Adventure Time by Natalia Rak (2015) + She Never Came by BEZT (2015)

Building name: Arnold Building/Mathewson Street Methodist Church

Arnold Building: William R. Walker & Son Architects Date built: 1923

Mathewson St. Church: Cutting, Carleton & Cutting Architects Date built: 1896

Cityscapes morph and change over time, providing contemporary viewers a chance to dig into old photographs to find remnants of what was. In researching historical photographs for this tour, our team was delighted to find sign painters setting up shop on the location of the Weybosset Facade, and, here, the Mathewson Street Methodist Church co-located with the Spaghetti Place, complete with a matchbook.

When the building behind the Arnold building was torn down, the Arnold building was in peril of being destroyed as well. In 2015, the space that remained between the Arnold building and Mathewson St. Methodist Church became transformed into a beloved touchstone for our community through the installation of two significant murals: She Never Came by BEZT and Adventure Time by Natalia Rak.

These murals converted a parking lot into a gathering place, anchoring Mathewson street as a destination for art lovers, and creating a nighttime feature on weekends with newly-installed permanent lighting. Located just off of Westminster street and in the heart of Downcity shopping and restaurant life, these works help to activate a safe and vibrant Downtown corridor.

About the artwork:

Adventure Time by Natalia Rak (2015)

Adventure Time exemplifies Polish artist Natalia Rak’s fascination with technicolor, playful, exaggerated scale, and framing a story within her art. She says she felt “the magic of a large surface,” which is visible in the surreal psychedelia of the world the girl is poised to enter.

Material: C2 Paint, Montana Gold Spraypaint

Artist IG: @nataliarakart

Sponsors: City of Providence,The Dean Hotel, INOPERAbLE, Adler's Design Center & Hardware, Blake’s Tavern

She Never Came by BEZT (2015)

She Never Came distills a story of unrequited love into a single moment. Its photorealistic quality evokes BEZT’s admiration for Norman Rockwell, while the surrealism of the rat pays homage to the street art tradition of Basquiat. This calm, quiet moment is a stark juxtaposition to the busy streetscape around it, inviting passersby to pause and reflect on its beauty.

Material: C2 Paint, Montana Gold Spray Paint

Artist IG: @bezt_etam

Sponsors: City of Providence, The Dean Hotel, INOPERAbLE, Adler's Design Center & Hardware, Blake’s Tavern