Pawtucket Arts Festival History
The Pawtucket Arts Festival: Twelve Years of Quality Programming
Kristine Kilmartin had recently married Pawtucket Rep. Peter Kilmartin and had only lived in Pawtucket for only a few months. The Smithfield native was driving through Slater Memorial Park in early January 1999 with her new husband when she asked why didn’t the City take more advantage of its green space. Kristine wondered why the City couldn’t do something like the Scituate Arts Festival in the City’s 209-acre park. The Kilmartin’s turned to Mayor James E. Doyle with the idea of creating an arts festival. After a month of meetings, discussion and planning the City created an 18-person committee to plan Convergence Pawtucket ’99.
It had been more than a decade since the Providence Parks Department kicked off its first Convergence Festival in 1989. Meanwhile Providence’s Convergence XII would expand the arts festival statewide by tying together other community festivals held throughout Rhode Island. Pawtucket’s planning committee, co-chaired by the Kilmartin’s, created its own festival in June 1999, tying into Providence Convergence, “with a local flavor.” Most of the committee members were city officials, civic leaders, local business owners and a few local artists. The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council donated staff time for six months to oversee the planning, logistics and implementation of the programming.
Since its inception, Pawtucket’s arts festival has created a citywide showcase of visual and performing arts, interactive workshops, music theatre and dance performances. Where else could you enjoy a wide variety of music from the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pop Orchestra, Duke Robillard Blues Band, Planet Grove, Blackstone Valley Heritage Series, or watch the Big Nazo Puppets, and the Dragon Boat races? Not to mention one-of-a kind art exhibits, attend the Everett Dance Theatre and the Sandra Gamm Feinstein Theatre performances, meet writers and filmmakers at a film festival, and much, much more. And where else could your children learn the art of making glass, raku pottery or carving stone and wood. Or even have the opportunity to create scarecrow or puppets. Only in the City of Pawtucket if you had attended one of our art festivals over the years.
Over the last four years, the arts festival has donated four permanent sculptures to the City, too. An original oil painting of the Hope Webbing Mill in Pawtucket, painted by internationally-recognized Gretchen Dow-Simpson, was also purchased in 2004 and donated to the City.
The art festival’s budget has grown in five years by leaps and bounds, initially set at $20,000 in 1999, the 2005 budget increased to $ 103,000 (over $ 60,000 will be allocated to programming).
At the beginning, only a handful of sponsors helped the City to fund its arts festival in 1999. But the support and excitement in the business community continues to grow each year. In 2004, more than 147 local business gave over $70,000 (over $110,000 raised through start-up funds, fundraisers, grants, registrations, etc.), including an additional $200,000 worth of in-kind donations (about half of this amount came from a donation of 6 dragon boats from Taiwan businesses and GTECH), and 60 restaurants gave us food and drink for our gala, making 2004 our biggest arts festival ever.
Attendance to Pawtucket’s Art Festival has grown too, over the last five years. Probably our 1999 arts festival attracted a few thousand attendees. Last year we saw more than 35,000 come to Pawtucket to participate in the events.
At the 2004 Pawtucket Arts Festival, $63,331 were allocated to programming that ultimately supported the livelihood of local artists, musicians, film makers, theaters, actors, and photographers (see 2004 Artist Participation and Fees). Our Rhode Island Philharmonic event allowed 80 musicians to be paid by the prestigious nonprofit to play at Slater Memorial Park. Ten artists opened up their studios to sell their art work during the Artist Studio Stroll. Thirty artists had the opportunity to sell their one-of-a-kind art work during the Stone Soup Folk Fest. Fifteen musical groups were hired by the festival to perform.
A Historical Look…
Specifically, our first opening gala, held in the City library in 1999 attracted about 35 people. Last year more than 1,000 people came to this opening event. Crowds at the Dragon Boat races have steadily increased too – from 2,000 at the first race, to over 20,000 last year. Over 6,000 people attended the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pop Orchestra Concert in Slater Memorial Park. We expect this number to dramatically increase this year, especially with word of mouth advertising that is now taking place.
The steady growth of participating artists, corporate sponsors, volunteers and attendees over the last six years indicates a quality program, well-managed, that has become a permanent fixture in the community.
The Pawtucket Art Festival has awakened a new pride in our community, and continues to stimulate our creative energies, along with having an economic impact on the City as well.
Pawtucket’s first arts festival, held in June 1999, offered the public a series of art-related demonstrations, concerts and displays to coincide with the annual popular arts festival of the same name in Providence. The arts festival featured performances by the world famous Jazz artists Dave McKenna, Scott Hamilton and Gray Sargent. Other performances included painting and marionettes from French artist Rowena Clark, classic music by the Portuguese group Duo Contracello (from Portugal) and the Charleston String Quartet.
Throughout this 16-day festival, music lovers also had the pleasure of listening to French-Canadian (Conrad Depot performing) and Celtic group Pendragon, Folk musicians Atwater & Donnelly, and Plain Folk. Workshops for children taught tile painting and how to create sculptures out of junk pulled from the Blackstone River. Other types of art included poetry readings, theater, and a photo exhibit featuring winners of a citywide photography contest, appropriately named, “Pawtucket: A City in Focus.”
In the second year, Pawtucket followed the lead of Providence by scheduling the Convergence Festival for the first three weeks in September 2000. Pawtucket’s Convergence Executive Committee hired a Program Coordinator to plan a bigger and larger festival. More than 1,000 people came into downtown Pawtucket to kick off the City’s Pawtucket 2000 Festival. Hundreds came to see the opening gala held at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center. Across the street from the Convergence gala, more than 225 people attended the 20th anniversary celebration of Stone Soup Coffee House’s in its new home at Slater Mill Historic Site. Just down the street at Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater, more than 600 people came to watch chain saw-toting environmental artist and sculptor Michael Higgins and his Chain Saw Sorcerers create a large wooden sculpture.
Throughout the three-week festival, at lunchtime and on weekends, music lovers could listen to blues (New York System and Ken Lyons), folk music (Mary Ann Rossoni & Bill Peterson Folk Duo), jazz (Dixieland Trio) and latino music by Clave Logic by the tumbling falls next to Slater Mill. One evening, classical music, performed by the internationally recognized Blackstone Valley Heritage Series, echoed throughout the Pawtucket Congregational Church.
At this arts festival, Pawtucket’s Convergence Planning Committee brought art to children too. Parents and children packed Shea High School’s auditorium to watch the incredible Dan Butterworth’s Marionette show. At Slater Memorial Park, families came to listen to the Fiddling Gals, visited an Instrument Petting Zoo, and came to make scarecrows and clay sculptures.
For movie buffs, Mirror Image, Inc., a local business and Convergence Sponsor, organized the First Annual Pawtucket Film Festival held in the 100-seat theater in the City’s Visitor Center. At the state pier off School Street, hundreds of spectators came to watch the First Annual Dragon Boat Race & Festival. There was Chinese music and entertainment during the races.
In 2001, Pawtucket’s Convergence Planning Committee hired Donna Rochon, a local Pawtucket artist, to serve as Program Coordinator. This year, Ms. Rochon successfully reached out into the artist and ethnic communities and to neighborhood groups, nonprofit (Boys & Girls Club, YMCA), and Pawtucket schools to recruit members for both the Planning Committee and the Programming Task Force. A Diversity Task Force, co-chaired by City Interpreters Carlos Lima and Al Montijo, assisted Ms. Rochon in publicizing the City’s arts festival to Pawtucket’s growing Hispanic population, and to the Cape Verdean, and Portuguese communities. The Program Task Force met monthly to develop the final programming and schedule for Convergence Pawtucket 2001 by May 2001.
While expanding on musical and performing arts, the installation of sculpture was a high priority for the City’s art festival in 2001. The Programming Task Force sent flyers to local media and to hundreds of artist groups announcing a Commissioned Sculpture and Sculpture Competition. A six-member panel of artists selected two pieces of sculpture: Conocular; a work of welded steel by Rhode Island College arts professor William G. Martin, and Jacks, a three-piece environmental sculpture created by Providence-based sculptor Kenneth Speiser, a RISD graduate. Martin’s work was permanently placed at the front entrance of the City’s Visitor Center and Speiser’s sculpture was placed at Slater Memorial Park. A $1,000 grant awarded by the State Council on the Arts along with donations from Narragansett Electric and the Pawtucket Teachers Alliance enabled Pawtucket Convergence to purchase the two permanent sculptures.
In 2001, Pawtucket Convergence gained statewide recognition for its arts festival. With the guidance of more than 20 local artists, we booked great musical acts. At Slater Memorial Park, Duke Robillard, the internationally acclaimed “Ambassador to the Blues Concert,” Planet Groove, voted the best band in Rhode Island by a Phoenix Newspaper poll, and Clave Logic, a band that uniquely blends Latin and Rhythm & Blues music played to hundreds at Slater Memorial Park. “Classical Strings” Heritage Music Series played classical music to a packed house in the City’s Arts & Entertainment District.
Additionally, our 200 business sponsors allowed us to provide a wide variety of artistic programming that included a presentation by the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre, a film festival, a tour of local artists’ studios, and a performance by the Everett Dance Theatre, recognized as one of Rhode Island’s finest contemporary dance companies. Additionally, more than 1,000 attendees at the opening gala viewed an art exhibit, sponsored by the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative and photographs entered in the 3rd annual photo contest, “Pawtucket: A City in Focus.”
