Fort Thunder
Encyclopedia
Fort Thunder was a warehouse on the second floor of a pre-Civil War former textile factory in the Olneyville district of Providence, Rhode Island
. From 1995 through 2001, the space was used as a venue for underground music and events, as well as a living and working space for the artists. Fort Thunder was started by Mat Brinkman
and Brian Chippendale
, who were the space's original residents along with Rob Coggeshal and Freddy Jones. Fort Thunder was known for its colorful posters promoting shows posted on walls around Providence. At various times they hosted costumed wrestling and Halloween mazes. The group of artists who lived and worked there is also sometimes referred to as "Fort Thunder."
Since the closure of Fort Thunder in 2001, former residents and friends of Fort Thunder have received acclaim in many areas, particularly in the genres of noise rock
, Underground Comix
, and contemporary art. Members of Forcefield, a collaborative project started at Fort Thunder, had their artwork included in the 2002 Whitney Biennial. In 2006, the Museum of Art at Rhode Island School of Design exhibited Wunderground: Providence, 1995 to the Present, an exhibition focusing on the underground art and music scene of Providence, with major reference to and inclusion of artists connected to Fort Thunder.
In 2001, the building was demolished by Feldco developers to make way for the parking lot of a Shaw's
grocery store.
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. From 1995 through 2001, the space was used as a venue for underground music and events, as well as a living and working space for the artists. Fort Thunder was started by Mat Brinkman
Mat Brinkman
Mat Brinkman is an artist and electronic musician from Texas. He was a creator of the Fort Thunder artist live-work space in Providence, RI. He recorded with the bands Mindflayer and Forcefield, who performed at the 2002 Whitney Biennial...
and Brian Chippendale
Brian Chippendale
Brian Chippendale is a musician and artist based in Providence, Rhode Island. Chippendale is best known as the drummer/vocalist for the bands Lightning Bolt and Mindflayer . He also plays saxophone and drums in a solo project called Black Pus...
, who were the space's original residents along with Rob Coggeshal and Freddy Jones. Fort Thunder was known for its colorful posters promoting shows posted on walls around Providence. At various times they hosted costumed wrestling and Halloween mazes. The group of artists who lived and worked there is also sometimes referred to as "Fort Thunder."
Since the closure of Fort Thunder in 2001, former residents and friends of Fort Thunder have received acclaim in many areas, particularly in the genres of noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
, Underground Comix
Underground comix
Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books which are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, including explicit drug use, sexuality and violence...
, and contemporary art. Members of Forcefield, a collaborative project started at Fort Thunder, had their artwork included in the 2002 Whitney Biennial. In 2006, the Museum of Art at Rhode Island School of Design exhibited Wunderground: Providence, 1995 to the Present, an exhibition focusing on the underground art and music scene of Providence, with major reference to and inclusion of artists connected to Fort Thunder.
In 2001, the building was demolished by Feldco developers to make way for the parking lot of a Shaw's
Shaw's Supermarkets
Shaw's, along with companion store Star Market, are wholly owned subsidiaries of Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based SuperValu. Together, Shaw's and Star Market comprise the third-largest grocery chain headquartered in New England; behind Stop & Shop and Hannaford, although Shaw’s is the largest grocery...
grocery store.
External links
- Looking for Graphic Lightning From Fort Thunder New York Times review of the Wunderground: Providence 1995 to the present show at RISD, including many Fort Thunder artists
- Some Thoughts on RISD's WUNDERGROUND from someone who was here and there. The online version of a print essay by Raphael Lyon on the subject.
- Fort Thunder Archive Archive of photos from old Fort Thunder web site.