On Thursday, September 11th, celebrate the history, creativity, and diversity of New Bedford with AHA! Night: NB Cultures. Organizations and businesses across downtown New Bedford will host musical performances, conversations, demonstrations, and more as part of this free, monthly arts and cultural event. September’s AHA! Night is sponsored by Hawthorn Medical.
At 5:00 PM, hear from Hartman Deetz as he discusses the Wampum tradition at Bushwood Tailors OppShop located at 763 Purchase Street. Deetz is a Mashpee Wampanoag who has been active in environmental and cultural stewardship for over 20 years while honing his skills in traditional Wampanoag arts, wood carving, stone carving, copper work, feather work, antler, bone, and Wampum. Outside the shop, learn how to play Marralhinha, a traditional Azorean marble-and-dice board game, and learn more about Não me Digas, a pop-up event for conversational Portuguese (5:30-7:30 PM).
Then, stop by The Stepping Razor barbershop for this month’s AHA! Moment: a sonic voyage to Cape Verde with traditional music brought to you by Harmony Band (6:30-8:30 PM).
The New Bedford Whaling Museum will host the opening of the International Guild of Knot Tyers Exposition, which celebrates New Bedford’s deep maritime traditions while spotlighting the artistry of knot-tying practices from around the world. See demonstrations by international knot-tying experts alongside displays from local exhibitors, drawing connections between global craftsmanship and our own rich seafaring heritage (4-7:00 PM). At 6:00 PM, this month’s Seaport Sessions is a performance from a Fado quartet led by Fadista Sandy Batista in the museum’s Lagoda Room, which features a half-scale replica of a whaling ship, Lagoda, which is the largest ship model in existence.
Nearby, see the work created by Alex Buchanan during his residency at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. He has transformed conversations about environmental consciousness and other phrases into Morse Code and applied them to sculptural and printmaking methods. (5-7:00 PM)
At Gallery X, experience the historical reenactment of the Strike of 1928 by the New Bedford Textile Workers Union, directed by Russell Ramos, adapted from the Spinner Publications book “The Strike of ‘28” by Daniel Georgianna with Roberta Hazen Aaronson (4-5:00 PM). You can also explore a special exhibit of textile art by Deborah Baronas about mill workers.
The New Bedford Art Museum will host opening receptions for two new exhibits, The Shape of Who We Are: Exploring Identity and I Return With a Feeling of Us: The Photography of Anthony Barboza (5-8:00 PM).
KICK OFF YOUR AHA! NIGHT WITH A DOCENT-LED TOUR
Not sure where to go on AHA! Night? Starting at 4:00 PM, the AHA! team will be handing out schedules and answering questions at the AHA! table in Custom House Square. The AHA! Table is also where you can take a tour with an AHA! Docent. The tours begin at 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM and will last approximately 45-60 minutes. Attendees can “hop off” at any time to further enjoy their AHA! Night experiences. No registration required.
Custom House Square is also where you can find the Sorbae Frozen Treats Truck, bio facts and fish crafts with the Buttonwood Park Zoo, and the giant, handmade flowers by Paulinarte’s Petals (5-7:00 PM).
Additional activities:
- Get crafty at the New Bedford Main Library’s Youth Services with PACE Coordinated Family & Community Engagement (3-5:00 PM). Then explore the Revolutionary Portraits exhibit on the 3rd Floor Gallery. Inspired by MA250, see heroes, founders, and traitors alike (4-8:00 PM).
- Drop by the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum for a look at the 40th Anniversary exhibitions inside the mansion, breathe in the beauty of the rose garden, and sip a refreshing lemonade on the patio (4-6:00 PM).
- See the work of TL6 Featured Artist of the Month, Jenny Arruda, co-owner of the gallery and an artist working in metals, textiles, fibers, watercolor, acrylics, and colored pencils (4-8:00 PM).