During 2001, Pawtucket Convergence,,children and adults were captivated by puppets of the internationally-recognized “The Big Nazzo Puppets” who brought their larger than life puppets and mask performance artists to the City’s Slater Memorial Park. Children also saw a great puppeteer from Yoricks Theatre. Lee Segal came back to teach children to make clay sculptures. We even had a popular program on making scarecrows. Local artists taught the art weaving, jewelry making, woodcarving and glass making to thousands of people at Slater Memorial Park.
Our 2nd Annual Dragonboat Race at the former state pier brought more than 5,000 people, some who came as far away as Philadelphia and New York, to watch exciting all day races and to experience Chinese arts and music. American Airlines donated 18 free round trip tickets to Taiwan to the winning boat. The estimated value of this donation was $60,000. Additionally, the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in Boston sponsored the Chinese performances that were held throughout the day of the dragonboat races. Pawtucket’s annual race is now being promoted nationally by other Dragonboat festivals.
The Providence Journal called Convergence 2001 “more truly convergent than any previous one.”
Pawtucket has taken great strides in offering a full range of arts at its arts festival, noted the August 28, 2001 editorial. “This year, Pawtucket shares top billing with Providence in its offerings of art, and nobody should be surprised. While Providence has been making its merry way as an arts venue, Pawtucket has taken great strides to overtake the capital in its commitment to art and artists.”
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 group’s second annual member’s 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 being 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 dragonboat 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.
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 traditions: 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 ‘Ceili Band”; and Swing by the Gary Sugal
Big Band. Finally, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew thousands of people into Slater Memorial 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 Memorial 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 painting, 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 Black Storytellers 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.
Our 2003 Pawtucket Arts Festival reached a new level in regards of programming and funding.
At the Opening Gala, on Sept. 5th, French Canadian band, “Le Vent Du Nord” played for hundreds outside while Providence Tango gave an indoor tango demonstration teaching the audience to dance. More than 40 local restaurants donated enough food and drink to feed over 1,000 attendees.
Also, at the Opening Gala, the crowds looked at dozens of artwork displayed at a juried mixed media art exhibit, organized by the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative along with over 100 photographs entered in the City’s 5th annual photo contest, “People, Places and Things in Pawtucket’s Neighborhood,” organized by The Camera Werks. At the gala, many visited the “Traditions in Sculpture,” a figurative sculpture exhibit presented by Pawtucket-based Kane Sculpture Studios. Eighteen sculptors from six states exhibited in PAF’s sculpture show, exhibiting 38 pieces valued at $783,200.
On September 6, over 15,000 came to the 4th Annual Dragon Boat Race at the School Street Pier. Included in this exciting all day race is traditional Chinese arts and music, courtesy of the Taiwanese government. At this event the Mayor’s of Providence, Cranston, and Pawtucket competed against each other with Pawtucket taking home the glass trophy, donated to the arts festival by internationally-acclaimed Steve Weinberg, a Pawtucket-based artist.
On September 7, over 700 art lovers took a trolley tour of artist studios in six beautifully transformed Pawtucket mills to see dazzling one-of-a-kind artwork and to meet the artists.
From Sept 13-14, the first annual “Stone Soup Folk Fest” and fine arts show was held at Slater Memorial Park. Crowds listened to a great line up of folk singers, including Paul Geremia, Jack Hardy Band, Suzzy Maggie Roche, and Lucy Kaplansky, Brooks Williams, Cliff Eberhardt, Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem and Vance Gilbert. Over 20 artists sold one-of-a-kind art work at Arts Fest 2003, within walking distance from the stage.
Also at Slater Memorial Park, bagpipe lovers came to listen to the Rhode Island Professional Firefighters Pipes & Drums performed. Families came to listen to storytelling by Melodie Thompson.
From September 10-15, Mirror Image sponsored a six-night film festival (with internationally-known filmmaker Michael Corrente attending on Sept 10.)
On September 18, a poetry reading by Norah Pollard, daughter of Pawtucket jockey, John “Red” Pollard, who is immortalized in this year’s blockbuster hit “Seabiscuit,” was held at the City’s Visitor Center. Greg Abate taught the history of jazz through his playing of musical instruments.
For folk music lovers, Stone Soup, one of the oldest coffeehouses in New England, began its 23nd season at the Arts Center of the Boys and Girls Club. Stone Soup sponsored programs were also held on September 13th and September 20th.
As in 2002, capping off the arts festival was the spectacular performance on Saturday evening, September 20, by the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. At the conclusion of the performance there was a 10 minute dazzling display of fireworks.
Ending the 2003 Pawtucket Arts Festival, winners of the City’s photo contest were announced with the winning photos appearing in the City’s 2004 Calendar. Approximately 132 Pawtucket students, 5th and 6th graders, at two elementary schools participated in this contest. After a professional photographer went into their classroom and gave them a lesson on photography, the students were given a disposable camera to take photographs of their neighborhoods. Each student entered a photograph into the contest. As in previous years, the winning photos will be placed in the City’s calendar. Some of last years winning photos were taken by Pawtucket elementary students.
Also, the Blackstone Valley Heritage Concert Series playing classical music at the Pawtucket Congregational Church.
For 2004
In May 2004, Diane Agostini started in the Planning & Redevelopment Dept. as the Program Coordinator. On Sept. 10th, about 1,000 attendees came to the opening gala to dine on food donated by 60 area restaurants. The evening’s entertainment included the performances of the SOS Big Band and the Narragansett Bay Chorus Barbershop Quartet. 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 hand woven items from some of Rhode Islands premiere textile artists. Also, at this site there was a visual arts (sculpture) exhibit by Jack Gresko. Across the street, there was also a
public showing of a Youth Art Exhibit at Slater Mill that drew 75 entries from local public, private high schools (grades 9 thru 12), the Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club, and the Pawtucket YMCA. Charlie Hall, of Ocean State Follies, served as the evenings Master of Ceremony.
On Sept. 11th, almost 20,000 spectators attended the City’s 5th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragonboat Festival to watch 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 kite flying by Taiwan artist, Buteo Huang, a Taiwan Photo Exhibit, the Taipei Folk Dance Theatre, and the Yam-Yam Puppets. Other Chinese groups provided funding to hire the Gu-Zheng & Dulcimer Performance, the Chinese Yo-Yo Flag Dance, and Taiwanese Aboriginal Dancing.
The Pawtucket Arts Collaborative organized its 4nd Annual Trolley Tour. Two trolleys on a continuous loop to four mill buildings brought hundreds of art lovers from the City’s Visitor Center to meet artists in their Pawtucket studios, giving them an opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind artwork.
Meanwhile, across the street at Slater Mill Historic Site, an Ethnic Heritage Festival was held to celebrate the ethnic diversity of the City. Dominican and Cape Verdian bands played along with Revels Circle of Song, a group of 40 singers that sang about the experience of the immigrants coming to America in the 1830s.
On the second weekend, The Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew thousands of people into Slater Memorial Park for their concert, opened by the Music School Jazz Band. In downtown Pawtucket, at the historic Pawtucket Armory, Aurea presented Under a Latin Sun, Latin-American inspired poetry and music featuring Charles and Consuelo Sherba, Nigel Gore, Emmanuel Feldman with Rhode Island Philharmonic Resident Conductor, Francisco Noya.
At the Stone Soup Folk Fest (Sept. 25th and 26th) at Slater Memorial Park , musical performances included Chris Thompson, Atwater & Donnelly, Martyn Joseph, Jennifer Roland, Rachael Davis, Humphries & Sandy O, Bill Staines, Patty Larkin, and Killaloe. Rhode Island’s hottest Rhythm and Blues Band, the Rockin’Soul Horns, also played on Sept. 26th at the downtown Veterans’ Amphitheatre.
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 included: Joyce Katzberg, John Fuzek, Late Bloomers, Corinne Wahlberg, Kincora and Windharp, and Marjorie Thompson and Geoff Muldaur.
This year, Mirror Image sponsored its 6th Annual Pawtucket Film Festival. At the six-night film festival (18 short films and three 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. Also, the Rhode Island Film Festival sponsored a pre-Pawtucket Arts Festival event by holding screenings of several films at the City’s Visitor Center in mid-August 2004.
Finally, the magic of puppetry was also experienced directly by both young and old at Yorrick’s Marionette Theatre. Also, young actors of the The All Children’s Theatre of Pawtucket troop presented “The Legend of Juan Bobo and the Horse of Seven Colors. “ The Gamm Theater opened its doors to its
play “An Enemy of the People, by charging “pay what you can.” Story teller Mary Begin, also brought the heritage of storytelling to all.
The fourth Annual Camera Contest concluded last years arts festival, sponsored by The Camera Werks. Winning photographs were chosen and appeared in the 2004 City Calendar.
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.
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During this weekend at Slater Park, Kazakh Aul of the US set up an authentic Kazakh normadic yurt with all traditional accoutrement. 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 Daielson, Antje Dovecot, Lindsay Adler, Bill Harley, Joyce Katzbert, Si Kahn, Trouz Bras, Catie Curtis, and Ingrid
Michelson. 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.
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.
On Sept.8thth, 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.
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.
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.
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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.
In 2007…
On August 24th, the Pawtucket Red Sox brought the Counting Crows, Collective Soul and Live to kick off this year’s Arts Festival at McCoy Stadium. Two days later, the City’s Riverfront Concert Series presented Vini Ames & Sh-Bop at Veteran Memorial Amphitheater. On August 28th, a workshop was held, featuring the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, the Pawtucket Foundataion and Streitfeld, Aaronson, Lavoie and Diaz & Co., to talk about “the business of art.”
On Sept 5th, the Gamm Theater presented a sneak preview of Bernard Pomerance’s Tony Award-winning play, “The Elephant Man.” One hundred and thirty free tickets were made available to person interested in attending the play.
