Honoring Black History Month with music, art, craft, and film: Things To Do
“What do you want to do?”
If you need an answer to this age-old question for making plans, we’ve got you covered.
In Things To Do, we take a look at, well, things to do, happening every week in the Greater Fall River area and around the SouthCoast.
From weekdays to weekends, there’s always plenty going on.
And we’re not only taking a look at what’s happening this week, we’re also giving you a heads up for events that are coming soon.
This week, we’ve got special events planned to honor Black History Month. Plus, historic homes, live music, events and movies at local libraries, auditions, workshops and more.
So when someone asks you what you want to do, you’ve got your plans ready to go.
Here are Things To Do around Fall River, the SouthCoast, and beyond this week:
New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park commemorates Black History Month
This year’s theme for New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park’s commemoration of Black History Month is “African Americans and the Arts.” Here are some of this year’s programs:
The New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, kicks off Black History Month on Friday, Feb. 2, beginning at 6 p.m., with Nashville-based lyricist Crys Matthews. Her songs draw on lived experiences of dissent and intersectionality. The performance is at 6 p.m., and there will be a workshop at 7 p.m. There will be light refreshments and a cash bar. Museum galleries will remain open until 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for members and $20 for non-members, and can be found at https://tinyurl.com/42ms4mvb.
On Saturday, Feb. 3, at 1 p.m., join mother, artist, poet, and award-winning author Iva Brito as she shares her art and inspiration. Also known as Iva B, Brito is a native of Cabo Verde, and channels her nostalgic love of her birthplace through her work, which looks at the intersectionality of culture and social and political issues.
Eden Soares of trigrfx will be sharing his work on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m. Soares is a muralist, capturing New Bedford’s colorful and captivating history. Some of his works include the painting of Booker T. Washington, and a mural honoring Cesaria Evora on the wall of the Cape Verdean Cultural Center on Acushnet Avenue.
Ruth and Abby, the 1850 Ladies, will be exploring history and displaying crafts on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1 p.m. They will be displaying some of the arts and crafts that contributed to local anti-slavery societies and the abolitionist cause. They will also tell stories of New Bedford’s women, who held abolitionist fairs in the city.
There will be a screening and discussion of the movie “12 Years A Slave” on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 1 p.m.
The New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park Visitor Center is located at 33 William St., New Bedford.
For more information on these and other programs, call 508-996-4095 or visit www.nps.gov/nebe/index.htm.
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Live music at Narrows Center for the Arts
The Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River, has a couple of concerts coming up.
On Friday, Feb, 2, at 8 p.m., Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish will be performing. Formed in 1991, these purveyors of the American songbook know how to get the crowd moving. Doors open at 7 p.m.; tickets are $33 in advance, and $35 the day of the show. Find tickets online at https://tinyurl.com/5bz75uev.
Eddie 9V brings his 2024 tour to the Narrows on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 8 p.m. The Atlanta guitarist’s third album, Capricorn, shares its name with Capricorn studios. Doors open at 7 p.m.; tickets are $28 in advance, and $30 on the day of the show. Find tickets online at https://tinyurl.com/ymzxn8yd.
Ask the Experts about historic house renovations
If you love or own a historic home, and you have questions about restoration projects or maintenance, the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum and Waterfront Historic Area League have teamed up to offer a series of programs that are just for you.
Their Ask the Experts series kicks off on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 5:30 p.m. in the RJD parlors at 396 County St., New Bedford.
This three-part series will feature informative presentations from New Bedford city representatives, a preservation consultant, and professionals who have hands-on experience working with historic homes. Participants will hear about best practices, processes, and resources, while gaining insight into preserving older homes.
Assistant City Planner & Preservation Planner for the City of New Bedford Anne Louro will be the speaker on Jan. 30, talking about historic homes, historic districts, and resources within the city of New Bedford.
Guests can register for a single program, or the series.
The fee is $8 for RJD and WHALE members, and $12 for the public. The series price for all three is $20 for members, and $30 for others.
For more information or to register, visit rjdmuseum.org.
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Pokémon Community Day at Fall River Public Library
The Fall River Public Library, 104 N. Main St., will be hosting a Pokémon Community Day event on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a Pokémon scavenger hunt, with prizes, as well as a terrarium craft. Meet and greet with Pikachu and take a picture with him, from 11 a.m. to noon. No registration is required; this event is open to everyone.
'Harbor Lights & Starry Nights' at New Bedford Whaling Museum
Join the New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, for “Harbor Lights & Starry Nights: Painting with Roy Rossow,” on Thursday, Feb. 1, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Artist Roy Rossow will be leading this painting workshop, for an evening of art, creativity, and observation. Exploring Rossow’s exhibition, “The Stars that Guide Us” (on view through April 21), and studying landscape, light, and color, the workshop will be held in the Harbor View Gallery, overlooking New Bedford harbor at sunset. A light reception will follow, and the museum will remain open until 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for members, and $20 for non-members. Find tickets online at https://tinyurl.com/mr3bxkzh.
Free movie night at Tiverton Public Library
The Tiverton Public Library, 34 Roosevelt Ave., will be hosting a free screening of “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,” on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 6 p.m. The movie (rated PG; one hour and fifty-five minutes) is about a widowed cleaning lady during the 1950s, who falls in love with couture. This event will also have popcorn and drinks; everyone is welcome.
Audition for ‘The Minotaur’ at Marion Art Center
The Marion Art Center Theater will be holding open auditions for their June production of “The Minotaur” on Sunday, Feb. 4, and Monday, Feb. 5, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This present-day version of the classic Greek myth is written by Anna Ziegler and directed by Kate Sorensen-Young. Auditions will be held in the Anne Braitmayer Webb Theater at 80 Pleasant St., Marion. The director will also be seeking a stage manager for the production. People of all races, ages, colors, sizes, genders, gender-identities and experience levels are welcome to audition. Auditions will be from the script; sides will be made available for review in advance of auditions for actors upon request. Actors are advised to wear clothes they feel comfortable moving in. For more information, visit marionartcenter.org/auditions.
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Viva Viola with South Coast Chamber Music Series
The South Coast Chamber Music Series, featuring musicians from the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, continues its season on Saturday, Feb. 3, and Sunday, Feb. 4, with “Viva Viola.” Saturday’s concert will be held at 4 p.m. at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, 124 Front St., Marion. Sunday’s concert, also starting at 4 p.m., will take place at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 351 Elm St., South Dartmouth. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance. Find tickets online at nbsymphony.org/chamber-series-2023-2024 or by calling the NBSO office at 508-999-6276, Ext. 222.
Newport String Quartet concert highlights Spanish-speaking countries
The Newport String Project presents the third concert in the Newport County Concert Series on Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Jamestown Arts Center (18 Valley St., Jamestown, RI) and on Sunday, Feb. 4, at Trinity Church (1 Queen Anne Sq., Newport). Featuring resident ensemble, the Newport String Quartet, this event will be highlighting chamber music from Spanish-speaking countries, from a musical homage to “Don Quixote,” to a rarely heard Mexican masterpiece, to Panamanian dances, to a Cuban huapango. Both concerts begin at 3 p.m. Find tickets online at newportstringproject.org.
Have a community event or activity you’d like to see featured? Send us an email at [email protected] or [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: New Bedford Whaling Historical Park plans Black History Month events
