William Schaff

Warren, R.I. — William Schaff is not your typical Water Street merchant — in fact he’s not a merchant at all despite the storefront windows full of artwork and the tax bill the town keeps sending his way.
Schaff is an internationally known artist, and his “storefront” adds to the funky art scene on this often overlooked street edging the historic district along the waterfront.
Soft-spoken and humble, it’s difficult to reconcile Schaff with the bold graphic images of skulls, religious symbols and animal art that cover virtually every surface of wall space.
Keys, religious statues, animal figurines and other oddities that might spark an artist’s imagination fill in the spaces between Schaff’s art.
This is not art for the tourist looking for a scenic watercolor and Schaff is wellaware of that fact. “As nice as the people are in this town, this isn’t the kind of artwork people here buy,” said Schaff. “But the town keeps saying I’m a store and sending me a tax bill.”
Schaff said his work is more popular internationally, particularly in Australia, where he just shipped a $450 piece. His edgy pieces are also popular among alternative bands: one of the walls in his studio is filled with the cover art for alternative bands such as The Eyesores and Okkervil River.
Schaff followed another artist friend to Warren in search of a less expensive alternative to Providence. He bought the property he lives in now six years ago and rents out the two top floors and lives in the back of the first-floor studio.
“This is a blue-collar fishing town and, even with new people and new businesses moving in, it’s still unpretentious. That’s pretty remarkable considering it’s stuck between Barrington and Bristol,” said Schaff.
Like many artists, Schaff has had the odd second job and sometimes third job to finance his choice of pursuing a less mainstream arts career. One of those jobs was playing the quad drums in an 18-piece brass band that’s also garnered international acclaim. What Cheer Brigade, with its eclectic range from Bollywood- to Balkan-inspired pieces, has toured Europe and has a regular following in the states, said Schaff. As part of that band, Schaff said he regularly wore a monkey mask because he doesn’t like publicity.
While Schaff’s art may not fit with the area, he may be a kindred spirit with other artists on the street who are creatively financing their art careers.
Leigh Medeiros lucked into a living situation that allowed her to open Yes Gallery and Studio on Water Street. “Both floors were being rented as commercial space, and I couldn’t afford this space and the rent on my apartment,” said Medieros.
But after looking at the tiny second floor and realizing it had a kitchen she and her boyfriend decided to move in and give up their apartment. “It’s tiny and I have no storage space but it was the only way I could afford to open this gallery.”
Medeiros, an artist herself, represents about 30 artists from all over the country and as far away as a Japan. The current show is a collection of small pieces ranging from whimsical to more serious.
“I love the vibe here. There are a lot of artists here who are very talented,” said Medeiros. “There’s a real grass-roots movement between the artists and the business owners. It’s a real community environment.”
The waterfront community’s architecture is part of what attracted Medeiros to the area but the building where she works and lives may hold some of the most intriguing stories. According to Medeiros, it’s been a general store, a brothel and the studio of noted Rhode Island artist David Macauley, author/illustrator of numerous children’s books including “Cathedral” and “The Way Things Work.”
“I love it here. It’s not run-down, and it’s not slick,” said Medeiros.
Anna Cote, who recently opened Modern Printed Matter just off Water Street on Miller Street, was also attracted to the artsy vibe in this part of Warren.
A self-taught artist, Cote gave up a career as an environmental engineer to pursue an arts career and started out making graphic-printed papers and artwork in her home.
“Everyone in my family is involved in the arts,” said Cote. “I always did graphics on the side.”
At first she worked part time and spent the rest of her time trying to expand her graphics business, selling products on the internet and contacting retailers.
Her graphic, nature-inspired designs (also called Modern Printed Matter) appear on paper products, stationery, calendars and clothing. Since she started pursuing her graphics line in 2006, she’s managed to market her products to 350 retailers.
“I was working from home and my inventory was taking up too much space,” said Cote. “My husband said it’s time for you to move out.”
That’s when Cote found the store formerly occupied by the boutique clothing store Dish, which moved to a new site on Water Street and began selling her designs and other graphic-inspired clothing, giftware and stationery.
Cote, a Bristol resident, began looking in that town for a site but ended up in Warren. “I was looking for a space in Bristol, but it wasn’t the right fit for me,” said Cote. “My stuff is for a more funky crowd.”