On Sept.7th, over 2,000 people came to the festival gala, held at Slater Mill Historic Site, to dine on the food donated by 30 area restaurants and stores. The evening’s entertainment included performances of a well-known local Irish Band, The Gnomes, and C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band. At this event, a 23 foot sculpture at the Slater Mill site, was unveiled, loaned to the Pawtucket Arts Festival by Rhode Island Artist, Donald Gerola.
Also at the Pawtucket Library there was the “Youth Art 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 at the City’s Visitor Center and drew hundreds of children and their parents who participated in arts and crafts and watched a Disney movie.
On Sept. 9th, almost 15,000 spectators attended the City’s 8th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragonboat Festival to watch 36 competing teams race in a 45-foot brightly colored dragon boat and to learn more about Chinese Folk Art and Dance. Local Chinese groups provided funding to offer demonstrations in traditional Chinese craft, and musical and dance performances. Also, in downtown Pawtucket and in the Barton Street neighborhood, Machine with Magnets, the Grant, and the Barton Street Neighborhood Association offered music, craft fairs and art demonstrations.
On Sept. 9th, the Slater Mill Family Fun Fest, brought together food, arts and crafts, music and face painting. Entertainment included a musical performance by Slippery Sneakers Zydeco Band and a performance of “The Little Mermaid” by All Children’s Theater. Local Artist Sandra Solomon created a table art for the Pawtucket Public Library.
Also on this afternoon at the historic Pawtucket Armory Jump and Cadence Collaborative Dance Companies performed. A walking tour of Historic Downtown was organized by the Pawtucket Preservation Society to take a look at the historic properties. CACD also held a block party to feature Cape Verdean music and art. Also, Marty Swiatek & RBO layed at the Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater. Finally, free introductory classes in Swing, Tango and Salsa Rueda were offered by Providence Tango.
During the first weekend, on Sept. 8th and Sept. 9th, local Realty company, RICIR, organized and sponsored the “Open Studio” tour which included over 80 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. 14th, Hope Artist Village held its 2nd Annual Open House, featuring live music and one-of-a-kind art work in its galleries.
In the evening, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew over 8,000 people into Slater Memorial Park on Sept. 15th, opened by the Street Corner Serenade. After the concert, spectators watched a dazzling fireworks display. During the afternoon at the Stone Soup Folk Fest, also at this park, attendees could shop to purchase one-of-a-kind art work from over 80 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 Dave Rowe Trio, Magnolia Cajun Band, and Santa Mamba. On Sept. 16th, musicians at the Stone Soup Folk Fest also included Minor Swing, Jerimoth Hill and Forever Young, a Neil Young Tribute Band.
Also, on Sept. 16th, the winners of the 2007 Photo Contest Winners, sponsored by The Camera Werks and the City of Pawtucket, were announced at the City’s Visitor Center. The Rhode Island Watercolor Society also featured their 14th National Watermedia Competition attracting exceptional artists from around the US.
.This year, Mirror Image sponsored its 9th Annual Pawtucket Film Festival with the Rhode Island Film Collaborative. At the six-night film festival, both short and feature length films, were shown. Filmmakers were present at the nightly events and answered questions from the audience. Local musicians also played before the screening of the films.
In 2008…
On July 12th, as a pre-festival event, the Pawtucket Red Sox brought the Drop Kick Murphy Band to kick off this year’s Arts Festival at McCoy Stadium. On September 3rd, the Gamm Theatre presented Friedrich Schiller’s Don Carlos. The next day John Turco’s Comedy Clubhouse opened its doors to provide a free comedy show.
On Sept.5th, over 2,000 people came to the festival gala, held at Slater Mill Historic Site, that featured 35 of Pawtucket’s finest restaurants, bakeries and beverage companies, where patrons visited to taste a sampling of local and international cuisine. The evening’s entertainment included performances of a well-known local zydeco band, Slippery Sneakers, and internationally-known Buckwheat Zydeco. Also, the YMCA organized its “Family Fun Night” that evening at the parking lot at the City’s Visitor Center and drew hundreds of children and their parents who participated in arts and crafts and watched a Disney movie.
On Sept. 6th, almost thousands of spectators attended the City’s 9th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragonboat Races and Taiwan Day Festival to watch dozens of competing teams’ race in a 45-foot brightly colored dragon boat and to learn more about Chinese Folk Art and Dance. Local Chinese groups provided funding to offer demonstrations in traditional Chinese craft, and musical and dance performances. Also, that day throughout the City, RI Antiques Mall held an appraisal day, Mixed Magic Theater held “The Greatness of Gospel” concert at the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater, and the Magnolia Cajun Band played at the LeFoyer Club.
On Sept. 7th, the Slater Mill brought back it’s Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival celebrating the experiences, histories, music, and art of the many cultures and communities that built and continue to build Rhode Island and the nation. Featuring music by Joyce Katzberg, Santa Mamba, and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger band. All Children’s Theater performed its award-winning play, “Mill Girls.”
Also, on this afternoon at the historic Pawtucket Armory, Fusionworks and Cadence Collaborative Dance Companies performed. A walking tour of Park Place & Church Hill Historic District was organized by the Pawtucket Preservation Society to take a look at the historic properties. An Afternoon of Music & Poetry was held featuring Bohemian Quartet and Aurea at the Pawtucket Congregational Church.
On Sept. 8th, Donald Levine, the creator of GI Joe & The Almighty Heroes, came to Pawtucket to reflect how the nation’s most recognized toy was created.
The Pawtucket Arts Collaborative held its Open Juried Exhibit on Sept. 11th. The next day Hope Artist Village opened its doors to host its 2nd Annual Open House, featuring live music and one-of-a-kind art work in its galleries.
The next day the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew over 8,000 people into Slater Memorial Park on Sept. 13th, opened by the Shanagans. After the concert, spectators watched a dazzling fireworks display. During the afternoon, also at Slater Memorial Park, the Stone Soup Folk Fest featured a first-class lineup of musicians including Barnacle, Stingy Brimm, and Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayham. On Sept. 14th, Stone Soup Folk Fest featured The Low Anthem, Jim’s Big Ego, and Northern Light. Attendees could shop for one-of-a-kind art work from over 80 artist vendors during the weekend. Pawtucket-based Dew Claw Studio gave Raku demonstrations to teach Japanese techniques of raku firing.
On Sept. 14th, the winners of the 2008 Photo Contest “Doorways and Gateways,” sponsored by The Camera Werks and the City of Pawtucket, were announced at the City’s Visitor Center. The Rhode Island Watercolor Society also featured their 14th National Watermedia Competition attracting exceptional artists from around the US.
Nationally acclaimed jazz musician Greg Abate, performed at Hope Artiste Village on Sept. 19th. During that weekend, local Realty company, RICIR, organized and sponsored the “Open Studio” tour which included over 80 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.
This year, Mirror Image sponsored its 9th Annual Pawtucket Film Festival with the Rhode Island Film Collaborative. At the seven-night film festival, both short and feature length films, were shown. Filmmakers were present at the nightly events and answered questions from the audience. Local musicians also played before the screening of the films.
In 2009…
On July 21st, a pre-festival event, the Pawtucket Red Sox brought Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp to kick off this year’s Arts Festival at McCoy Stadium. Another pre-festival event, the 82nd Annual Greek Festival presented by the Assumption Church was held on August 15th.
On August 28th, over 1,300 people came to the festival gala, held at Slater Mill Historic Site, that featured 35 of Pawtucket’s finest restaurants, bakeries and beverage companies, where patrons visited to taste a sampling of local and international cuisine. The evening’s entertainment included performances of a well-known local Zydeco band, Slippery Sneakers, and internationally-known C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band. Also, attendees saw “Living Statues” portraying Samuel Slater, a Pawtucket Fire Man by Eric Auger, a local artist. The YMCA also organized its “Family Fun Night” that evening at the parking lot at the City’s Visitor Center and drew hundreds of children and their parents who participated in arts and crafts and watched a Disney movie.
On August 29th, the 10th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Day was cancelled due to heavy rain. (Because this event was rescheduled to September 26th, where attendees watched competing teams race in a 45-foot brightly colored dragon boat. The spectators also learned a little more about Chinese Folk Art and Dance.)
Heavy downpours on August 29th did not stop antique lovers from stopping at
RI Antiques Mall to shop for antiques and to get their family heirlooms appraised by experts. Dozens of dealers came to the shop the next day to answer questions about their antiques they offered for sale in their booths.
Meanwhile, “A Celebration of French Culture”, was rescheduled to August 30th and held at the City’s Veterans Amphitheatre. The program included Magnolia Cajun Band, Sidy Maiga, Joseph Scott, Karl Tieger, Donna Herbert & Daniel Boucher. Members of St. Ann’s Art and Cultural Center performed songs from American Broadway shows influenced by French composers. Other musical groups included the Polo Brothers and We Make Music Ensemble. Finally, the Le Regiment Bourbonnals, a Revolutionary War re-enactment group marched in formation at the site.
Also, on the weekend of August 28th, PeaceLove Studios Gallery opened its doors, featuring live music and one-of-a-kind art work in its galleries.
On August 30th, the Slater Mill again brought back its Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival celebrating the experiences, histories, music, and art of the many cultures and communities that built and continue to build Rhode Island and the nation.. Thousands experienced cultural dances and shopped for fine crafts. Music performed by Atwater-Donnelly, Joyce Katzberg, Ken Lyon, Pendragon, Bridget Fitzgerald, and French Toast. Other musical acts included the Fiddle and Dance Project, students from Community Music Works, Lydia and Yoruba2, and The Yankee Yeoman.
