To the Providence College and Providence, RI community,
As faculty and staff at Providence College, and citizens of Providence, we are concerned and broadly affronted by Provost Reid and the Office of Mission and Ministry’s exercise of veto power on March 20th to close a group exhibition entitled Nothing Lives Alone featuring the work of Shey ‘Ri Acu’ Rivera Ríos, Luana Morales, and Feda Eid at PC Galleries. This exhibition was meant to open on March 27, 2024. We are shocked and dismayed at the extent of this latest instance of administrative transgression. In addition to the harm done to the individual artists, the decision to cancel the exhibition violates the college’s commitment to higher education as stated in the Mission of College: “Providence College is committed to academic excellence, and holds itself to the highest standards in teaching, learning, and scholarship.” It violates the college’s commitment to faculty autonomy– faculty who use PC Galleries as a teaching space and had plans to involve Rivera Ríos, Eid, and Morales and this exhibition in our pedagogy. This incident stands as a limit case of the rights of ordinary faculty on this campus, which have been proven to be even more fragile and superficial than once thought.
Provost Reid and the Office of Mission and Ministry violated the college’s ratified speaker’s policy by canceling Nothing Lives Alone. They disallowed the exhibition because of two of Rivera Ríos’ artworks, Fantasy Island and Prayers to Nana Buruku, which Robert Pfunder of Mission and Ministry located online. At no point were these artworks planned for inclusion in the show. These two pieces are prior works made by the artist, meaning that cancellation of the exhibition explicitly undermines the existing speakers policy by basing the censorship on “prior statements [quote from policy].” Until the sudden decision of the Provost to cancel this exhibit, the PC Galleries Director followed the protocol for outside speakers effective March 17th, 2015. This exercise blatantly and without obfuscation bypassed College policy for inviting speakers to campus which leaves us without any faith that the policy has any meaning whatsoever.
We could write about the ways in which this artwork - singled out as “iconoclastic” by the Office of Mission and Ministry - is an example of Catholic faith in the Caribbean. That, rather than an example of iconoclasm as alleged, this was an artwork that testifies to the ways Catholic imagery is celebrated and circulates in Puerto Rico and the wider Caribbean. That this is plainly a depiction of how Puerto Rican culture–informed by Taino and Yoruban lineages–pays homage to the Virgin Mary. But to do so would fail to center the censorship itself. A group of administrators decided-- as non-experts operating off of racist and colonial biases-- to exercise power over what content and whose stories can be taught and shown on this campus. The fervor of offense around this artwork was brought by the Office of Mission and Ministry who have no context or knowledge about Rivera Ríos, the artworks in question, or the meaning and visual life of Catholicism in Puerto Rico. It is disgraceful that the administration never engaged Rivera Ríos on their work either, contrary to the college’s commitment to have “confidence in the appeal of reason.” It is particularly ironic that this artwork is not anti-Catholic. We think it would strengthen the college’s mission to allow truly iconoclastic images to be discussed and shown on this campus. But this was simply not an instance of that. When art and art history faculty did present on this artworks’ actual meaning, their expertise was dismissed. This is a serious violation not only of academic freedom but of the legitimacy of PC as an institution of higher education.
Moreover, we assert that this decision would not have occurred were the artist a white, cisgender man. We believe that disallowing Rivera Ríos as a queer Puerto Rican person was the underlying purpose of this censorship. Though this is impossible to “prove,” it is part of a larger pattern by the school to either attempt to obstruct or successfully disinvite queer people of color from coming to the college to share their work. This includes attempts to prevent alumnus Lauraberth Lima, from presenting Cabo Queer Panel at the recent event “Poderoza: International Conference on Cabo Verdean Women;” the censoring of Chamique Holdsclaw from sharing any information about her positionality or family members at PC’s 2022 convocation; and the cancellation of Father Bryan Massingale’s speaking engagement in 2019. This decision illustrates a homophobic, racist, and colonial version of Catholicism that is routinely empowered to steer decisions and practices at this college–a bias and orientation it is our duty as members of this community to call out. We refuse to endorse the misuses of “mission protection” as a cover for what is actually hatred.
