RWU Faculty, Alumni Featured in WaterFire’s Summer Exhibition

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Roger Williams University's creative community took center stage at "Growing the NetWorks," WaterFire Arts Center's summer exhibition. Showcasing work from more than 100 Rhode Island artists, the exhibition celebrated collaboration and artistic innovation - with RWU faculty and alumni prominently featured among those making an impact.

Representing RWU in this year's show were Professor and Chair of Art Anne Tait, along with alumni artists Paulina Kobylar '18, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; Jordan Seaberry '20, who earned a Juris Doctorfrom the RWU School of Law; and Mary Dondero '80, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts. Their inclusion reflects the university's ongoing role in nurturing artists who shape the cultural life of the state.

"This exhibit is really about community," said Tait, a painter and printmaker whose mixed-media piece "Soft Glitter Doll" incorporates velvet, antique embroidery and salvaged glass. "It's exciting to show work in a space that brings so many artists together, and also to represent the university in that context."

RWU artists also engaged audiences beyond the gallery walls. Tait, Seaberry, and Dondero participated in a public panel discussion on Aug. 14 as part of WaterFire's Thursday programming, offering perspectives on their creative practices and the importance of community connection in the arts.

For Tait, what makes the experience especially meaningful is the presence of RWU alumni alongside faculty. "It's valuable when students see their professors and peers contributing to the art world locally; it makes creative practice feel real and relevant."