Also on this date over hundred antique cars were showcased at the Second Annual Antique & Classic Car exhibit presented by Apex and J.T. Leddy Auto Top Sales and Mixed Magic Theatre presented “The Greatness of Gospel:” Down by the Riverside’ featuring popular songs from the gospel tradition, directed by Ricardo Pitts-Wiley.
On September 3rd, artists attended the Business Basics for Artists presented by the Small Business Development Center and Rhode Island State Council for the Arts.
An evening of Music & Poetry was held featuring Aurea performing ”Under a Latin Moon” was held on September 5th at the Pawtucket Congregational Church. Rocktucket ’09, a day-long block party, presented by Machines with Magnets, The Grant, Make Magazine, Kafe Lila and Motif was held on September 6th.
Fall River film maker, Jason Caminiti, screened his 53-minute documentary, Pawtucket Rising, at the City’s Visitor Center on September 8th. The documentary told an unlikely story of the revitalization of the City of Pawtucket from a flourishing mill city that fell into decline to the greatest boom in decades. A post-showing discussion featured the film maker, Dr. Ann Galligan, of Northeastern University and Herb Weiss, the City’s Economic & Cultural Affairs Officer.
On September 9th, the Gamm Theatre presented Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Fred Sullivan.
On September 10th, the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative held its opening reception at the City’s Visitor Center, to showcase its Annual Arts Exhibit. Guest speaker Susan Dowling, a TV producer, discussed a video show from a PBS series about contemporary art and artist in the 21st century. Slater Mill held its opening for its American Quilt Show that evening at this site.
Also, on this date the Pawtucket Library show historical films about Pawtucket’s economic growth followed by a panel discussion looking at the City’s “Past, Present and Future.” The panel included Thomas Mann, of the Pawtucket Foundation; Paul Mowrey of the Elizabeth J. Johnson Pawtucket History Research Center;and Michael Cassidy of the City’s Planning & Redevelopment Agency.
On September 11th and 12th, the Community Plays performed Kitchen Witches at Jenks Junior High School Auditorium, a comedy about two rival cable TV cooks thrown together on one low-budget show.
On September 11th internationally-acclaimed jazz musician Greg Abate, performed at St. Paul’s Church. On that evening, Machine with Magnets held its Schwalter Ego opening at its gallery, Death Vessel and other bands played. Attendees could also look at photography, paintings, comics, and installations.
During the afternoon of September 12th at Slater Memorial Park, the Stone Soup Folk Fest featured a first-class lineup of musicians including Lindsay Alder, Superchief Trio and Santa Mamba. One day later, on September 13th, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew over 8,000 people into Slater Memorial Park, opened by the Shanagans. After the concert, spectators watched a dazzling fireworks display. Earlier that day, Stone Soup Folk Fest featured Ellis Paul and the Jason Spooner Trio. During these two days attendees could shop for one-of-a-kind art work from over 70 artist vendors during the weekend. Pawtucket-based Dew Claw Studio gave Raku demonstrations to teach Japanese techniques of raku firing. Wooden chainsaw sculptor, Billy Rebele, created artwork on-site on this weekend.
Also, on September 12th, the Rhode Island Watercolor Society also featured Paint Out Rhode Island attracting exceptional artists to show their work. Across town, Day for Kids Festival and the third annual Battle of the Bands competition was held at the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club.
On September 13th, a classical music performance by Jacqueline Devillers at the RI Watercolor Society raised money for the Pawtucket Animal Shelter. Later that evening the opening reception for the Paint Out-RI was held.
One day later, the winners of the 2009 Photo Contest “The Faces of Pawtucket,” sponsored by The Camera Werks and the City of Pawtucket, were announced at the City’s Visitor Center.
This year, Mirror Image sponsored it’s 10th Annual Pawtucket Film Festival with the The 989 Project. At the ten-night film festival, both short and feature length films were shown. At its opening night, the internationally-acclaimed Alloy Orchestra performed a live, original score for Man With a Movie Camera. At the screenings, filmmakers were present at the nightly events and answered questions from the audience. Local musicians also played before the screening of the films.
Finally in 2010…
On August 13th, over thirty antique cars were showcased on the City’s historic Main Street presented by Cup & Saucer (again on August 28th) and Mixed Magic Theatre presented “A Mid-Summer Nights Dream from August 5-8. Pawtucket Night Out, sponsored by the Pawtucket Neighborhood Alliance, helped to celebrate the arts on August 15th. Also, the 82nd Annual Greek Festival presented by the Assumption Church was held from August 20-22.
On August 27th, over 1,400 people came to the festival gala, held at Slater Mill Historic Site, that featured 31 of Pawtucket’s finest restaurants, bakeries and beverage companies, where patrons visited to taste a sampling of local and international cuisine. The evening’s entertainment included performances of a well-known local Zydeco band, Slippery Sneakers, and internationally-known Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble. Also, attendees saw “Living Statues” by Eric Auger, a local artist. The YMCA also organized its “Family Fun Night” that evening at the parking lot at the City’s Visitor Center and drew hundreds of children and their parents who participated in arts and crafts and watched a Disney movie.
On August 28th, the 11th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Day was held, where thousands of attendees watched competing teams race in a 45-foot brightly colored dragon boat. The spectators also learned a little more about Chinese Folk Art and Dance.)
Also, on this date, antique lovers from all over Rhode Island came to RI Antiques Mall to shop for antiques and to get their family heirlooms appraised by experts. Dozens of dealers came to the shop the next day to answer questions about their antiques they offered for sale in their booths.
On August 29th, the Slater Mill again brought back its Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival celebrating the experiences, histories, music, and art of the many cultures and communities that built and continue to build Rhode Island and the nation.. Thousands experienced cultural dances and shopped for fine crafts. Music performed by Joyce Katzberg (labor and tropical song); Pendragon (Celtic music and dance); French Roast (music from the Franco tradition); Fraternidad Folklorica Bolviana (music and dance of Bolivia); Sidy Maiga (song and drumming of West Africa); Marvelous Marvin (circus arts for children); Yankee Yeoman (character reenactment of the New England farmer and tradesman); Kung Fu Club of Rhode Island (Chinese Lion Dance); The Gnomes (World Music); Mohammed Antesar (Middle Eastern Lute music); The Old Fiddlers Club of Rhode Island (New England fiddle tradtions); The Whatnots (Rachel Panitch and contra dance music). The popular Simmons Farm Petting Zoo for children will celebrate farm and factory roots in Rhode Island.
On this day, the Pawtucket Preservation Society organized a tour of the City’s historic downtown looking at the past, current and future improvements being made to historic buildings.
On September 1st, the Gamm Theatre presented “Glengarry Glen Ross,” written by David Marnet and directed by Fred Sullivan, Jr.
On September 4th, the Pawtucket Red Sox brought Conductor Keith Lockhart, Conductor of the Boston Pops with Kenny Loggins to McCoy Stadium.
During the afternoon of September 11th at Slater Memorial Park, the Stone Soup Folk Fest featured a first-class lineup of musicians including The Double Decker Dance Band, afro-pop, reggae, and dance, Anne’s Cordial, a musical cocktail of folk, blues and retro songs, and the Gnomes.
Also, on September 11th, the Rhode Island Watercolor Society also featured an exhibit of work in a show called New England.” The paintings depicted scenes or themes of beautiful landscape in this Region. Across town, Day for Kids Festival was held at the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club.
One day later, on September 12th, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew over 8,000 people into Slater Memorial Park, opened by the Ronnie & The Satellites. After the concert, spectators watched a dazzling fireworks display. Earlier that day, Stone Soup Folk Fest featured Maria Sangiolo, children’s educational folk, Gypsy Romantiques, jazz and swing with a touch of Latin, and Forever Young. During these two days attendees could shop for one-of-a-kind art work from over 60 artist vendors during the weekend. Pawtucket-based Dew Claw Studio gave Raku demonstrations to teach Japanese techniques of raku firing. .
Also, on September 12th, RI-Sight, at Peace Studios Gallery, opened its doors, bringing together poets with visual and performing artists. The artists will debut original, genre-bending works created exclusively for this event which showcase performing, musical, visual and poetic expressions.
An evening of Music & Poetry was held featuring Aurea performing ”How Many Nights/A Galway Kinnell Tribute” was held on this evening at the Pawtucket Congregational Church.
On September 16th, Pawtucket Gallery Night brought art patrons in our City to visit the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative Gallery, Slater Mill Gallery, Peace Love Studio, Flying Studio, Antiquariate Galler7 and the Gallery at RI Antique Mall.
Rocktucket ’10, a day-long block party, presented by Machines with Magnets, The Grant, Make Magazine, and Motif was also held on September 25th. Throughout Pawtucket the artists in the City’s historic mills opened their studios on September 25th and September 26th to the public celebrating the arts.
On September 26th, the winners of the 2012 Photo Contest “Reflections of Pawtucket,” sponsored by The Camera Werks and the City of Pawtucket, were announced at the City’s Visitor Center.
On September 10th, 11th, 12,th 17th , 19th , the Community Plays performed “Your a Good Man Charley Brown” at Jenks Junior High School Auditorium, a comedy about America’s most popular cartoon character.
Also in 2010, Mirror Image sponsored its 11th Annual Pawtucket Film Festival with the 989 Project. At the six-night film festival, both short and feature length films were shown. At its opening night, the internationally-acclaimed Alloy Orchestra performed a live, original score for the silent classic film, Metropolis (a newly restored version). At the screenings, filmmakers were present at the nightly events and answered questions from the audience. Local musicians also played before the screening of the films.