This is not the first time Rivera Ríos’ work was flagged by the Office of Mission and Ministry. In fall 2023, Rivera Ríos was invited to be part of a Bilingual Book and Arts Festival Featuring Latino, Latina and Latinx artists on PC’s campus. At that time, the Office of Mission and Ministry attempted to thwart their participation, but did not succeed. Rivera Ríos was also the lead curator for PORTALES: Reimagining the Future, an NEA funded exhibit based on research by Providence College faculty which gave immense credibility to the College. Rivera Ríos has also partnered with faculty in various departments, providing invaluable instruction and experiences to our undergraduates. These examples underscore how egregious the violation of protocol truly is in this case and how harmful this cancellation is to members of our community– whose work with Rivera Ríos in a variety of capacities has greatly benefited our students’ learning and our own scholarship. The College has terminated our ability to work with Rivera Ríos without our consent, which has grave consequences for our pedagogy and research.
This incident illustrates that a few members of the College’s Office of Mission and Ministry, without expertise in any field related to Rivera Ríos’ oeuvre, not to mention the actual exhibit, Nothing Lives Alone, were able to exercise undue power. This should send a chill down the spine of all ordinary faculty at the college. This incident has already begun to weaken the legitimacy of the college as an institution of higher ed, in the eyes of art and cultural institutions in this country, other institutions of higher learning in the Northeast, and for collaborating artists in Providence and nationally. PCG exhibitions have been reviewed by Artforum, The Boston Globe, Hyperallergic, Boston Art Review, Art New England and the Providence Journal. PCG has been awarded a range of high profile grants including from: National Endowment of the Arts, National Endowment of the Humanities, Warhol Foundation, The Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.
As a direct result of Providence College’s censorship, PCG will continue to lose credibility, funding, and the national profile it has built in the past ten years; it will no longer be able to bring important artists and conversations to this campus, which is already having negative ripple effects for our faculty, our students, the city of Providence, and beyond. We demand the college live up to its mission to “extend a loving embrace to all…and affirm the God-given dignity, freedom, and equality of each person” as well as “honor academic freedom, promote critical thinking and engaged learning, and encourage a pedagogy of disputed questions.” This must, at the very least, include involving faculty and staff who work with community partners to revise policy and approval structure so as to foster an environment in which academic freedom can flourish, to remove the Office of Mission and Ministry as a check-point to college activities through which they have repeatedly violated college policy, to apologize for this egregious misconstrual of Rivera Ríos’ oeuvre, and to make a concrete, explicit commitment to cease censoring queer people of color who we work with to enrich our pedagogy and scholarship as an institution of higher education.
We will continue protesting and expect a formal response to this letter by May 1st.
Please sign this letter with this link to demonstrate your support.
Shey -The Artist
Trina Vithayathil, Department of Global Studies
Monica Simal
Rick Battistoni, Providence College Professor and artists' spouse and parent
Sharon Ann Murphy, Department of History and Classics
Jessica Mulligan, Health Sciences
Diane Polanco Class of 2024
Scott Alario, Studio Technician, Department of Art and Art History, Providence College
Judd Schiffman, PC Department of Art and Art History
Lynn Curtis, Dept. of Art & Art History
Jennifer Illuzzi, Providence College
James Tull, adjunct faculty global studies
Anthony Tinaro, Studio Arts class of 2025
Abigail Brooks, Chair, The Women's and Gender Studies Department
