In 2006…

On August 24th, the Pawtucket Red Sox brought the rock legend Boy Dylan & His Band, Jimmie Vaughan with Lou Ann Barton, Junior Brown and Elana James & The Continental Two to kick off this year’s Arts Festival at McCoy Stadium. Three days later, the City’s Riverfront Concert Series presented Dotty Zack & the Outlaws at Veteran Memorial Amphitheater.

Herb Weiss

On Sept.8th, approximately 700 people came to the festival gala, held in the historic Pawtucket Armory, to dine on food donated by 60 area restaurants. The evening’s entertainment included the performances of a well-known local Irish Band, The Gnomes, with an appearance of local comedian Charlie Hall. In addition, the public could view quality one-of-a-kind art work at the opening receptions of the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative Gallery juried show and the Northeast Basketmakers Guild Show “Waves of Tradition” at the Slater Mill Gallery located in the Visitor Center. Also at the Slater Mill 2nd Floor Gallery there was the “Youth Exhibit”, featuring student art projects from local public, private high schools and from members of the Pawtucket’s Boys and Girls Club. The YMCA organized its “Family Fun Night” that evening at the parking lot across from City Hall, Roosevelt Avenue and drew hundreds of children and their parents who participated in arts and crafts and watched a Disney movie.

On Sept. 9th, almost 20,000 spectators attended the City’s 7th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragonboat Festival to watch 36 competing teams race in a 45-foot brightly colored dragonboat and to learn more about Chinese Folk Art and Dance. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Affairs Office in Boston sponsored The Chang Sisters’ saxophone quartet and the Taiwan Aboriginal Culture Arts Group. Other local Chinese groups provided funding to offer demonstrations in traditional Chinese craft, and musical and dance performances. In the evening, Stone Soup Coffee House, at St. Paul’s Church, brought these folk singers to the stage: Joyce Katzberg, The Gnomes, Ryan Fitzsimmons, and Corinne Wahlberg.

On Sept. 10th, the Slater Mill Family Fun Fest, brought together food,, arts and crafts, music sung by Amy Famiglietti, face painting, rock climbing, and sidewalk chalk painting. Entertainment included a musical performance by Slippery Sneakers Zydeco Band and a performance of “Beauty and the Beast” by All Children’s Theater. At this event, a large sand sculpture of a dragon was created by Sandtasia.

Also on this afternoon at the historic Pawtucket Armory Rhode Island’s Fusionworks Dance Company performed. A walking tour of Church Hill Industrial District was organized by the Pawtucket Preservation Society to take a look at how mills were used before they became artist studios. In addition, the winners of the 2006 Photo Contest Winners, sponsored by The Camera Werks and the City of Pawtucket, were announced at the City’s Visitor Center. Also, Minor Swing, Steve Caddick & the Flying Elbows and the Soul “Ambition Band played at the “Downtown Music Fest at Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater.

Homegrown String Band

Also, during the first weekend, the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative and RICIR organized and sponsored the “Open Studio” tour which included over 50 artist studios in mills throughout the City. This self-guided tour allowed the public to discover Pawtucket’s artist studios in mills. Maps were available at the City’s Visitor Center.

On Sept. 11th, Executive Director Randy Rosenbaum, of the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts along with CPA Richard Streitfeld from Aaronson, Streitfeld and Lavoie, held a workshop at the City Visitor Center exploring business and financial challenges facing today’s working artists.

On Sept. 12th, a staged reading of a movie script by Don Levesque of “City Grille” was held at the Visitor Center. The script explored if ex-major league players find happiness and fulfillment after baseball at the City Grille, in Pawtucket. The event is intended to encourage film, TV, and short scripts to be set in RI and capable of being produced from a base in Pawtucket.

Fusionworks

At the Stone Soup Folk Fest (Sept. 16th) at Slater Memorial Park , attendees could shop to purchase one-of-a-kind art work from over 50 artist vendors. Pawtucket-based Dew Claw Studio gave Raku demonstrations to teach Japanese techniques of raku firing. Along with shopping, the attendees could sit and listen to a first-class lineup of musicians including the Rhode Island Firefighters Pipes & Drums, Tim Grimm, Jose Gonzalez, and Criollo Clasico and Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams. On Sept. 17th, musicians included Joanne Lurgio, the Homegrown String Band, Viva Quetzal, and Aztec Two Step.

This year, Mirror Image sponsored its 8th 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.

On Sept. 13th, The Sandra Feinstein Gamm Theater gave a free performance of “Mother Courage and Her Children.” Over 125 free tickets were made available at the day of this event to expose Pawtucket residents and Rhode Islanders to the excellent theater venue.

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew over 6,000 people into Slater Memorial Park on Sept. 16th, opened by the Street Corner Serenade. After the concert, spectators watched a dazzling fireworks display.