Mirthe Berentsen & Martín La Roche: SANDPLAY

Providence College Galleries is pleased to present Sandplay, an ongoing collaboration between Mirthe Berentsen and Martín La Roche, opening February 19 in the Reilly Gallery, Smith Center for the Arts. The exhibition explores the transformative value of storytelling and memories associated with tangible objects, posing the question: How do personal objects shape our stories and connect us to others? The collaboration between writer/artist Berentsen and artist La Roche originated from their participation in an artist-in-residence program organized by the Dutch organization Beautiful Distress at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, in 2017–18 and 2018–19, respectively. Their work interweaves personal and shared narratives, reflecting on how we remember and describe moments that define our lives and social connections.

At the heart of Sandplay is a participatory installation inspired by Jungian psychoanalyst Dora Kalff and her hands-on therapeutic method. A large sandbox accompanied by an eclectic collection of objects—miniatures, toys, natural materials, and everyday items—becomes a space where visitors create and share personal narratives. By embracing storytelling as a communal act, this project seeks to cultivate collective curiosity and care. The exhibition also features individual works. Berentsen’s The Right to Be Forgotten (2021–ongoing) is a multi-media exploration of memory and loss that embodies both the elusive and tactile nature of memory-keeping. La Roche’s Gamma Colors (2019), a reimagined color library created with participants at Kings County Hospital Behavioral Health Center, invites reflection on how we perceive and describe the world. Both artists embrace the temporary and transient. Their work uplifts the value of memories, the translation of personal experiences into mutual histories, and art’s role in providing a collective platform to listen to each other and share stories that might otherwise go unheard. 

Exhibition programming includes an opening reception and tour of the exhibition with Berentsen, La Roche, and curator Carol Stakenas beginning at 5pm on Wednesday, February 19. The opening and exhibition are free and open to the public. For more information here.

Sandplay is organized by Carol Stakenas, Director & Chief Curator of Providence College Galleries. Generous support provided by Mondriaan Fund and Providence College’s Division of Academic Affairs.

Contact: For more information and to arrange a visit, contact Providence College Galleries, pcgalleries [​at​] providence.edu.