New Archive: Not Just Tapes
OPEN is pleased to announce a new archive: Not Just Tapes. NJT’s a set of over 600 Hindi-language VHS tapes from the 1990s – early 2000s. The tapes come from Not Just Snacks, a beloved Indian restaurant on Hope Street in Providence, RI. Local artist and educator Hannah Liongoren tipped OPEN off to their existence, and they were purchased from the restaurant in February 2026. The image above was taken in December of 2025.
Why purchase 600+ VHS tapes?
Their faded, multi-color pastel labels, arranged neatly in rows read like a lost Agnes Martin painting. Or maybe gene sequencing images? Or, as exactly what they are—beautiful rows of dust free vintage media in the basement of a local restaurant. It’s difficult to describe what it felt like seeing them in person. Just beautiful.
In addition to the movies they contain, the tapes invite us to think about diasporas, the importance of immigrant businesses in Providence, and about preservation, generally. They invite us to notice, learn, and share. They are not just tapes!
The team at Not Just Snacks even packed the tapes up for us! Above are a few of the boxes—all SWAD brand boxes that once held Toor Dal, Masoor Dal, Moong Dal, etc. Taken out of context, the stack reads less like a mung bean storage system and perhaps, more like sculpture? We think of Warhol’s Brillo Boxes, certain installations by Song Dong, those boxes Cory Arcangel displayed at the Whitney when his Plasma Screen Burns were on view, and locally, Dana Heng and Moy Chuong's amazing installation New Battambang Market (Providence Public Library, 2025). Easily one of our favorite exhibitions of the year in Providence.
So as of spring 2026, OPEN working on some ideas on how / where to display the tapes, host screenings, etc. We are hoping to partner with Rhode Island (artists, media critics, essayists, etc) who have both personal ties to Bangladesh and/or Northeastern India, and an interest in archives. If that’s you, please get in touch!
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Not Just Snacks has been bringing the tradition, simplicity, and warmth of Indian cuisine to customers in Providence since 2001. They offer a casual dining experience focused on authentic taste, flavor, quality, and service. They are open daily from 11am – 9pm at 833 Hope Street.
