Peter Donnelly and John Richardson are performing alive outdoor concert in the backyard of Wellfleet Preservation Hall on Thursday, August 27th, at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are required: $15, $7.50 for children, at wellfleetpreservationhall.org.
Wellfleet Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall Goes for the Gold
Wellfleet Preservation Hall, at 335 Main Street, is presenting an outdoor backyard screening of T-Rex: Her Fight for Gold on Tuesday, September 1st, at 7:30 p.m. The rain date is September 3rd. T-Rex, directed by Sue Jaye Johnson, is a documentary about boxer Claressa Shields. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, Shields bounced between homes, as her father was in prison and her mother struggled with addiction. Against all odds, at the age of only 17, she became one of the first women to box in the 2012 Olympics in London,where she won a gold medal, a feat she repeated at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. She then went pro, and, in 2019, became the undisputed women’s middle weight world champion.The screening is free, but preregistration at wellfleetpreservationhall.org is required.
By the Time We Got to Woodfleet
Wellfleet Preservation Hall is presenting an online pop-up event, the Woodfleet Project 2020, with virtual doors opening at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 20th, at wellfleetpreservationhall.org. Art on wood panels in two sizes, 6-by-6 and 10-by-10 inches, will be available for $250 and $400, respectively, shipping included, with proceeds benefiting the artists and Preservation Hall. There will also be a raffle of sorts for a 6-by-6 by Traci Harmon-Hay, entered with donations of $10 or more to Preservation Hall.
Splendor in the Grass
In Wellfleet Preservation Hall’s backyard, at 335 Main St.: Eleanor Dubinsky and Dario Acosta on Friday, August 21st, at 6:00 p.m. for $15, ($7.50 for kids 13 and under). Suzanne Nossel gives a talk,“Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All,” on Wednesday, August 26th,at 6:00 p.m., for free, but preregistration is required. Got to wellfleetpreservationhall.org for more details.
Backyard Concert Series: Gregg Sullivan
Wellfleet Preservation Hall is hosting a backyard concert with veteran session guitarist Gregg Sullivan on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m. Tickets, $15 ($7.50 for kids 13 and under), must be purchased in advance at wellfleetpreservationhall.org. Snacks and nonalcoholic beverages will be for sale. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Rain date: Friday, Aug. 14.
RESILIENCE
Nonprofit Groups Adapt and Persevere in a Crisis
Virtual services and fundraising aren’t easy, but there are a few surprising benefits
Updated Aug. 18, 2020.
When the lockdowns of mid-March first hit, the Cape’s nonprofits were faced with a series of questions. Organizations like the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod (ASGCC), Wellfleet’s Preservation Hall, and the Cape Cod Children’s Place have had to rethink their services and how they would raise money without traditional summer fundraisers.
“Very early on we made a call to go mostly virtual with our services,” said Dan Gates, CEO of ASGCC. “For people living with HIV, we provide medical case management, and so we shifted to put everything [online], with occasionally some sort of paperwork dropoff.”
HIV testing and Narcan syringe services couldn’t be as easily switched online and required more creative solutions. “If someone wanted Narcan,” Gates said, “they would call our office, we would do a Zoom and give them a tutorial on how to use Narcan, how to identify an overdose, and then how to administer it, and then we would deliver the Narcan with contactless delivery.”
Moving services online had a surprising benefit. “The innovative things we did in syringe services and Narcan were really helpful,” he said, “because it allowed some people to access services who might have felt uncomfortable walking up to the door — but they were comfortable calling.”
In Wellfleet, Preservation Hall has also found ways to work online. “The upside is, virtually, our reach is endless,” said Executive Director Janet Lesniak. “We did a cooking event with Michael Ceraldi, who has a restaurant in town, and we thought we might get 30 or 40 people. We had 140 people participate. I had to up my Zoom account to accommodate them!”
Lesniak described the role of the arts in a time like this, when people are focused on health and human services. “I would say the arts are human services,” she said. “Truthfully, the evidence is in what we’re watching. People are watching films, they’re writing, they’re making art. Arts and culture feed us. We find ways to heal ourselves, and, obviously, we use Western medicine and health centers. But I deeply believe that arts and culture can be preventative of what ails us socially.”
The Cape Cod Children’s Place in Eastham underwent a massive shift in adapting to the pandemic. According to its website, in-person services — the majority of its activities — were suspended. Instead, the CCCP website became a connector for families and other organizations. On its Facebook page, it hosts virtual programs to help parents adjust and promotes programs like the Eldredge Library’s Virtual Storytime.
The ASGCC switched from in-person lunches at its office to delivering the meals in early March.
“Before long, we were delivering over 50 lunches every day,” said Gates. “Some clients were already homebound, but a bunch were people who decided to quarantine because of compromised immune systems.”
