THIS MONTH BROUGHT TO YOU BY
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.
Be sure to stop at one of the many fantastic downtown restaurants after your AHA! stroll! If you stop at PLAY, Freestones, or Pour Farm, you can sign up to get $5 off your next meal!
Schedule
3:00 PM
Gibson Girls
Join NBPL in the 3rd floor gallery to view the library’s new exhibit “Gibson Girls” featuring illustrations from Charles Dana Gibson’s published works. The show’s curator will be available to give tours of the exhibit and answer questions, drop in any time!
4:00 PM
AHA! PRIDE BLOCK PARTY
The Queer Arts Council of New Bedford presents the 5th Annual AHA! PRIDE BLOCK PARTY! Join the festive fun in Custom House Square as they close the streets and fill them with celebrations of LGBTQ+ Pride! This year features a vendor and community partners street marketplace at 4:00pm on Acushnet Ave and Barkers Lane. Enjoy a curated stage show featuring drag, live music, and slam poetry from 5:00pm – 8:00pm, as well as live visual art, circus arts, and kid’s art station in the park. Then the fun continues from 8:00pm – 10:00pm with a Nightlight DJ Dance Party! As always there will be fun pride swag giveaways. Come dressed in your most celebratory Pride gear and represent!
New this year, PRIDE AFTER PARTY! For those that want to continue the celebration into the night after AHA!, you are welcome to attend the Pride After Party from 10:00pm – 1:00am at the CO+ Creative Center at 137 Union Street. Chill in the gallery or keep dancing in the DJ room! Brought to you by New Moon Dance Party.
This project received a Wicked Cool Places grant, facilitated by New Bedford Creative and the NBEDC, and funded by the City of New Bedford’s Arts, Culture and Tourism Fund, with additional support from Mass Cultural Council. Special thanks to the Women’s Fund for hosting the performers as the “Green Room”!
Community Blooms
Together we can make an impact! Join in the fun and repurpose single-use plastics by creating a plastic jellyfish to bring home or donate to the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s upcoming Community Blooms exhibition by artist Katy Rodden Walker. Scheduled to open in the fall of 2024, this collaborative and immersive exhibition raises awareness about plastic pollution in our oceans, waterways, and food chains, and the natural phenomena of jellyfish blooms.
Youth Services Paper Quill Crafting
Craft with Little People’s College and learn how to do paper quilling!
Queerness: A Divine Expression
Happy Pride y’all! The TL6 exhibition for the month of June is “Queerness: A Divine Expression”. ” Queerness: A Divine Expression” is artwork by Cyann Cepero of Cuba and Zulay Holland of New Bedford. Zulay Holland and Cyann Cepero are artists who create, inspire, and learn from each other. TL6 are very excited to share their work with our community. Art is community, art is activism, and art is queer!
TL6 would like to remind everyone that the first pride started as a riot in 1969. Here we are in 2023, 54 years after and we still need to fight for and protect our lgbtqia folks. Tl6 The Gallery is a LGBTQIA safe space all year around not just June.
4:30 PM
5:00 PM
Bristol Celebrate’s PRIDE!
Bristol Celebrate’s PRIDE! Join Bristol Community College, as we offer family friendly activities from 5:00pm – 7:00pm
SAFE Zone Training – Learn about a powerful, effective, LGBTQ Awareness and Ally Training Workshop and see if you or your organization may benefit by participating in a future workshop or becoming a community partner co-facilitator.
Music at Cuffe Park
Enjoy the summer air in the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s Cuffe Park while listening to a concert by the Sippican School’s Festival Band, Jazz Band, and Concert Choir.
Paint Your Own Pride Stepping Stone
Join Pilgrim United Church of Christ and Mercy Meals & More for stepping stone painting with rainbows or flowers or butterflies or whatever you choose to put in your yard or gardens.
State of the Union exhibition by Jane O’Hara
Stop by the Art Museum for the opening reception of the State of the Union exhibition by Jane O’Hara, 5:00 – 7:00pm.
Show your Pride, color a flag and celebrate your unique identity.
New Work
Exhibiting new work from Judith Klein. Reception from 5:00 – 7:00pm .judithkleinartgallery.com
Kaleidoscope, A Pride 2023 Exhibition
On view in the Main Gallery: Kaleidoscope, a Pride 2023 exhibition showcasing the artwork of local LGBTQ+ and allied artists presented by the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network and Gallery X.