Kristine Kilmartin had recently married Pawtucket Rep. Peter Kilmartin and had only lived in Pawtucket for only a few months. The Smithfield native was driving through Slater Memorial Park in early January 1999 with her new husband when she asked why didn’t the City take more advantage of its green space. Kristine wondered why the City couldn’t do something like the Scituate Arts Festival in the City’s 209-acre park. The Kilmartin’s turned to Mayor James E. Doyle with the idea of creating an arts festival. After a month of meetings, discussion and planning the City created an 18-person committee to plan Convergence Pawtucket ’99.
It had been more than a decade since the Providence Parks Department kicked off its first Convergence Festival in 1989. Meanwhile Providence’s Convergence XII would expand the arts festival statewide by tying together other community festivals held throughout Rhode Island. Pawtucket’s planning committee, co-chaired by the Kilmartin’s, created its own festival in June 1999, tying into Providence Convergence, “with a local flavor.” Most of the committee members were city officials, civic leaders, local business owners and a few local artists. The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council donated staff time for six months to oversee the planning, logistics and implementation of the programming.
Since its inception, Pawtucket’s arts festival has created a citywide showcase of visual and performing arts, interactive workshops, music theatre and dance performances. Where else could you enjoy a wide variety of music from the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pop Orchestra, Duke Robillard Blues Band, Planet Grove, Blackstone Valley Heritage Series, or watch the Big Nazo Puppets, and the Dragon Boat races? Not to mention one-of-a kind art exhibits, attend the Everett Dance Theatre and the Sandra Gamm Feinstein Theatre performances, meet writers and filmmakers at a film festival, and much, much more. And where else could your children learn the art of making glass, raku pottery or carving stone and wood. Or even have the opportunity to create scarecrow or puppets. Only in the City of Pawtucket if you had attended one of our art festivals over the years.
Over the last four years, the arts festival has donated four permanent sculptures to the City, too. An original oil painting of the Hope Webbing Mill in Pawtucket, painted by internationally-recognized Gretchen Dow-Simpson, was also purchased in 2004 and donated to the City.
The art festival’s budget has grown in five years by leaps and bounds, initially set at $20,000 in 1999, the 2005 budget increased to $ 103,000 (over $ 60,000 will be allocated to programming).
At the beginning, only a handful of sponsors helped the City to fund its arts festival in 1999. But the support and excitement in the business community continues to grow each year. In 2004, more than 147 local business gave over $70,000 (over $110,000 raised through start-up funds, fundraisers, grants, registrations, etc.), including an additional $200,000 worth of in-kind donations (about half of this amount came from a donation of 6 dragon boats from Taiwan businesses and GTECH), and 60 restaurants gave us food and drink for our gala, making 2004 our biggest arts festival ever.
Attendance to Pawtucket’s Art Festival has grown too, over the last five years. Probably our 1999 arts festival attracted a few thousand attendees. Last year we saw more than 35,000 come to Pawtucket to participate in the events.
At the 2004 Pawtucket Arts Festival, $63,331 were allocated to programming that ultimately supported the livelihood of local artists, musicians, film makers, theaters, actors, and photographers (see 2004 Artist Participation and Fees). Our Rhode Island Philharmonic event allowed 80 musicians to be paid by the prestigious nonprofit to play at Slater Memorial Park. Ten artists opened up their studios to sell their art work during the Artist Studio Stroll. Thirty artists had the opportunity to sell their one-of-a-kind art work during the Stone Soup Folk Fest. Fifteen musical groups were hired by the festival to perform.
A Historical Look…
Specifically, our first opening gala, held in the City library in 1999 attracted about 35 people. Last year more than 1,000 people came to this opening event. Crowds at the Dragon Boat races have steadily increased too – from 2,000 at the first race, to over 20,000 last year. Over 6,000 people attended the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pop Orchestra Concert in Slater Memorial Park. We expect this number to dramatically increase this year, especially with word of mouth advertising that is now taking place.
The steady growth of participating artists, corporate sponsors, volunteers and attendees over the last six years indicates a quality program, well-managed, that has become a permanent fixture in the community.
The Pawtucket Art Festival has awakened a new pride in our community, and continues to stimulate our creative energies, along with having an economic impact on the City as well.
Pawtucket’s first arts festival, held in June 1999, offered the public a series of art-related demonstrations, concerts and displays to coincide with the annual popular arts festival of the same name in Providence. The arts festival featured performances by the world famous Jazz artists Dave McKenna, Scott Hamilton and Gray Sargent. Other performances included painting and marionettes from French artist Rowena Clark, classic music by the Portuguese group Duo Contracello (from Portugal) and the Charleston String Quartet.
Throughout this 16-day festival, music lovers also had the pleasure of listening to French-Canadian (Conrad Depot performing) and Celtic group Pendragon, Folk musicians Atwater & Donnelly, and Plain Folk. Workshops for children taught tile painting and how to create sculptures out of junk pulled from the Blackstone River. Other types of art included poetry readings, theater, and a photo exhibit featuring winners of a citywide photography contest, appropriately named, “Pawtucket: A City in Focus.”
In the second year, Pawtucket followed the lead of Providence by scheduling the Convergence Festival for the first three weeks in September 2000. Pawtucket’s Convergence Executive Committee hired a Program Coordinator to plan a bigger and larger festival. More than 1,000 people came into downtown Pawtucket to kick off the City’s Pawtucket 2000 Festival. Hundreds came to see the opening gala held at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center. Across the street from the Convergence gala, more than 225 people attended the 20th anniversary celebration of Stone Soup Coffee House’s in its new home at Slater Mill Historic Site. Just down the street at Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater, more than 600 people came to watch chain saw-toting environmental artist and sculptor Michael Higgins and his Chain Saw Sorcerers create a large wooden sculpture.
Throughout the three-week festival, at lunchtime and on weekends, music lovers could listen to blues (New York System and Ken Lyons), folk music (Mary Ann Rossoni & Bill Peterson Folk Duo), jazz (Dixieland Trio) and latino music by Clave Logic by the tumbling falls next to Slater Mill. One evening, classical music, performed by the internationally recognized Blackstone Valley Heritage Series, echoed throughout the Pawtucket Congregational Church.
At this arts festival, Pawtucket’s Convergence Planning Committee brought art to children too. Parents and children packed Shea High School’s auditorium to watch the incredible Dan Butterworth’s Marionette show. At Slater Memorial Park, families came to listen to the Fiddling Gals, visited an Instrument Petting Zoo, and came to make scarecrows and clay sculptures.
For movie buffs, Mirror Image, Inc., a local business and Convergence Sponsor, organized the First Annual Pawtucket Film Festival held in the 100-seat theater in the City’s Visitor Center. At the state pier off School Street, hundreds of spectators came to watch the First Annual Dragon Boat Race & Festival. There was Chinese music and entertainment during the races.
In 2001, Pawtucket’s Convergence Planning Committee hired Donna Rochon, a local Pawtucket artist, to serve as Program Coordinator. This year, Ms. Rochon successfully reached out into the artist and ethnic communities and to neighborhood groups, nonprofit (Boys & Girls Club, YMCA), and Pawtucket schools to recruit members for both the Planning Committee and the Programming Task Force. A Diversity Task Force, co-chaired by City Interpreters Carlos Lima and Al Montijo, assisted Ms. Rochon in publicizing the City’s arts festival to Pawtucket’s growing Hispanic population, and to the Cape Verdean, and Portuguese communities. The Program Task Force met monthly to develop the final programming and schedule for Convergence Pawtucket 2001 by May 2001.
While expanding on musical and performing arts, the installation of sculpture was a high priority for the City’s art festival in 2001. The Programming Task Force sent flyers to local media and to hundreds of artist groups announcing a Commissioned Sculpture and Sculpture Competition. A six-member panel of artists selected two pieces of sculpture: Conocular; a work of welded steel by Rhode Island College arts professor William G. Martin, and Jacks, a three-piece environmental sculpture created by Providence-based sculptor Kenneth Speiser, a RISD graduate. Martin’s work was permanently placed at the front entrance of the City’s Visitor Center and Speiser’s sculpture was placed at Slater Memorial Park. A $1,000 grant awarded by the State Council on the Arts along with donations from Narragansett Electric and the Pawtucket Teachers Alliance enabled Pawtucket Convergence to purchase the two permanent sculptures.
In 2001, Pawtucket Convergence gained statewide recognition for its arts festival. With the guidance of more than 20 local artists, we booked great musical acts. At Slater Memorial Park, Duke Robillard, the internationally acclaimed “Ambassador to the Blues Concert,” Planet Groove, voted the best band in Rhode Island by a Phoenix Newspaper poll, and Clave Logic, a band that uniquely blends Latin and Rhythm & Blues music played to hundreds at Slater Memorial Park. “Classical Strings” Heritage Music Series played classical music to a packed house in the City’s Arts & Entertainment District.
Additionally, our 200 business sponsors allowed us to provide a wide variety of artistic programming that included a presentation by the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre, a film festival, a tour of local artists’ studios, and a performance by the Everett Dance Theatre, recognized as one of Rhode Island’s finest contemporary dance companies. Additionally, more than 1,000 attendees at the opening gala viewed an art exhibit, sponsored by the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative and photographs entered in the 3rd annual photo contest, “Pawtucket: A City in Focus.”
During 2001, Pawtucket Convergence,,children and adults were captivated by puppets of the internationally-recognized “The Big Nazzo Puppets” who brought their larger than life puppets and mask performance artists to the City’s Slater Memorial Park. Children also saw a great puppeteer from Yoricks Theatre. Lee Segal came back to teach children to make clay sculptures. We even had a popular program on making scarecrows. Local artists taught the art weaving, jewelry making, woodcarving and glass making to thousands of people at Slater Memorial Park.