There were disappointments, naturally. Preservation Hall’s Youth Film Festival went online, “which really broke my heart,” said Lesniak. “But, again, people from everywhere got an opportunity to see somebody from Nauset High School who made a movie.”
The Hall has a tradition of free outdoor movies in its back yard, an activity made for summer nights. “Right now, we’re thinking we’ll limit it to 30 people,” said Lesniak. “Everybody will be given a pool noodle. You can pick your spot on the lawn, but you have to distance yourself with that.”
More films and some concerts will find their way to the back yard as summer winds down, with recordings uploaded online in the days following.
Outer Cape nonprofits depend on donors along with day-to-day work behind the scenes. Last month the New York Times reported that nonprofits had laid off 70 to 95 percent of their employees, with the offices of organizations like the Y.M.C.A. shutting down. The article painted a dire picture, with a sharply increased demand for services and decreased funding.
Here, nonprofit leaders say the picture is more mixed.
“Many people have been unbelievably generous,” said Lesniak. “I can’t say enough about it. A big concern for us, and most of my nonprofit colleagues, is that as the pandemic continues and people feel less certain of an end in sight, will they have the means to continue to be generous.”
Preservation Hall received funds through the CARES Act to help with payroll.
The ASGCC converted one summer fundraiser into an online race. “We have a 5K event that would’ve been July 19, but we shifted that to virtual,” said Gates. “Its momentum started building as July progressed and people asked to extend it, so we’ve extended it through August 16. They register on our website, pay the $25, and then they run or walk and email us the time.” ASGCC hopes to reach its goal of raising $10,000 from the event.
Nineteen nonprofits participated in the One Provincetown event in late June, in which they showcased their work alongside musical performances and interviews with activists and artists. “A lot of the work is about building community,” said Gates. “It was empowering to see how the community stepped forward with the One Provincetown event. The way the nonprofits came together and supported each other was unexpected. The Provincetown Health Dept. put together a weekly meeting that was vital. Faith organizations, medical organizations, social services agencies were hearing, ‘This food pantry is stocked. This food pantry needs support. This group of volunteers with the Provincetown Task Force is available.’ ”
Provincetown Health Director Morgan Clark set up these meetings because she saw the many ways the pandemic was affecting daily life. “Covid-19 has such a deep and rippling effect on our total well-being, one that we’ll not fully know about for years to come,” said Clark. “So I wanted to gather everyone who serves our community in one place (virtually), so that we could share what we’re seeing with our populations, to troubleshoot gaps as they arose, and to report to policymakers in real time issues that come up.”
Clark said that, while these groups previously communicated and collaborated, the Covid-19 crisis required that that all voices be represented and included.
In Wellfleet, Lesniak has been able to work with groups like Common Table, which provides meals for families and those unable to leave their houses from the Fox & Crow Cafe, partnering with them to be their fiscal agent and alerting Preservation Hall’s friends of Common Table’s need for volunteers.
The most visited page on Preservation Hall’s website is its community resources page, and the Hall’s email list has grown by over a thousand people in four months. “People are looking to us as a connector,” said Lesniak.
Editor’s note: The original version of this article, as printed in the Aug. 13 edition, erroneously reported that Wellfleet Preservation Hall had shared its email list with Common Table. The Hall does not, in fact, share its list with anyone, according to Executive Director Janet Lesniak, but did notify its own contacts of Common Table’s needs.
Movie in the Backyard: Wellfleet Youth Film Festival
Wellfleet Preservation Hall is holding a live free outdoor screening of its Wellfleet Youth Film Festival on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 8 p.m. in the backyard. Space is limited; register at wellfleetpreservationhall.org. The rain date is Aug. 12.
Zoë Lewis Live – Wellfleet Preservation Hall Backyard Concert Series
Wellfleet Preservation Hall is presenting a backyard concert series. First up is Zoë Lewis on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 7 p.m. (rain date Aug. 6). Tickets are $15 for adults, $7.50 for children 13 and under. Groups are limited to six people; bring a blanket or lawn chair. Reserve in advance at wellfleetpreservationhall.org.
Arts Briefs and Listings
Arts Briefs for July 23 through July 29
Supremely Nostalgic Group Show at Albert Merola
The Albert Merola Gallery will present a new group show, “Reflections of…,” opening Friday, July 24, and on view through Aug.12. Featured are work by Matías Alvial, David Armstrong, Richard Baker, James Balla, Richard Bosman, Harry Callahan, William Christenberry, Pat de Groot, Lyle Ashton Harris, Karen Heagle, Peter Hujar, Jacqueline Humphries, Kunle Martins, Jack Pierson, Mischa Richter, Tabitha Vevers, John Waters, and Helen Miranda Wilson.The title of the show is borrowed from a 1967 song by the Supremes and is variously interpreted by the individual artists.The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment (508-487-4424).
