Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - February 11, 2022
Analysis
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - February 11, 2022
This week's list includes Rogan's reality, Warwick's arts scene, and the growing JCLS embarrassment.
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 11, 2022
HOT
Superman Deal Inching Forward
As GoLocal outlined in August, the state and the ownership of the Superman Building, High Rock Development, LLC, have been negotiating a deal to transform the vacant building into a residential apartment hub.
The deal that continues to inch forward would include minimal event and retail space but the property would drive the transformation of the core of the city.
A good deal is critical.
HOT
Bob Walsh
NEA boss Bob Walsh is retiring after 30 years. He has been a major player in education and deserves a share of the credit for successes and failures.
He has been fair and generally accessible to the media. For a period, he was considering a run for the second congressional seat and he would have made that primary better. It will be interesting how things progress in his final legislative session and to see his next endeavor.
HOT
Bynum 27, Georgetown 22 in One Half
Against the Hoyas, Jared Bynum recorded a career-high 32 points, which included seven three-pointers and 27 second-half points.
"Jared put on a cape and had as good a performance as I've seen since I've been the head coach here," head coach Ed Cooley said. "It's a credit to the team to find him. I'm really proud of our resilience once again."
In the first half, the Hoyas battled the Friars and were energized -- leading by 5 over PC. But in the second half, Bynum outscored Georgetown by five points.
HOT
Warwick's Creative Talent
Michael Rose, GoLocal's art contributor, highlights the tremendous show in Warwick:
Located in the heart of Warwick on Post Road, the crenelated facade of the Warwick Center for the Arts (WCFA) is hard to miss. First established in 1974 as the Warwick Art Museum, the WCFA is home to a range of exhibitions, classes, and programs that bring art to the center of the state. On view through February 11, WCFA’s 2022 Member Show is a celebration of local art and artists. With a wealth of work on view, the show has plenty to see and offers a chance to examine what local artists are creating.
The exhibition boasts over seventy-five artworks by fifty-two artists, making it one of WCFA’s most popular shows. Artworks in a range of media, from paintings and photographs to sculptural assemblages and collages, are on view throughout the brick-walled gallery of the WCFA. Showing off the work of active WCFA member artists, the exhibition details some of the topics, themes, and styles that currently hold the interest of Rhode Island artists.
Many artworks in the exhibition play with texture and utilize multiple components. Two such works are inventive reliefs by Krzysztof Mathews. Employing found objects to create his assemblages, Mathews’ invites viewers to look closer in an attempt to untangle myriad elements. Other multi-part works in the exhibition include collages by Beverly Silva. In her art, visitors will find works by a creator who delights in putting together pieces to explore surfaces and whimsical narratives.
Other works on view are decidedly more pared down, but no less creative. Photographers Eric Hovermale and John Pitocco both explore the human form in their submissions. In Pitocco’s image, “Flying”, a woman is seen in mid-jump on a beach. Her red pants and white top are set against the muted tones of the shoreline at dusk. Hovermale’s image covers an almost identical subject but within the context of a studio and in a discerningly minimal style. Both photographs are well done and are enjoyable to compare and contrast.
HOT
Cheer Flower Farm
What Cheer Flower Farm emerged this week as the top winner of the second-ever Nonprofit Innovation Lab competition
They won $50,000 during the program’s SPARKED! final pitch competition to help bring their idea to life.
Coming in second and receiving $25,000 was Community Care Alliance.
And, Spectrum Theatre Ensemble placed third for $15,000.
The Nonprofit Innovation Lab is a joint program of United Way of Rhode Island and Social Enterprise Greenhouse that helps organizations to accelerate their ability to hone and implement unique ideas that create social impact.
NOT
No Meetings in More Than 10 Years
JCLS, a public body that spends nearly $50 million in taxpayer money, refuses to meet and adhere to basic Rhode Island laws for public meetings.
NOT
8 points
Brown University men’s basketball team scored 8 points in the first half in the team’s loss to Harvard.
Brown shot 3 of 25 from the field and 0-10 behind the 3-point line in the first half.
The Bears were down 29-8 at the half. Harvard won 65-50 at the Pizzitola on Brown’s campus.
Now, Brown is 11-13 on the season, but just 3-6 in the Ivy League and is now on the verge of being eliminated from the Ivy League tournament.
NOT
Joe Rogan
It is generally agreed if you repeatedly call Black people the n-word you shift from the category of decent person to raging racist.
He and Spotify are making a lot of money on this genre of content.
NOT
David Cox
URI is riding a 6 game losing streak.
Cox has one more year on his contract.
Will Rhode Island buy out the last year and move along?