- Get “Hooked on Health” at New Bedford Community Health, where you can make a fish windchime craft, play a magnetic fishing trivia game for a chance to win small prizes, and take home quick tips for healthy habits (4-8:00 PM).
- At Beyond House, explore the photography and art of the city’s young adults who are capturing the people, places, and traditions that make New Bedford unique (4-8:00 PM).
- Pick up an iPad and start sketching with Sketchy GO ichie at the Co-Creative Center. From first-time doodlers to seasoned artists, everyone’s invited to explore digital creativity in this all-ages open house (5-7:00 PM).
- Judith Klein Art Gallery hosts a reception for the exhibit Artist Couples. Artists Elizabeth and Don Wilkinson will discuss and demonstrate their collaborative artwork, Chuck Hauck will discuss and demonstrate his sculptural work, and acoustic group Jensam will perform (4-6:00 PM).
- At 5:30 PM, New Bedford Symphony Orchestra musical artists Timothy Macri (flute) & Luís Avíla (guitar) will perform music inspired by and inside DATMA’s Mood-Vironment installation. Cork Wine & Tapas will provide a complimentary wine tasting inspired by the experience (5-6:00 PM).
- Centre Street Jazz features Providence-based vocalist Shawnn Monteiro accompanied by music director/pianist Matt DeChamplain on piano, Marty Ballou on bass, and Steve Langone on drums, performing two sets by the Jazz Wall at the Fiber Optic Center (5:30 PM & 7:15 PM).
- Learn about the importance of community within the fishing industry with a discussion about the Working Waterfront Festival at 7:00 PM at the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center. Then check out the newest exhibit, Ceremonies & Celebrations, which explores the history of the New Bedford Scallop Festival, Working Waterfront Festival, Blessing of the Fleet, and Fishermen’s Memorial Service.
- Join or enjoy the monthly live podcast “Live From AHA!” hosted by the Artists Index at PLAY Arcade. On the anniversary of the September 11th attacks, they want to hear your thoughts on “Artists as Witnesses & Memory Keepers” in the aftermath (6-7:30 PM). Kids Karaoke also returns from 6-8:00 pm, with 21+ karaoke beginning at 8:00 pm.
- Enjoy Buttonwood Brass Band’s residency at the Harbor Hotel (6-8:00 PM).
- Hear Neal McCarthy Trio at Pour Farm Tavern (8-11:30 PM).
Find the most up-to-date schedule on the AHA! Website.
AHA! NIGHT FAST FACTS
- AHA! Nights are always free and open to the public.
- Look for the yellow flags! Most participating locations will prominently display a yellow AHA! flag to help you find AHA! Night activities.
- Park for free on AHA! Nights at the Elm Street and Zeiterion Garages.
- Museums, galleries, and shops will be open late.
- In case of rain, some events may move indoors or be rescheduled.
- The most up-to-date schedule is always available on the AHA! website. (Events are added every day!)
- On AHA! Night, a printed program can be found at the AHA! Welcome Table in Custom House Square, the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitors Center, the New Bedford Art Museum, and the New Bedford Free Public Library.
ABOUT AHA NEW BEDFORD
AHA! New Bedford provides and promotes free arts and cultural experiences for all across downtown New Bedford. For over 25 years, AHA! has helped build and promote a creative economy that, alongside other arts organizations and supporters, transformed downtown New Bedford into a cultural epicenter of Massachusetts’ South Coast. Programming has expanded to include music, film, storytelling, block parties, art markets, and more. AHA! is a fiscally sponsored program of the SouthCoast Community Foundation.
AHA! Seaport Sessions is supported in part by the Wicked Cool Places grant. AHA! Moments is supported in part by the Art is Everywhere grant. Both are funded by the City of New Bedford, through its Arts, Culture & Tourism Fund and are facilitated by New Bedford Creative at the NBEDC. The New Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, also supports both AHA programs. The AHA! Docent program is funded in part by the New Bedford Cultural Council and the Dartmouth Cultural Council, local agencies supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
