The Steel Yard

If you’re heading down Kinsley Avenue toward Eagle Square and you’ve never heard of the Steel Yard, you might not expect to see much activity on the lot that formerly housed Providence Steel and Iron. A quick glance at the site, however, and you’ll see students talking over a metalworking project, ceramicists processing clay, a slate roofer loading up his truck, or groups of people installing freestanding metal sculptures or working on the Urban Agriculture Unit, a shipping container that has been converted into a greenhouse. Designed as a multipurpose community resource and industrial arts center by its founders, Nick Bauta and Clay Rockefeller, the Steel Yard does not limit itself to a single notion of service, preferring to emphasize a sense of possibility over a single, narrow project.

This openness allows the Steel Yard to respond to divergent requests. When the Providence Preservation Society’s Revolving Fund approached the Steel Yard with an Armory District restoration project, the Steel Yard was able to dispatch metalworkers to the project. Likewise, when RISD was looking for a new site to host an alumni event, the Steel Yard was able to set up its 5600 square foot shop for a party. And when local artist Dave Cole was invited by Mass MOCA to exhibit a large scale piece called the Knitting Machine (involving backhoes and giant needles made from telephone poles), the Steel Yard was able to sign on to offer storage space, technical assistance, and secure transportation.

By opening its doors and offering up its resources to a range of activities, initiatives, and ideas, the Steel Yard has created an equally open-minded and diverse community. This community will be in full swing on Saturday, April 30th, when the Steel Yard holds its first annual Spring Gala, a fundraiser and celebration that will feature food, drink, music, and art exhibit, and a bronze pouring demonstration. Tickets for the event, which runs from 7-11 p.m., are available online at www.thesteelyard.org or by calling 401-273-7101.