Riverzedge Arts

read moreKristens path to Riverzedge Arts has been a winding one with a perfect destination. Trained as a theatre practitioner and an academic, Kristen has been by turns a director and playwright, a published poet, and a college professor. She holds degrees in Theatre, English, and American Studies from Rhode Island College, the University of Toronto, and the University of Maryland, College Park. Coming of age in the do-it-yourself punk rock scenes of Providence and northern Rhode Island, Kristen believes strongly in the power of creativity to draw out and amplify the unique strengths of people, landscapes, and cultures to produce powerful and healthy communities. In her free time, she is an avid reader, gardener, and amateur furniture-builder, and is never happier than when she is trailing behind her dog on a hike in the woods.

read moreBrad is an artist whose work has been in numerous exhibitions in New York, New England, and Europe. His work explores personal and universal histories through material abstraction and painting, and he is constantly exploring the means to perpetuate these ideas in new directions. He was the Artistic and Program Director of Riverzedge Arts from 2005-2015. In that role, he developed innovative arts programs, consulted on the re-design plans of the citys downtown area, collaborated on education reform initiatives, and oversaw ambitious public art projects. After spending over 4 years co-owning a specialty carpentry and sawmilling company, he felt the need and passion to return to working in the arts, social, and educational sectors and returned to Riverzedge Arts in February 2020. As this work continues, his interest in the intersection of art and social change increases as it becomes more important that art does something. Art is put to work in ways that matternot only for contemporary culture, but it effects communities and individuals in profound ways. Brad received his MFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2005.

read moreKim moved to Rhode Island from Baltimore in 2001 and has made New England her home ever since. She received her BFA from The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Partnership with Tufts University, with a concentration in Photography and Printmaking. Kim has had an extensive career as a photographer and screen printer in both commercial and fine arts. She has worked with Boston photographers for over 15 years, editing and printing work for both fine art print and publication. Her current art practice primarily involves screen-printed goods on paper and textiles, with irreverent humor or a touch of flora and fauna. She has taught adults and teens in both mediums through one-on-one direction and class environments. She has a passion for the arts, teaching, community action, and social justice. She loves kitsch, true crime, all things comedy, and nerding out about wine.

read moreKailey Coppens is an American-born artist raised in Northern California. Her work has been featured and sold throughout Massachusetts. At the age of 11, her family moved to Texas, where she lived for three years before moving to Worcester, MA. After graduating high school, she attended Lesley University for one year, initially intending to study psychology, but after one art class concluded that fine arts and media were her passion. She then transferred and completed a Dual BFA at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Studying both Painting and Studio for Interrelated Media, she graduated with the Marcia Lloyd Auction Award. While living in Boston, she worked at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, a small Boston-based film studio, and completed an internship at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. Since relocating to Rhode Island, Kailey has worked as a Teaching Artist, Youth Programmer, and Practicing Artist.

read moreSam is a graphic designer with a focus on print and digital design. He was introduced to graphic design through the world of music at an early agedesigning album covers and merchandise for the various bands hes been in over the years. Sam received a BA in Journalism from the University of Connecticut, but upon graduation found that his true passion was graphic design. Sam approaches art as a means of communication and seeks to design through empathy and understanding. In his free time, Sam enjoys playing music (guitar and bass), as well as outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking.

read moreMaysen is fairly new to the arts scene but has always admired everything it represents, and he hopes to add to that with his own unique ideas. He gained his appreciation for art from his father, who had amazing skills when it came to mural painting and drawinghis favorite piece being an entire bedroom of different Lion King scenes. A Rhode Islander through and through, Maysen spent childhood summers at Iggys eating clam chowdah and winters still drinking iced coffee and sledding down the biggest hills he could findnot at the same time, of course. After graduating high school, he attended URI to pursue a degree in computer engineering. Quickly realizing that wasnt the route he wanted to take, he left and took time to figure out what he really wanted to do. He strongly believes that mental health should be a priority for everyone, and he plans to eventually start an organization dedicated to providing a safe space and resources to youth and adults struggling mentally or emotionally. To Maysen, having a creative outlet is incredibly important for emotional expression and mental healing. From little doodles to massive sculptures, find whatever style you flow the best with and, well, go with the flow!