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Events and Programs 2009

The Providence Athenaeum is committed to cultural programming and events for adults and children that accentuate and expand the strengths of the collections and mission of the institution. Exhibits are open to the public. Programs are free unless otherwise noted.

To receive our free weekly calendar of events, email Christina Bevilacqua with your name and email address. Non-members are welcome to receive our electronic newsletter.

For more information about membership click here!

PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Click below to view the archived list

of programs & events from Fall 2008!

SPRING 2009 PROGRAMS

JANUARY

Wed 1/21, 7pm, at the Metcalf Auditorium, Chace Center, Museum of Art, RISD: Noted writer, critic, and historian of children’s literature, Leonard Marcus, on his Minders of Make Believe: Idealists, Entrepreneurs, and the Shaping of American Children’s Literature (2008), the first-ever history of children’s book publishing from colonial times to Harry Potter; co-presented with the Museum of Art, RISD. More on Marcus: leonardmarcus.com. Chace Center entrance is at 20 North Main Street, more at risdmuseum.org. Free and open to the public!

Fri 1/30, 7pm: Sex, Lies, and Edgar Allan Poe, a fundraiser to benefit the Providence Athenaeum! 2009 marks the bicentennial of Poe’s birth. His library of choice in Providence was the Athenaeum, where he and his fiancée, poet Sarah Helen Whitman, courted (away from her mother’s disapproving eye). Here, too, their betrothal ended – suddenly,  violently, and irrevocably - in perfectly Poe fashion. What drew them together? What tore them asunder? And… what about the other woman he was wooing at the very same time? Join us to celebrate Poe the lovelorn, a liar perhaps, but no Lothario (no one suffered for his lapses more than he). And reimagine the library as a lair for love, where desire fed on what couldn’t be said - only read. Enjoy dramatic readings from Poe and Whitman, including torrid correspondence; an exhibit of rare Poe printed matter, featuring items on loan from collector Susan Jaffe Tane; suitably haunting music by Alec K. Redfearn; food for the soul; and the means by which you can drink to forget (thanks to Campus Fine Wines). Dress code: Raven-hued. Tickets are $75, call 421-6970 or to order on-line, click here. For more information, read the Jan. 27 Providence Journal article: ProJo.com.

FEBRUARY

Fri 2/6, 5-7pm, SALON - Series: The Once and Future Library, part 4: Digitalizing Rare Printed Works: Disseminating Dazzle. Dazzle Camouflage was developed in World War I by artists as a way to protect ships from German U boats. Florida’s District Camoufleur attended RISD after the war and donated his collection of dazzle camouflage plans. What does a library do with 455 1x3 feet plans printed on acid newsprint-like material? Claudia Covert, Readers Services Librarian at the Fleet Library @ RISD, along with Museum and Library colleagues, will detail their adventures in preserving and digitalizing this unique collection, in anticipation of their exhibit, Bedazzled, and 2/14 symposium, Artists at War: Exploring the Connections Between Art and Camouflage. Join us to consider the issues raised in digitalizing a collection, issues increasingly faced by libraries and museums in an ever more e-world. For more on the Bedazzled exhibit and symposium speakers: dazzlecamouflage.wordpress.com. For Athenaeum members and their guests. (Series Sponsor: Dan Siegel, M&S Rare Books, msrarebooks.com)

Fri 2/13, 5-7pm: SALON – Pulitzer Prize finalist Philip Dray on his new Capitol Men: The Epic Story of Reconstruction Through the Lives of the First Black Congressmen, one of the NY Times 100 Notable Books of 2008. Neglected by most historians, the nation’s first black members of congress fought determinedly in pushing for much-needed reforms in the wake of a traumatic civil war but were overwhelmed by the brutal forces of white reaction. Covering the fraught period between the Emancipation Proclamation and Jim Crow, Dray reclaims the reputations of men who led a valiant struggle for civil rights and social justice. Books available for sale and signing thanks to Borders! Free and open to the public! (Sponsor: Jodi L. Glass, Doctor of Audiology, 401- 575-9951, jlglass53@aol.com)

Thurs 2/19, 7pm: The Providence String Quartet plays Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8. Shostakovich dedicated his powerful 8th quartet, “In memory of victims of fascism and war.” He spent summer 1960 in Dresden, writing the score for a film on WWII. Emotionally overcome by his subject matter and the city’s bombed-out condition, Shostakovich composed his pseudo-autobiographical quartet in a mere three days. Tickets $30 for Athenaeum members, $35 for non-members, and must be purchased in advance, call 421-6970. More on PSQ: communitymusicworks.org