Gallery X Unplugged is sponsored in part by a grant from the New Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency as well as support from the Symphony Music Shop
Drum, Warble, Hum, Buzz, Trill
5:30 PM
5 Pillars of Hip Hop – DJing and Hip Hop Cypher!
The 5 Pillars of Hip Hop series takes the elements of hip hop (MC, DJ, Graffiti, Breaking, Knowledge) and places them in culturally significant locations thus becoming a vehicle for both placekeeping and placemaking. Each workshop highlights the history of each urban art form while showcasing local talent. The June 8th event featuring the DJ Pillar is taking place at the New Bedford Whaling Museum Plaza and is teaming up with the AHA! Night Hip Hop Cypher!
Stop by from 5:30 – 7:30pm to experience the history of the Hip Hop DJ hosted by DJ Fresco and then from 7:30 – 9:00pm is the Hip Hop Cypher (open mic) hosted by Hendrick Hernandez. The event will also have live art by David Andrews as well as a kid’s activity. You can also expect some breakdancing battles to break out!
The series was created in partnership with the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park,
happens during AHA! New Bedford May-Sept, and is brought to you in part by New Bedford Creative Wicked Cool Places grant.
When Art Meets Science: Marine Heatwave Exploration with Deb Ehrens
The Drawing Room is open for late night shopping until 8pm, for AHA! Night and our special guest this month includes artist Deb Ehrens for a discussion about When Art Meets Science: Marine Heatwave Exploration
Deb Ehrens is an artist who embraces both age-old artisan techniques and modern digital tools in her image-making. For the past several years, Deb has collaborated with scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) to interpret and represent climate data in an unexpected way, fusing historical data, scientific illustration, and digital techniques.
Stop by The Drawing Room to learn about Deb’s design process. Deb will be available from 5:30-7:30pm, this is a drop in event while you enjoy all of AHA! New Bedford festivities. Don’t forget, tis the season to celebrate grads and dads and we have artful gifts created by the dozens of regional artists who showcase their work in our shop available for your perusal.
Stop in and discover something beautiful. We’re excited to host Deb, Thursday, June 8th for AHA! Night; and don’t forget we’ll be open until 8pm for late night shopping!
Serlingpa Meditation Center Open House
Guitarist, Composer and Arranger Peter Hand
Hear guitarist, composer and arranger Peter Hand, who leads his own big band and smaller groups, returns to New Bedford to perform at AHA! Night with his quartet, featuring outstanding New York-based musicians Don Braden on saxophone, Harvie S on bass and Steve Johns on drums. Presented by Whaling City Sound, the band will play Hand’s new arrangements of jazz standards, Latin & Brazilian jazz, and original compositions.
Sessions at 5:30pm and 7:15pm.
Rose Garden Tour
Rick Finneran, RJD’s Lead Gardener gives a 45-minute tour in the garden, addressing rose propagation, and the history of the neighborhood. He’ll also share his tips for drying roses. This event is free as part of AHA! night.
6:00 PM
Grand Opening of Hub 128
Hub 128 is a state-of-the-art digital technology space created with the support of MassDevelopment, Bridgewater State University and the DeMello International Center to harness the creativity and talents within as well as outside the diverse communities in New Bedford. This smart workspace’s purpose is to create a customer-friendly smart collaborative workspace. Open House from 6:00-8:00 pm. Discovery Language Academy, Suite 300 of the DeMello Building, 128 Union Street.
Ira: 30 Years of Standing Still
Gallery X Unplugged
Stop by for music with Gallery X Unplugged (6-8pm): Performance by DJ Aries.
Gallery X Unplugged is sponsored in part by a grant from the New Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency as well as support from the Symphony Music Shop.
On view in the Main Gallery: Kaleidoscope, a Pride 2023 exhibition showcasing the artwork of local LGBTQ+ and allied artists presented by the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network and Gallery X.
In the Frederick Douglass Gallery: A Trip to Hibernia a solo exhibition of paintings by Fairhaven artist and Gallery X member, Michael Tracey.
VIP V – Notable People in New Bedford History
Gather at Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum, 396 County Street.
This Walking Tour will highlight people as well as places significant in the development of New Bedford. Presented by the New Bedford Preservation Society.
