Grin, the ever smart and challenging contemporary art gallery in Providence, announced today that it plans to close after five years. A closing party from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, is expected to be the gallery’s last public event at their location in The Plant at 60 Valley St. in the city’s Olneyville neighborhood. Corey Oberlander and Lindsey Stapleton—who founded the gallery in 2013 “as a space for artists to develop and exhibit their work with a steady curatorial hand”—say they plan to curate a “nomadic program” of exhibitions going forward.

Their full statement on the closing:

“After five years and fifty shows, we have decided to close our location in Providence, Rhode Island. This city has served as an amazing launching pad, and the local support we’ve received here over the years has been staggering. Despite that, we aren’t able to sustain the brick and mortar space in its current capacity, and think it’s unfair to our artists and ourselves to push something that’s unable to move forward.

Like many other gallerists and curators around the world, we’ve realized that the traditional gallery model is not able to meet our ambition. We will be moving towards a more nomadic program; producing purposeful shows when and where we are able, and focusing on community and collaboration with like-minded individuals everywhere. We’re sad about the end of this era, but unrelentingly excited about the future. This was a difficult decision for us to make, but ultimately, and undoubtedly, is in the very best interest of the art and artists we want to support.

Please join us on Saturday, February 3rd from 6-9pm to celebrate GRIN and reminisce over everything it’s accomplished. We’ll have a few catalogues and postcards of all our shows and events, some libations and plenty of stories and fond memories to share.”


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Categories: Art