Our 2nd Annual Dragonboat Race at the former state pier brought more than 5,000 people, some who came as far away as Philadelphia and New York, to watch exciting all day races and to experience Chinese arts and music. American Airlines donated 18 free round trip tickets to Taiwan to the winning boat. The estimated value of this donation was $60,000. Additionally, the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in Boston sponsored the Chinese performances that were held throughout the day of the dragonboat races. Pawtucket’s annual race is now being promoted nationally by other Dragonboat festivals.
The Providence Journal called Convergence 2001 “more truly convergent than any previous one.”
Pawtucket has taken great strides in offering a full range of arts at its arts festival, noted the August 28, 2001 editorial. “This year, Pawtucket shares top billing with Providence in its offerings of art, and nobody should be surprised. While Providence has been making its merry way as an arts venue, Pawtucket has taken great strides to overtake the capital in its commitment to art and artists.”
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 group’s second annual member’s 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 being 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 dragonboat 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.
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 traditions: 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 ‘Ceili Band”; and Swing by the Gary Sugal
Big Band. Finally, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew thousands of people into Slater Memorial 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 Memorial 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 painting, 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 Black Storytellers 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.
Our 2003 Pawtucket Arts Festival reached a new level in regards of programming and funding.
At the Opening Gala, on Sept. 5th, French Canadian band, “Le Vent Du Nord” played for hundreds outside while Providence Tango gave an indoor tango demonstration teaching the audience to dance. More than 40 local restaurants donated enough food and drink to feed over 1,000 attendees.
Also, at the Opening Gala, the crowds looked at dozens of artwork displayed at a juried mixed media art exhibit, organized by the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative along with over 100 photographs entered in the City’s 5th annual photo contest, “People, Places and Things in Pawtucket’s Neighborhood,” organized by The Camera Werks. At the gala, many visited the “Traditions in Sculpture,” a figurative sculpture exhibit presented by Pawtucket-based Kane Sculpture Studios. Eighteen sculptors from six states exhibited in PAF’s sculpture show, exhibiting 38 pieces valued at $783,200.
On September 6, over 15,000 came to the 4th Annual Dragon Boat Race at the School Street Pier. Included in this exciting all day race is traditional Chinese arts and music, courtesy of the Taiwanese government. At this event the Mayor’s of Providence, Cranston, and Pawtucket competed against each other with Pawtucket taking home the glass trophy, donated to the arts festival by internationally-acclaimed Steve Weinberg, a Pawtucket-based artist.
On September 7, over 700 art lovers took a trolley tour of artist studios in six beautifully transformed Pawtucket mills to see dazzling one-of-a-kind artwork and to meet the artists.
From Sept 13-14, the first annual “Stone Soup Folk Fest” and fine arts show was held at Slater Memorial Park. Crowds listened to a great line up of folk singers, including Paul Geremia, Jack Hardy Band, Suzzy Maggie Roche, and Lucy Kaplansky, Brooks Williams, Cliff Eberhardt, Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem and Vance Gilbert. Over 20 artists sold one-of-a-kind art work at Arts Fest 2003, within walking distance from the stage.
Also at Slater Memorial Park, bagpipe lovers came to listen to the Rhode Island Professional Firefighters Pipes & Drums performed. Families came to listen to storytelling by Melodie Thompson.
From September 10-15, Mirror Image sponsored a six-night film festival (with internationally-known filmmaker Michael Corrente attending on Sept 10.)
On September 18, a poetry reading by Norah Pollard, daughter of Pawtucket jockey, John “Red” Pollard, who is immortalized in this year’s blockbuster hit “Seabiscuit,” was held at the City’s Visitor Center. Greg Abate taught the history of jazz through his playing of musical instruments.
For folk music lovers, Stone Soup, one of the oldest coffeehouses in New England, began its 23nd season at the Arts Center of the Boys and Girls Club. Stone Soup sponsored programs were also held on September 13th and September 20th.
As in 2002, capping off the arts festival was the spectacular performance on Saturday evening, September 20, by the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. At the conclusion of the performance there was a 10 minute dazzling display of fireworks.
Ending the 2003 Pawtucket Arts Festival, winners of the City’s photo contest were announced with the winning photos appearing in the City’s 2004 Calendar. Approximately 132 Pawtucket students, 5th and 6th graders, at two elementary schools participated in this contest. After a professional photographer went into their classroom and gave them a lesson on photography, the students were given a disposable camera to take photographs of their neighborhoods. Each student entered a photograph into the contest. As in previous years, the winning photos will be placed in the City’s calendar. Some of last years winning photos were taken by Pawtucket elementary students.
Also, the Blackstone Valley Heritage Concert Series playing classical music at the Pawtucket Congregational Church.
For 2004
In May 2004, Diane Agostini started in the Planning & Redevelopment Dept. as the Program Coordinator. On Sept. 10th, about 1,000 attendees came to the opening gala to dine on food donated by 60 area restaurants. The evening’s entertainment included the performances of the SOS Big Band and the Narragansett Bay Chorus Barbershop Quartet. 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 hand woven items from some of Rhode Islands premiere textile artists. Also, at this site there was a visual arts (sculpture) exhibit by Jack Gresko. Across the street, there was also a
public showing of a Youth Art Exhibit at Slater Mill that drew 75 entries from local public, private high schools (grades 9 thru 12), the Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club, and the Pawtucket YMCA. Charlie Hall, of Ocean State Follies, served as the evenings Master of Ceremony.
On Sept. 11th, almost 20,000 spectators attended the City’s 5th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragonboat Festival to watch 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 kite flying by Taiwan artist, Buteo Huang, a Taiwan Photo Exhibit, the Taipei Folk Dance Theatre, and the Yam-Yam Puppets. Other Chinese groups provided funding to hire the Gu-Zheng & Dulcimer Performance, the Chinese Yo-Yo Flag Dance, and Taiwanese Aboriginal Dancing.
The Pawtucket Arts Collaborative organized its 4nd Annual Trolley Tour. Two trolleys on a continuous loop to four mill buildings brought hundreds of art lovers from the City’s Visitor Center to meet artists in their Pawtucket studios, giving them an opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind artwork.
Meanwhile, across the street at Slater Mill Historic Site, an Ethnic Heritage Festival was held to celebrate the ethnic diversity of the City. Dominican and Cape Verdian bands played along with Revels Circle of Song, a group of 40 singers that sang about the experience of the immigrants coming to America in the 1830s.
On the second weekend, The Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew thousands of people into Slater Memorial Park for their concert, opened by the Music School Jazz Band. In downtown Pawtucket, at the historic Pawtucket Armory, Aurea presented Under a Latin Sun, Latin-American inspired poetry and music featuring Charles and Consuelo Sherba, Nigel Gore, Emmanuel Feldman with Rhode Island Philharmonic Resident Conductor, Francisco Noya.
At the Stone Soup Folk Fest (Sept. 25th and 26th) at Slater Memorial Park , musical performances included Chris Thompson, Atwater & Donnelly, Martyn Joseph, Jennifer Roland, Rachael Davis, Humphries & Sandy O, Bill Staines, Patty Larkin, and Killaloe. Rhode Island’s hottest Rhythm and Blues Band, the Rockin’Soul Horns, also played on Sept. 26th at the downtown Veterans’ Amphitheatre.
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 included: Joyce Katzberg, John Fuzek, Late Bloomers, Corinne Wahlberg, Kincora and Windharp, and Marjorie Thompson and Geoff Muldaur.
This year, Mirror Image sponsored its 6th Annual Pawtucket Film Festival. At the six-night film festival (18 short films and three 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. Also, the Rhode Island Film Festival sponsored a pre-Pawtucket Arts Festival event by holding screenings of several films at the City’s Visitor Center in mid-August 2004.
Finally, the magic of puppetry was also experienced directly by both young and old at Yorrick’s Marionette Theatre. Also, young actors of the The All Children’s Theatre of Pawtucket troop presented “The Legend of Juan Bobo and the Horse of Seven Colors. “ The Gamm Theater opened its doors to its
play “An Enemy of the People, by charging “pay what you can.” Story teller Mary Begin, also brought the heritage of storytelling to all.
The fourth Annual Camera Contest concluded last years arts festival, sponsored by The Camera Werks. Winning photographs were chosen and appeared in the 2004 City Calendar.
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.
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During this weekend at Slater Park, Kazakh Aul of the US set up an authentic Kazakh normadic yurt with all traditional accoutrement. 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 Daielson, Antje Dovecot, Lindsay Adler, Bill Harley, Joyce Katzbert, Si Kahn, Trouz Bras, Catie Curtis, and Ingrid
Michelson. 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.
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.
On Sept.8thth, 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.
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.
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.
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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.
In 2007…
On August 24th, the Pawtucket Red Sox brought the Counting Crows, Collective Soul and Live to kick off this year’s Arts Festival at McCoy Stadium. Two days later, the City’s Riverfront Concert Series presented Vini Ames & Sh-Bop at Veteran Memorial Amphitheater. On August 28th, a workshop was held, featuring the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, the Pawtucket Foundataion and Streitfeld, Aaronson, Lavoie and Diaz & Co., to talk about “the business of art.”
On Sept 5th, the Gamm Theater presented a sneak preview of Bernard Pomerance’s Tony Award-winning play, “The Elephant Man.” One hundred and thirty free tickets were made available to person interested in attending the play.