Fri, 2/20, 5-7pm: SALON – Teatro ECAS, Rhode Island’s Spanish language theater. Teatro ECAS (The Educational Center for the Arts and Sciences) produces and hosts contemporary and classic Spanish language theatrical productions, fostering an appreciation of the richness of Latin American and Iberian cultures in the context of the pluralism that defines Providence. Join board president Sabina Matos and actor/director Jhomphy Ventura for a conversation about theater from Spain and Latin America in the USA. ECAS actress Marleny Luna will perform a short original piece. The Salon sets the stage for March as Latino Month of Theater; line-up of ECAS plays to be announced. More on Teatro ECAS: ecastheater.org. For Athenaeum members and their guests. Salon is presented in collaboration with The Rhode Island Foundation’s Expansion Arts Program.

Mon 2/23, 6-8:30pm: Living Literature’s Taking Literature from Page to Stage: a Literacy Workshop for Educators. Participants read aloud, interact collaboratively, and recreate a work of non-dramatic writing through performance. Artistic Director Barry Press and director Peter Sampieri provide a supportive process for exploring the written word in voice and body. Call 437-2297 to reserve and mail nonrefundable $5 check to: Living Literature, 120 Riverside Dr., Riverside, RI 02915.

Tues 2/24, 6-7pm: WRNI presents Policy and Pinot, a new conversation series on vital issues affecting our state; this month's guest and topic: Economist Leonard Lardaro on "What Is the Way Out for the Rhode Island Economy?" Join Dr. Lardaro plus reporters and staff from WRNI, Rhode Island'spublic radio station, for a glass of wine and a discussion about the future of the state's economy. Policy and Pinot will take place every other month at the Athenaeum during the library's program season. For more info contact Rita Cidre, WRNI Membership Director, rcidre@wrni.org. More on WRNI: wrni.org. Free and open to the public, but space is limited and RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED: contact Rita Cidre at 401-351-0203 or rcidre@wrni.org.

Fri 2/27, 5-7pm: SALON – RI Philharmonic’s Resident Conductor Francisco Noya on Music, Life, and the Pursuit of Extreme Pleasure. Need we say more? For Athenaeum members and their guests. (Sponsor: Jillian Siqueland of Residential Properties, 401-274-6740)

MARCH

Fri 3/6, 5-7pm, SALON - Readings from the newly published anthology, Wild Dreams: the Best of Italian Americana, with editor-in-chief Carol Bonomo (Ahearn) Albright and contributors Ann Hood, Mary Caponegro, Peter Covino, Christine Palamidessi Moore, and Christina Bevilacqua. For over 30 years the journal Italian Americana has showcased writers who have chronicled Italian-American literary culture and helped to define an Italian-American imagination. Wild Dreams offers the best of those pages - fiction, memoir, poetry, and interview - ranging widely in style and sentiment, tracing the arc of an immigrant culture's coming of age in America. Join us for a conversation with several contributors about how they deal with the complicated questions of identity in their art. Copies of Wild Dreams available for sale at 20% discount! Free and open to the public! (Sponsor: Elad Inc, Industrial Consulting)

Fri 3/13, 5-7pm, SALON - Series: The Once and Future Library, part 5: From Charles Dickens to Giles Morris: A Self-Published Serial Novel in the Digital Age. Giles Morris is a journalist, former political speech writer, community organizer on Chicago's south side, and teacher. Faced with the daunting task of publishing his first novel, he decided to publish directly on the web, partly in hopes of generating a book deal. He called on friends at Providence-based Left Brain, including founder Ben Jones, to design and produce the online-publishing project. Using an open source content management system, Joomla, Left Brain created a site usable by a non-technically-expert author. With the ease of publishing made possible by content management systems - given the exigencies of the publishing industry today, where even proven writers face increasing hurdles - does the web provide a formula for more autonomy for writers? As writers adapt, can publishers keep up? And whither the library in all this? Join Morris and Jones to hear about their adventures and ponder these questions and more! Special thanks to Left Brain for making this event possible.  For Athenaeum members and their guests. (Series Sponsor: Dan Siegel, M&S Rare Books, msrarebooks.com)

Mon 3/16, 5:30-7pm: New Members' Reception! Join members, staff, and volunteers to learn more about the Athenaeum. The evening features  a reception and tour of the building, including a look at some of the most interesting treasures in our rare books collections. For new Athenaeum members.

