PVD Artist Pamela Fernandez Talks WaterFire Group Exhibition "Lost & Found"

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Lost and Found with Pamela Fernandez on WaterFire Accelerate

Bill Bartholomew speaks with artist Pamela Fernandez about WaterFire Accelerate, the professional development program for artists 30 and under, and the culminating group exhibition Lost and Found at the WaterFire Arts Center. The conversation moves from Providence’s creative ecosystem to Fernandez’s Dominican and Providence roots, and how both shape her work in textiles, printmaking, and painting.In this episode, Fernandez reflects on community, institutional support, and the challenge of making art that is both personally meaningful and socially responsive.

Key topics

Pamela Fernandez explains that WaterFire Accelerate is a professional development program for artists 30 and under, offering mentorship, studio space, and a final group exhibition.The conversation highlights how the cohort became a real support network, with artists helping one another professionally and personally through an active group chat and shared resources.Fernandez talks about being born in the Dominican Republic and growing up in Providence since age five, and how that identity deeply informs her work.She describes Providence as a place where she wants to stay and create, while also noting that London has long felt like an interesting art destination to her.Bill and Fernandez discuss the role of Providence institutions and nonprofits in shaping artists’ careers, including WaterFire, RISD Museum workshops, libraries, New Urban Arts, and Project Open Door.Fernandez emphasizes that artist communities matter just as much as institutions, especially when peers offer studio access, screen printing space, or a wood shop for free.Her work is rooted in questions of Dominican history, Dominican presence in Providence, family history, and what it means to feel both connected to and distanced from culture.Fernandez says she is currently negotiating what her art should be about now, moving between printmaking, painting, and a return to textiles.She explains why textiles remain meaningful to her, especially because fabric can carry history through clothing, curtains, and inherited materials.The interview closes with a deeper discussion of art and politics, including how Fernandez balances making work in a difficult moment with staying intentional, authentic, and humane.

Timestamps

00:00 - WaterFire Accelerate and the Lost and Found exhibition
 00:39 - How the artist development program works
 01:41 - Why cohort support extends beyond the studio
 02:47 - Fernandez’s Providence and Dominican roots
 03:42 - Why Providence feels like the right art city for now
 05:21 - Building a career through nonprofits and local institutions
 07:35 - How Dominican identity and Providence shape her work
 09:28 - Choosing what her art should say now
 10:56 - Why textiles still matter in her practice
 12:17 - Artist panel details and exhibition closing date
 13:12 - Balancing political responsibility with personal expression
 15:51 - Why artists still matter in social movements
 17:46 - Closing thoughts on WaterFire and the exhibition

Notable quotes

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“I feel like community is what is gonna keep us all afloat, especially in these times.”

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“I feel like for me, Providence to me is the place where I wanna be.”

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“I feel like you gotta figure out how you wanna show up, even if it’s not in your work, like how are you showing up in your day to day?”

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