On Sept.7th, over 2,000 people came to the festival gala, held at Slater Mill Historic Site, to dine on the food donated by 30 area restaurants and stores. The evening’s entertainment included performances of a well-known local Irish Band, The Gnomes, and C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band. At this event, a 23 foot sculpture at the Slater Mill site, was unveiled, loaned to the Pawtucket Arts Festival by Rhode Island Artist, Donald Gerola.
Also at the Pawtucket Library there was the “Youth Art 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 at the City’s Visitor Center and drew hundreds of children and their parents who participated in arts and crafts and watched a Disney movie.
On Sept. 9th, almost 15,000 spectators attended the City’s 8th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragonboat Festival to watch 36 competing teams race in a 45-foot brightly colored dragon boat and to learn more about Chinese Folk Art and Dance. Local Chinese groups provided funding to offer demonstrations in traditional Chinese craft, and musical and dance performances. Also, in downtown Pawtucket and in the Barton Street neighborhood, Machine with Magnets, the Grant, and the Barton Street Neighborhood Association offered music, craft fairs and art demonstrations.
On Sept. 9th, the Slater Mill Family Fun Fest, brought together food, arts and crafts, music and face painting. Entertainment included a musical performance by Slippery Sneakers Zydeco Band and a performance of “The Little Mermaid” by All Children’s Theater. Local Artist Sandra Solomon created a table art for the Pawtucket Public Library.
Also on this afternoon at the historic Pawtucket Armory Jump and Cadence Collaborative Dance Companies performed. A walking tour of Historic Downtown was organized by the Pawtucket Preservation Society to take a look at the historic properties. CACD also held a block party to feature Cape Verdean music and art. Also, Marty Swiatek & RBO layed at the Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater. Finally, free introductory classes in Swing, Tango and Salsa Rueda were offered by Providence Tango.
During the first weekend, on Sept. 8th and Sept. 9th, local Realty company, RICIR, organized and sponsored the “Open Studio” tour which included over 80 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. 14th, Hope Artist Village held its 2nd Annual Open House, featuring live music and one-of-a-kind art work in its galleries.
In the evening, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew over 8,000 people into Slater Memorial Park on Sept. 15th, opened by the Street Corner Serenade. After the concert, spectators watched a dazzling fireworks display. During the afternoon at the Stone Soup Folk Fest, also at this park, attendees could shop to purchase one-of-a-kind art work from over 80 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 Dave Rowe Trio, Magnolia Cajun Band, and Santa Mamba. On Sept. 16th, musicians at the Stone Soup Folk Fest also included Minor Swing, Jerimoth Hill and Forever Young, a Neil Young Tribute Band.
Also, on Sept. 16th, the winners of the 2007 Photo Contest Winners, sponsored by The Camera Werks and the City of Pawtucket, were announced at the City’s Visitor Center. The Rhode Island Watercolor Society also featured their 14th National Watermedia Competition attracting exceptional artists from around the US.
.This year, Mirror Image sponsored its 9th Annual Pawtucket Film Festival with the Rhode Island Film Collaborative. At the six-night film festival, both short and feature length films, were shown. Filmmakers were present at the nightly events and answered questions from the audience. Local musicians also played before the screening of the films.
In 2008…
On July 12th, as a pre-festival event, the Pawtucket Red Sox brought the Drop Kick Murphy Band to kick off this year’s Arts Festival at McCoy Stadium. On September 3rd, the Gamm Theatre presented Friedrich Schiller’s Don Carlos. The next day John Turco’s Comedy Clubhouse opened its doors to provide a free comedy show.
On Sept.5th, over 2,000 people came to the festival gala, held at Slater Mill Historic Site, that featured 35 of Pawtucket’s finest restaurants, bakeries and beverage companies, where patrons visited to taste a sampling of local and international cuisine. The evening’s entertainment included performances of a well-known local zydeco band, Slippery Sneakers, and internationally-known Buckwheat Zydeco. Also, the YMCA organized its “Family Fun Night” that evening at the parking lot at the City’s Visitor Center and drew hundreds of children and their parents who participated in arts and crafts and watched a Disney movie.
On Sept. 6th, almost thousands of spectators attended the City’s 9th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragonboat Races and Taiwan Day Festival to watch dozens of competing teams’ race in a 45-foot brightly colored dragon boat and to learn more about Chinese Folk Art and Dance. Local Chinese groups provided funding to offer demonstrations in traditional Chinese craft, and musical and dance performances. Also, that day throughout the City, RI Antiques Mall held an appraisal day, Mixed Magic Theater held “The Greatness of Gospel” concert at the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater, and the Magnolia Cajun Band played at the LeFoyer Club.
On Sept. 7th, the Slater Mill brought back it’s Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival celebrating the experiences, histories, music, and art of the many cultures and communities that built and continue to build Rhode Island and the nation. Featuring music by Joyce Katzberg, Santa Mamba, and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger band. All Children’s Theater performed its award-winning play, “Mill Girls.”
Also, on this afternoon at the historic Pawtucket Armory, Fusionworks and Cadence Collaborative Dance Companies performed. A walking tour of Park Place & Church Hill Historic District was organized by the Pawtucket Preservation Society to take a look at the historic properties. An Afternoon of Music & Poetry was held featuring Bohemian Quartet and Aurea at the Pawtucket Congregational Church.
On Sept. 8th, Donald Levine, the creator of GI Joe & The Almighty Heroes, came to Pawtucket to reflect how the nation’s most recognized toy was created.
The Pawtucket Arts Collaborative held its Open Juried Exhibit on Sept. 11th. The next day Hope Artist Village opened its doors to host its 2nd Annual Open House, featuring live music and one-of-a-kind art work in its galleries.
The next day the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew over 8,000 people into Slater Memorial Park on Sept. 13th, opened by the Shanagans. After the concert, spectators watched a dazzling fireworks display. During the afternoon, also at Slater Memorial Park, the Stone Soup Folk Fest featured a first-class lineup of musicians including Barnacle, Stingy Brimm, and Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayham. On Sept. 14th, Stone Soup Folk Fest featured The Low Anthem, Jim’s Big Ego, and Northern Light. Attendees could shop for one-of-a-kind art work from over 80 artist vendors during the weekend. Pawtucket-based Dew Claw Studio gave Raku demonstrations to teach Japanese techniques of raku firing.
On Sept. 14th, the winners of the 2008 Photo Contest “Doorways and Gateways,” sponsored by The Camera Werks and the City of Pawtucket, were announced at the City’s Visitor Center. The Rhode Island Watercolor Society also featured their 14th National Watermedia Competition attracting exceptional artists from around the US.
Nationally acclaimed jazz musician Greg Abate, performed at Hope Artiste Village on Sept. 19th. During that weekend, local Realty company, RICIR, organized and sponsored the “Open Studio” tour which included over 80 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.
This year, Mirror Image sponsored its 9th Annual Pawtucket Film Festival with the Rhode Island Film Collaborative. At the seven-night film festival, both short and feature length films, were shown. Filmmakers were present at the nightly events and answered questions from the audience. Local musicians also played before the screening of the films.
In 2009…
On July 21st, a pre-festival event, the Pawtucket Red Sox brought Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp to kick off this year’s Arts Festival at McCoy Stadium. Another pre-festival event, the 82nd Annual Greek Festival presented by the Assumption Church was held on August 15th.
On August 28th, over 1,300 people came to the festival gala, held at Slater Mill Historic Site, that featured 35 of Pawtucket’s finest restaurants, bakeries and beverage companies, where patrons visited to taste a sampling of local and international cuisine. The evening’s entertainment included performances of a well-known local Zydeco band, Slippery Sneakers, and internationally-known C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band. Also, attendees saw “Living Statues” portraying Samuel Slater, a Pawtucket Fire Man by Eric Auger, a local artist. The YMCA also organized its “Family Fun Night” that evening at the parking lot at the City’s Visitor Center and drew hundreds of children and their parents who participated in arts and crafts and watched a Disney movie.
On August 29th, the 10th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Day was cancelled due to heavy rain. (Because this event was rescheduled to September 26th, where attendees watched competing teams race in a 45-foot brightly colored dragon boat. The spectators also learned a little more about Chinese Folk Art and Dance.)
Heavy downpours on August 29th did not stop antique lovers from stopping at
RI Antiques Mall to shop for antiques and to get their family heirlooms appraised by experts. Dozens of dealers came to the shop the next day to answer questions about their antiques they offered for sale in their booths.
Meanwhile, “A Celebration of French Culture”, was rescheduled to August 30th and held at the City’s Veterans Amphitheatre. The program included Magnolia Cajun Band, Sidy Maiga, Joseph Scott, Karl Tieger, Donna Herbert & Daniel Boucher. Members of St. Ann’s Art and Cultural Center performed songs from American Broadway shows influenced by French composers. Other musical groups included the Polo Brothers and We Make Music Ensemble. Finally, the Le Regiment Bourbonnals, a Revolutionary War re-enactment group marched in formation at the site.
Also, on the weekend of August 28th, PeaceLove Studios Gallery opened its doors, featuring live music and one-of-a-kind art work in its galleries.
On August 30th, the Slater Mill again brought back its Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival celebrating the experiences, histories, music, and art of the many cultures and communities that built and continue to build Rhode Island and the nation.. Thousands experienced cultural dances and shopped for fine crafts. Music performed by Atwater-Donnelly, Joyce Katzberg, Ken Lyon, Pendragon, Bridget Fitzgerald, and French Toast. Other musical acts included the Fiddle and Dance Project, students from Community Music Works, Lydia and Yoruba2, and The Yankee Yeoman.
