RWU Student-Curated Photo Exhibit Explores Bristol's Past -- and Present

By Samantha Kessler

As local residents of and neighbors to the town of Bristol, it is easy to forget the deeply rooted history we live amidst. For example, who is Metacom Avenue named after? Why is the DeWolf family name so prominent in the town? What used to be on the land where Mrs. Perry’s Garden now exists? And, most importantly, why should we care?

From Nov. 20 to Dec. 20, an exhibit at the Bristol Art Museum will address these questions and so much more. A Roger Williams University historic preservation class designed the photography exhibit: “Bristol Past and Present.” Stephen Brigidi, RWU professor and photographer, has guided the class in uprooting some of the great debates, tragedies, and successes that have made Bristol what it is today. That information will be displayed in photographs of past and present iconic buildings, streets, parks, and landmarks known to Bristol.

The project was funded in part by the RI Committee for Humanities for its collaborative nature and public engagement. Students not only partnered with the Bristol Art Museum, but also the Bristol Historic Preservation Society, scholars, and residents of the town of Bristol.

On Dec. 6, students will hold a public panel at the museum. There, two local scholars will join in discussion moderated by Brigidi and two of his students. The two scholars are Professor Emeritus Kevin Jordan, founder of the RWU Historic Preservation program and board member of the Bristol Historic Preservation Society, and Professor Catherin Zipf, an adjunct architecture faculty member specializing in modernism. The panel will stir discussion surrounding the public opinions of various changes in Bristol over time.

For example, the Pastime Theater, a 1934 art deco building, was torn down to make way for the Colt Andrews School Annex. There was much controversy over this event, and whether or not it was a good choice is still debated to this day. The discussion of this subject at the panel will touch upon the resulting conversation: “Was it a good thing to lose a theater and part of cultural offerings in Bristol? Or was it better that we did away with that and added onto the school for the sake of the children? [The] issue did become what’s in the best interest of the common good of Bristol,” Brigidi stated when describing topics to be focused on at the panel.

Discussions like this one and so much more will be addressed at the Bristol Past and Present public panel. Seeking to intrigue local community members and those with an appreciation for art and history, this exhibit, along with panel discussion, will increase the connection individuals have with the town of Bristol — through eye-opening exhibition of its historical roots and changes through time.

Samantha Kessler is a fourth-year student at Roger Williams University and a writing intern for the Community Partnerships Center.

Photos: The same Bristol house as seen in 1900 and in 2015. (Modern photo courtesy Stephan Brigidi)

Group photo: the class that designed the exhibit.