Staff |
Holly Ewald
Founder and Executive Director 
Holly Ewald‘s sense of community grew from living on a Native American Mic Mac reserve in New Brunswick, Canada, for two summers in high school. She received a BA in Art from University of Oregon in 1977 and a MFA in Painting from Brooklyn College in 1986. Visiting the Reggio Emilia schools in Italy in 1992 confirmed her artist approach to teaching and inspired an element of play and discovery in her studio work, which serves as both an inspiration for and a response to the arts-based programing she initiates with communities. Since moving to Rhode Island in 1998 with her young family, her work has been driven by collaborating with others to research histories of less recognized places near where she lives. Her handwork often provides a setting or platform for communities to come together to celebrate and share stories and reflections about these places. (See www.hollyewald.com.)
Founding what is now UPP Arts in 2008, she encourages other artists to use the history and environmental challenges of Mashapaug Pond, in Providence, to engage the public in creative responses to this neglected site. The environmental plight of Mashapaug moved her work in a more activist direction bringing businesses, government agencies, environmentalists, students (from elementary school to college), and residents together to raise awareness about Providence’s urban ponds. She has received numerous awards for her work including the 2014 Tom Roberts Prize for Creative Achievement in the Humanities from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, the 2013 Environmental Achievement Award from Save the Bay, and a Sandra Olsen Award in Recognition of Extraordinary Commitment to New Urban Arts in 2013. In addition to being Artistic Director of UPP Arts, she is a Community Fellow at the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage. |
Board |
Laura Maxwell
President Tim Lenhert
Secretary Lucia O'Reilly
Treasurer Jennifer Geller
Director |