Valerie Tutson
Valerie Tutson (she/her) graduated from Brown University with a self-designed major, Storytelling As a Communication’s Art, and a Masters in Theatre. Valerie received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Rhode Island College. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Pell Award for Artistic Excellence from Trinity Repertory Theatre in Providence, RI. Since 1991 Valerie has traveled the country and world teaching, gathering and sharing stories and songs. Her repertoire includes folktales, personal and historical stories with an emphasis on black traditions, and first- person Bible stories. She works in all sorts of settings, from schools, libraries, festivals to churches, conferences, businesses and universities. Valerie is a founding member and executive/festival director of the Rhode Island Black Storytellers and FUNDA FEST: A Celebration of Black Storytelling.
In addition to telling stories, Valerie is committed to creating spaces for people to learn storytelling skills, and to share stories. Valerie believes in the power of stories, storytelling and story listening to help us heal ourselves and our communities.
The Storytelling AncesTree
Valerie Tutson, who creates spaces for people to learn storytelling skills and share stories, will be producing “The Storytelling Ancestree”, a participatory sculptural installation designed to commemorate neighborhood ancestries and stories. Inspired by both the formal and the metaphorical qualities of trees, the piece will allude to the form and structure of a tree, symbolizing a gathering space for the community to come and share their stories. The installation interrogates the significance of trees within the community and how they hold space, shade us, and comfort us. The AncesTree will be installed upon the same pedestal that formerly housed the statue of Christopher Columbus, and its “bark” will be composed of braided fabric strips upon which members of the community will write their names, taking agency in what gets commemorated in this space.
Valerie will also be organizing various related community gatherings and events anchored by the AncesTree — from inviting the community to write their names onto the fabric wrappings, to organizing storytelling sessions and winter giveaway drives.
On view:
July 26 – November 3, 2025
Columbus Square, 24 Reservoir Ave, Providence, RI 02907
Reception/Unveiling:
July 26, 5pm – 7pm
Additional Programming:
October 12, 1pm – pm
October 26, 11am – 2pm
