How One NY Artist Returned to RI to Renovate a House and Her Business in Providence's West End
GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle
How One NY Artist Returned to RI to Renovate a House and Her Business in Providence's West End
While there is much talk during the pandemic of New York and Boston residents fleeing those cities for Rhode Island — and driving up prices — Commodore decided back in 2018 to leave New York and re-establish roots in Rhode Island.
Commodore spoke with GoLocal about her decision to come back to Providence, looking to find a house, and collaborating with architect Jack Ryan — who GoLocal featured as “21 to Watch in 2021” — to achieve her vision.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“In New York, I worked for a while for a boutique PR agency, and we used to host networking dinners that were all about introducing people from different fields, but similar personalities, goals, or projects so that they could be introduced to an entirely new group of people that could possibly collaborate with them along the way,’ said Commodore.
“And I would really like to recreate that in Providence, creating a casual place for people that are involved in everything from the arts to start-ups to cutting edge science to political reform to meet and find ways to cross-pollinate ideas and problem solve," she added.
Her artistic work is highly creative and sexual. She writes about her work, "Over the past few years, my artwork has concentrated on creating intimate portraits of my friends, often focusing on how they express their sexuality. Not whether they prefer men or women, but sexuality in the broader sense -- what is it that makes them feel sexy, how do they express that physically, and how has it changed over the years?"
Coming Back to RI
“We all moved to New York after graduation,” said Commodore, who graduated from RISD with an MFA in Printmaking in 2004.
Commodore began working in museums and as an artist assistant to Maya Lin, who created the Vietnam Memorial.
“I started off living in East Williamsburg and then moved to the Navy Yard — which is technically Wallabout, which nobody knows — and then I bought a one [bedroom] in Flatbush, which is now a cool up-and-coming neighborhood,” said Commodore. “I soon realized I was sitting on a whole lot of equity, but it was only worth it if I left New York.”
At the beginning, Providence was just one of the possible destinations Commodore was considering.
“I made the list of where I wanted to go. I can’t do the countryside. I hate the idea of getting in my car to get a coffee. I wanted to be near a beach to be able to go swimming, but still be in a city," said Commodore, who said she narrowed down her choices to Philadelphia, North Adams [Massachusetts], or Providence.
“My parents moved to Newport shortly before I was considering moving. I was working at a print project in Providence and decided to look at houses,” she said.
She said she originally thought she was going to look on the East Side, where she had lived while at RISD, but with the help of now-Residential Properties agent Christopher Rowley, Commodore is now the owner of a mixed-use Victorian on Broadway in the West End, where she lives with her husband, Rhode Island native Russell Pouliot.
Commodore had first looked at -- and fell in love with -- the original A.T. Cross manufacturing plant located at 53 Warren Street which now houses the custom woodworking and remodeling company Transom — but that ultimately didn’t work out.
She did however connect with architect Ryan when she had anticipated renovating that space. Now, Ryan is helping her with her vision for the third-floor residential unit on Broadway in the house she ultimately purchased.
“It was listed at $489,00 and I think I tried to be a New Yorker and lowball them,” said Commodore of buying the property 376 Broadway. “They said nothing lower than $460,000 I said fine $461,000 and they accepted," of buying the property through Mott & Chace's Nelson Taylor and Robert Rutley.
She may have gotten back to Providence before the explosion in real estate prices -- and low inventory -- made it so difficult for so many to buy in the city or in most communities across the state.
In April, real estate hit an all-time high in Rhode Island’s monthly median sales price of single-family homes. April’s median price was $349,000, an 18.1 percent gain from April of 2020.
Envisioning a New Work-Life Landscape
And like most renovations, all hasn’t gone exactly as anticipated.
While Commodore envisioned the residential space to take three to four months to complete, she and her husband are still living on the second-floor where offices had been located, twenty-two months after moving into the property.
According to Commodore, the third-floor — in the house built in 1890 — only had the capacity for 60 amps of power when she moved in. There was a recent fire when a new stove was installed.
“We were so excited to finally cook in a real kitchen. We had the Baffoni’s farm chicken and pots and pans ready to go,” said Commodore. “Then I heard pops and smoke came and turned into flames very quickly.”
Luckily, the fire was contained to the stove and wall area, according to Commodore.
She said the property has appreciated in value quickly since her purchase in 2018.
“Which is great,” she said, “Even though I’m paying more taxes.”
Like many artists, Commodore isn't sure what the future holds for the industry, after most in-person gallery shows were canceled during the pandemic.
"I currently work for a fully remote, cooperative of Black augmented and virtual creativity content creation, called Crux," said Commodore.
"A lot of sales are happening online, and less in galleries. No one wanted to go to an opening [during the pandemic]," said Commodore. "For me, I can’t imagine buying a piece without seeing it in person."