Brooke Erin Goldstein, "Reverberations" Photo by Virginia Harold

Artist Statement:
As a textile artist, I use our human connection with fabric and repeating pattern to engross the viewer in an emotional experience. From the moment we are born our relationship with textiles begins. Color, texture and repeating patterns not only cover us but surround us. Fibers are the supporting players of our memories and daily actions. Using fiber and surface design to provide immersive, sensory rich, discovery based artistic encounters to people of all ages and backgrounds is what inspires me to create.
My work incorporates a variety of techniques such as quilting, fabric painting, digital and block printing, and surface design based drawing. The presentation of my work often manifests into immersive and/or interactive quilted room installations, narrative based wall pieces, small sculptures and large public art pieces. Conceptually, I explore ideas of community, childhood, relationships, communication, thought, feelings, and home. Mainly, I focus on creating a visual for the complex emotions we experience on our journey through life. I believe allowing us to “see” how we “feel” helps us as individuals and as a society to create a greater understanding of the universal human experience.
My work is designed to promote empathy. I do not use shock value in my art, even when I’m making pieces that deal with difficult subject matter. I use advanced color theory to establish a friendly invitation to the viewer as they approach each piece. I encourage viewers to project their own narrative onto the experience. I use methods of deliberate imperfection in every piece I create. This practice stems from my cultural and religious heritage, as well as, my study of other cultural groups' craft traditions. This commitment keeps the form human and vulnerable. The presentation is powerful and the finish is beautifully flawed. My work is a love letter to the inner child in all of us. Especially those that may feel alone in this difficult world. I want people to know that they matter and are valuable. That is my aim and calling in all of my artistic and creative endeavors.

Bio:
Brooke Erin Goldstein is an artist, curator and teaching artist living and working in North Providence, RI. She was born in New City, NY and began taking art and sewing classes at the age of 3 because she refused to leave the after school art studio when her older sister was being dropped off. She learned machine sewing at 6 from an amazing, chain smoking, Italian seamstress Carmella, who let her come in on Saturdays to watch Italian soap operas while learning on industrial antique sewing machines. She fell in love with quilting at the age of 10 from the arts and crafts counselors at Kenwood Camp that encouraged her to come in for all her free periods. Goldstein is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in Textiles and she mounted her first solo show in 2003.
Goldstein’s creative professional career started with her work as a technical, textiles and surface designer in the apparel department of Reebok. There she not only designed for consumer goods but also did projects for the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL. Shortly after leaving Reebok to pursue her fine art career Goldstein was invited back to collaborate on an installation for the Reebok Innovation Product Suite at Super Bowl XL.
As a self directed creative entrepreneur Goldstein co-founded and ran a creative pop-up exhibitions business called Kiosk PVD that won a Best of Rhode Island Editor’s Pick for Best Creative Pop-up. Goldstein was invited to attend the inaugural Sedona Summer Colony as part of the Providence Pod of Artist Community Leaders. Goldstein is dedicated to fostering creative community and is a former member of the Jamestown Arts Center Exhibition Committee. Previously, she headed the Rhode Island Jewish Museum Exhibition Committee.
Goldstein’s curatorial project Con/textile/ize at the Jamestown Arts Center was featured on the cover of the Newport Mercury in March of 2018. This show was nominated for the Dorrys Awards in the Best Group Exhibit of the Year. Her curatorial project Resurfacing at the Jamestown Arts Center broke new ground in accessibility for the organization by including a sensory room experience where patrons were able to touch the materials used by both artists.
Goldstein was invited as the Gordon School’s Britt Nelson Visiting Artist in its 21st year. She was the first artist in the history of the program to choose to work with all grades Pre-K through 8th and most faculty. She used the fabrics made with participants to create one large textile installation piece titled Family Kaleidoscope. Shortly after, Goldstein was invited as the 2018 Happy White Visiting Artist at the St. Andrews’s School in Barrington RI. In 2023 Goldstein was selected to be on RISCA’s Teaching Artist Roster. Her focus as a teaching artist is to encourage out of the box problem solving and individual empowerment through arts and crafts. She specializes in all ages and family workshops. Goldstein also teaches anti-capitalist personal finance to adult artists from all backgrounds based on her over 20 years of experience applying anti-capitalist ideals while existing and participating in a capitalist society.
Goldstein’s quilted room installation experiences have shown both regionally and nationally since 2003. Her quilted room titled Behind Open Doors at the New Bedford Art Museum was her first solo museum show. Her quilted hallway installation From Black to Blue Skys and Everything in Between at the Newport Art Museum was purchased by the museum for their permanent collection. From 2022 to 2023 her installation titled Reverberations saw 23,014 visitors over the course of its run at the Missouri Botanical Garden Sachs Museum and was prominently featured in a St. Louis NPR piece. Most recently in 2024, Reverberations was was shown in its newest iteration at the Lindemann Performing Arts Center at Brown University as part of the highly impactful Ignite Series. Goldstein was commissioned to create a public art piece Space & Time that was on display at the train station in downtown Providence RI from March through June 2023. Goldstein loves the accessibility that public art provides viewers and is working to make it a signifiant part of her practice moving forward.