Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - May 28, 2021

HOT

Finally Beginning to Get His Due

One of the most important painters in American history is finally getting his due, although not the profits.

A painting by acclaimed Rhode Island Black artist Edward Bannister garnered just over $277,000 at a Sotheby’s auction last week.

The owner who sold it, Dan Mechnig, who had purchased “Palmer River” by Bannister in 1985, spoke with GoLocalProv about what it meant to own, and sell, the significant piece of American art. 

Bannister spent much of his career in Providence and founded the Providence Art Club. 

“It’s an incredible national story — you won’t find it anywhere in the world, and we have it right here in Providence,” said Mechnig, who had originally bought the painting for $17,500 in 1985. 

Purchasing and Sharing a Piece of Rhode Island History

Mechnig spoke of his love of Bannister’s works, and especially how Bannister claimed First Prize in the Philadelphia Centennial in 1876 for his work “Under the Oaks.” 

Judges were shocked the work was by a Black man. 

“He’d go into all-white juries, and ask about ’number 54’ — and he’d say that’s my painting,” said Mechnig. “This was just decades after emancipation. Think of all that had happened. It was absolutely wonderful.”

Bannister became a founding member of the Providence Art Club, of which Mechnig served on the board — as well as President. 

“I say Bannister was ‘the’ founder,” said Mechnig of the group that founded the club. “If you go in the green room and see Bannister’s silhouette behind the door, there is the number one underneath.”

Read more here. 

HOT

Dune Brothers

Dune Brothers seafood shack is building out a new location on North Main Street in Providence

The seafood shack presently located near the Michael Van Leesten Bridge is now building a new location next to Providence Bagel and just one block north of the University Heights shopping center.

"Dune Brothers is the product of two long-time friends who share a passion for the food and culture of where they grew up in coastal New England — owners Jason Hegedus and Nicholas Gillespie," says the company.

The two initially launched with pop-up dinners and then they launched the shack on Dyer Street.

The new location is a former gas station and convenience store which has been vacant for years

No date yet on the timeline for the “unconventional local sustainable New England fish shack’s” new location.

HOT

This Speaker Is Mighty Popular

Speaker of the House Joe Shekarcki is mighty popular.

700 or more supporters showed up to pay homage to the new Speaker on Wednesday night.

Shekarchi was alrerady sitting on $1,165,531.26.

Could he be the first Speaker to exceed $2 million?

HOT

Resurgence

Scialo Brothers Bakery is back on Federal Hill in Providence.

The iconic bakery closed briefly in September 2020, after opening on Atwells Avenue in 1916. 

Rick Simone with the Federal Hill Commerce Association announced its return on Thursday. 

“I’m thrilled to announce the return of Scialo Brothers Bakery to [Federal Hill],” said Simone. “This renewed special Italian bakery is now open for all to once again enjoy and celebrate new traditions.”

Latest for Atwells Ave Business

As GoLocal reported in 2020, the building that houses Scialo’s was sold to investors — but according to Simone, the new owners wanted to find a way to make sure the bakery could return. 

“Everyone who was there [at Scialo’s] is back,” Simone told GoLocal, of the bakery’s staff returning.

Moreover, Simone proclaimed that the Hill is “back” after a devastating year — plus — during the pandemic. 

Simone said that in the coming days, to expect an announcement of “four more businesses and the expansion of two” existing ones.

HOT

Biggest Getting Bigger

The much-rumored mega-deal is moving forward.

Amazon has agreed to buy the Hollywood studio MGM Holdings for $8.45 billion, including debt, in a deal that transforms a movie company into a streaming asset for the e-commerce company.

The deal is another billion-dollar example of where the biggest companies believe the future is going — streaming.  

The deal is Amazon’s second-largest acquisition in history, behind its $13.7 billion purchase of Whole Foods in 2017.

WSJ reports, “The studio is best known for classics such as 'Singin’ in the Rain,' as well as 'Rocky' and 'The Pink Panther.' MGM has a library of titles, including the James Bond franchise, that, in contemporary Hollywood, is most valuable as an asset that can be used to drive subscriber sign-ups to Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service.”

The deal is likely to raise even more antitrust concerns for Amazon, which is already at the center of multiple international and U.S.-based probes because of its dominance.

HOT

He Is Back

Political consultant Jeff Britt is back.

The one-time operative to...well, the list is long, but Britt is back and with a cadre of significant corporate clients, including the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association, among others. 

HOT

Boston Bruins

The Bruins dispensed with the Washington Capitals in 5 games.

Could this be their first Cup since 2011?

HOT

New Leader in Town

Freshman councilor Jim Taylor pulled together the votes to become the new majority leader on the Providence City Council.

Good luck to Taylor, the council has been a bastion of instability -- over the past 5 years there have been 5 council presidents.

NOT

Narragansett Residents Pointing Fingers

People flocked to Narragansett Town Beach on an 85-degree day -- a week before it officially opens -- and according to reports, young people were drinking in public and smoking marijuana all day and then folks were surprised when problems occurred. 

No excuse for the behavior or the rioters, but time for the town to take some responsibility and don't blame it on "big-city" kids or "gangs" -- there were plenty of locals involved.

NOT

Honeywell

As the demand for masks is over so are the jobs. A total of 470 have lost their jobs in RI.

This further sets back Rhode Island's difficulty in recovering jobs from the pandemic. 

Honeywell said in a statement to GoLocal on Wednesday:

“At the start of the pandemic, when U.S. healthcare systems were faced with unprecedented demand for N95 respirators, Honeywell rapidly invested in establishing N95 respirator production at multiple facilities. To keep up with the sustained demand resulting from the prolonged pandemic, we invested in even more efficient, automated production lines.

We are now seeing a dramatic reduction in demand for N95s in the U.S. as many states are ending or scaling back mask mandates and vaccinations are being widely distributed. For these reasons, Honeywell is adjusting its N95 operations and ceasing manual production of N95s at our facility in Smithfield, R.I.

We realize this affects our valued employees and we are encouraging them to apply for other roles within Honeywell. Those eligible will be offered severance per Honeywell policy and local laws.

We appreciate the hard work and dedication these employees displayed in helping to protect American frontline workers battling the pandemic.  The U.S. remains Honeywell’s largest N95 manufacturing operation, and we will continue to deliver PPE to help protect workers on the job.”