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Neon Sign Restoration project

| Hotpoint Emporium

https://www.gofundme.com/historic-landmark-restoration-hotpoint-sign

In January of this year, a small handful of the member artists from Hotpoint Emporium began investigating the possibility of restoring the iconic neon sign located on the building at 39 State Street in Bristol RI. Kol Naylor and Chryssa Udvardy researched until they found Dion Signs in Central Falls, RI which had both the capabilities and the enthusiastic interest required to restore the sign.

Property owner, Steven DeLeo generously provided half the funds, allowing the first phase of the restoration effort to begin. Dion signs came to Bristol to remove the sign in February, and has been working on cleaning up, repairing and replacing parts to light the sign back up. Phase two will be the return and reinstallation, which we are hoping will take place in April or May. With that will be a public celebration and lighting party with special festivities to be announced. 

The artists at Hotpoint Emporium are coordinating fundraising efforts to pay for the mounting restoration costs. There is a gofundme campaign, where gifts hand-made by the artists are soon to be offered for various donation amounts.  There is also a very special collection of 27 necklaces and charms available at the store made from original glass and brass tube supports that held the sign together for the past 70+ years.

Please consider supporting this community effort. 

https://www.gofundme.com/historic-landmark-restoration-hotpoint-sign

The sign, half finished at Dion Signs in Central Falls, RI
Historic markings found on the sign and its components
Most of the parts were in desperate need of replacement
These necklaces were made with vintage hardware salvaged from the sign. They are available for purchase at the store and proceeds go back into to the restoration fund!

Artist Profile: Betty Harrington

| Hotpoint Emporium

I was given my first set of oil paints in 1961 and have been painting ever since that day.  My development as an artist has moved through many stages as I multi-tasked through life as a painter, wife, mother, and student.

I took courses whenever possible and feel lucky to have met many teachers who believed in my creative potential.  My move to Rhode Island was a crucial step because Rhode Island School of Design classes demanded artistic growth.  In 1992, I fulfilled a life-long dream and graduated from Brown University at the age of 49.  After graduation, I became a full time artist and moved towards brining my unique vision as an artist to fruition.

My primary body of work is called INFIGO.  My artworks include paintings, photography, assemblage, and mixed media.  Small works of art in these areas, can be seen at HOTPOINT EMPORIUM.

 

Hotpoint Emporium and our Artists in the News

| Hotpoint Emporium

March 2019
ARTS REVIEW: A New Collage Try at Jamestown Arts Center
Newport Daily News gives member artist, Wanda Edwards a special  mention in this gallery review.

March 2019
Narrows Center’s First Spindle City Fest for Mind, Body and Spirit a Success
Fall River Herald article includes short interview with founding member, Jen Charleson 

March 2019
Java Junkies – It’s Your Chance to Shine
Fall River Herald article makes special mention of founding member, Andrew Nasser with photo of his custom made ceramic mugs 

February 2019
Bristol’s Historic Hotpoint Sign is Gone (for now)
Bristol Phoenix feature article about our neon sign restoration project
YOU CAN HELP: donate

February 2019
Scenes from Spring in Bristol RI
New England Today Travel features a timely photo of our neon sign, just before it was removed for restoration

January 2019
DESIGNxRI Announces 2019 Providence Design Catalyst Cohort
Providence Business News makes big announcement for member artist, Maria Prus

January 2019
Meredith Brower’s Photography Turns Eye on Mandalas
Fall River Herald feature article about member artist, Meredith Brower’s eco-photography
Providence Journal Article

November 2018
Among the Stars
Jen Charleson’s Underground Planetarium featured in the Bay magazine

October 2018
The Magic of Mandalas
Meredith Brower featured in the Bay magazine

March 2018
The New Main Street
Andrew Thomas Nasser interviewed as Hotpoint Emporium is featured in the Bay magazine

November 2017
The new Hotpoint Emporium in Bristol
Founding artists, Holly Dirks, Richard Bradley, Andrew Thomas Nasser and Ellen Blomgren interviewed in featurette video by East Bay Newspapers

October 2017
There’s a hot, new place for art in Bristol
Founding artists, Holly Dirks, Richard Bradley, Andrew Thomas Nasser and Ellen Blomgren discuss Hotpoint Emporium with East Bay Newspapers

Lauren Lake Window Display

| Hotpoint Emporium

If you happen by the Hotpoint Emporium Gallery during the month of August, be sure and have a good look at this month’s display window featuring the work of member artist Lauren Lake.

Ms. Lake’s photographic collage series, entitled “Distance Traveled” explores dreams, memory, myth and ‘internal landscape’ using imagery and, at times, poetry and music(lyrics). Lauren became interested in photography long before attending the Rhode Island School of Design, where she earned her BFA in Industrial Design in 91, though it wasn’t until studying in Italy on RISD’s European Honors Program that photography became more of an ‘art form’ for her.

Lauren says,

“In this series I use several decades of collected photographs, in addition to new imagery, mixed and combined in some way, either with drawings, written word, poetry or lyrics, to ‘solidify’ an experience or give form to an elusive idea or feeling…But I invite people to create their own narrative when viewing one of my image collages. Our own history informs our outlook and it’s what makes art so distinctly personal and unique for each of us.”

Also Lauren continually ‘experiments’ with different forms of technological processes which, most recently, gave birth to Kiiltaa.com a little over a year ago for jewelry and more personal one of a kind objects. In addition to her current window display, her jewelry is on the main level of our gallery with more two dimensional work in our “underground gallery”.

If you’d like updates about her any of her works email: info@Kiiltaa.com with “updates” in the subject line.

Artist Profile: Meredith Brower

| Hotpoint Emporium

Eco-photography mandala notecards

When Meredith Brower’s circumstances led her to a place of deep introspection, she knew it was time to take the risk and let her photography light shine. Like a firefly, she felt the light growing stronger the more she envisioned herself creating great imagery and making connections with her community. By letting her “inner fire fly”, she founded the Firefly Yoga Festival, opened a photography studio on Spring Street in Newport, RI, created a barn studio in Tiverton, RI, and launched her series of Mandala Note Cards.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
etsy
email
facebook
instagram

 

 

Artist Profile: Wayne Fuerst

| Hotpoint Emporium

The garden is an endless inspiration for my work as an artist. I have a huge garden that is grown for my PAPERMAKING STUDIO. The papers I make use all the different kinds of flowers and leaves to make a very artful and sophisticated product. Florabunda is what I call the look of my papers. there’s a complete bouquet in every sheet of stationary. perfect as a wedding invitation jacket.

The POTTERY STUDIO uses the inspiration in a more indirect way. Vines, leaves, flowers, and seeds are painted over a shino base glaze. The pottery is functional. I love all materials maybe I should call myself a mix-media artist.

For more information:
Etsy | email

Artist Profile: Vivian Whitcomb

| Hotpoint Emporium

I became interested in ceramics through frequent visits, as a child and young person, to the Asian Art collection at the de Young Museum, in San Francisco. I came to marvel that many of the pieces in the Japanese collection had grace and simplicity combined with great movement and dynamism. I came to work in clay myself. Currently I have been exploring surface design through slip trailing. I like the way it imparts a tactile sense to the work. I have been developing a line of glazes that works well with this technique and lets the slip designs shine through it.