From Hold to Horizon
Kei Soares Cobb & Becci Davis
APRIL 6 - JUNE 25
Each of our days are filled with moments; quiet, vibrant, mundane, and significant. When we take time to go inward, to reflect and document these moments there's much to be learned about ourselves and the world around us. When we are focused on survival, these moments pass by, quickly forgotten. We lose the opportunity to grow from them.
From Hold to Horizon is an immersive voyage toward Liberation, an inquiry into our complicated relationship with the ocean, sovereignty, and economies of capture. Inside its walls is a space for locating oneself. Journals detailing the nineteenth century whaling voyages of Captain William A. Martin, one of New England's most prominent Black whaling-ship captains, will serve as our guide, leading us to explore a number of questions. Who are we? Where are we? What is happening around us? What are we experiencing together?
You are welcome to experience the space on your own. You are also invited to return on scheduled activation days to experience a guided journey of the horizon and journaling as rituals of transformation led by the artists. See further details about the activations below.
What's On Your Horizon?
The artists invite you to participate on your own and contribute to the exhbition by following the prompts and instructions below. Please take a photo of a body of water close to where you live and email it along with the location, to Becci at b.davisynergy@gmail.com. You may also include your first or full name, if you wish. Your photo will be added to the gallery’s postcard wall. If you choose to send your name, it will be added to a label listing all of our participants.
Becci Davis is an interdisciplinary artist and mother who finds inspiration in exploring nature, archives, memory, and connection to place. Born and raised in Georgia, she now calls Providence, Rhode Island home. Learn more about her work: beccidavis.com, @bdavissynergy
Kei Soares Cobb is a Cape Verdean-American sound designer, dancer, gardener, educator, and somatic therapist based in Providence, Rhode Island. Kei’s work has been featured by Trinity Repertory Theatre, RISD Museum, Brown Arts Initiative and is presently in devotional collaboration with acclaimed choreographer, nora chipaumire. Learn more about their work: keisoarescobb.as.me, @keisoarescobb
The whaling logs of Captain William A. Martin are part of PPL's Nicholson Whaling Collection; view digitized versions of the logs here.
I think public spaces in general are so important. And the Library tends to cultivate a safe space, along with being a public space. So being an artist coming into that kind of space, I feel very secure being able to show my work, talk to the public . . . everyone just wants to learn and grow together. And that's a really, really cool thing.