Tianna Esperanza’s Afro Gypsy Arrives
Singer-songwriter Tianna Esperanza, a Cape Cod native now living in Wellfleet, is clear from the jump about her range of influences. Her debut album, Afro Gypsy, will be released on Friday, July 24 (at tiannaesperanza.com), and its title delivers not only a hip-sounding sobriquet but a condensed rundown on her style. She’s searching for a sound that’s somewhere between Erykah Badu and Roma music. It’s also clear from the first moments of the album,with its woody double-bass and floating guitar and trumpet harmony, and from the confident, evocative storytelling she talk-sings, that Esperanza is a fluent songwriter. Afro Gypsy is full of well-crafted, memorable songs.
Over the course of the album, her voice changes as she takes on various approaches. She moves from a well-executed grasp of Badu jazz to a Bill Withers roots sound to a fiddling American folk thing (written by Wellfleet’s Alex Brewer), then goes into a 6/8 groove that recalls Balkan music and the jazz it inspired. The last song, “Truth,” seems to draw from Broadway’s Hamilton. As with many debut albums, Esperanza’s skills come through gloriously, but there’s a sense that she’s still seeking a form to carry all that she has to say. And indeed, there’s a lots he has to cover—family, dreams, the black experience, American violence. She’s a formidable writer and musician, and we’re lucky to have her on the Cape.—Will Powers
‘Still Woman Run Deep’ at Bowersock Gallery
The Bowersock Gallery at 373 Commercial St. in Provincetown has curated a group show, “Still Woman Run Deep,” opening Friday, July 24, and on view through Aug. 6.There will be a virtual preview on Friday, July 24, at 6 p.m., before a live reception at the gallery at 7 p.m.The show features still-life paintings by the artists Noriko Fox, Sydney Bella Sparrow, Julie Beck, Terry Rafferty, Natalie Featherstone, Loren Pugh, and Brittany Haynes. Featherstone is making her gallery debut. The gallery has a limit of 10 people at a time due to Covid-19 restrictions. Masks are required.The hours are weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Gaa Gallery and the Art of ‘Repose’
Through Aug. 11, Gaa Gallery,at 494 Commercial St. in Provincetown, is offering a group show, “Repose,” featuring work by Jane Corrigan, Jen Dwyer, Patrice Aphrodite Helmar, Nan Goldin, Dani Leventhal Restack, Autumn Wallace, and Qualeasha Wood.The exhibit, apropos of the pandemic,reflects on the activities we do in bed—sleep, sex, work, and reading—exploring notions about the body, nude or clothed, in art and society, such as passivity, power, the gaze, and voyeurism. The gallery is open by appointment: go to gaa-gallery.com to schedule a visit. For the duration of the show, Gaa Gallery will donate 20 percent of profits from each sale to the Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust and the Boston Ujima Project.
Elise Kaufman at Off Main Online
Off Main Gallery in Wellfleet, though closed to the public, is offering virtual exhibits and Zoom openings. Artist Elise Kaufman’s virtual exhibit opens Friday,July 24, with a reception via Zoom at 7 p.m., and will remain on view through Aug. 7.To register for the Zoom opening or see the exhibit, visit offmaingallery.com. Kaufman’s most recent work consists of India ink paintings on Mylar as well as cyanotypes and photographs. She takes her inspiration from architecture and landscapes,and explores memories both clear-cut and foggy, in the way that light conveys the passage of time.
Olson, Schlosberg, and Malin at Hutson Gallery
The Hutson Gallery, at 432 Commercial St. in Provincetown, is presenting an exhibit of Rose Olson’s work, “Neil’s Game,” a tribute to her late husband,and new paintings inspired by quantum theory and the philosophy of science by Lynda Schlosberg, through July 30.The gallery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Tuesdays. Also during these dates, the Hutson Gallery is showing a virtual exhibit of sculptures by Gay Malin at hutsongallery.net.
Megan Hilty Joins Seth Rudetsky Online
Broadway star Megan Hilty is the next guest featured on the Seth Concert Series, presented by Mark Cortale of Provincetown’s Art House. Hilty will join Seth Rudetsky for a virtual evening of song and conversation on Sunday, July 26,at 8 p.m.Tickets are$23.50 at thesethconcertseries.com. Hilty is best known for her role in the TV musical drama series Smash. She made her Broadway debut as Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked, and has since been nominated fora Tony for her performance in Noises Off.
