Celebrate Earth Eve During The April 14th AHA!
Join the Be a Super Hero & Love Mother Earth Procession
Start Your AHA! Adventure At The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor Center
The AHA! website will be available for you to look at along with Park staff and volunteers ready to answer any questions you may have. The Visitor Center (33 William St) is open
10am-8pm on AHA!
AHA! Happens Rain Or Shine
Be sure to check the AHA! event page, Facebook page and Instagram Stories as well as website and social for participating event partners for info about location changes, program rescheduling and cancellations.
Planning To AHA! IRL?
All of the AHA! partners have their own masking requirements. We recommend you carry a mask with you at all times so you don’t miss out on any of the AHA! festivities.
Each month, AHA! showcases the incredible talent of local artists on the SouthCoast.
Each month, AHA! programs are produced by a community of over 60 partners.
Pick up an AHA! Night map at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor Center
Thursday 12/2 – Sunday 12/5, 10am-4pm & Thursday 12/9, 10am-8pm
AHA! Schedule
Celebrate Sustainable SouthCoast
3pm at the New Bedford Public Library
(613 Pleasant)
Recycled Poem Activity with the Main Library’s Youth Services
Celebrate Earth Eve and a Sustainable SouthCoast with a special activity. Available while supplies last.
Youth Art Opening Reception
4-7pm at the New Bedford Art Museum
(608 Pleasant Street)
Community Gallery Opening Reception
4:30-6:30pm
Kindergarten through second grade students from Friends Academy of Dartmouth will be showcasing some of their artwork in the new community art gallery. Students participated in the Artworks! Learning Studio program this past winter and learned about the importance of early literacy through the arts.
Explore the Annual Members’ Exhibition
Highlighting the best local and regional artists with works selected by guest juror Stephanie Haboush Plunkett, Deputy Director and Chief Curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Celebrate Sustainable SouthCoast
4-6pm at the Drawing Room
(36 North Water Street)
Axiona: Meet the Author + Book Signing
Meet author Evelyn Audet at The Drawing Room. Eveyln’s book, AXIONA , follows a young girl who travels through space to convince the people of Earth to care for their planet before it’s too late.
In addition to being an accomplished author, Evelyn Audet is also a United States Coast Guard captain and talented lighting designer, an artist and a naturalist. She has been an observer of our natural world since she was a toddler growing up in Westport, Massachusetts. Traveling around and then living on a sailboat in the Caribbean brought a widened view of nature and exciting experiences. Evelyn’s unique perspective and concern of how we treat our planet and each other inspired her first published story.
Learn more about Axiona at https://anthifrangiadis.com/products/axiona-by-evelyn-audet
History & Architecture
with the NB Preservation Society
Any Time
This tour highlights some of the beautiful residences of the Textile Era in New Bedford (1890-1926). Most of the properties are located on the site of the former James Arnold Estate and are outstanding examples of the Colonial Revival style.
Click To Watch
Click To Watch
Downtown New Bedford – The Definitive Tour
Return of the Earth Eve Procession
5pm on Market Street
(next to the NB Public Library)
Join the Be a Superhero & Love Mother Earth Procession
The Earth Eve Procession is back in-person this year! Festivities kick-off on Market Street by the New Bedford Free Public Library lawn at 5pm. Tem Blessed is the MC and the theme of the parade focuses on his new graphic novel, Planeta Blu, which urges us all to be environmental super heroes. The Show Chorus from the New Bedford Public Schools will perform at the start of the parade and the the SouthCoast Brass Band will lead off the procession of floats from youth groups, non-profits programs and University students throughout downtown. Support for this event comes from Vineyard Wind and Domino’s Pizza.
Make Art, Hear Music
5-7pm at the Alison Wells Art Gallery
(106 William Street)
Spring is in the Air
Listen! Saxophonist “Manny” Escobar will be bringing his eclectic blend of straight-ahead jazz, soul, and contemporary classics in front of the gallery on William St.
Make! Inside the gallery, The Art Table is back with an up-cycle activity making funny paper collage characters out of old magazines.
Shop! Original art, giclee prints and the popular floral note cards collection is restocked.
Flower-Focused Art
5-9pm at TL6 The Gallery
(100 William Street)
All About Flowers
A showcase of works from various artists focused on flowers.
Pieces range from textiles, paper arts, ceramic, sculptures,
as well as drawing and painting. Stop by to view and vote for
your favorite flower art.
Creative Conversations
5-8pm in the NB Whaling National Historical Park MakerSpace
(33 William Street)
Processing Place:
Creative Explorations of the Built & Natural Environment
5-6pm
Join CVPA students from ARH470 to see their research-based artworks focused on the theme of “processing place” in New Bedford and Dartmouth. Working with artist-in-residence Dr. Clareese Hill, and in collaboration with NPS Ranger Lindsay Compton, students have produced creative explorations in video, design, photography and ‘zine art responding to history and contemporary experiences of the built and natural environment.
Artist Talk & Youth Portfolio Review
with Artist in Residence, Kate Sheridan
6:30-8pm
Kate Sheridan, in residence April through June, is an illustrator and writer based in Louisville, KY. During their residency, they will create Whalebones, a comic anthology of interconnected stories set in the New Bedford area and areas abroad related to its history (the Pacific and the Arctic) that combines elements of history, folklore, and horror. It examines love, pain, and grief during the whaling era.
During this event, Kate will introduce their work to our community and share their expertise with young people interested in portfolio reviews. Don’t forget to bring your portfolio to the MakerSpace!
Shop Small on AHA!
5-8pm at Subtext Bookshop
(209 Union St)
Celebrate Sustainable SouthCoast with Earth-Friendly Books
Subtext is dedicated to the art of offering previously owned books for the casual reader to the ardent collector.
Find more dining and shopping options at downtownnb.org/community
Artist Talks
5-8pm at the CVPA Star Store
(715 Purchase Street)
UMass Dartmouth 2022 MFA Thesis Exhibition
Artist Talks at 7pm
The UMass Dartmouth MFA Thesis Exhibition is a much anticipated and celebrated annual event showcasing the artwork of graduating students from the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The creative work of graduating students ranges from traditional media such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, to digital media or site-specific installation.
Exhibiting Artists:
Elizabeth Peña-Alvarez
Katrina Benner
Jordan Blankenship
Daniel S. DeLuca
Kelly Devitt
Yurie Hayashi
Joseph Schairer
Katy Rodden Walker
Click For More Info About The Show
Celebrate The Earth
5-7pm at Pilgrim UCC Hall
(634 Purchase Street)
Create Your Own Terrarium
Stop by to create your own plant terrarium, a fully functioning ecosystem, mostly self-sustaining with the plants watering themselves through transpiration and condensation. All materials supplied.
Mercy Meals & More will be opening the Pilgrimm UCC Hall for AHA! nights. The hall is a historic building and part of the history includes a visit by Booker T Washington.
New Art & Live Music
5-8pm at Gallery X (169 William Street)
Minimalism X
Featuring art that uses the simplistic, essential elements of form,
line, color or texture to create a reaction without expressive or representational detail.
Gallery X Unplugged in the Main Gallery
J. Kelley Band takes the stage for the fourth performance in the Unplugged live music series. The series is being funded in part by the New Bedford Local Cultural Council and will occur throughout the year.
Swing By The South End
5-8pm at Judith Klein Art Gallery
Unexpected Surfaces Group Exhibit
Participating artists: Lori Bradly, Alma Cummings, Judith Klein, Ron Lister, Anthony Miraglia, Cathy Marzilli Miraglia, Sheila Oliveira, Raz Seri, Adrian Tio, Patricia White and Mary Hurwitz
The Judith Klein Art Gallery is located inside the Kilburn Mill
127 W. Rodney French Blvd
Use main entrance
2nd floor Suite 2-87
AHA! Mini-Concert
5:30-6:30pm at PLAY Arcade
(34 Union Street)
AHA! Mini-Concert with Beautifully Human
Beautifully Human, an acoustic musical duo based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Singer-songwriter Rowan Desautels, performs lead vocals and piano, and her step-father, experienced musician John Brittingham, accompanies her on piano, guitar, and percussion.
Website: https://www.beautifulhumansmusic.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautifulhumansmusic/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautifulhumansmusic
PLAY is an old school 80’s style Arcade offering a full service bar with craft made drinks and food. The arcade just expanded into the old National Club space, making even more room for games, fun, good times, and amazing wall murals.
Website: http://www.playarcadenb.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playarcadenb
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playarcadenb
Artist Talk
5:30pm at Rotch-Jones-Duff Museum
(396 County Street) & on Zoom
The Maker Series: Woodworking
Talk by Rick Finneran (HYBRID). The RJD’s Facilities Manager and Lead Gardener speaks about poetry, repurposed wood, and the building of a rocking chair. Audiences are welcome to attend in-person, at the museum, or via their computers.
Click To Register For Zoom
Local History Guild Conversation
6pm on Zoom
Registration Required
Understanding Art in New Bedford: History, Sources, and Inspiration
presented by the New Bedford Whaling Museum
Join the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s Curator of Maritime History, Michael P. Dyer, as he hosts a conversation with museum Curator Emeritus and author Mary Jean Blasdale, local artist and documentary historian Ron Fortier, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s Director of Digital Initiatives, Michael Lapides, as they discuss Fortier’s Artist Index project, its inspiration, and potential applications.
The Southcoast Artists Index is a collective digital archive for the creative community of the Southcoast. The index’s primary goal is to record informative and entertaining podcasts featuring casual conversations with the emerging and established Visual, Performing, and Literary Artists of the SouthCoast.
Talk About Shipwrecks
6:30pm at the NB Fishing Heritage Center
(38 Bethel Street)
Shipwreck Avoidance Program Presentation
Marine biologist Ben Haskell of the Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary (Scituate, MA) and underwater archaeologist Dr. Calvin Mires (WHOI) will present their Shipwreck Avoidance Program, which discloses the locations of several shipwrecks in the Stellwagen Bank area to promote vessel safety for fishermen as well as preserve pieces of the fishing industry’s past. There are two wrecks found by this program that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Edna G. and the Joffre, as examples of evolving fishing vessel design.
Seating is limited.
Masks are recommended.
Click To Reserve Your Free Ticket
Earth Eve Community Painting
6:30-8pm at Custom House Park
(William Street & Acushnet Avenue)
Celebrate Earth Eve with the New Bedford Art Museum
Stop by the artMOBILE painting station to join in on a collaborative community painting celebrating the sustainable SouthCoast.
Return of Poetry Open Mic
7-9pm at Co-Creative Center
(137 Union Street)
Anomaly Poetry Open Mic Night
A classic poetry and spoken word open mic in downtown New Bedford. Readers are given 5 minutes to read their original works. Sign-ups begin at 7pm, reading starts at 7:15. April marks the FIRST in-person open mic night since February 2020. Stop by for the celebration! Mask-wearing is requested of audience members.
Plus New Art!
Threshholding: New Works by Mark Phelan
Mark is an artist living and working in southeastern Massachusetts. He graduated with an MFA in painting from University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth in 2016. He is currently a part of the Visual Arts Faculty at CSVPA (Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts) at CATS Academy Boston, an international boarding school in Braintree Massachusetts. His work is a conversation with generations of loved ones who have gone on before him and created a legacy worthy of passing down to future generations. From his studio in Taunton, he makes paintings, prints, and sculptures that serve as his voice in these conversations about love, loss, legacy, and new life.
Artist Profile:
Tracy Silva Barbosa Of Duende Glass
Each month, AHA! showcases the incredible talent of local artists on the SouthCoast.
As an artist, Tracy Silva Barbosa isn’t easy to define. Her talent shifts like light across the glass paintings she creates; as complex, colorful, and nuanced. Yet, when executing complex, city-sized art installations or large murals, Tracy is all business with grace and ease. Her commissions from corporate, municipal, and nonprofit clients often involve multiple artists and the novel use of materials in challenging settings. Tracy brings an artistic vision, a technical understanding of material, keen logistical skills, and her unique ability to translate between artistic vision and functional purpose. It’s a rare skill set. At her Duende Glass Studio, she transforms a common substance, glass, into ethereal multi-layered paintings depicting delicate urban or natural landscapes. Tracy’s work is currently on exhibit at the Mattapoisett Public Library and available to purchase at tsilvabarbosa.com.
Partner Profile:
Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum
Each month, AHA! programs are produced by a community of over 60 partners.
“Most museums are filled with objects. Here, the building and the garden are the objects, and they tell us personal stories about these New Bedford residents that add another dimension to the local picture,” says Dawn Salerno, Executive Director of the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum. The grounds encompass an entire city block, and visitors are encouraged to wander in and enjoy the award-winning garden. This downtown New Bedford greenspace belongs to picnickers, peace-seekers, and botanical enthusiasts alike. Dawn says, “It’s a place meant to be shared, enjoyed, and stewarded by all.” Their events calendar is filled with fun and interesting activities, especially over the holidays, including a winter greens market, ugly sweater family-friendly Friday nights, a Children’s Tea for kids served in the exquisitely decorated twin
parlors, and more. Tour the mansion’s holiday splendor any time throughout the month. See a complete schedule of events online at rjdmuseum.org/calendar.
AHA! In The Afternoon
Our downtown New Bedford museums, galleries and institutions are open for visitors.
Visit their websites for more info about current hours, programs, exhibits and COVID19 safety protocols.
New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
Open on AHA! 10am – 4pm
Plus IRL AHA! programming from 4-8pm (see listing above)
Click For More Info
New Bedford Port Society
including Seamen’s Bethel & Mariner’s Home
Open on AHA! 10am – 4pm
Click For More Info
New Bedford Whaling Museum
Open on AHA! 9am – 5pm with reserved timed admission
Plus virtual programming at 6pm (see listing above)
Click For More Info
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
Open on AHA! 10am – 4pm
Plus IRL AHA! programming from 4-8pm (see listing above)
Click For More Info
Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum
Open on AHA! 10am – 4pm
Plus IRL programming from 4-6pm (see listing above)
Click For More Info
New Bedford Art Museum / Artworks!
Open on AHA! 10am-4pm with reserved timed admission
Plus IRL programming from 5-8pm (see listing above)
Click For More Info
Please consider shopping or dining in DNB to help support our small biz community.
Follow DNB, Inc. on Facebook /dnbinc or Instagram @dnbinc for updates about downtown dining and retail shopping.
