ART! Sandplay, a participatory exhibit at Providence College

Opening Wednesday, February 19, at PCG’s Reilly Gallery, Sandplay brings together artists Mirthe Berentsen and Martín La Roche in a participatory exploration of storytelling, memory, and connection, posing the question: How do personal objects shape our stories and connect us to others?  The artists’ collaboration stems from their personal experiences with the Beautiful Distress artist-in-residence program at Kings County Hospital in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. 

At the heart of Sandplay is a participatory installation inspired by Jungian psychoanalyst Dora Kalff and her hands-on therapeutic method. A large sandbox accompanied by an eclectic collection of objects—miniatures, toys, natural materials, and everyday items—becomes a space where visitors create and share their own narratives. By embracing storytelling as a communal act, this project seeks to cultivate collective curiosity and care. 

Join us for a tour of the exhibition with the artists and curator Carol Stakenas 5pm to 7pm on Wednesday, February 19 at the Reilly Gallery, Smith Center for the Arts at Providence College. A reception will follow. Free and open to the public.

More about the exhibit:

Sandplay explores the transformative value of storytelling and memories associated with tangible objects, posing the question: How do personal objects shape our stories and connect us to others?
Their work interweaves personal narratives with explorations of the temporary and transient, reflecting on how we remember and describe moments that shape our lives.

At the heart of Sandplay is a participatory installation inspired by Jungian psychoanalyst Dora Kalff and her hands-on therapeutic method. The installation features a sandbox surrounded by an eclectic collection of objects— miniatures, toys, natural materials, and everyday trinkets. Visitors can arrange
the objects in the sandbox, creating their own open-ended narratives. By embracing storytelling as a communal act, this exhibition seeks to foster meaningful connections and cultivate curiosity and care.

The exhibition also features individual works. Berentsen’s project, The Right To Be Forgotten (2021), documents the process of emptying her family home through photographs, a table sculpture with ceramic objects, and “Story Stacks”—printed stories visitors are encouraged to take. This multi-media
exploration of memory and loss, embodies both the elusive and tactile nature of memory-keeping.

La Roche’s “Gamma Colors” (2019), a reimagined color library created with participants in the Partial Hospitalization Program at Kings County Hospital’s Behavioral Health Center, invites reflection on how we perceive and describe the world. These works further focus on the transformative power of storytelling, personal narratives, and shared artistic processes. The exhibition emphasizes multilingual accessibility with English, Spanish, and Dutch materials, extending its linguistic reach to resonate with
various audiences and cultures.

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Contour: Selections from the Collection is also on view in the Hunt-Cavanagh Gallery through March 1, 2025

Contour showcases prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, and sculptures from Providence College’s permanent collection. Offering a resource for study and reflection, the exhibition examines how artists define and rethink the edges of form, composition, and meaning. On view for two more weeks—don’t miss it!

Artists: Elizabeth Atterbury, Susan Giles, Vivian Greven, Malvina Hoffman, Will Hutnick (PC ’07), Baseera Khan, Käthe Kollwitz, Miller & Shellabarger, Joiri Minaya, Mark Tobey, Stephen Vitiello, and Robert Wilson.