In 2005...

On Sept.9thth, about 1,000 attendees came to the opening gala, held in the historic Pawtucket Armory, to dine on food donated by 60 area restaurants. The evening’s entertainment included the performances of the Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chas and the Rhode Island Firefighters Pipes & Drums. Meanwhile, many could see quality one-of-a-kind art work at the openings of the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative Gallery juried show and “Woven Expressions”, at the Slater Mill Gallery, featuring Laureen Hylka’s Visions of the Blackstone Valley, featuring a variety of scenes depicting the agricultural and industrial heritage of the Blackstone Valley. Also, at this site there was a design exhibit, featuring art projects to students of the Blackstone Academy Charger School with the assistance of RISD students and faculty. At Slater Mill, there was a showing of a Youth Art Exhibit that drew 75 entries from local public, private high schools (grades 9 thru 12), the Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club. The YMCA organized its “Family Fun Night” that evening at the parking lot across from City Hall, Roosevelt Avenue.

On Sept. 10th ,almost 20,000 spectators attended the City’s 6th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragonboat Festival to watch 32 teams in 45-foot brightly colored dragonboats race and to learn more about Chinese Folk Art and Dance. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Affairs Office in Boston sponsored the Ten-Drum Art Percussion Group this year. Other Chinese groups provided funding to hire the Gu-Zheng & Dulcimer Performance, the Chinese Yo-Yo Flag Dance, and Taiwanese Aboriginal Dancing.

On Sept. 11th, The Pawtucket Arts Collaborative organized its 1st Annual Pawtucket Exposed: Creative Spaces from the Inside Out. This self-guided tour allowed the public to discover downtown Pawtucket’s artist studios, galleries, and lofts. Maps were available at the City’s Visitor Center.

Meanwhile, across the street, the Slater Mill Family Fun Fest, brought together food,, arts and crafts, a workshop by the Providence Circus School, face painting, rock climbing, and sidewalk chalk painting. Entertainment included a musical performance of Slippery Sneakers Zydeco Band and a performance of “When Elephants Did Fly” by All Children’s Theater. A large sand sculpture of a dragon was created by Sandtasia.

On Sept. 13th, a staged reading of a movie scripts at the Visitor Center. This inaugural event announced the 2006 Pawtucket Arts Script Writing Competition. The competition will encourage film, TV, and short scripts to be set in RI and capable of being produced from a base in Pawtucket.

The next day, on Sept. 14th, the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative sponsored an evening with Malcolm Grear, a recipient of numerous national and international awards in design.

At the Stone Soup Folk Fest (Sept. 17th) at Slater Memorial Park , attendees could shop to purchase one-of-a-kind art work and listen to a first-class lineup of musicians including Carla Ulbrich, Dan Pelletier, Aztec Two-Step, Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams. On Sept. 18th, musicians at the World Music Fest included Jason Roseman Steel Drum, Mibbit Threats & the RI All Star Jazz & Blues Band, Nettukkusq, Mystic Jammers, Ashanti Spirit and Carlos deLeon.

During this weekend at Slater Park, Kazakh Aul of the US set up an authentic Kazakh nomadic yurt with all traditional accoutrements. Kazakh Artist, Daniyar Baldaralin, displayed his art work.

During the three week arts festival, Stone Soup Coffee House, at the Boys and Girls Club Art Center, offered three Saturday nights of great folk music that Atwater-Donnelly, Kathy Danielson, Antje Dovecot, Lindsay Adler, Bill Harley, Joyce Katzberg, Si Kahn, Trouz Bras, Catie Curtis, and Ingrid Michelson. Performers included: Joyce Katzberg, John Fuzek, Late Bloomers, Corinne Wahlberg, Kincora and Windharp, and Marjorie Thompson and Geoff Muldaur.

This year, Mirror Image sponsored its 7thth Annual Pawtucket Film Festival. At the six-night film festival, both short and feature length films, were shown. Filmmakers were present at the filming of their films and answered questions from the audience. Local musicians also played before the screening of the films.

Mixed Magic Theatre opened its 1st Annual Poets and Players Series on Sept. 16th. Two days later, on Sept. 18th, Providence Tango held an open house, offering free lessons. The Sandra Feinstein Gamm Theater gave a free performance of Crime and Punishment on Sept. 21st . Also, on this date Randy Rosenbaum, Executive Director of the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts, came to the City’s Visitor Center to answer questions about the State’s Arts Tax Incentive Program.

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew thousands of people into Slater Memorial Park on Sept. 24th, opened by the Street Corner Serenade. After the concert spectators watched a dazzling fireworks display.

The Fifth Annual Camera Contest concluded last year’s arts festival, sponsored by The Camera Werks. Winning photographs were chosen and appeared in the 2005 City Calendar.