AHA! presents 2nd Thursday year-round FREE nights of Art, History & Architecture programs in Downtown New Bedford with 37-venue partners.
Call us at 508-264-8859 or visit us at www.ahanewbedford.org.
The AHA! Project was formed in 1999 by a dedicated circle of cultural leaders, downtown businesses and individual artists. Since July of that year, the project has continuously presented its 2nd Thursday events. What originally included 14 venues now numbers 37 and spans eight galleries, three museums, The National Historical Park, City Hall and The Library, many of the downtown’s unique stores, restaurants and cafes as well as individual artist studios, a meditation center, several churches, The Bristol Building, The New Bedford Preservation Society and The UMass Dartmouth CVPA Star Store. AHA!’s mission is to collectively promote downtown culture and work towards greater sustainability of the downtown cultural scene and partner organizations.
AHA!’s articles on http://newbedford360.com are part of an expanding effort to bring more attention to the wealth of cultural events and experiences happening in downtown New Bedford.
“Muddy March” AHA! Night celebrates the earth beneath our feet and the feel of clay in our hands. Visitors may try their hand at the potter’s wheel, watch the creation of life-sized mud paintings and learn about how quahoggers dig in the muck for the savory seafood. On exhibit will be ceramics by local artists that are both intricate and functional. This evening will also feature several artist lectures from recently opened exhibits, live music and the much anticipated Echo Performing Art Festival at the Whaling Museum. Participating AHA! venues will be open late offering a variety of exhibits, live music, shopping and fine dining.
Complete schedules available at all listed partners or online at www.ahanewbedford.org. All activities are free and held rain or shine.
Muddy March Programs
ArtWorks! (384 Acushnet Avenue) Ceramic artist and art educator Amy Schusser presents an evening of clay including wheel demonstrations and hand building techniques. Visitors may try potter’s wheel; children from 5-6pm and adults from 7-8 p.m.
MOSAIC Gallery (752 Purchase Street) presents the exhibit, "The Sweet Season - A Celebration of Mud and Buds in Mixed-Media and Ceramics” by Lori Bradley. Artist will be in attendance. There will also be a children’s craft activity. All from 5-8 p.m.
Team AHA! Improv Troupe celebrates Muddy March with the live creation of large-scale mud paintings. Mud finger painting will also be available for the young ones. From 5-9 p.m. at le garage @ mediumstudio (79 N. Water Street)
Rotch-Jones-Duff House (396 County Street) presents potter and ceramic artist Kim Barry Van Voris. The artist will demonstrate the pottery wheel and discuss techniques. A variety of hand-thrown pots and tiles will be available for purchase. In the Coachman’s House (7th Street behind the Museum). From 7-8 p.m.
The Working Waterfront Festival presents "From Bullrakes to Clambakes" an illustrated talk by folklorist Michael Bell about the work and lives of Rhode Island quahoggers. Seamen's Bethel (15 Johnny Cake Hill) at 7:30 p.m.
Live Music and Performance
New Bedford Whaling Museum (18 Johnny Cake Hill) presents the cultural diverse and collaborative ECHO Performing Arts Festival at 7 p.m.
First Unitarian Church in New Bedford (corner of County and Union Streets) presents Classical Guitar Recital with George Little. At 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Joe Piper (106 William Street) presents an open Music Session with Nate Silva. From 7:30-9 p.m.
The Cafe Arpeggio (800 Purchase Street) presents Tom Irving, a new feature performer at the cafe from 6-7 p.m. Open mic follows from 7-10 p.m. hosted by Art Tebbetts.
Pilgrim United Church of Christ (635 Purchase Street) presents “Voices in Time” young singers directed by Sharon Jenson performing a 50’s theme music from 6 -7 p.m.
DyerMaker Studio (96 William Street, 2nd Floor) presents a demonstration on dyeing eggs naturally at 7 p.m. Live Music performance begins at 8 p.m.
Catwalk Bar and Grille (34 Union Street) will be featuring adult contemporary dinner music from 6-8pm with Jeff Andrade from 6-8 p.m.
Exhibits, Talks and Films
The New Bedford Historical Society, the YWCA, and UMass Dartmouth present the film: The Iron Ladies of Liberia in celebration of Women's History Month. At 800 Purchase Street, community room at 7 p.m.
New Bedford Art Museum (608 Pleasant Street) continues the exhibit, Skude 360 Degrees: An Exhibition of Paintings by Severin Haines
Curated by Hannah Haines. Artist talk at 7 p.m. Gallery open from 5-9 p.m.
The University Art Gallery (715 Purchase Street) continues the exhibit tauto.logos new work by jen pepper. Closing Reception from 6:30 – 9 p.m. Artist's lecture at 7:30 p.m.
New Bedford Whaling Museum (18 Johnny Cake Hill) presents the exhibit Needle/Work - Art, Craft, and Industry in a Port City from 5-9 p.m.
Gallery X (169 William Street) presents the High School Select Exhibit 10th Anniversary! Reception: 5-9 p.m. Sponsored in part by the New Bedford Local Cultural Council.
ArtWorks! (384 Acushnet Avenue) continues the exhibit Rachel Hunt: reORGANized, an exhibit of sculptural installations. . On display in the second floor Community Gallery, Jenine Haard: Emergence (black). In the Sarah Louise Cousins Gallery Looped - A Teen Collaboration with artist Rachel Hunt. Galleries open from 5-9 p.m.
John Magnan Studio (25 Centre Street) Come check the artist's progress as he transforms giant maple tree logs in sculptures 5-9 p.m.
The New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library (791 Purchase St) presents Archive Alive Melville Lyceum: “The Books Behind Melville’s Books” with Mary K. Bercaw Edwards. Museum Library from 6-7 p.m.
The Crystal Garden (772 Purchase Street) FREE Chakra Balancing Lecture - Awakening & Healing the Body's Energy Centers by Joyce Dutra from 6-7 p.m.
Wicked Mermaid (49 State Pier, Fast Ferry Terminal) worth crossing Route 18 for, the Wicked Mermaid is a café & gift shop that features a sampling of food and art from New Bedford. Visitors will receive a small clay pot and packet of seeds with any purchase. Open from 5-9 p.m. (pedestrian crosswalk over Route 18).