The subjects interviewed for Underground Rhode Island were selected, among many possibilities, for several reasons. The eldest were likely to have been part or the "hip" scene around jazz and the Celebrity Club of the 1950s. More than a few had a connection with AS220 and its circle, at some time in the past. And the youngest members have been active in the Rhode Island arts scene, in one way or another, during the last twenty years or so. Not all are either "lost" or "unknown"; some of them have long been prominent. And yet they represent a self-consciously offbeat take on the mainstream culture of Middle America. They are "underground" even when "overground," part of a world more recognizable to Allen Ginsberg (or Bruce Springsteen) than the people in the White House or Wall Street. And they were intriguing to the students who chose to interview them.
You may expect to find a photo--not necessarily from the recent past--a short biography, a recording of the subject's own voice, a verbatim transcript of the interview, and links to related materials. Not all these are present for each interview--some are still being gathered (or recovered)--but they definitely represent a sense of a life and creative work within that life.
Barnaby Evans is an accomplished artist who is best known for his famous work of art, Waterfire, which has been credited with being the crown jewel of the Providence Renaissance. Evans received his Bachelor's degree in biology and environmental science from Brown in 1975, and was rewarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities by Brown and an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts by Rhode Island College, both in 2000. He works in various media including photography, film, architectural projects, writing and abstract works. His numerous photographic shows, site specific installations, and public works have been highly acclaimed by people in the Providence community and all over the world.
© 2005