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Learn how to stop censorship | Weekend 401: What’s happening in Rhode Island

The "Hands Off Our Books" event will be held at LitArts RI on Saturday, March 7
The "Hands Off Our Books" event will be held at LitArts RI on Saturday, March 7

Plus: Write Vibes, “Ghosts” at the Gamm, and the art of Resilience & Perseverance

Looking for some tips on what to do this weekend and beyond? We’ve got you covered. Here are a few recommendations from Ocean State Media’s James Baumgartner and Mareva Lindo.

Hands Off Our Books - Writing & Reading in an Era of Censorship

Did you know that Rhode Island has a “Freedom To Read” act? It helps protect libraries, librarians, authors and readers from efforts to ban books. LitArts RI is hosting an event with three local authors to talk about how they’ve confronted censorship and what you can do to fight potential book bans. The panel is hosted by Christina Bevilacqua with authors Cathy G. Johnson, Dr. Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie and Padma Venkatraman.

Where: LitArts RI
When: Saturday, Mar. 7, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hands-off-our-books-writing-reading-in-an-era-of-censorship-tickets-1954909971349

Resilience // Perseverance

The latest show at Hera Gallery in Wakefield features five women artists from different life stages, phases and art practices, showcasing work on the theme of perseverance and resilience. One of the artists, Joanne Delmonico, has a series of paintings of women and their children who have experienced traumatic events. The subjects chose a historical warrior figure that resonated with them and Delmonico painted them as a representation of that warrior. The other artists work in photography, painting, sculpture, mixed media, textile and installation.

Where: Hera Gallery, 10 High Street, Wakefield, R.I.
When: Opening: Saturday, Mar. 7, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Gallery show runs through April 11, 2026.
Details: https://www.heragallery.org/upcoming

The Write Vibe

Public Shop & Gallery is hosting a Hip-Hop and R&B listening party. Performers will be on hand to break down their creative process. Each artist plays 2 unreleased songs and one song that people slept on, followed by a Q & A with the audience. One of the performers this time is local artist and advocate Chachi Carvalho.

Where: Public Shop & Gallery, 50 Agnes Street, Suite #101, Providence
When: Mar. 5, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Details: https://www.publicpvd.com/event-details/the-write-vibe

“Ghosts” at the Gamm Theatre

Henrik Ibsen’s haunting play, adapted and directed by the Gamm’s artistic director Tony Estrella. Described as bold and unsettling, it takes place in a remote Norwegian town where a widow is preparing to dedicate an orphanage in the name of her late husband. Her son comes back home, and buried truths and ghosts of the past begin to emerge. It’s a powerful story about hypocrisy, illness, and forbidden love.

Where: The Gamm Theatre, 1245 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick
When: Multiple performances through March 22
Details: https://www.gammtheatre.org/ghosts

James learned the basics of audio editing while studying music at Missouri State University. He went on to get a Master of Fine Arts in Electronic Art at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he created electronic music, video art and internet-based media art. While at RPI, James went on the air for the first time, hosting an electronic music show on Rensselaer's station, WRPI, but his love of radio came from staying up late so he could hear punk rock on KKFI, the community radio station in Kansas City, Missouri.
Mareva joined Ocean State Media in 2022. In 2023, Mareva received two awards from the Public Media Journalists Association for her work with The Public’s Radio, including a first-place Multi-Media Presentation award for the 2022 Elections page, and a second-place Short Documentary award for editing and co-production of “The Secret of Chiqui Versace.”
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