Garrard Conley to Read From Boy Erased
East End Books Ptown is hosting a virtual book event with Garrard Conley, author of Boy Erased, on Friday, July 24, at 5 p.m. This autobiographical tale, adapted into a film starring Lucas Hedges,tells how the author, the son of a Baptist minister in Arkansas, endured a conversion therapy program aimed at eradicating his gay desires. Advance registration is required for this free Zoom event. Visit eastendbooksptown.com for a link and to purchase signed copies of the book.
May Tveit’s Industrial ‘Self’ at Farm Projects
“Fields, Planes, Systems: Self,” a show of new prints by Kansas City-based artist May Tveit, is on view at Farm Projects at 355 Main St. in Wellfleet through Aug. 2. Tveit, a sculptor and printmaker whose large-scale installations use the materials of commerce and industry, is Farm’s first artist-in-residence, working in the barn just above the gallery’s exhibition space.The prints on view in this show are monochromatic investigations of Tveit’s primary sculptural material: corrugated cardboard.
Farm Projects is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment. Call Susie Nielsen at 617-650-9800 to schedule a visit to the gallery or barn studio. Masks are required at all times.
Women Artists at Schoolhouse
A new group show at the Schoolhouse Gallery, at 494 Commercial St. in Provincetown, features the work of photographer Amy Arbus (“Iconic”), sculptor Breon Dunigan, mixed media artist Lynne Kortenhaus, and painter Jeannie Motherwell (“Multiples”). It opens on Friday, July 24,with a live virtual walk-through on Instagram, and is on view through Aug. 10.This summer, the Schoolhouse Gallery is open by appointment or online. Go to galleryschoolhouse.com or call 508-487-4800.
Queen of Katwe Screens at Preservation Hall’s Back Yard
The film Queen of Katwe is about a single mother in Uganda (Lupita Nyong’o) whose young daughter (Madina Malwanga) is a chess prodigy.Directed by Mira Nair, and co-starring David Oyelowo as the girl’s mentor, the film is a beautifully wrought family drama. Wellfleet Preservation Hall, at 335 Main St., is screening the film as part of its renewed series of films shown outdoors in its back yard. Showtime is Wednesday, July 29, at 8 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. A cash bar with drinks and snacks will be open.Admission is free, but due to the pandemic, preregistration and social distancing are required. Go to wellfleetpreservationhall.org for details.
Renaissance-inspired Hounds at Gary Marotta
A series of photographs by Kimberly Witham that were inspired by the paintings of Dutch master Jan Steen will be featured at g-1: Gary Marotta Fine Art, at 162 Commercial St. in Provincetown’s West End, from Friday, July 24, through Aug. 20. Witham studied art history at Duke University and got her M.F.A. in photography at UMass Dartmouth.The show will have opening receptions on Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Arts Briefs and Listings
Arts Briefs for July 16 through July 22
In-Person Classes Return to Castle Hill
Following its success with virtual classes this summer, Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill is reintroducing in-person instruction, starting in August. Classes will be held outside, either at Castle Hill’s main campus at 10 Meetinghouse Road, or at the spacious Edgewood Farm on Edgewood Way, off Route 6. They will be limited to seven students, with masks required and social distancing.
Twelve classes will be offered, including sketchbook drawing and writing with Nick Flynn and Mark Adams, photography with Robert Johnson, “Making Pictures” with Pete Hocking, hand building with Chris Watt, pastels with Rob DuToit, and plein air landscape with Cammie Watson. Visit castlehill.org for dates and times. Classes cost between $280 and $490.
What James Balla Sees in Provincetown
Artist James Balla, who has run the Albert Merola Gallery in Provincetown along with its namesake for three decades, is having a show there, “What I see when you’re not here,” from Friday, July 17, through Aug. 5 at 424 Commercial St.
The work on view is a series of pencil drawings of things seen around Provincetown during the winter and spring, “when the crowds are gone, when people are not here, except the locals, and we have time to make note of the small things, or the personal things, or the simple reading of a book or watching of a film,” Balla writes in the announcement for the exhibit.
The gallery is open noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday through Sunday, and by appointment (508-487-4424).
Virtual Reading of The Great Believers
East End Books Ptown is hosting a virtual book reading and discussion on Friday, July 17, at 5 p.m., with Rebecca Makkai, author of The Great Believers. The novel was one of the New York Times’s top 10 picks for 2018.
The Great Believers tells two intertwining stories. The first is about the director of a Chicago art gallery in the ’80s who loses countless friends to the AIDS epidemic. He becomes close to the younger sister of one of those friends, and the second story tells of her journey, 30 years later, to reconnect with her estranged daughter, who has joined a cult.
To register for this free Zoom event, or order a signed copy, visit eastendbooksptown.com.
Miss Richfield Sprinkles ‘Sunshine’ at Pilgrim House
Miss Richfield 1981 is back in Provincetown, and ready to replace your Covid blues with a full spectrum of living color. She will be performing in “Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows,” something she is calling her “outdoor parking lot show.” And indeed, it will take place outdoors at Pilgrim House, 336 Commercial St. in Provincetown, with social distancing, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 9 p.m. through Sept. 12.
