1. Rooted in the Community
MEDIA RELEASE
July 31, 2015 Contact: Sue Stenhouse
401-780-6189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW HOPE ART GALLERY FINDS NEW HOME AT
CRANSTON SENIOR ENRICHMENT CENTER
CRANSTON, RI – Mayor Allan Fung and Cranston Senior Enrichment Center Executive Director Sue
Stenhouse are pleased to welcome the New Hope Art Gallery to its new home at the Center. The Summer
Show Opening will take place on Tuesday, August 11 from 4:30 – 7 PM and will feature over 200 pieces of
2D and 3D art including digital, drawing, mixed media, painting, photography and sculpture from 50 local,
national, special needs, student and senior artists.
“I am excited to welcome the New Hope Art Gallery to its new location at the Cranston Senior Enrichment
Center, said Mayor Fung. “This is a great opportunity for the gallery to continue its tradition of creativity and
inspiration in a new environment. The relocation will usher in great energy to the benefit of all of the
Center’s members, staff and visitors.”
After five years of occupancy at the Slater Training School in Cranston, the Gallery staff were notified that it
would need to find a new display space and New Hope Art Director Ricky Gagnon wasted no time in finding
a new collaborator and location.
“When I created New Hope Art Gallery I never imagined it would become the amazing gallery it has become,
said Gagnon. “The gallery has always felt like a child to me. I have watched it change and grow with its own
life force as more talented artists began to join us to showcase their creative energy and vision. I have very
mixed feelings about our space closing at the training school. While I feel very sad that we are leaving the
residents and families without the joy of seeing all the wonderful art we have shown over the last 5 years, I
feel that the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center will allow us to continue to grow as a gallery and continue
our mission of showing inspiring art to a wider audience. I wish to thank Mayor Fung and Sue Stenhouse and
the members and staff at the Center for this remarkable opportunity.”
When Gagnon announced on Facebook about the Gallery closing, Sue Stenhouse immediately reached out to
him to see if the Center might be a viable alternative to showcase his artist’s work. “I am so pleased to host
the New Hope Art Gallery at the Center,” said Stenhouse. Already our walls have been reenergized with
beautiful and thought provoking artworks --and our members are thrilled.”
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Cranston Senior Enrichment Center
1070 Cranston Street, Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: 401-780-6000
Fax: 401-780-6166
Web address: www.cranstonri.com

2. Every four months the gallery will turn over, offering opportunities for more artists to showcase their talents.
The gallery will be open Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm for public viewing.
The Summer Show features 10 new artists who range from beginner to established, showing for the first time
in the gallery and include: Pat D’Ambra, Rebecca Flores, Chris Hanson, Richard Harrington, Hillsgrove
House Creative Occupations Group/Kent Center Artists, Thomas Keyes,
Kathy Lapre, John Marcello, David Schwartz and Kasey Lynn Sparadeo. The Summer Show also features 32
returning artists and include: Martah Antaya, Diane Boudreau, Janice Bray, Peter Calvet, Paula Collela, Lin
Collette, Everett DeCosta, Paula DeSano, Ted DeLucia, Jack Donahue, Jay Egge,
JP Fernandes, Ricky Gagnon, AJ Greenwood, Marcia Hirsch, Darrell Hughes, Bob Judge, Joanne King,
David Koukol, John Kotula, Germaine Gerie Krobath, Melyssa Lentini, Rosemarie Manson, Rachel
Marzocchi, Krzysztof Mathews, Phillip J. Mellen, Sandra McPherson, Nancy Nielsen, Susan Paukula, John
Riedel, Lori Riley, Barbara Rosenbaum, John Schora, Glen Webber, Dan Weisman and Jessica Wheeler.
The opening of the gallery at the Center has been embraced by the arts community:
Ted DiLucia- Assistant Curator, New Hope Art Gallery
“It was a time to migrate. Being a living entity, viable, vital and vigorous. New Hope Art Gallery has found
itself a safe haven where it can plant its deep roots into the bedrock without any worries of being crushed or
uprooted. It started as a small seed and has rapidly blossomed bigger than any of us could have anticipated. If
one sun decides to set on New Hope, another will rise higher in its place, shining brighter than the last”
Barbara Rosenbaum- Assistant Curator/ Artist, New Hope Art Gallery
“I was very happy to hear that we were going to be able to move our gallery to the Cranston Senior
Enrichment Center for several reasons. This move gives new artists a place to express themselves. It is
always exciting to begin a new adventure in such a wonderful facility that gives us the opportunity to
continue highlighting art and artists from all levels of the art community. We will be able to reach out to
seniors and to youth.
Melyssa Lentini- Artist/Art Teacher
“To say I am excited about the New Hope Art Gallery moving to the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center
would be an understatement. Both my students and I are excited to be showcased in this venue which will
enable us to reach out to more people in the community. Ricky Gagnon does such an amazing job helping
local artists, both new and seasoned, showcase art. I am grateful for the opportunities New Hope Art Gallery
has given me and I look forward to showing my art at our new home.
Rosemarie Manson- Artist
“I am very excited about exhibiting my art at the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center. To share space with my
people (seniors that is) will be a validation that artistic expression does not diminish with the passing years.
Rather we are able to share our life’s experiences via paint, paper, brushes and a variety of other materials.
The public is invited to come to the opening of the new gallery space on August 11th for a fun evening of
wonderful art, cool music --provided by jazz pianist Rod Luther, good food, and interesting conversation with
the talented artists. For more information, please call the Center at 780-6000.
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