PROVIDENCE — Artists, musicians, and neighbors gathered at Farm Fresh Rhode Island on Saturday, offering thoughts and prayers, and remembering the loved ones lost during the pandemic and the dedication of essential workers.
A drum circle with Sidy Maiga started the COVID-19 Memorial event, hosted by Cristina Sev, creator of the Spark Up Podcast. There were performances by spoken word artist Christopher Johnson, accompanied by Big Lux on violin, as they recalled people lost in during COVID. Community MusicWorks musicians Minna Choi, Sebastian Ruth (violins), Chloë Kline (viola), and Miguel Vásquez (cello) performed music by George Walker, Bach, and Thomas Adès.
Students from The Manton Avenue Project gave a memorial performance, lighting candles in remembrance of those lost in Olneyville and in Greater Providence during the pandemic. The students included Jorge and Adonias Boj, Iysis DaSilva, Icesiss Harris-Dixon, Emmanuel Lemus, Tristan Miller, Jaylene Moreno, and Osiel Moreno Jr.
Artist Mark Oribello, from The Steel Yard in Providence, provided metal flowers that were mounted in 3D printed masks, provided by Christopher Wilczewski, of Functional 3D.
Finally, Father Joseph Brice, of St. Patrick Church in Providence, offered prayers of remembrance and peace.
The event was sponsored by Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island and ONE Neighborhood Builders. Special thanks to Jocelyn Foye and The Womxns Project for donating the use of a projector to present a slideshow with information provided by the Rhode Island Department of Health about the impact of COVID on Central Providence.
