This activity was made possible in part by a grant from the RI State Council on the Arts, through an appropriation by the RI General Assembly and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts;
and by a project fund for the arts from Providence Art, Culture, and Tourism.

The Wall of Hope began with an idea: we can create a piece of art that brings the power of Hope to life in Smith Hill Library.

We learned new techniques…and invented a few of our own.

We didn’t know what we were going to do before we started – but colors have a mind of their own. Row, by row, a rainbow grew.

We had artists of all ages…the whole family could create together, whatever their age.

Cathren Housley and Alan Gunther, director of Smith Hill Library, Community Libraries of Providence, discuss the project with host Mario Hilario.

The Wall of Hope is up and installed in its permanent home at 31 Candace Street, Providence.

We sincerely Hope you will visit and experience the magic for yourself.

Imagination Takes Flight was a community collaborative project which took place in four of the Community Libraries of Providence branches. Wanskuck was the first completed. These birds are now flying across a 12 ft. wall in the children’s room.

We recycled old construction paper and painted it with a spectrum of brilliant hues, using multiple spatter, stencil and print techniques.

Everyone from the workshop helped to decide which paintings we would use to create our flock of birds.

After the backing forms were cut out from recycled cardboard boxes, the birds were assembled at ArtHouseRI studio using acrylic polymer to collage the paintings together, and jewler’s tools for a precision fit.

And our birds are ready to fly!

Come visit Wanskuck Library in Providence, RI where you can see for yourself – if imagination takes flight, there is a world of possibilities, just waiting to be discovered.

Come visit our flock at Wanskuck Library in Providence.

This project was made possible by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.

The Flag of Hope was a companion piece to the Wall of Hope. The Flag began as a simple collection of green cotton and stars. But to become a true Flag of Hope, it had to be a collaborative effort.

Our Wall of Hope painting team created the colors we would use to construct the background stripes, all of it cut into 3” squares and then pieced together.

In class, we painted a box to hold the squares that we made so that people could draw their own dreams and hopes for the future to add to the flag. We made a collection box for the finished squares.

All we needed now was a big crowd to share them with!

We were invited to be part of the URI Providence Gallery exhibit, Creating Peace, in September of 2022. It was a chance for us to collect lots of thoughts and images of hope from our community.

Our flag had a special corner, with a desk for people to write on. After the exhibit was over, we collected the flag and squares. Now we could finish our collaborative art.

We completed the flag by giving it hundreds of wishes for a bright new future.

The Great American Peace Flag is comprised of individual flags from 312 individuals. The GAPF made its premiere as the stage backdrop for Caroline Cotter’s concert to benefit The Peace Flag Project, in 2016.

The flag Trilogy is the result of a collaboration between artist Cathren Housley and The Peace Flag Project organization, founded by Ginny Fox. Volunteers helped to collect the individual flags. Construction space for the large scale flags was provided by the First Unitarian Church of Providence. Original project concept and design by Cathren Housley; all finished construction and color design was done by the the artist.

This 2nd flag of the trilogy made its premiere in 2018 at the Atrium Gallery, One Capitol Hill, Providence. Contributors to the project included Governor Gina Raimondo, Senators Whitehouse and Reed, Congressmen Cicilline and Langevin, and Mayor Elorza of Providence. Representing the cultural diversity of RI, The UAPF includes native Americans, immigrants, refugee families, the homeless, students, doctors, artists, children and Moms.

Some colors were enhanced to increase the visual impact of the flag.

The Children’s Flag of America is the third and final flag of the trilogy. The concept was to bring attention to those who do not currently have a voice in their own future – the children of RI. The CFA made its premiere at Peace Fest 2019, September 21, the International Day of Peace, at India Point Park in Providence.

Some colors were enhanced to increase the visual impact of the flag; the white stars were hand painted as part of the finished flag construction.

The acrylic paintings on this collaborative flag represent the seniors of PACE RI in Providence.


All six center paintings by PACE members; design, hand painted logo and construction by Cathren Housley

This collaborative flag represents the senior painting class of the Da Vinci Center.

Center landscape painting by members of class, acrylic on canvas; border block prints by senior members; design, renderings of Da Vinci drawings, and construction by Cathren Housley.

This flag represents the members of the Refugee Dream Center organization.

Acrylic paintings in center squares by organization members; Hand painted logo, design and construction by Cathren Housley.

The elements of this flag represent the Liberian Immigrants of Higher Ground Senior Center in Providence.

The brilliant cloth is from the Rukiya Center’s native Liberia. All border squares were decorated by members. Flag design, hand painted elements, and construction by Cathren Housley.

Commissioned work for Crazy Burger restaurant in Narragansett, RI. This reproduction of Van Gogh’s Cafe Terrace at Night resides in the outdoor dining garden and has withstood three hurricanes and many winters since its inception in 2011.

This reproduction of Edward Hopper’s painting, Nighthawks, was commissioned for the H.O.P. restaurant in Taoyuan, Taiwan. When the establishment was forced into a new location by the building’s new owners, the walls of the restaurant were all painted over – with the exception of this mural. The new owners kept the painting intact.

This detail is from a mural which covers all 4 walls of a child’s room. The paintings were commissioned by Heather Horton as part of a two room panorama.

This detail is from a mural set which cover all 4 walls of Madison’s room. The paintings were commisioned by Heather Horton of East Providence, RI.

This wall detail is from the Aikido Fudoshin K’ai martial arts dojo in Pawtucket, RI. The painting represents the spirit and intent of Sensei Shihan John Saviano’s art form and school.

This top-rated restaurant and bar, owned and operated by Nathan Miller and Sabrina Liu, is known for its stage and live music.

The small, narrow stage needed something to give it a sense of open space. Cathren Housley designed an alley way and cityscape that would add a new dimension to the wall.

Armed only with a piece of chalk and an unmarked length of metal frame moulding, Housley drew out the mural.
Assistant shown here: future baseball great, Jackson Miller

…and a city grows.

and the stage is set.

When someone accidentally knocked a hole in the wall, assistant Jackson Miller drew this fantasy space picture, and Housley filled in the colors. Teamwork!