Fri 3/20, 5-7pm: SALON – Oasis International. Oasis International serves African immigrants to Providence's West End, Elmwood, Southwest Providence, and Washington Park neighborhoods, focusing on health and wellness, consumer education, and programs for youth. Through funding from the National Constitution Center for their "Living News" program, Oasis is developing theatrical productions that present  the young people they serve  - American-born children of African immigrants - with constitutional issues in the media that have a direct impact on their everyday lives, and help them understand that in a democracy, their voices matter. Join us for a conversation with Oasis Executive Director Mary Smith and other participants on Africans becoming Americans, from one generation to the next. For Athenaeum members and their guests. Salon is presented in collaboration with The Rhode Island Foundation’s Expansion Arts Program.

Thurs 3/26, 6-7:30pm: Listen Local Composers' Forum, moderated by Open Source's Christopher Lydon, with composers including Mitchell Clark, Marilyn Currier, Garrison Hull, Mike Kelley, Forrest Larson, and Jessie Montgomery; presented with Community MusicWorks and the Providence Public Library - event takes place at the Providence Public Library, 150 Empire Street in Providence. Join us for a conversation with composers featured in last season's Community MusicWorks Listen Local project. For more on Listen Local and the composers: communitymusicworks.org. Free and open to the public - reservations are REQUIRED due to limited seating, please email Lisa Miller at lmiller@provlib.org (preferred), or leave her a message at 401-455-8057.

Fri 3/27, 5-7pm: SALON – Poet Karen Leona Anderson on the interactions of poetry and science. Anderson's interest in the interactions of these two disciplines informs her new collection of poems, Punish Honey, and has led her to look for these interactions in the work of other poets - such as Emily Dickinson, for example - as well. Join us for a conversation about her discoveries - scientific, poetical, and the combination thereof - and then don't miss her reading from Punish Honey the following evening (Sat 3/27) at 6pm at the beloved Ada Books, 717 Westminster Street in Providence! For Athenaeum members and their guests. (Sponsor: Elad Inc, Industrial Consulting)

Fri 3/27, 7:30pm: The Legendary Pub Quiz! Join us for a fun-filled, trivia-filled night. Call 421-6970 to reserve a spot. $5 for Athenaeum members; $10 for non-members.

APRIL

Fri 4/3, 5-7pm, SALON - Series: The Once and Future Library, part 6: Massachusetts Historical Society librarian Jeremy Dibbell on The Libraries of Early America project. Using the online book-cataloging site LibraryThing.com, scholars and volunteers from around the country are creating digital catalogs of personal and institutional libraries from the colonial and early national periods, including those of America’s first three presidents, Benjamin Franklin, Lady Jean Skipwith, and the Providence Athenaeum’s own Founders’ Collection. These digital catalogs allow users to efficiently compare libraries (what books did John Adams and Benjamin Franklin have in common?), and search collections that may not exist today in physical form or are spread across multiple institutions and private collections. Users can enter their personal libraries into LibraryThing and see what books they have in common with early American readers. For more on Libraries of Early America, including links to the various collections now in place or in progress: www.librarything.com/groups/PLEA.

For our Founders’ Collection: www.librarything.com/profile/ProvidenceAthenaeum. For Athenaeum members and their guests. (Series Sponsor: Dan Siegel, M&S Rare Books, msrarebooks.com)

Fri 4/10, 5-7pm: SALON - Choreographer and multi-media artist Aaron Jungels of Everett Dance Theatre on his new, Silas the Teenager, on stage at the Carriage House Stage April 17-19 and 24-26. Inspired by his 16-year-old nephew Silas, who has autism, Jungels utilizes vivid imagery and evocative physicality in depicting the pleasures and challenges of interacting with Silas. Interweaving video projection, dialogue, choreography, and kinetic-sculptural stage props, Jungels reflects upon the way Silas perceives the world. A live score by Alec K. Redfearn and five musicians accompanies the performances. Jungels researched the latest studies on the autistic mind; new theories about how people with autism perceive and process information about the world, as well as their reports “from the inside,” guided the development of his work. Jungels received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Capital’s Multi-Arts Production Fund and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts to produce Silas the Teenager. More on Everett Dance Theatre: www.everettdancetheatre.org/index.html. Tickets for Silas the Teenager will be available at the Salon. Free and open to the public! (Sponsor: Antiques & Interiors, antiquesandinteriors.biz)

Thurs 4/16, 6pm: Bibliophile Caroline Schimmel and The Margaret B. Stillwell Book Collecting Awards, sponsored by the John Russell Bartlett Society.  Special guest Caroline Schimmel will discuss her passion for collecting narratives of “Women in the American Wilderness, 1492-1992”, followed by student presentations and the awarding of the Stillwell Prizes. An exhibit of books from the Athenaeum’s collections relating to Ms. Schimmel’s talk will be on display that evening. The Margaret B. Stillwell Prize for outstanding student collections of rare, interesting, or unique books was named for Stillwell, Curator of the Annmary Brown Memorial from 1917-1953, in honor of her efforts to promote serious book collecting. More info: www.brown.edu/Facilities/John_Carter_Brown_Library. Free and open to the public!

