Open studios, Newport's slavery history, sailing parade among weekend event highlights

Will Richmond, Newport Daily News
·4 min read

Fort Adams will be packed once again with the Newport Jazz Festival filling the grounds with headliners such as The Soul Rebels, Thundercat, Diana Krall and Herbie Hancock, but there will also be plenty happening elsewhere around Newport County.

In addition to the Jazz Festival and a party to celebrate the Ocean Race winning 11th Hour Racing team, you can find art, learn more about Newport's history with slavery, take in a boat parade or get the dirt on dirt, as the first weekend of August hits the calendar.

Start making your plans now and get out this weekend.

Artists’ Open Studios

Artwork from Deb Lichtenstein will be on display during the Artists’ Open Studios in Jamestown.
Artwork from Deb Lichtenstein will be on display during the Artists’ Open Studios in Jamestown.

Artists’ Open Studios returns to Jamestown on Saturday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Jointly hosted by the Jamestown Arts Center and Conanicut Island Art Association, Artists’ Open Studios is a one-day, island-wide event where participating artists invite the public into their studios.

There are over 25 participating artists across the island as well as groups of artists with pop-up displays at Conanicut Island Art Association at the Jamestown Recreation Center, 41 Conanicus Ave., Out of the Box Studio & Gallery, 11 Clinton Ave., and at the JAC, 18 Valley St.

Participating artists include: Jillian Barber, Alicia Bell, Shirley Bell, Ellen Bulger, Rose Chase, Jennifer & David Clancy, The Curiosity Store, CIAA artists in the Conanicut Island Artist Association Summer Art Show, Diane Damle, Peter Diepenbrock, Peter Elsworth, Tim Gavalakis, Jamestown Arts Center artists, Isabella Knox, Donna Lee, Deb Lichtenstein, Suzanne Maccarone, Susan E Mailloux, Amanda Matthews, Rick Meli, Julie Munafo, artists at Out of the Box Studio & Gallery, Kate Petrie, Teddy Trocki Ryba, Nick Shapin, Sandy Sorlien, Didi Suydam, Christopher Smeraldi, Ernie Wulff, Josy Wright, and Matt Vars.

Printed maps are available at the JAC. A digital map is available on the JAC's website: jamestownartcenter.org/events/open-studios, providing full details on participating artists, their location, hours and turn-by-turn directions.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled to Sunday, Aug. 6, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Emancipation Day celebration

The gravestone of Cuffe Gibbs, a slave who was buried in God's Little Acre in 1768. The marker was carved by his brother, Pompi Stevens.
The gravestone of Cuffe Gibbs, a slave who was buried in God's Little Acre in 1768. The marker was carved by his brother, Pompi Stevens.

The Rhode Island Black Heritage Society will host a ceremony to recognize and celebrate the thousands of persons of West African heritage who once lived, worked, worshiped and died in Colonial Newport and who are represented by the hundreds of burial markers that remain in the “God’s Little Acre” section of the Newport Common Burying Ground on Saturday at 11 a.m. as part of the international Emancipation Day celebrations.

God’s Little Acre, on Farewell Street, contains the oldest and largest surviving collection of burial markers of enslaved and free persons of African heritage, dating back to 17th-century America. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Newport was the most active seaport British North America in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Afterward, Valerie Tutson, an internationally known Black Storyteller, will lead an African Libation Ceremony, a ritual of pouring a liquid as an offering to a spirit, deity, or soul of a person who is deceased. Following the ceremony, soil taken from the slave dungeons of Fort William in Anomabo, Ghana, will be buried near the markers of enslaved Africans who originated from Ghana.

The public is cordially invited to attend and participate in the ceremonies at God’s Little Acre. Parking is extremelylimited, and visitors are recommended to park at the Newport Gateway & Visitors Center and walk to the site.

For more information visit riblackheritage.org

12 Metre Boat Parade

Challenge XII (left) and Enterprise at the 12 Metre Pre-Worlds sailed as part of Sail Newport’s Newport Regatta. Both will compete in the 12 Metre World Championship later this month. Photo Credit:
Challenge XII (left) and Enterprise at the 12 Metre Pre-Worlds sailed as part of Sail Newport’s Newport Regatta. Both will compete in the 12 Metre World Championship later this month. Photo Credit:

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, fans can cheer on their favorite teams during the International Parade of 12 Metres. The Parade, led by Race Committee Signal Boat Casta Diva and dignitaries and VIPs aboard a special Palm Beach Motor Yacht, will consist of 12 historic 12 Metres (many of which sailed here during Newport’s America’s Cup days).

The 12 Metres will start east of Goat Island and parade clockwise around the harbor, past Newport Yacht Club, Bannister's Wharf, Newport Yachting Center/Hammetts Hotel, IYRS, Ida Lewis Yacht Club, and New York Yacht Club where they will be saluted by cannon before heading out for their final race of the series. Catch them from these locations and just about every wharf on the east side of Newport Harbor. Give them a hip hip hooray, and look for Newport's Boys & Girls Club kids who will be riding on Heritage (US 23)and Intrepid (US 22). The latter Twelve is a two-time winner of the America's Cup and one of the most famous yachts worldwide!

For more information visit 12mrworlds.com.

Soil Workshop

Gardeners can meet up at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Meeting House, 3850 Main Road, Tiverton, for Shooting the Soil: Soil Microscopy with Matt Wakeman.

The free event will take an up-close look at soil on the big screen as Wakeman shares his expertise on Regenerative Soil Science. Learn how to work with nature to advance your soils, making them better and better every year.

Guests are invited to bring a soil sample, aiming to bring an even mix of the top 4 to 6 inches of soil after clearing away mulch and debris.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Things to do in Newport County Aug. 4-6: 12 Metre, Emancipation Day