J. Hogue has been documenting the changing architectural landscape of northern Rhode Island for over 20 years. In 2002, ArtInRuins started as a documentary project focused mainly on mill buildings and industrial architecture, as the real estate boom of the early-to-mid 2000s saw the demolition and redevelopment of many mills in the area. Since then, ArtInRuins has increased in scope to include information about the way Providence has been built and rebuilt over time, including houses, places of worship, and infrastructure such as the Jamestown Bridge. 

J’s presentation will cover some of the history and more notable demolitions that he and others helped capture. We will review a highlight reel of the most spectacular transformations as well. And finally, we will cover what we have been focused on lately; the degradation of the College Hill Historic District within the blocks bounded by Brook, Waterman, Thayer, and Cushing Streets. 

ArtInRuins has been featured in 10 interviews and articles, has been a contributing author to essays and exhibition catalogs, and has even curated an art show based on the theme of transformation. The site has become an effective way to collect memories and aural histories, gathering over 1800 anecdotes from people who lived near and worked within many of these structures. J. has personally taken his love of old buildings and tried his hand at being an owner and developer of a mixed-use commercial space in Pawtucket for 10 years. He lives in Providence with his partner and two children and works as a web designer. 

If you wish to attend this Zoom presentation please email us at info@eghps.org and we will send you the Zoom llink. Remember to add info@eghps.org to your contact list or check your spam folder.