Miss Richfield, a Provincetown favorite, has been doing virtual editions of “Bingo Bonanza” and “Trivia Shack,” but this is her first in-person show here since last year. Ticket holders (at $35 a pop) are seated first come, first served, and early shows have been selling out, so visit pilgrimhouseptown.com in advance to ensure yourself a good spot.
Del Deos at Berta Walker Gallery
The Berta Walker Gallery at 206 Bradford St. in Provincetown is celebrating “Provincetown 400” with a season full of artists who are new to its roster. But included in the show that opens on Saturday, July 18, and runs through Aug. 8, will be two ever-talented stalwarts of the Provincetown art colony, painter Salvatore Del Deo and his son, Romolo, a sculptor. (Also in the show are works by the late Elspeth Halvorsen and by painter Laura Shabott, who will be profiled in next week’s Independent.)
During the Covid-19 crisis, the gallery will be open by appointment only (go to bertawalkergallery.com) from noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday.
Classical Musicians Step Up to the Virtual Mic
Open mics aren’t only for pop musicians. Open Mic Classical, which usually hosts events at First Parish Brewster Unitarian Universalist Church, has gone virtual. Classical musicians hoping to share their talent can participate in an informal Zoom concert, during which audience members can give feedback and ask questions.
Founded by clarinetist Monika Veress Woods and sculptor Bob Marcus, Open Mic Classical meets on the third Sunday of the month. On Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m., it will feature the Tiberius String Quartet, an internationally acclaimed quartet from Transylvania. To register, visit openmicclassical.org.
Wellfleet Preservation Hall Launches Doc Days
Wellfleet Preservation Hall is presenting the first of its virtual Doc Days Film Series from Friday, July 17, through July 31. The opening title is a premiere: the documentary Flannery, about Flannery O’Connor, author of the novel Wise Blood and numerous short stories with a perversely ironic and morally complex view of midcentury Southern life. The movie was the first winner of the Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize (for $200,000), given to independent filmmakers telling stories of American history.
For $10, you can rent the film for 72 hours and stream it at home. Go to wellfleetpreservationhall.org for details.
Mike Wright and Paul Kelly at Alden Gallery
The Alden Gallery at 423 Commercial St. in Provincetown will present new work by sculptor Mike Wright and painter Paul Kelly in a two-person show opening Friday, July 17, and on view through July 30.
Both artists have lived and worked in Provincetown for decades. Wright uses found painted wood for her modernist sculptures, and Kelly paints Provincetown landscapes from unusual (and sometimes imaginary) vantage points.
The gallery is open noon to 5 p.m. daily during the Covid-19 crisis, and masks are required.
Taste of the Town with Chef Liam
Wellfleet Preservation Hall is hosting a series of three Zoom cooking classes with Chef Liam. The first, focusing on ceviche and knife skills, will be on Wednesday, July 22, at 6 p.m. and will include a virtual trip to Hatch’s Fish Market. The cost is $30 per class or $75 for all three. Visit wellfleetpreservationhall.org for details.
our picks for the week of June 25 through July 1
Indie’s Choice
Outer Cape Calendar
Super Bollen
East End Books Ptown is hosting a virtual book event with Christopher Bollen, writer of A Beautiful Crime, a twisty, Ripley-esque grifter novel, on Friday, June 26, at 5 p.m. Registration is required: visit eastendbooksptown.com for the Zoom link. Signed books are available for purchase.
Special Ops
Provincetown’s On Center Gallery invites you to Zoom into a virtual reception on Friday, June 26, at 6 p.m. for the exhibit “Twists & Turns: New Works by Matt Neuman.” Contact the gallery to be emailed a link: 508-413-9483.
All Stars
Stream RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, annotated by Mackenzie and Austin, every Friday night at 8 p.m. on the Pilgrim House Facebook page. It’s free, but tips go to a Queer Black Lives Matter charity picked each week. Tito’s Vodka is also matching donations up to $5,000 for the Provincetown LGBTQ Welcome and Resource Center.
To Your Taste
While we go through the many phases of Covid, “Taste of the Town” returns, only this time it’s “to go.” Wellfleet Preservation Hall will benefit from any purchase on Saturday, June 27, at over 20 restaurants and food outlets, including Truro Vineyards, Chequessett Chocolate, and Wellfleet Farmers Market. Visit wellfleetpreservationhall.org for details.
Fur Babies
Wild Care Cape Cod in Eastham is holding a “Virtual Wild Baby Shower” on Saturday, June 27. Here’s how it works: drop off essential supplies such as bleach, paper towels, nuts, and berries between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and enter a raffle for a gift basket. During the day, there’ll be live-stream segments with some of the shelter’s animals on the Wild Care Facebook page.