Kate McNamara
Audrey Raupp, Class of 2025
Heather McPherson, Department of Art and Art History
Maia Bailey, Department of Biology and Feinstein Institute for Public Service
Adriana Migliore, WDOM General Manager
Wesley Stephens
Max Gilman
Alexandra Sullivan, Class of 2024
Kaleb Beavers, Assistant Director of the Writing Center
Paul Crenshaw, Chair, Department of Art & Art History, Providence College
Martina Scarpa, Class of 2025
Tuba Agartan, Department of Health Sciences
Carmine Perrotti, Department of Public and Community Service Studies
Madeline Salamone, Class of 2024
Jack Wilmot
Delilah James
Natalia Alzate 2024
Elizabeth Bridgham, Departments of English and Women's and Gender Studies
Christopher Arroyo, Professor of Philosophy, Providence College
Jennifer Van Reet, Professor of Psychology
Kara Cebulko, Departments of Sociology and Global Studies
Caitlyn (Caity) DiFillipo, Class of 2025
Katie Kranz, Associate Professor of Social Work
James Waters, Department of Biology
Kate Ward
Betsy Ritz, Artist
Nick Longo, Department of Global Studies
Nuria Alonso García, Global Studies
Virginia Thomas, Assistant Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies & Art and Art History
Elizabeth Keenan, Class of 2026, Providence College
Maddie Harris, Feinstein Institute of Public Service
Spencer Johnson, Class of 2024
Molly C. Driessen, Social Work Department
Caroline Cooper
Heather Williamson
Taylor Rogers, Class of 2024
Eric Sung, Art and Art History
R. Alexander Orquiza, Associate Professor, History & Classics
Jessica Blum-Sorensen, Dept. of History & Classics
Nichole Speciale, Collections & Exhibitions Manager, PC Galleries
Margaret Reid, English
Colin Jaundrill, Department of History & Classics
Eve Veliz-Moran, Department of Sociology
Olivia Salamone, Class of 2024
Katy Rodden Walker, Department of Art & Art History
Robin J. Greene, Associate Professor of History and Classics
Kelly Warmuth, Department of Psychology
Susan McCarthy, Political Science and Asian & Asian American Studies
Stephen Kurczy, visiting assistant professor, English
Eric Bennett, English
Amy Foley, English
Lynne Lawson, Engineering and Physics
Grace Russo, Class of 2026
Katie Weeks, WGS and Neuroscience
Taylor Maguire, 2024
Theresa Peterson, Class of 1989
Edmund Dain, Professor of Philosophy
Lily Keane 2024
Brandon C. Martinez, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Jaime Lipski, Student-Athlete Services
Sarah Thompson
Christopher Chambers, Department of Sociology & Anthropology
Eric Hirsch, Professor of Sociology
Liz Maynard
Colin Jaundrill, Department of History & Classics
Eve Veliz-Moran, Department of Sociology
Olivia Salamone, Class of 2024
Katy Rodden Walker, Department of Art & Art History
Robin J. Greene, Associate Professor of History and Classics
Kelly Warmuth, Department of Psychology
Susan McCarthy, Political Science and Asian & Asian American Studies
Stephen Kurczy, visiting assistant professor, English
Eric Bennett, English
Amy Foley, English
Lynne Lawson, Engineering and Physics
Grace Russo, Class of 2026
Katie Weeks, WGS and Neuroscience
Taylor Maguire, 2024
Theresa Peterson, Class of 1989
Edmund Dain, Professor of Philosophy
Lily Keane 2024
Brandon C. Martinez, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Jaime Lipski, Student-Athlete Services
Sarah Thompson
Christopher Chambers, Department of Sociology & Anthropology
Eric Hirsch, Professor of Sociology
Joseph Ribaudo, Associate Professor, Department of Engineering and Physics
Vanessa Sullivan, Office of the Registrar
Laurel Ferrelli, Esq.
Stephanie Pocock Boeninger, Associate Professor of English
Ted Andrews, Department of History and Classics
Jack Pawlowski, Class of 2027
Katherine Lynch, Departments of Sociology & Anthropology, and Black Studies
Shannon Catlin, Student-Athlete Services
The Department of Women's and Gender Studies
Jennifer Peterson, Class of 2014
Hilary Nestor
Rob Hasson, Department of Social Work
Molly McGoldrick, ’25
April Crowley, Children's Theatre Company
John Buron - Rhode Island artist
Ratk Veronneau
Jacoub Reyes, Independent Artist, Educator, and Puerto Rican.
