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

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

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

Chachi Carvalho is one of the performers at The Write Vibe, March 5 at Public Shop & Gallery
Chachi Carvalho is one of the performers at The Write Vibe, March 5 at Public Shop & Gallery

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

Jeanine Kane (Mrs. Helen Alving) sits at a table in a room with blue-hued lighting.
Jeanine Kane (Mrs. Helen Alving)
Photo by Cat Laine

“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

A research team at Brown called Breathe Providence is asking people to track what they smell, in an effort to better understand air pollution in Rhode Island
Residents cite screen time, news fatigue and low early interest in the governor’s race
Campaign-funded survey finds Block trailing Dan McKee and Helena Foulkes head-to-head, but gaining ground when voters hear more about his background
Dolan Perkins-Valdez says her story about a secret community of formerly enslaved people in the Appalachians is resonating in Rhode Island
Judge calls the Justice Department’s request a “fishing expedition” for sensitive voter information
The city council approved the Providence Rent Stabilization Act on Thursday, which would have placed a 4% cap on annual rent increases for most Providence apartments