6:30 PM
From the Islands with Love Concert
South Coast Children’s Chorus, under the direction of Tianxu Zhou, will perform a lively concert called, “From the Islands with Love.” This group made up of over 50 singers in grades 1-12 from throughout Southeastern Massachusetts is pleased to share the stage with renown New Bedford based Cape Verdean singer Candida Rose. Selections will include her original song, “Love Each other Through” as well as traditional Cape Verdean pieces such as Sodade. The audience will also enjoy hearing traditional folk songs from the tropical islands of the Caribbean to the cold waters of Newfoundland. Admission is free and donations are accepted.
Come As Your Are Jam Session
The Zeiterion invites musicians and music lovers to grab your instruments for a jam session led by sax player and music educator Emmanuel “Manny” Escobar!
Shed all your cares, enjoy live music, improv and jam out with us. Musicians, vocalists, visual artists, and audience welcome and no prior jam experience is necessary. Enter the “shed” to practice and have fun!
From 6:30 -8pm in the Zeiterion Lounge. Enter on corner of Purchase and Spring Streets. No reservation or ticket required.
What is a woodshed, you ask? Much like chopping wood to prepare for a fire, a “woodshed”, or shed, is a term commonly used to describe a modest rehearsal space that musicians use to practice pieces repeatedly until their music is performed flawlessly. The term has morphed over time to also include creating safe spaces for musicians to not just hone their craft but to just enjoy.
7:00 PM
Guitarist, Composer and Arranger Peter Hand
Hear composer and arranger Peter Hand, who leads his own big band and smaller groups, returns to New Bedford to perform at AHA! Night with his quartet, featuring outstanding New York-based musicians Don Braden on saxophone, and Steve Johns on drums. Bass TBA. Presented by Whaling City Sound, the band will play Hand’s new arrangements of jazz standards, Latin & Brazilian jazz, and original compositions.
Sessions at 5:30pm and 7:15pm.
The AHA! Seaport Sessions featuring Pebbles of Rain!
Please stop by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center for the June Seaport Session, featuring Pebbles of Rain! FREE
Pebbles of Rain plays eclectic acoustic music with deep roots and long branches that reach out toward many genres. Sometimes they also break out the shovel and break new ground free of all genre confines. No matter how far they stray, though, there is an underlying love, respect, and experience with traditional music that informs the band’s sensibilities.
The band is comprised of Jeff Angeley (fiddle, vocals, accordion, bass, banjo); Samantha Babineau (fiddle, vocals, piano, ukulele) ; Christian Camarao (banjo, glockenspiel, guitar, vocals); and Steven Brum (guitar, bass, saxophone), all multi-instrumentalists who were all independent songwriters before coming together.
Individually, the members of band have extensive live playing experience in concert venues, clubs, and festivals in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and South. That includes shows at Doc Watson’s Sugar Grove Festival in NC, The Narrows Center for the Arts and New Bedford Folk Festival in Massachusetts, Bear on the Square Festival in Georgia, and Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pebblesofrain
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pebblesofrain/
Located in New Bedford, the nation’s most valuable fishing port, the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to telling the story of the fishing industry past, present, and future through exhibits, programs, and archives. The 3000 square foot, handicap accessible space accommodates changing exhibits, public programs, school groups, archives, and community gatherings.
Website: https://fishingheritagecenter.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbfishingheritagecenter/
Hip Hop Cypher!
What is a cypher? A hip hop cypher is an informal, improvised, freestyle cyclical rapping session where people take turns or, an open mic! The AHA! Cyphers will be happening from April – September at the Co-Creative Center from 7:00 – 9:00pm with the exception of June when they will be hosted by the New Bedford Whaling Museum on the plaza. The Cyphers will feature a local emcee and producer who will be highlight and featured during the cyphers. The featured emcee will improvisationally rhyme over instrumentals in a rap cypher that will also include the emcees from the public. The featured producer will be highlighted with a 30 minute segment of their instrumental that the emcees will rhyme over. The featured emcee will also have a 30 minute performance set at the end of the cypher. The Cyphers will include rhyming games and will be family friendly and open to public participation. The cyphers will be hosted by Hendrick Hernandez and Bristol County Castro from Sleepless In New England as well as by Iean Morgan of MIDI Studios. We want thank our funders the New England Foundation for the Arts.
7:30 PM
8:00 PM
Neal McCarthy with Special Guests
Stop by the Pour Farm for a pint and music by Neil McCarthy from 8:00pm – 11:30pm.
