is better now, but people still think it’s hard to get here, and that absolutely affects the business. In Rhode Island, once people think something’s a hassle, they just won’t do it. I’ve seen local and state officials try to help, and I commend the mayor. He did what he could, even though it’s a state-level issue. But those first months were really tough on everyone.
There are still issues with students getting here from certain areas. On the other hand, attendance from the East Bay has increased, which is great. But the hardest part now is finding new instructors. I’ve never had trouble with that before, but people are still hesitant to commit to East Providence. They assume turnout will be low.
I get so much joy from watching people experience the creative process. That’s my high. Seeing them grow, discover what they can do, step out of their own heads. It’s constant doses of hope. I get to work with everyone, from little kids to retirees looking for connection and community. Despite the challenges we’ve faced, seeing people come together through creativity has been a constant reminder of the hope we can find in these difficult times.”
