By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — The arts-friendly city of Pawtucket was chosen this year to host an exhibition of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) annual fellowship award recipients.

The 2008 RISCA Fellowship Exhibition will present 28 artists at the Machines with Magnets gallery, 400 Main St., Pawtucket, from Feb. 4 to 26. The public is invited to attend an opening reception on Tuesday from  5 to 9 p.m.
The RISCA Fellowship Exhibition is an annual event that showcases the works of Rhode Island artists who have been recognized by the state for artist excellence in their discipline. Fellowship winners receive a $5,000 award and Merit winners receive a $1,000 award. Artwork from each of these artists will be included in the annual Fellowship Exhibition.
“The Fellowship Exhibition is a great opportunity for Rhode Islanders to experience truly exceptional artwork by Rhode Island artists,” said Cristina DiChiera, Director of Individual and Public Art programs for RISCA. “No other statewide exhibition presents the combination of artistic excellence that is represented in the annual RISCA Fellowship Exhibition,” she added.
The show can be viewed during gallery hours: Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. Visual artists include David Allyn, Eamon Brown, Jesse Burke, Liz Collins, Kevin Cunningham, Thomas Doran, Sam Duket, Steven Easton, Stephen Fisher, Jennifer Kodis, Lloyd Martin, Daniel Talbot, and Arley-Rose Torsone.
In addition, video installations will feature the works of choreographers Nathan Andary and Melody Ruffin Ward, and music by the music composiiton Fellowship recipients Gerald M. Shapiro and Nina Ott can be heard at listening stations in the gallery.
On Friday, Feb. 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. will be Fellowship Writers Night, when the literature Fellowship award winners will read from their recent works. Scheduled readings include Nehassaiu, Sarah Madsen, Brian Sousa,
and a performance by playwrite Bruce Reilly.

The public is still invited to two film screenings--the first on Friday, Feb. 22, from 7-9 p.m., when audience members can talk with the filmmakers, and Saturday, Feb. 23, from 2-4 p.m. for a screening only. Featured will be work by Matt Brinkman and Xander Marro, Kendall Moore and Ju-Pong Lin.

Under the RISCA Fellowship Program, fellowships are awarded yearly in 14 arts disciplines and in folk and traditional arts. The purpose of the program is to encourage the creative development of artists by enabling them to set aside time to pursue their work and achieve specific career goals.

According to a press release from RISCA, the artists represented in the 2008 Fellowship Exhibition are teachers, non-profit professionals, and artists who contribute substantially to the cultural vibrancy of Rhode Island.
-30-