About the Festival

History – 2002

And our 2002 Pawtucket Convergence International Arts Festival was even bigger and better.

On Sept. 6th, the Big Nazo Puppets returned to entertain almost thousand attendees at the opening gala. Also, hundreds of people walked through the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative gallery to see the one-of-a-kind art work hung for the groups second annual members exhibit. Later that evening, movie lovers came to watch Cinema Paradiso (with English subtitles) by Guiseppi Tornatore, projected on the walls of a nearby mill building, with live music played.

On Sept. 7, almost 10,000 spectators attended the City's Third Annual Rhode Island Chinese Boat Festival to watch 38-foot brightly colored dragonboats race and to learn more about Chinese Folk Art and Dance, courtesy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Affairs Office.

The Pawtucket Arts Collaborative organized its 2nd Annual Trolley Tour. Three trolleys on a continuous loop to seven mill buildings brought art lovers to meet the artists in their studios, giving them an opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind artwork.

"Picture Frame" by J. O. Calderwood Photo by Barry C Doherty

Meanwhile, two permanent sculptures ("the Bench" by RI resident sculptor Andrew Oesch and "the Picture Frame" by New Hampshire sculptor James Owen Calderwood) were unveiled. Also, Internationally recognized Ccopacy loaned his 14-foot steel "Bird Lady" to the City for one year, with its dedication taking place at the Arts Festival.

Throughout the three week Arts Festival, musical performances included a wide-range of musical renditions: Blues, played by James Montgomery Blues Band; Folk music played by Bill Harley, Joyce Katzberg and Kathy Danielson, Kathryn Priestley and Alice Peacock at Stone Soup Coffee House; Classical music by Blackstone Valley Heritage Series Concert; Rock by Cloud IX, the Boys & Girls Club all girls Band; Irish by the Fourth Street Band and the Alleged "Celli Band"; and Swing by the Gary Sugal Big band. Finally, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew thousands of people into Slater Park for their concert.

Also, Mirror Image sponsored its 3rd Annual Pawtucket Film Festival. At the four-night film festival, filmmakers were present at the filming of their films and answered questions from the audience.

At Slater Park, during the second weekend, demonstrations and workshops took place on glass blowing, wood working, weaving Raku, and stone carving. Also our Second Annual Arts & Crafts Festival featured many talented Rhode Island and New England artists and craftsmen. Children's workshops drew hundreds of youngsters who created scarecrows, learned the art of yarn paining, and puppet making with recycled items.

On this weekend, the magic of puppetry was also experienced directly by both young and old at the Dan Butterworth and His Marionette Theater and Dusan Petran Marionette Theater. The Rhode Island BlackStory Tellers also brought the heritage of storytelling to all.

The fourth Annual Camera Contest concluded last year's Arts Festival, sponsored by The Camera Werks. Winning photographs were chosen and appeared in the 2003 City Calendar.