Go Fish
Live music — what a concept! Steve Morgan and the Kingfish are doing an outdoor concert at Stewart’s Seafood Restaurant & Tavern at 4380 Route 6 in Eastham on Saturday, June 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be plenty of social distancing and ventilation. For details, visit the Facebook page for Steve Morgan and the Kingfish.
Miss Salonga
The Art House in Provincetown lives online in the virtual Seth Concert Series, featuring Seth Rudetsky chatting with Broadway musical stars when he’s not accompanying them on piano. Next up: Miss Saigon Tony-winner Lea Salonga, on Sunday, June 28, at 9 a.m., with an encore at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 at thesethconcertseries.com.
Indira at the Tent
Payomet Performing Arts Center’s Live Early Stages presents Wellfleet novelist Indira Ganesan in conversation with Janet Lesniak, executive director of Wellfleet Preservation Hall, on Sunday, June 28, at 11:30 a.m. via Zoom. Pre-register for free at payomet.org.
Lightbulb Moment
Camp Lightbulb is doing an online fundraising event on Sunday, June 28, at 8 p.m. There will be appearances by Kit Williamson, creator of EastEnders; Miss Richfield 1981; and author Lev Rosen. For details and tickets ($30-$1,000 at eventbrite.com), go to Camp Lightbulb’s Facebook page.
Sinking Feeling
The Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown is doing a virtual lecture with Joan Wickersham and Adam Davies, who will speak about their collaborative photographic-literary “Vasa Project” on Tuesday, June 30, at 6 p.m. It involves a warship called the Vasa that sank in 1628 but is nearly perfectly preserved in Stockholm, Sweden. Register at fawc.org.
Arts Briefs and Listings
Arts Briefs for June 25 through July 1
AMP Gallery Reopens With Group Show
AMP Gallery is opening its first show of the season with a reception on Friday, June 26, 6 to 8 p.m. at 432 Commercial St. in Provincetown. Four to six masked people will be allowed in at a time.
The exhibit features a new series of Moo Moo World prints by Jay Critchley, and work by Karen Cappotto, Anne Corsin, Barbara Hadden, Jackie Lipton, Zammy Migdal, Lori Swartz, Forrest Williams, and Rick Wrigley.
Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Jane Paradise
Provincetown photographer Jane Paradise has received an honorable mention for her street photography at the 15th edition of the Julia Margaret Cameron Awards.
Elizabeth Avedon was the juror. A total of 910 photographers from 63 countries submitted nearly 7,000 works for consideration. The Julia Margaret Cameron Award is meant to further the careers of women photographers. Work will be exhibited online and at a biennial in Barcelona.
David Drake’s The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me
The Provincetown Theater will live-stream free of charge David Drake’s The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me, a 20th-anniversary performance of the play from 2013 that was a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, on Sunday, June 28, at 7 p.m. To watch, go to provincetowntheater.org or the theater’s YouTube channel.
The long-running and celebrated play was written by and starred Drake in a series of seven monologues. The benefit performance was adapted for 12 openly gay actors, including BD Wong, Anthony Rapp, Andre de Shields, Robin de Jesus, and Aaron Tone, and was directed by Robert La Fosse.
Longstreet Gallery Kicks Off With Two New Shows
Check out the new Longstreet Gallery, at 4730B Route 6 in Eastham, opening Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with two new exhibits: “No Vacancy,” by Chris Kelly; and “Float,” by Keith MacLelland.
Kelly, a graphic designer at the Independent, plays conceptually with branding in his artwork. MacLelland uses found material collages in his mixed-media pieces.
Matthias Lupri at Gallery 444
Boston-based painter Matthias Lupri has a solo show at Gallery 444 in Provincetown with an opening reception on Friday, June 26, at 6 p.m. at 444 Commercial St. The work is on view through June 30.
Lupri, who grew up in Alberta, Canada, performed widely as a jazz vibraphonist, training with Gary Burton, before discovering the visual arts. His large abstract oil paintings, achieved using a palette knife, have a musical quality to them — their geometric shapes dance across the canvas.
‘Vagrant Wildness’ at Four Eleven Gallery
Four Eleven Gallery will present a show of new landscape paintings by Pete Hocking, “Vagrant Wildness,” from Friday, June 26, through July 2 at 411 Commercial St. in Provincetown.
Artwork can be viewed by appointment or online at fourelevengallery.com.
Hocking’s new series investigates and communicates a love of the wild Cape Cod landscape with people who may not be able to visit this summer because of Covid-19.
Rowley Reads of Jackie O.
