Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - February 10, 2023
GoLocalProv
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - February 10, 2023
This week's list includes Reiss' run, Lanni's resume, and embarrassing backbenchers.
Now, we are expanding the list, the political perspectives, and we are going to a GoLocal team approach while encouraging readers to suggest nominees for who is "HOT" and who is "NOT."
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Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - February 10, 2023
HOT
Amazing Legacies
This week two men who had a profound impact on the arts and our community died.
Their deaths are heartbreaking, but their lives were transformative.
Following his passing, GoLocal editorialized that Adrian Hall was the father of post-industrial era Providence. The lanky, tall Texan came to Providence in the 1960s and when he left in the 1980s, the city was known as a hub for the arts.
PHOTO: NYT
HOT
Emerging Star
GoLocal's Art contributor Michael Rose has a feature this week on one of Rhode Island's emerging stars -- Sydney Sousa.
Visual art is a deeply personal form of expression. Makers who find a way to authentically share their stories through their work enjoy strong connections with viewers. Local artist Sydney Sousa is a prime example of this fact, and has found a dedicated following through the heartfelt way she expresses herself in the medium of abstract painting. She is an emerging talent whose introspective studio practice is producing engaging artworks.
Sousa was raised in East Providence and found herself taking the pursuit of art seriously in her high school art classes. She channeled this interest into her college education, studying at Rhode Island College, where she earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and studio art with a concentration in painting. She went on to be selected for the inaugural cohort of WaterFire’s Accelerate Program, a selective year long professional development program for young artists in the state. When not making art of her own, Sousa utilizes her creative energies in her job as an activities therapist at Butler Hospital, where she works with clients on artistic projects ranging from art to poetry.
As a born Rhode Islander, Sousa has an appreciation for the creative community in the state. Speaking of it, she says, “I enjoy being an artist in Rhode Island because even though we are a small state we are filled with creatives. I love connecting with the community, learning and gaining inspiration from others.”
HOT
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
The U.S. economy added 517,000 jobs in January, the federal government reported on Friday.
HOT
Viola Davis
Step aside, GOATS — RI’s Viola Davis is “EGOT.”
The acronym stands for the small circle of artists who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT) — and it is an exclusive club.
On Sunday, she was awarded the Grammy for "Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording" for her audiobook memoir, “Finding Me.”
“It has just been such a journey,” Davis said while accepting the award. “I just EGOT!”
According to Deadline, only 18 people have achieved the status, and Davis is the fourth Black person alongside Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson to win all four.
Davis won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2017 for her role as housewife Rose Maxson in 2016’s Fences and she earned an Emmy in 2015 for her role as Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder.
She has two Tony awards, one for King Hedley II and the Broadway production of Fences.
HOT
Tammi Reiss
The University of Rhode Island's women's basketball team is 20-3 and 11-0 in the A-10 conference.
That's hot -- and people know it.
Coach Tammi Reiss this week was selected ESPNW National Coach of the Week (Feb. 14, 2022).
NOT
Resume Problems
Kevin Lanni, Brett Smiley's apparent pick for police chief, told the crowd at a forum on Wednesday night, he is a lifelong Providence resident. That wasn't true. He lived much of his adult life in Scituate, Lincoln, and Cranston.
Smiley said he was educated at Providence Public Schools. That wasn't true either.
NOT
Worst Roads
Rhode Island has the worst roads in the United States, according to a new study by Construction Coverage.
The study reports that 38.8% of Rhode Island roads are in poor condition.
Peter Alviti has been the RI Department of Transportation's director since 2015.
NOT
The State of the State of the Union
The screaming by backbenchers during the President's speech was disrespectful and immature -- regardless of who the President is and who the backbenchers are.
