Jessica Renzelman's profile

Atlantic Mills: Documentary Series

This is an ongoing documentary research project and series of photographs taken at what used to be the Atlantic Mills complex in Olneyville, a neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island. Today, the industrial building has been converted primarily into a space for commercial use, with furniture stores and the Big Top Flea Market taking up most of the space. Throughout the research process, I became incredibly interested in the way the collapse of the mill industry continues to effect the economy of the Olneyville neighborhood. Olneyville, a town founded by the mill industry, was devastated when the mills were forced to close after World War II. Thousands of people lost their jobs, plummeting families into poverty. Even today, Olneyville has yet to fully recover from the industry's devastation. A staggering 41% of families in the neighborhood are in poverty. However, industrial buildings like Atlantic Mills serve as not only a reminder of the industrial days of Providence, but also the future of the neighborhood and its economy. The Atlantic Mills have been converted into a community and space for people to sell "whatever they can to make a living." It is a place representative not only of the struggle to survive and make a living, but also people's undying resilience.
 
"I sell whatever I can to make a living." -Eddie
Atlantic Mills: Documentary Series
Published:

Atlantic Mills: Documentary Series

An ongoing documentary series about the Atlantic Mills.

Published: