"India Point as Muse" was the title of a Fall 2008 art show at Providence City Hall. For these artists, India Point Park was a "subject and source of inspiration" (1). The concept behind this artshow reflects how vibrant and varied the park has become in the past few decades. The memories of these varied uses are visible in the park's landscape. A soccer field, playground and ever-present skateboarders have added memories of play and recreation to the older memories of work and trade. Though I don't know if this was intentional, the playground's design echoes the pilings in the water and the towers carrying electrical lines through the park.
The community message board was a bit outdated, so many community memories were stored there. The board had pictures from the most recent park clean-up, a children's guide for exploring the mural and park, and notices about public hearings and block parties. Perhaps the most striking thing on the board was a stunning poem concerning urban parks and the silence they create in the midst of busy cities.
Finally, I think it's worth noting that an important memory of the natural history of the area is also engraved on the park. Large, sparkling chunks of gray New England granite form the park's seawall, and a few blocks were purposefully left out in the circle of scrapyard artifacts:
Citations:
1. "Heartfelt Exhibit Celebrates the park at India Point in Providence," The Providence Journal 23 Oct 2008. 19 Feb 2009 <http://www.projo.com/art/content/wk-artscene23_10-23-08_N6C08IO_v12.1e66b83.html>
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