Steven Rowley, the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus, will give a virtual reading of his latest book, The Editor, via East End Books Ptown on Wednesday, July 1, at 5 p.m. Pre-registration for this free Zoom event is required; visit eastendbooks.com to get the link. Signed copies can be purchased online.
Rowley’s new novel tells the story of James Smale, a writer in 1990s New York City who sells his book to a publishing house that offers him none other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis as his editor.
John Dowd and Daphne Confar at William Scott Gallery
From Friday, June 26, through July 8, the William Scott Gallery at 439 Commercial St. in Provincetown is presenting a show of new work by John Dowd and Daphne Confar.
The exhibit will be viewable virtually, or you can schedule an in-person appointment at williamscottgallery.com.
Dowd’s work, influenced by German romanticism, depicts isolated landscapes with an emphasis on color and luminosity. Confar’s show, “Objects of My Affection,” is a series of intricately painted houseplants on top of sheet music, evocative of the work of John James Audubon.
our picks for the week of June 18 through June 24
Indie’s Choice
Outer Cape Calendar
Island Treasure
The Friends of Herring River invite you to take a free virtual tour of Wellfleet’s Bound Brook Island on their website, herringriver.org/Videos. Originally created for a live audience presentation, the video offers a history of the area, its importance to early settlers, and some background on the Herring River restoration.
Musical Preludes
Joe Marchio, music director at the First Congregational Church in Chatham, is hosting a series of pre-concert talks ($10 each) on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. through Aug. 18. On June 23, he’ll discuss Richard Strauss’s Die Fledermaus. To register and get a Zoom link, go to artfuljourneysllc.com/pre-concert.
Square Deal
The Provincetown Art Association and Museum’s annual “12×12” auction is going virtual. Members may submit a work that is 12-by-12 inches, either by shipping it to PAAM by June 27, or dropping it off at the museum at 460 Commercial St. between noon and 2 p.m. on Monday, June 22; Wednesday, June 24; Friday, June 26; or Saturday, June 27. The online exhibition and silent auction will go live from July 10 through Aug. 23. Visit paam.org for details.
One Act Only
Wellfleet playwright Candace Perry is offering a two-hour online class for $25 on how to write a short play through the Eventide Arts Master Class series on Saturday, June 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. Sign up at eventidearts.org.
Just a Shot Away
The Youth Film Festival will come to its culmination this weekend (Friday, June 19, through Sunday, June 21) with the streaming of 25 shorts by young filmmakers from the Cape and across the state, presented by Wellfleet Preservation Hall. There will also be an awards presentation Sunday at 5 p.m. Catch an eyeful at wellfleetpreservationhall.org.
Private Beach
Make a note on your July 4 weekend calendar: Mussel Beach Health Club is hosting a virtual “Freedom Beach Party 2020” with DJ George Spiliopoulos on Thursday, July 2, from noon to 6 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Provincetown Business Guild — details to be announced.
Join the Club
The Provincetown Public Library is offering a virtual Provincetown 400 Book Club, hosted by mystery writer Jeannette de Beauvoir. The first meeting is on Thursday, June 18, at 6 p.m.; the topic will be Geraldine Brooks’s Caleb’s Crossing. Visit the provincetownlibrary.org and click on “Events” — you’ll find the club on the calendar.
Green Gardens
The Wellfleet Public Library will host a virtual Climate Resilience Workshop, “No-Till Backyard Farming,” with Ben Fairbank on Saturday, June 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants will learn how to create a sustainable ecosystem in their gardens. Email [email protected] to sign up.
Hit the Books
The Eastham Public Library’s summer reading program launches on Friday, June 19. Children who sign up should read as many books as they can by Aug. 13 to win prizes. For adults, there is a virtual book talk on “New England at 400,” by Eric D. Lehman, on Thursday, June 25, at 2 p.m. via Zoom. Find the listing on the library calendar at easthamlibrary.org to register.
Performing Pairs
Payomet Performing Arts Center’s Tiny Tent offers a free live-stream concert, “Jazz and More,” with Eleanor Dubinsky (cello, vocals) and Dario Acosta Teich (guitar) on Wednesday, June 24, at 7 p.m. They will play original songs, Latin American music, and, of course, jazz. Also at the virtual tent: a family acrobatics class with Cirque by the Sea stars Teddy Ment and Eleanor Getz on Tuesday, June 23, at 6 p.m. Set up mats and padding at home and be safe! For pay-what-you-can tickets, go to payomet.org.
Arts Briefs and Listings
Arts Briefs for June 18 through June 24
Encaustic Show at Bowersock Gallery
The ancient medium of encaustic jumps into the 21st century with the live-stream opening of the “Mesdames of Wax” from the Bowersock Gallery in Provincetown. Enjoy the work by encaustic artists Catherine Nash and Emma Ashby on the gallery’s Facebook page on Thursday, June 18, at 5 p.m. Nash’s often three-dimensional work combines found objects with hues of blue, while Ashby creates encaustic landscapes and beach scenes.