Fri 4/17, 5-7pm: SALON – Artists Timothy S. Philbrick and Anthony Ramos on their upcoming Providence Art Club show, Native Sons. Lifelong friends, master furniture maker Philbrick and painter/video arist Ramos both grew up in RI and are finally showing their work together. It’s an RI first for Ramos, who lives in the south of France and has shown in Boston, Barcelona, Florence, and Paris among other locales. Philbrick’s furniture has been featured in many museum shows and permanent collections; his pieces are known for their sense of proportion, luxurious design, exquisite craftsmanship, and unique understanding of the materials (for more: timothyphilbrick.com). Ramos’s works engage and interpret the cultural, political, and social complexities of a global world. Providence Art Club show runs 4/19-5/8. For Athenaeum members and their guests. (Sponsor: Studio Hop, 810 Hope Street, 621-2262)

Mon 4/20, 6pm: Co-presented in partnership with the Providence Public Library: Matthew Goodman on his The Sun and the Moon: the Remarkable True Account of Hoaxers, Showmen, Dueling Journalists, and Lunar Man-Bats in Nineteenth-Century New York, takes place at PPL’s Empire Branch, Empire Street in downtown Providence. Fans of the 1830s: don’t miss this account of an 1835 tabloid-inspired hoax about a telescope that showed fantastical life on the moon, including scandalously-behaving flora and fauna. In the ensuing furor everyone had an opinion, including Poe, who claimed plagery. Books available for sale and signing by the author. Free and open to the public!

Fri 4/24, 5-7pm, SALON - Series: The Once and Future Library, part 7: Why Books Matter. The digi-vangelists are ready to burn down the libraries and put everything online - or so the story goes. In fact, digital has an extremely complex relationship with the physical world, and a book is a lot more than just words on a page. Andrew Losowsky, Providence-based author, media expert, and journalist (The Guardian,The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London), will explain how technology has changed the purpose of books, reveal how to keep print relevant, and talk about the future of storytelling. Technophobes and technophiles alike will find plenty to talk about! For more on Losowsky and his many projects: losowsky.com. For Athenaeum members and their guests. (Series Sponsor: Dan Siegel, M&S Rare Books, msrarebooks.com)

Tues 4/28, 6-7pm:  WRNI presents Rhode Island – Culture of Corruption? the second installment of Policy and Pinot, a new conversation series on vital issues affecting our state. Join WRNI General Manager Joe O’Connor and WRNI political reporters Ian Donnis and Scott MacKay as they interview Robert Clark Corrente, U.S. Attorney for RI, and Mike Stanton, Providence Journal reporter and author of The Prince of Providence, about the role of corruption, past and present, in Rhode Island’s political culture. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited and RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED! To be part of the conversation, while also enjoying a glass of wine, please reserve with Rita Cidre, WRNI Membership Director, at rcidre@wrni.org or 401-351-0203.

MAY

Fri 5/1, 5-7pm, SALON - Series: Gamm Theatre Artistic Director Tony Estrella on The Scarlet Letter, Phyllis Nagy's adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's dark tale, on stage at the Gamm 5/7-6/7. Hawthorne’s exploration of sin, hypocrisy, and society is vividly re-imagined in this sexually charged, psychologically complex tale of obsession and revenge. Branded an adultress in 17th-century Puritan Boston, Hester Prynne is sentenced to wear the scarlet letter A on her dress. Refusing to name her lover, the father of her daughter, Pearl, she turns the mark of shame into a badge of beauty. Then Hester's long-lost husband unexpectedly reappears, and will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. Narrated by the spirited Pearl, this stripped-bare stage version of the "greatest American novel" makes us consider its power anew. More info: gammtheatre.org. For Athenaeum members and their guests. (Sponsor: Antiques & Interiors, antiquesandinteriors.biz)

PLEASE NOTE: NO SALON ON FRIDAY, MAY 8TH!

Fri 5/8, 7pm: Eleventh Annual Philbrick Poetry Project Award and Reading, with poet judge Marilyn Nelson and winner Jennifer E. Whitten. Poet judge Nelson has chosen Whitten's manuscript Auction as the 2009 Philbrick Poetry Award winner. Join us for the presentation of the award, and a reading by both poets. As part of the award, the Athenaeum has published Auction as a chapbook; copies will be on sale at the reading. The Athenaeum's Philbrick Poetry Project is named for long-time Athenaeum members Charles Philbrick, a noted poet, and his wife Deborah, a mentor to many poets, and fosters the art of poetry in RI and New England.  Funded in part by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. Free and open to the public!