Dway lunkad
Mary-Murphy Walsh '16, SEIU 1199 NE
Alicia Renadette, artist, co-Director -Overlap, Newport
Rebecca Gibel, Adjunct Professor, Providence College, Department of Theatre, Dance & Film
Charlie Best, artist, Alfred University ‘18
Dr yaTande Whitney V Hunter
Andria Tieman Michney
Hannah Sorila, class of 2017
Kathryn Jones, Class of 2008
Jill Parrett
Michaela Bolotin, Class of 2016, Global Studies and Department of Art and Art History
Pitch Canker
Jim Rizzo
Pippi Zornoza, Dirt Palace
Brooke Aubin, Staff, PCSB
Violeta Aycayia Cruz Del Valle
Laura Duclos
Darra Mulderry
Wole Akinbi
Avery Shaw, graphic designer in Providence, RI
Tim Blankenship
Diraliz Cruz PC 23’
Nadia Ouldsfiya, Class of 2024
Kristen Angelos, RI based, ceramic artist
Jayson Salvi
Pargol Borojerdi
Kai X. Lo Muscio, Class of 2010, Providence Human Relations Commission
Clyde Valentín (he/him/his)
Sasha Costanza-Chock, Associate Professor, Northeastern University College of Art, Media, and Design
Yara Liceaga-Rojas, Poetry is Busy Studio
Jan Carlos Terrero (Slitty)
Joemari Pulido, Class of 2024
Max Ponticelli - Professor of Practice (Wheaton College)
Gem Marley (Haus of Codec)
Amy Hannum, Artist
Atlás Alvarado Estrada
Josh Short
Mira Kaplan
Mira Kaplan
Leticia Alvarado, Brown University
Dre Núñez
Hillel O'Leary, Assistant Professor (Term) Rhode Island School of Design
Brandon Kirk
Elisy Blanco-Mercado, Class of 1998
Kristin Elliott, Prior Providence, RI resident
Joan Wyand, colleague
Jennifer Leslie
Thea Riofrancos, Associate Prof of Political Science, PC
Carol Scavotto
Beret Otero
Veronica Preciado
Anjel Newmann, PC adjunct professor and alum, AS220 Co-Executive Director
Maddie Harris, Feinstein Institute
Ryan Dwyer
Mikel Wadewitz
Grace Wright
Stephanie P. Fortunato, Class of 1997
Rosalind Raskin
Giselle Mercier, Latina and artistic colleague
Jill Ferreira, Global Village Farms
Riley Nedder
Anissa Latifi, PC Alumni ‘18
Amy Gilligan, Class of 2018
Tianna Houstib
Jeremy Cumplido, Class of 2025
Jon Laustsen, Departments of Art at Brown University and University of Rhode Island,; Bethel University (MN) class of ‘96
Alden Bucci, Class of 2018
Emily Gray
Tracy Jonsson-Laboy, artist
Will James, Journalist
E C Feiss
Kate Gronner
Paola Mejía
Nat Brennan
Alejandro Epifanio Torres, - Executive and Artistic Director, Loisaida Inc. Arts & Culture Center NYC
Jada-Iman Williams, Class of ‘18
Hannah Hallett, Independent Artist, Rhode Islander
PaperCityClothingCompany.com
Los
Emmanuel Escobar, educator/fellow Boricua.
Umberto Crenca, Artist and founder of AS220
Ariel Davey
Paul Soulellis, Associate Professor, RISD
Abigail Swenson, Class of 2018
Paige Mulhern
Ashley Jin
Quinn Corey, Class of 2003
Dominic Quagliozzi, visual artist, Class of 2004
Barbara Casserly Class of 1981
Nahyun Kim
Sokeo Ros
Carlos Brandon Roman
Alyssa St. Franc, community member
Nikko Fyfe
John-Francis Quiñonez - Dirt Palace, Binch/Q.A.W., Columbus Theatre, Lost Bag, Big Feeling
Feda Eid, Artist
Arlene Guerrero-Wantanabe; Assoc. Spanish Professor Assumption University
Dante Sotomayor Ellis
Alexandra Tilden, Class of 2015
Althea Shaheen, Class of 2008
Susanna Kim Koetter; Brown University, former faculty at Providence College
Jane Freiman, Harvard Law School
Eliot Cronin, Providence College senior Art Student
Emily Gonzalez ‘23G
Jessie Melendez
Meesh
Courtney Krakowski, Class of 2018
Joseph Jomil Rivera
Luis Edgardo Cotto
Nan Joubá
Jacqueline Reyes
Katelyn Pisano
Gabrielle DoVale
Lares Feliciano, Artist & Cultural Worker
Alex Nunnelly, class of 2016
Darcie Dennigan
Benjamin Lundberg Torres Sánchez, We Are Holding This (Press)
Beth Killian, class of 2011
Felicita Devlin
