
Community Portrait Project
Woonsocket has always been a city built by people. From the mills that powered the Industrial Revolution to the families, artists, teachers, tradespeople, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who continue to shape it today, the city's greatest resource has never been its buildings — it has always been its people.
Faces of Woonsocket is an ongoing community portrait project created to celebrate those people. Throughout the summer, residents are invited to step in front of the camera for a simple portrait and answer a short question about their lives, their hopes, or what Woonsocket means to them. In just a few minutes, each participant becomes part of a growing visual archive that captures the spirit of the city through the people who call it home.
This isn't about celebrities or public figures. It's about neighbors — the father bringing his family to a concert, the student with big dreams, the artist creating something new, the volunteer giving back, the lifelong resident who has watched the city change, the newcomer helping write its next chapter. Each portrait represents one voice. Together, they tell the story of an entire community.
The Exhibition
Every participant will get their own dedicated page on this website featuring their portrait and, when available, a short video interview — a living archive that future generations can look back on, not just to see what Woonsocket looked like, but to hear directly from the people who lived here.
Many of the portraits are also exhibited as large-scale public installations throughout the city, transforming parks, sidewalks, and gathering places into outdoor galleries where residents can literally see themselves reflected in their community. By scanning a QR code, visitors can continue the experience online, discovering the stories behind each face.
From the Archive
Join the Archive
Whether you've lived here your entire life or just arrived last week, every portrait strengthens this growing collection. One face alone is a portrait — hundreds of faces become the story of a city.