Our Story

Achievements 2025-2026

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• More than 90 members paid annual dues to support program expenses. Half were members from the wider community. The other half were from the First U Congregation.

• Art in the Atrium First U produced seven exhibitions, including two Member Shows, each with an opening reception. Click HERE to view current exhibitions and click HERE to view past exhibitions.

• As a program of First Unitarian Church of Providence, Art in the Atrium First U helped the church reach out to artists and arts organizations in the community and connect with other First U programs. Here are some of the actions:

  • Art in the Atrium First U was a “partner gallery” with Gallery Night Providence (GNP) and participated in five trolley tour events. GNP featured Art in the Atrium First U in GNP’s April 2026 newsletter.

  • Art in the Atrium First U produced the third annual Ekphrasis – Where Poetry and Art Meet with 15 poets and 15 artists. Approximately 75 people attended the opening reception. 23 of the 30 poets and artists were from the wider community, and 7 were from the First U Congregation.

  • Art in the Atrium First U partnered with First U’s Girl Effect Task Force April 12, 2026, Art Sale and helped them raise $1500. We contributed artwork for the sale, helped with publicity, and created artwork labels.

  • Art in the Atrium First U collaborated with Mahima Kumara and the Providence Resistance Chorus who made a special appearance at the May 21, 2026, Renewal Resilience Member Show opening reception.

  • Art in the Atrium First U collaborated with the Music Committee (Mahima Kumara) and Spiritual Pathways (Jenny Nelson) in planning the First U Arts and Music Camp.

  • Art in the Atrium First U contributed $500 to support DownCity Design. The nonprofit organization “equips young community members with the skills and agency to redesign the world around them – by making urban neighborhoods safer, healthier, and more livable, and working toward a more just and equitable future.”

• ​Art in the Atrium First U purchased a domain name and created this website.

• Art in the Atrium First U, founded in 2006, is commemorating the 20th Year. We developed a 20th Year logo. We’re planning a community organization exhibition called Call and Response - with Holly Ewald in September 2026 and a Member Show called Creative Spirit and a party for members and supporters in October 2026. And we’re strategic planning for the first time.

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​Our History

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2006

After the 2002 renovation of the religious education wing of First U, Rick Richards and Sarah McQueen founded Art in the Atrium “to support and nurture a healthy spiritual community with the gift of art” by producing exhibitions of artwork by members of the Congregation.

 

2009-2018 

Chiara Van Erp led the Art in the Atrium for about nine years and the team produced several exhibitions each year with artists from the Congregation and the wider community. In 2016, First U’s Prudential Committee (Board of Directors) approved the selling of artwork in the Atrium. In 2017, the name was changed to Art Collective of the First Unitarian Church of Providence.

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2018-2022

Amy Webb chaired the Art Collective for four years. Generally, there were four exhibitions each year that included two member shows. During Covid (March 2020 to September 2022), there were no in-person exhibitions. However, Amy curated our first online exhibition called Sacred Space, co-sponsored by The Peace Flag Project. Amy worked with members to create an installation in the Atrium windows called Abacus. The artwork honored families deeply affected by Covid.

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2022-2023

Nancy Smith Worthen and Greg Kniseley co-chaired the Leadership Team. The team planned five exhibitions for the 2022-2023 church year and six exhibitions for 2023-2024. In 2023 the Leadership Team decided to simplify and changed the name from Art Collective of First Unitarian Church of Providence to Art in the Atrium First U. 

 

2023-2025

Margaret Rizzuto and Greg Kniseley co-chaired the Leadership Team. During 2024-2025 the team revised the mission at a leadership retreat, designed a branding logo, produced nine exhibitions including two member shows, joined Gallery Night Providence program, started hosting an Art Film Night, and began the quarterly newsletter.

 

2025-2026

Greg Kniseley and Nancy Smith Worthen co-chair the Leadership Team. The team scheduled five small-group exhibitions, and two member shows for 2025-2026, committed to charitable giving as part of the mission, and created this dedicated website.

 

​Our People

 

Here are the people who help us achieve our mission:

 

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Karen Rand Anderson - Curatorial

Susie Dorr - Receptions, Membership Coordinator

Greg Kniseley - Co-Chair, Publicity/Communications Coordinator

Keith Prue - Technology Coordinator, Gallery Night Providence Liaison

Chiara Romano Van Erp - Curatorial, Installation

Ewa Roselli - Curatorial, Installation

Nancy Smith Worthen - Co-Chair, Curatorial Coordinator

  

FIRST U STAFF

Kelly Coccio - Publicity - First U Times, Calendar

Jaime Durango - Receptions

Rev. Liz Lerner Maclay - Sunday Invitations

Scott MacPherson - Scheduling, Logistics

Walter O. Sotelo - Accounting

Pedro Vasquez - Receptions

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OTHER RECENT VOLUNTEERS

Meredith Albright - Reception Photography

Janet Austin - Receptions

Sally Barker - Curatorial

Mike Camera - Communications

Diana Cole - Curatorial. Ekphrasis - Where Poetry Meets Art

Mary Ann Daly - Receptions

Melissa Guillet - Reception Photography

Sherie Harkins - Publicity

Katy Killilea - Strategic Planning

Jen Kulik - Installation

Cindy Manchester - Receptions

Karole Nicholson - Receptions

Pam Pond - Membership

Rick Pond - Installation

Providence Resistance Chorus. Mahima Kumara and 14 singers

Lucille Riccitelli - Installation

Rick Richards - Strategic Planning

Margaret Rizzuto - Communications, Strategic Planning

Hilary Salmons - Strategic Planning

Evan Smith - Strategic Planning

Ariella Walker - Publicity and Communications

Amy Webb - Strategic Planning

Elizabeth Wright - Receptions

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