Mon 5/11, 5:30-7pm: New Members' Reception. Join us for a tour of the building, a look at our special collections, and a chance to meet other members plus staff and board members. For new Athenaeum members and their guests.

Thurs 5/14, 7pm: The Providence String Quartet plays Benjamin Britten's String Quartet No. 2. Great admirers of one another's music, Dmitry Shostakovich and Benjamin Britten stand as two giants of 20th century music. In February, PSQ played Shostakovich; their 2009 Athenaeum series ends with Britten's Second Quartet, written in 1945 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the death of the great English composer, Henry Purcell. This three movement work concludes with a immense baroque chaconne as a direct tribute. Tickets must be purchased before the day of the show! PSQ is notorious for selling out at the Athenaeum, so don't delay, call today! Tickets are $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Call 401-421-6970 or stop by the library to purchase.

Fri, 4/15, 5-7pm: SALON – Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum Executive

Director Loren Spears on Eastern Native Arts. The Tomaquag Museum is Rhode Island’s only museum entirely dedicated to telling the story of the state's original inhabitants, and the only museum operated by Native people over the last 52 years. Join us for a Native perspective on the collection of art, its history, meaning, and use. Images as well as actual pieces from the collections will be featured, as well as works from Native artists today. More on the museum: tomaquagmuseum.com. For Athenaeum members and their guests. Salon is presented in collaboration with The Rhode Island Foundation’s Expansion Arts Program.

Fri 5/22, 5-7pm, SALON - Pulitzer-winning author Tony Horwitz on his book A Voyage Long and Strange: on the Trail of Vikings, Conquistadors, Lost Colonists, and Other Adventurers in Early America. One of the New York Times' 50 Notable Books of Nonfiction for 2008, A Voyage Long and Strange is Horwitz's account of the years Americans know little about, namely what happened here between 1492 and the arrival of the Pilgrims (which some Americans think happened in 1492). Not content to read his way through the history, he sets out on his own odyssey - which includes canoeing the Mississippi, taking the heat in a Canadian sweat lodge, and donning 60 pounds of armor as a conquistador reenactor in Florida - to retrace the steps of the early explorers. Join us for a conversation about adventure travel then and now. Books available for sale and signing, thanks to Borders! Free and open to the public! (Sponsor: Antiques & Interiors, antiquesandinteriors.biz)

Fri 5/22, 7:30pm: The Legendary Pub Quiz! Call 421-6970 to reserve a spot. Fee is $5 for Athenaeum members; $10 for non-members.

NOTE: THE CONNECT PROVIDENCE PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED. FOR INFORMATION ON RESCHEDULING, PLEASE CONTACT mike@connectprovidence.org.

Tues 5/26, 6-8pm: Connect Providence presents founder Owen Johnson on a next-generation time bank to help grow Rhode Island's social infrastructure. Find out how this parallel economy, based on a time currency dubbed "Rhodies", stimulates community connections and strengthens goodwill. Rollout of the time bank will begin in the next two months; those attending can sign up as founding members. Come see the newest innovation from those who brought you I HEART PROVIDENCE, www.vimeo.com. More on Connect Providence: connectprovidence.org.  Free and open to the public but reservations are required! RSVP to mike@connectprovidence.org.

Fri 5/29, 5-7pm: SALON - Poetry Aloud! For the last Salon of the season we return to a favorite tradition, declaiming verse in the Reading Room. Bring a poem you've written, a poem you've loved, or come browse the poetry shelves of the Athenaeum that evening and find one you can't resist, and we'll take turns reading aloud. This is a great way to connect once more with the Athenaeum community before we head out for summer adventures - don't miss this chance to wax lyrical with old friends and new! For Athenaeum members and their guests. (Sponsor: Elad Inc. Industrial Consulting)

PLEASE REMEMBER: When parking in the Atheneaum lot, please use ONLY the first five parking spots, which are marked. All other spots belong to our good friends and neighbors in Athenaeum Row – please help us be good neighbors, too! Thank you.

For more information call Christina Bevilacqua, Director of Member Services, Programs and Development at 401-421-6970 x28 or check  the program listing on our website: www.providenceathenaeum.org

THE PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM

251 Benefit Street

Providence, Rhode Island 02903

To receive our free WEEKLY CALENDAR OF EVENTS, email Christina Bevilacqua with your name and email address. Non-members are welcome to receive our electronic newsletter.

Find out about activities in the Children's Library by clicking HERE!

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