Haniah Harrigan
Elaine Sorto-Justiniano, URI
Kelsey Mullen, Director of Education, Providence Preservation Society
Angela Hermano Crenshaw
Lilly Manycolors, Rhode Island School of Design
Emilie Lum, Brown University ‘24
Caitlin Amaral
Julie Summersquash
Margaret Bauer, Providence Art Educator
Kristin Parker
Janira Vega
Emely Barroso
Quinn Carpenter
Dr. Catherine Czacki
Anthony Torres, artist
nick stuart
Connor Koch - PC class of 2020
Abigail Segal, class of 2023
Julio E. Berroa
Lids Bday
Harris Eidelman
Artist
Lin
Jane Burke
Yienajye Nawan
Gabriel Burgos
Elizabeth McGinn class of 2021
Brooke Vitulli, Class of 2022
Aidan Kuk, class of 2023
Shannon Sullivan, Class of 2021
Lindsey Da Veiga
Joanna Tam
Janella Watson
Erin McCarthy, Alumni
David Dvorchak - Providence College alumni
Amie Plante
charlie west, class of 2024
Armine Tahmassian
Ariel Tavares
Protyasha
Dan ye
Joseph L. Auger
Anna Goulart, Class of 2016
Ruth Dealy artist
Nicolás Kisic Aguirre
Linda Park, CCRI & LitArts RI
Marcella Miranda, class of 2022
Milka Celeste
James Dealy, MSW
DaNell Mulvey, parent of 2023 PC graduate
Licia Carlson, Professor of Philosophy
robert stack
Yedmy, PC Junior
Maralie Armstrong-Rial
Seth Tourjee
Jason Curzake, Providence Artist, Former Collaborator
Lu Heintz, EFS faculty RISD
Danika Bebe, Class of 2023, Former Executive President of the Board of Multicultural Student Affairs
Ian Cozzens, Providence artist & educator
Teb Speaks
Susan Margot Ecker
Elizabeth Leong
Karen Philippi
John de Poortere 2020
Nayda A. Cuevas
Francesca Del Prete
Jeanne D'Agostino
Lilliam Nieves
Aubrey Johnson, community advocate
Lucille LeoNimm
Natalie Phelps, alumna
Lisa Scull
Richard agovino artist
Elizabeth Moy
Leandro Kufa Castro
Pedro Alemán-Perfecto, Class of 2017
Neal T Walsh, Gallery Director AS220
Bob Dilworth
Anna McNeary, visiting assistant professor, college of the holy cross
Yajaira
Richard (Bad Move PC) Goulis
Angel Torres
Gerard Silva Torres
Peter Rogers, PC library
Devin Brock
Beya Jimenez
Derek Schwartz
Susan Clausen
Lois Harada, artist and educator
Holly Gaboriault, Filmmaker / RISD Faculty
Chelvanaya Gabriel, Creative Resilience
Diana Doorley, Graduate Student
Renee E Neely, artist
Natalie Costa
Jamil Jorge
Wendy Oliver
Bob Dilworth, Emeritus Professor, Department of Art and Art History, URI
Harper Rhodes, Class of 2016
Court DAmico, Providence Local
Jose Ramirez
Christian Pedersen, Class of 2026
Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo, Brown University
Liam Donohoe, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Tony Grace
Carmen A. Rolon, Associate Professor of Secondary Education & Women's and Gender Studies
Julia Gualtieri, Providence artist & educator
Katherine Olson Class of 2025
Carmen A Rolon, Associate Professor of Secondary Education and Women's & Gender Studies
Susanna Elizabeth Harris
Dayna Hunt
Linda M Ford, artist
Claire Atkinson
Paola Díaz Irizarry, Class of 2021
Nicholas Przekurat, class of 2017
Karlene Cudak, Class of 2019
Eileen Donovan, Class of 2014
Camille Greaney Class of 19
Elizabeth Muller, Class of 2026
Jori Ketten
Ava O’Brien, Student Congress Class Representative
Kate Wildman
Angelique Dina, Northeastern class of 2027
Nahida Akkary
Morgan Victor, class of 2011
Sokeo Ros
Leiyana Simone
Linsey Wallace
Leonardo Selvaggio (Brown Arts Institute)
Scott Bergeron
Timothy McDonald Framingham State University
nikki lee
Marley Dupre
Lena Makor
Kate Sorensen-Young
Luiz Bicalho
Becci Davis
Caroline Carey, Class of 2023
Lindsey Lopez, PC ‘20 ‘21G
Isabella Koen
Xander Marro, Dirt Palace
Luke Dani Blue
Maeve (Travis) Martin, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker