This month our AHA! partners are offering a variety of both virtual and IRL (in-real-life) programs.
Look for the Virtual and IRL icons to help you plan your AHA! activities.
Virtual
IRL
Click For Tips To Help Get The Most Out Of Your Vaha! Experience
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 virtual AHA! programming at 7pm (see listing below)
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! 10am – 4pm with reserved timed admission
Plus virtual AHA! programming at 7pm (see listing below)
Click For More Info
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
Open on AHA! 10am – 4pm
Click For More Info
Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum
Open on AHA! 10am – 4pm
Plus virtual AHA! programming at 5:30pm (see listing below)
Click For More Info
New Bedford Art Museum / Artworks!
Open on AHA! 10am-4pm with reserved timed admission
Plus IRL AHA! programming from 4-8pm (see listing below)
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.
Celebrating your Art, History & Architecture from home?
Order up some take-out or delivery from one of your
favorite downtown eateries and enjoy all the
VAHA! programming from the comfort of your couch.
Click For Dining Options
Herstory Business Spotlight
Celia’s Boutique
111 William Street
Celia’s Boutique is a Black-owned women’s clothing boutique tucked on the corner of William St. in the heart of downtown New Bedford. A “hidden gem” as Celia herself called it, the boutique has a warm and welcoming atmosphere as well as a beautiful interior featuring clothing, shoes, purses, and other accessories. Tall windows line the storefront, creating a brightly lit space that is both modern and chic.
Click To Read More
Spring and Summer Vibes in Women’s Apparel for 2021A Virtual Fashion Show Click To Watch
CLICK TO SHOP!
(V)AHA! Programs
Any Time
History & Architecture
with the New Bedford Preservation Society Film from the NBPS Archive:
Celebrating the Culture of Women through Architecture
“Homes Built by and for Women”contains a curated selection of New Bedford structures built by, funded by, built for and owned by New Bedford women.The buildings in the film date from 1830 to 1926 and range in style from modest federal to ornate Victorians They include places of worship, income properties and private homes. Some were homes of joy given as wedding presents others were homes of sorrow built after a spouse passed away.
Click To Watch
Historic Property of the Week:
an in-depth look at a historic property in the city.New Bedford Historical Vignettes:
An in-depth look at a historically significant event, place or space.
This month’s historical vignette features the Railroad Depots of New Bedford’s Past.Click To View
3-6pm
at the New Bedford Public Library
Curbside pick-up for take & make craft kits.
(613 Pleasant Street)
Plus enter the Youth Writing Contest.
More info coming soon.
4-8pm at NBAM/Artworks!
Last AHA! to view Fluid States:
New England Wax/New England Waters
This show highlights encaustic artworks inspired by New England’s historic and awe-inspiring coasts. Themed around the fluidity seen in both wax and water, Fluid States explores New England’s ecological richness and fragility. Protecting our water and the life that depends on it is an urgent necessity. In this exhibition, the artists address this urgency as they work to express water’s sheer beauty through innovative approaches to an ancient medium.
Featuring works by: Willa Vennema, Stephanie Roberts-Camello, Pamela Dorris DeJong, Lola Baltzell, Nancy Whitcomb, Lia Rothstein, Deborah Peeples, Kay Hartung, Marina Thompson, Angel Dean, Lelia Stokes Weinstein, Ruth Sack, Sarah Springer, Charyl Weissbach and Camille Davidson.
Plus buy work from local artists in the Museum Shop.
Get Your Art on with Alison Wells
Dropping at noon on the Gallery website
Virtual Tour of the Gallery
For those not ready to venture out yet you can join Alison for a virtual tour of the gallery. View what’s up on the gallery walls as well as what is new and available in the online store. Plus updates about Alison’s solo exhibit currently at the whaling museum and more.
5-7pm in the Gallery
What’s New on the Gallery Walls: Original Artwork Made in NB
Featuring work by guest artists – paintings, stained glass, macrame, Japanese style woodwork, ceramic sculpture and more. Plus new prints and notecard designs by Alison.
*Due to Covid-19 restrictions, visitation will be limited to 6 guests at a time and masks will be required.
5pm on Facebook
Celebrate Made in New Bedford & Women’s History Month:
Virtual Tour of The Drawing Room’s Artists
Join shop owner, Anthi Frangiadis, as she highlights the work of a number of the talented women who showcase their art at The Drawing Room. Painters, potters, photographers, carvers, makers, and artisans – each woman is as unique as the art she creates.
This virtual event will also feature conversations with New Bedford-based artists Corrinn Jusell and Phyllis Dobbyn Adams.
Click To RSVP For Updates & Reminders
5-8pm at Gallery X
Abstract-X
Over 75 works by dozens of artists featuring non-objective, geometric, expressive, intuitive and gestural art in a variety of mediums.
5pm on Facebook
VAHA! Mini Concert
Hosted by Scott Bishop
A special pre-recorded concert featuring two performers with South Coast connections and a downtown New Bedford business.
Emmanuel “Manny” Escobar is a dynamic multi instrumentalist and educator, with roots firmly planted in the Jazz and Afro-Latin creative traditions. Emmanuel has performed with Esperanza Spaulding, Joe Lovano, Cesaria Evora Orchestra, Tito Paris, and former President Bill Clinton.
Manny on Instagram
Manny on Facebook
Djim Job was born in the Island of São Vicente and raised in the United States, and grew up in a family of musicians. Considered to be one of the most prominent Cabo Verdean musicians today, he has performed and produced for over 25 years in over 30 countries and across four continents. Djim’s production work with artists Mirri Lobo and Dina Medina were distinguished by the Cabo Verde Music Awards with Song of the Year and Album of the Year in 2011. Djim Job has always explored various musical genres and instruments but it is the bass that has made him one of the most sought after award-winning artists.
Djim Job on YouTube
Djim Job on Spotify
This month’s VAHA! Concert host is Beauty Union at 338 Acushnet Avenue in Downtown New Bedford. Beauty Union is a true beauty destination where only honest, healthy, personalized beauty practices are found. Their seasoned independent Union artists are not only skilled in caring for your tresses, but will support your emotional well-being in their beautiful, positive, professional environment. In addition to being Beauty Union’s owner, Lori Gomes is also an accomplished jazz performer.
Beauty Union website
Beauty Union on Instagram
Beauty Union on Facebook
Click To RSVP For Updates & Reminders
5-6:30pm on Zoom
Registration Required
Made in New Bedford
with the First Unitarian Church in New Bedford
Join the Zoom Room for a conversation Made in NB about parenting, education and social justice.
Get The Zoom Link:
Email admin@uunewbedford.org
6-7pm on Facebook Live
Acushnet Sawmill Virtual Tour
with Buzzards Bay Coalition
Tune in for a virtual tour of the Acushnet Sawmill including a Q&A with Restoration Ecologist, Sara Quintal about how this beautiful place was Made in NB.
Swing By The South End
5-8pm at the Kilburn Mill
Created by Womenat the Judith Klein Art Gallery
Exhibiting artwork by women including paintings and prints by Judith Klein, jewelry by Nitza Attali and Diana Arvanites and Kate Jeffrey, ceramics by Martha Muffet, glasswork by Michelle Lapointe and textiles by Marjorie Puryear. 127 W. Rodney French Blvd
Use main entrance
2nd floor Suit 2-87
Visitors limited to 2-3 people at one time, masks must be worn. Kilburn Open House
Stop by from 5-8pm to visit artist studios, galleries and other creative businesses. Shop for fine arts, crafts and more.
127 W. Rodney French Blvd
Enter at Door #4
The Artisan Center is on the 2nd floor
Mask wearing & social distancing required.
5:30pm on Zoom
Registration Required
Artist’s Talk with Laura Christensen
Hosted by the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum
Visual artist Laura Christensen paints on recovered vintage portraits in order to retell old stories and invent new ones. Her additions are often uncanny, but blend seamlessly with the original photographs. Her latest exhibition, opening March 18 within the historic rooms of the County Street mansion, includes her response to the collections and histories of the Rotch, Jones and Duff families. Learn more about her creative process and reinterpretation of history through altered images of the past.
Celebrate Women’s Herstory Month
with 3rd EyE &
The Communal Space
6-8pm on Facebook Live
Tune in for community conversations, spoken word and musical performances:
Women’s Fund SouthCoast
YWCA of Southeastern MA
Chosen (spoken word)
Shae Mae Lee (music)
Maize (spoken word)
Sophie Ponte from Dream Out Loud (music)
Hosted by Samia Walker
Get a virtual tour of the Communal Space.
Check out all the new art including a Herstory pop-up exhibit and custom pieces by local artists.
6-8pm at the Communal Space
The Space (246 Union Street) will be open to the public
following strict COVID guidelines (10 person capacity, 30 min time limit to allow max community access):
– Talk with a few of the artists who have work on the walls
– Catch some live painting by Chakira G.
– Check out the community library and learn about
the library card system.
6-8pm at the Star Store
CVPA Star Series
Umass Dartmouth CVPA has launched a 13-week performing and visual arts series at the Star Store. Dynamic live performances, video projections and installations will be happeing inside the Swain Studio Space (Purchase and Union Street) and viewable from the sidewalk for a COVID safe experience or tune in from home via live stream.
The main feature of the March 11th event is Alexandra Broches’s exhibition, Dear Alexandra, Letters and Pictures From a Box on view at the University Art Gallery. Special guests on stage for the evening include the artist, her daughter and granddaughter, New Bedford’s Poet Laureate Patricia Gomes, CVPA Artist in Residence Tracey Cockrell, and a local jazz trio known as The Hot Club Cheese Roll who play music inspired by Django Reinhardt.
Click To RSVP For Updates & Reminders
Closing Reception for Alexandra Broches:
Dear Alexandra, Letters and Pictures From a Box
For the exhibition, Broches combines photographic family portraits of and letters from many of her relatives some of whom would soon be lost in the Holocaust. Written in Dutch, the handwritten and typed correspondence allows her and us to “meet” family members through patient reading and translation. The story begins in 1939, when her newly married parents left the Netherlands for New York, leaving the family behind. Soon after their departure, the situation in Europe began to worsen, leading eventually to the Holocaust and WWII.
The stories told by Broches are alive through both the ordinary and the horrifying; letters about musical events, birthdays, thwarted travel, the procurement of fake documents, escapes by boat, incarceration and ultimately Auschwitz. Alexandra Broches’ exhibition is ultimately the story of morality, both lost and enduring and of the stubborn hold nationalism and racism still has on our world today.
Click For More Info About Exhibit & Timed Gallery Tickets
6:30pm on Zoom
Registration Required
A Conversation About Feminism
Hosted by the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts
In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, join YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts for this important panel discussion unpacking the racist roots of the American Feminist Movement, the urgency of intersectionality, and exploring the possibilities of a future where the voices and experiences of all women are included.
Panelists include:
Rayana Grace
Laurel Berryman
Anne Fortilus, MBA
Charlemya Erasme
Moriah N. Wiggins
Melissa M. Costa, LICSW
Click To RSVP For Updates & Reminders
Continue the conversation by following the Womxn’s Alliance of Southeastern Massachusetts on social media:
The Womxn’s Alliance of Southeastern Massachusetts is designed to foster collaboration, solidarity, and action amongst community members and organizations committed to antiracism, intersectional feminism, and racial and gender equity.
Follow on Facebook
Follow on Instagram
7pm on Zoom
Registration Required
How Do We Trust:
Documentary Photography Past & Present with Peter Pereira
A Virtual Local History Guild Lecture presented by
the New Bedford Whaling Museum
Join internationally acclaimed photojournalist, Peter Pereira, who is currently working for the New Bedford Standard Times, and the museum’s Director of Digital Initiatives, Michael Lapides, and Curator of Maritime History, Michael P. Dyer, for a conversation around the history of ethics in photojournalism and the future of documentary photography in the digital age.
7pm on Facebook Live
Women and the Sea: Exploring Women’s Roles in Maritime Songs A Virtual Concert and Lecture by Debra Cowan
Hosted by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
This program offers an engaging and informative look at the often overlooked and varied roles and experiences of women and the sea through the lens of Maritime songs and ballads.
Click To RSVP For Updates & Reminders
8pm on Facebook
NBSO Concertmaster Jesse Holstein interviews Banner composer Jessie Montgomery
Presented by the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
Jessie Montgomery is an acclaimed composer, violinist, and educator. She is the recipient of the Leonard Bernstein Award from the ASCAP Foundation, and her works are performed frequently around the world by leading musicians and ensembles. Her music interweaves classical music with elements of vernacular music, improvisation, language, and social justice, placing her squarely as one of the most relevant interpreters of 21st-century American sound and experience. Her profoundly felt works have been described as “turbulent, wildly colorful and exploding with life” (The Washington Post).
Banner will be performed by the NBSO in the March 20 virtual concert, Celebrating Black Culture.
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