Five Questions With: Anna Thompson

Anna Thompson is the studio art coordinator for the Cove Center, part of The Groden Network in Providence. She has worked with the organization for the past two years. She is a practicing sculptor living and working in Providence.

Thompson has a bachelor’s degree from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., and a master’s degree in sculpture from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Detroit. Her accolades also include teaching at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

PBN: What was the catalyst for the Cove Center pop-up shop, located at 233 Westminster St. in Providence, and is this its first year?

THOMPSON: The catalyst for the pop-up store came from a need to find the right outlet for our artwork. I believed the holiday season was where we needed to focus our energy. This summer, I was selling our ceramics at a booth at PVD Fest and Margret Carleton from Craftland checked in on us. We got to talking and she said Craftland started as a holiday pop-up. I asked her to mentor me in creating our version. She met with me and put me in touch with the wonderful folks at Cornish Associates. They donated the space, I reached out to my colleges at Edge and End, Flying Shuttles and RHD-RI, Margaret donated some wonderful store fixtures and the rest is history.

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PBN: Who are the artists and from where are the works sourced?

THOMPSON: The artists are developmental- and intellectually disabled adults who spend their days at the Cove Center, Flying Shuttles, or RHD-RI. We also have work from Edge and End, which is a woodworking company that hires our guys to do the sanding and finishing. Because we are supporting adults, we are trying to develop employment opportunities – and it results in a lot of beautiful artwork for sale.

PBN: What types of art are for sale at the Cove pop-up and what are their price points?

THOMPSON: We have ceramics, sculpture, paintings, drawings, woodworking, textiles – rugs, pillows, scarfs and wall hangings – and holiday decorations. We have items ranging from $5 for an ornament to $1,200 for a 10-foot farmhouse table. We also have beautiful plants that we grow at the Groden Greenhouse as another employment program. [We’re selling] poinsettias for $15.

PBN: What do sales from the shop support?

THOMPSON: The sales go mostly to the artists and a bit to help continue the programs at the Cove Center.

PBN: When’s the last day to shop at the Cove pop-up and what are the store’s hours?

THOMPSON: Dec. 23 is our last day. The shop is open Tuesday through Sunday [from] 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. We will also be offering gift-wrapping by donation in the space, and whenever possible we will have artists working on projects that are for sale in the space.

Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.