The opening will be followed by a Q and A with the artists, moderated by curator Steve Bowersock. The works will be on view at the gallery at 373 Commercial St. in Provincetown from Friday, June 19, through Thursday, July 2.
Dawn Derow’s Live-stream Cabaret
Dawn Derow returns to Tin Pan Alley’s Home Edition virtual stage for a concert on Thursday, June 18, at 7 p.m.
Derow, who grew up in Eastham, has made a name for herself performing her cabaret act in New York City clubs and at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall. She also sings classical opera, which she studied at the Boston Conservancy.
The live-stream concert and song requests can be accessed for free (with online tips encouraged) via Tin Pan Alley’s Facebook page.
Wellfleet Drive-in Gets Its Show on the Road
The Wellfleet Drive-in is back up and running, with a few notable changes under phase two of the state’s reopening guidelines. Patrons must stay in their cars — no lawn chairs allowed — and cars must park in every other space. Masks must be worn when visiting the rest rooms or the temporary snack station near the Dairy Bar, since the permanent one is under repair. According to the Wellfleet Cinemas website, the Dairy Bar and mini-golf are due to reopen at the end of the month.
With the movie industry largely on hold, movie fare will be a mix of classic favorites and recent releases. Due to limited space, online reservations are recommended.
The indoor Wellfleet Cinemas next door will not reopen until phase three of the state’s plan in late June or beyond, but the flea market is open weekends from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Together and ‘Apart’ at Frederick Studio Provincetown
Frederick Studio Provincetown will present a virtual opening of the show “Apart” on Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m. The Facebook live-stream will include a tour and presentation by artist James Frederick.
The abstract work in the show by Frederick is inspired by the pandemic and the human need for intimacy even when separated by distance. The artist often paints alla prima, or wet-on-wet, sometimes adding details in oil pastel or ink, blurring the lines between objects and giving the work a sense of immediacy.
Jessie Mueller Joins Seth Rudetsky Online
The Tony-winning Broadway star Jessie Mueller (Beautiful: The Carol King Musical and Waitress) will sing a selection of songs with host and interviewer Seth Rudetsky accompanying her on piano in an online engagement that live-streams on Sunday, June 21, at 8 p.m., with an encore on Monday, June 22, at 3 p.m.
Link up to the performance by purchasing tickets ($20-$25) at thesethconcertseries.com. Future performers on the Seth Concert Series are Lea Salonga on June 28 and June 29, Melissa Errico on July 5 and July 6, and Audra MacDonald on July 12 and July 13.
On the Margins With Juno Morrow
Marginalia are the marks, doodles, scribbles, and notes made in the margins of books. But in Juno Morrow’s Marginalia, the term also takes on the meaning of being on the margins of identity. Morrow will give a virtual reading from the book, presented by East End Books Ptown, on Thursday, June 18, at 5 p.m. This free event in honor of Pride month will take place via Zoom; pre-registration is required at eastendbooksptown.com or Eventbrite.com.
Morrow’s book, which is interdisciplinary in nature, combining photographs, drawings, words, and artifacts, speaks to what it means to have a complex and multifaceted identity — queer, trans, and/or mixed race.
‘Talk Back’ Film Series Tackles Social Issues
Wellfleet Preservation Hall is presenting a series of three films that deal with topical social issues and are meant to inspire discussion. The films can be rented anytime through July 10. Tickets can be purchased at wellfleetpreservationhall.org. Zoom roundtable discussions will be scheduled on dates to be announced.
The films are: 1 Angry Black Man, about a black college senior at a New England school who experiences a wrongful arrest ($4.99 for a 48-hour rental); 16 Bars, a documentary about the inmates in a Richmond, Va., prison ($4.99 for a 72-hour rental); and the indie drama The
Surrogate, about a Brooklynite in her 20s who is initially excited to be the surrogate birth mother for her best friend and his husband ($10 for a 72-hour rental).
WHAT to Present ‘Thin Man Thursdays’
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater will present the six films of the “Thin Man” series, starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, the suave married couple who drink cocktails and solve crimes with the help of their wire-haired fox terrier, Asta, online via Zoom on Thursdays at 7 p.m. from June 18 through July 23. Each screening will begin with an introduction by series curator Marc Strauss, who will lead a discussion at the end. Tickets to the series (one movie or all six) are $20 at what.org.
The films are: The Thin Man (1934) on June 18; After the Thin Man (1936) on June 25; Another Thin Man (1939) on July 2; Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) on July 9; The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) on July 16; and Song of the Thin Man (1947) on July 23.