The 20mi2 movement launches in New Bedford. Here's what's happening around the city.
NEW BEDFORD — A little rain can't stop the city from celebrating the launch of its three-day 20mi2 movement.
The city was buzzing Thursday with several opportunities for New Bedford locals and visitors to experience something new. There was an open house at Groundworks and the Buzzards Bay Coalition, a wellness retreat hosted by Sangha New Bedford, a food tour and the "5 Pillars of Hip Hop" showcase hosted by 3rd EyE Unlimited.
"It's a way for the community to really connect to each other and really get back to what's amazing about New Bedford," said Lillianne Condez, director of public relations for the Dennison Memorial Community Center on 1st Street.
20mi2 commissioned artists Gregory Pennisten and David Guadalupe to design a mural for the center, set to be completed on Saturday.
"It's amazing. It just gives the neighborhood an enlightenment that I think we haven't had in a long, long time," said Joe Neves, the associate director who has been with the center for over 35 years.
"We never thought to have something like this, and it looks great so far."
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Introducing locals to new places
At the Allen C. Haskell Public Gardens, the staff was busy preparing for their Friday festivities which will include a pottery, plants and cut flowers pop-up, a walking meditation in the gardens and a “Twilight commUNITY Table in the Garden," a dining experience seated with 500 guests — complete with live entertainment and food trucks.
Kristin McCullin, Haskell’s horticulturist, hopes it will introduce the gardens to more people that might not know it exists. "It has been here since the 1950s, and I still think people don't know about it," she said.
"Haskell is so dynamic. There's so much more for people interested in music, a class on horticulture or other art."
McCullin hopes that collaborating with more partners and organizations, such as the 20mi2 movement, will put the garden back on the map to locals.
Despite Thursday's rain, which cleared up at 3:15 p.m., other events took place such as a local author book tour at the New Bedford Free Public Library and a scavenger hunt and "spot the difference" activity at the Whaling Museum.
The main attraction was 20mi2’s Colossal CommUNITY Table, which closed off Purchase Street between School and Union — a 400-foot table with 250 seats on both sides. Guests were invited to sit and enjoy a bite together.
"Its emphasis on unity is to make us feel part of a single community and art is such a great way to bring people together and to get them involved in a conversation," said UMass Dartmouth CVPA Dean Lawrence Jenkens.
The College of Visual and Performing Arts at UMass Dartmouth and the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center collaborated on the project.
"We loved the idea, and we were able to jump on board with some financial sponsorship and some physical contributions."
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Touring all the zip codes
At the Buttonwood Park Zoo parking lot, the New Bedford Starchasers, a division of SCUL, led a group ride that took bicyclists to Custom House Square and back.
Referred to as Cycle 20mi2, the Starchasers are leading looping tours in all three New Bedford zip codes on Friday and Saturday.
"It was amazing to be a part of the 20mi2 movement. I am so grateful to have been invited to be a part of this team," said Civitron, division admiral of the new veteran Starchasers.
He said the tour will be six light years, flying at the speed of funk, which implies it's a very slow pace. "It's a party pace," he added. "This is a such a fantastic opportunity for the city to activate and come together."
The evening concluded with Aha! New Bedford's Pride Block Party in Custom House Square which featured several activities at venues around the downtown area such as Gallery X, The Rotch-Jones Duff House, the New Bedford Art Museum and Wing's Court.
More to come Friday and Saturday
People interested in participating in 20mi2 on Friday and Saturday, can check out the official website, which has all the events, searchable by date, category or zip code.
On June 10, there will be an open house at the Cape Verdean Cultural Center and a Guatemalan Community showcase will be held at Phillips Avenue Pocket Park.
There will also be a family night at Andrea McCoy Recreation Center.
Samia Walker, executive director of EforAll (Entrepreneurship for All), SouthCoast, shared that there will be an outdoor pitch contest for future entrepreneurs, at Le Place, in collaboration with the SouthCoast LGBTQ+ Network. Participants will get feedback from field experts and win cash prizes.
The Southcoast LGBTQ+ Network will also be hosting programs for LGBTQ+ seniors and families.
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On June 11, there will be a "By The Beach" mini market by BuyBlackNB at West Beach and master percussionist Sidy Maiga will also be performing and bringing drums for audience participation.
There will also be an open row experience on Azorean Whaleboats, a life-sized inflatable North Atlantic right whale, letterboxing at Ricketson Nature Center and "Studio Saturday" at Hatch Street Studios.
There is also a community art project presented by the Community Boating Center, asking people to help design the bottom of a boat as the blank canvas.
Morna Lounge and Grill invites guests to finish up the night with music and dancing.
"I hope people take away not just that there's art downtown. but that there's a sense of community as well in New Bedford," said Jenkens.
Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford celebration 20mi2 launches: art, community, music, tours
