‘Cigarette Surfboard’ screening at URI and other events | Your Weekend 401 guide to Rhode Island

Making surfboards as an environmental statement, a Laotian family’s journey documented in Woonsocket, and a mid-winter party at the Jamestown Art Center. Here’s what’s happening in Rhode Island this coming week

James Baumgartner, Mareva Lindo

January 21, 2026

Taylor Lane with Cigarette Surfboards — Taylor Lane with Cigarette Surfboards.

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 afternoon host Mareva Lindo and Executive Producer of Audio Innovation James Baumgartner.

Cigarette Surfboard

During a 2025 cleanup of trash on Rhode Island beaches, 17.8% of the trash was cigarette waste. It’s a problem around the world and one surfer from California decided to make surfboards using cigarette butts found on the beach. The documentary “Cigarette Surfboard” follows his journey. The filmmaker will be at the screening to answer questions and show off a couple of the surfboards.

Where: Corless Auditorium at URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus
When: Wednesday, Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m.
Website: URI.edu

The Heart of Wattayai

“The Heart of Wattayai” by Vimala Phongsavanh features photographs and family keepsakes that trace one Laotian family’s story of loss, strength, and migration.

Where: Museum of Work and Culture, Woonsocket
When: On display through Feb. 28
Website: RIHS.org

JAC Frost ‘26

JAC Frost will feature immersive digital art by Julio Berroa

If you’ve got the mid-winter blues and want to go to a party with DJs, signature cocktails and immersive digital art, head to the Jamestown Art Center for JAC Frost ‘26.

Where: Jamestown Art Center, Jamestown
When: Saturday, Jan. 24, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Website: jamestownartcenter.org

James Baumgartner 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 Lindo 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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