Also on this date over hundred antique cars were showcased at the Second Annual Antique & Classic Car exhibit presented by Apex and J.T. Leddy Auto Top Sales and Mixed Magic Theatre presented “The Greatness of Gospel:” Down by the Riverside’ featuring popular songs from the gospel tradition, directed by Ricardo Pitts-Wiley.
On September 3rd, artists attended the Business Basics for Artists presented by the Small Business Development Center and Rhode Island State Council for the Arts.
An evening of Music & Poetry was held featuring Aurea performing ”Under a Latin Moon” was held on September 5th at the Pawtucket Congregational Church. Rocktucket ’09, a day-long block party, presented by Machines with Magnets, The Grant, Make Magazine, Kafe Lila and Motif was held on September 6th.
Fall River film maker, Jason Caminiti, screened his 53-minute documentary, Pawtucket Rising, at the City’s Visitor Center on September 8th. The documentary told an unlikely story of the revitalization of the City of Pawtucket from a flourishing mill city that fell into decline to the greatest boom in decades. A post-showing discussion featured the film maker, Dr. Ann Galligan, of Northeastern University and Herb Weiss, the City’s Economic & Cultural Affairs Officer.
On September 9th, the Gamm Theatre presented Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Fred Sullivan.
On September 10th, the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative held its opening reception at the City’s Visitor Center, to showcase its Annual Arts Exhibit. Guest speaker Susan Dowling, a TV producer, discussed a video show from a PBS series about contemporary art and artist in the 21st century. Slater Mill held its opening for its American Quilt Show that evening at this site.
Also, on this date the Pawtucket Library show historical films about Pawtucket’s economic growth followed by a panel discussion looking at the City’s “Past, Present and Future.” The panel included Thomas Mann, of the Pawtucket Foundation; Paul Mowrey of the Elizabeth J. Johnson Pawtucket History Research Center;and Michael Cassidy of the City’s Planning & Redevelopment Agency.
On September 11th and 12th, the Community Plays performed Kitchen Witches at Jenks Junior High School Auditorium, a comedy about two rival cable TV cooks thrown together on one low-budget show.
On September 11th internationally-acclaimed jazz musician Greg Abate, performed at St. Paul’s Church. On that evening, Machine with Magnets held its Schwalter Ego opening at its gallery, Death Vessel and other bands played. Attendees could also look at photography, paintings, comics, and installations.
During the afternoon of September 12th at Slater Memorial Park, the Stone Soup Folk Fest featured a first-class lineup of musicians including Lindsay Alder, Superchief Trio and Santa Mamba. One day later, on September 13th, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew over 8,000 people into Slater Memorial Park, opened by the Shanagans. After the concert, spectators watched a dazzling fireworks display. Earlier that day, Stone Soup Folk Fest featured Ellis Paul and the Jason Spooner Trio. During these two days attendees could shop for one-of-a-kind art work from over 70 artist vendors during the weekend. Pawtucket-based Dew Claw Studio gave Raku demonstrations to teach Japanese techniques of raku firing. Wooden chainsaw sculptor, Billy Rebele, created artwork on-site on this weekend.
Also, on September 12th, the Rhode Island Watercolor Society also featured Paint Out Rhode Island attracting exceptional artists to show their work. Across town, Day for Kids Festival and the third annual Battle of the Bands competition was held at the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club.
On September 13th, a classical music performance by Jacqueline Devillers at the RI Watercolor Society raised money for the Pawtucket Animal Shelter. Later that evening the opening reception for the Paint Out-RI was held.
One day later, the winners of the 2009 Photo Contest “The Faces of Pawtucket,” sponsored by The Camera Werks and the City of Pawtucket, were announced at the City’s Visitor Center.
This year, Mirror Image sponsored it’s 10th Annual Pawtucket Film Festival with the The 989 Project. At the ten-night film festival, both short and feature length films were shown. At its opening night, the internationally-acclaimed Alloy Orchestra performed a live, original score for Man With a Movie Camera. At the screenings, filmmakers were present at the nightly events and answered questions from the audience. Local musicians also played before the screening of the films.
Finally in 2010…
On August 13th, over thirty antique cars were showcased on the City’s historic Main Street presented by Cup & Saucer (again on August 28th) and Mixed Magic Theatre presented “A Mid-Summer Nights Dream from August 5-8. Pawtucket Night Out, sponsored by the Pawtucket Neighborhood Alliance, helped to celebrate the arts on August 15th. Also, the 82nd Annual Greek Festival presented by the Assumption Church was held from August 20-22.
On August 27th, over 1,400 people came to the festival gala, held at Slater Mill Historic Site, that featured 31 of Pawtucket’s finest restaurants, bakeries and beverage companies, where patrons visited to taste a sampling of local and international cuisine. The evening’s entertainment included performances of a well-known local Zydeco band, Slippery Sneakers, and internationally-known Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble. Also, attendees saw “Living Statues” by Eric Auger, a local artist. The YMCA also organized its “Family Fun Night” that evening at the parking lot at the City’s Visitor Center and drew hundreds of children and their parents who participated in arts and crafts and watched a Disney movie.
On August 28th, the 11th Annual Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Day was held, where thousands of attendees watched competing teams race in a 45-foot brightly colored dragon boat. The spectators also learned a little more about Chinese Folk Art and Dance.)
Also, on this date, antique lovers from all over Rhode Island came to RI Antiques Mall to shop for antiques and to get their family heirlooms appraised by experts. Dozens of dealers came to the shop the next day to answer questions about their antiques they offered for sale in their booths.
On August 29th, the Slater Mill again brought back its Labor & Ethnic Heritage Festival celebrating the experiences, histories, music, and art of the many cultures and communities that built and continue to build Rhode Island and the nation.. Thousands experienced cultural dances and shopped for fine crafts. Music performed by Joyce Katzberg (labor and tropical song); Pendragon (Celtic music and dance); French Roast (music from the Franco tradition); Fraternidad Folklorica Bolviana (music and dance of Bolivia); Sidy Maiga (song and drumming of West Africa); Marvelous Marvin (circus arts for children); Yankee Yeoman (character reenactment of the New England farmer and tradesman); Kung Fu Club of Rhode Island (Chinese Lion Dance); The Gnomes (World Music); Mohammed Antesar (Middle Eastern Lute music); The Old Fiddlers Club of Rhode Island (New England fiddle tradtions); The Whatnots (Rachel Panitch and contra dance music). The popular Simmons Farm Petting Zoo for children will celebrate farm and factory roots in Rhode Island.
On this day, the Pawtucket Preservation Society organized a tour of the City’s historic downtown looking at the past, current and future improvements being made to historic buildings.
On September 1st, the Gamm Theatre presented “Glengarry Glen Ross,” written by David Marnet and directed by Fred Sullivan, Jr.
On September 4th, the Pawtucket Red Sox brought Conductor Keith Lockhart, Conductor of the Boston Pops with Kenny Loggins to McCoy Stadium.
During the afternoon of September 11th at Slater Memorial Park, the Stone Soup Folk Fest featured a first-class lineup of musicians including The Double Decker Dance Band, afro-pop, reggae, and dance, Anne’s Cordial, a musical cocktail of folk, blues and retro songs, and the Gnomes.
Also, on September 11th, the Rhode Island Watercolor Society also featured an exhibit of work in a show called New England.” The paintings depicted scenes or themes of beautiful landscape in this Region. Across town, Day for Kids Festival was held at the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club.
One day later, on September 12th, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops Orchestra drew over 8,000 people into Slater Memorial Park, opened by the Ronnie & The Satellites. After the concert, spectators watched a dazzling fireworks display. Earlier that day, Stone Soup Folk Fest featured Maria Sangiolo, children’s educational folk, Gypsy Romantiques, jazz and swing with a touch of Latin, and Forever Young. During these two days attendees could shop for one-of-a-kind art work from over 60 artist vendors during the weekend. Pawtucket-based Dew Claw Studio gave Raku demonstrations to teach Japanese techniques of raku firing. .
Also, on September 12th, RI-Sight, at Peace Studios Gallery, opened its doors, bringing together poets with visual and performing artists. The artists will debut original, genre-bending works created exclusively for this event which showcase performing, musical, visual and poetic expressions.
An evening of Music & Poetry was held featuring Aurea performing ”How Many Nights/A Galway Kinnell Tribute” was held on this evening at the Pawtucket Congregational Church.
On September 16th, Pawtucket Gallery Night brought art patrons in our City to visit the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative Gallery, Slater Mill Gallery, Peace Love Studio, Flying Studio, Antiquariate Galler7 and the Gallery at RI Antique Mall.
Rocktucket ’10, a day-long block party, presented by Machines with Magnets, The Grant, Make Magazine, and Motif was also held on September 25th. Throughout Pawtucket the artists in the City’s historic mills opened their studios on September 25th and September 26th to the public celebrating the arts.
On September 26th, the winners of the 2012 Photo Contest “Reflections of Pawtucket,” sponsored by The Camera Werks and the City of Pawtucket, were announced at the City’s Visitor Center.
On September 10th, 11th, 12,th 17th , 19th , the Community Plays performed “Your a Good Man Charley Brown” at Jenks Junior High School Auditorium, a comedy about America’s most popular cartoon character.
Also in 2010, Mirror Image sponsored its 11th Annual Pawtucket Film Festival with the 989 Project. At the six-night film festival, both short and feature length films were shown. At its opening night, the internationally-acclaimed Alloy Orchestra performed a live, original score for the silent classic film, Metropolis (a newly restored version). At the screenings, filmmakers were present at the nightly events and answered questions from the audience. Local musicians also played before the screening of the films.
