Rhode Island Artist Susan Hardy to Discuss Work on History and Memory at Bristol Art Museum3/9/2026  The Bristol Art Museum invites the public to a special artist talk with Rhode Island artist Susan Hardy on Sun., Mar. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Museum 10 Wardwell Street. Hardy is the featured regional artist in the Museum’s current national exhibition, When in the Course of Human Events, and will share insights into the ideas, research, and creative process behind her work on view.
Artist talks offer a rare opportunity to hear directly from artists about the stories and inspirations that shape their work. During the program, Hardy will discuss her powerful explorations of history, memory, and cultural identity, themes that often emerge from her use of found objects and materials that carry traces of lived experience. Among the works on display is Hardy’s compelling series “Middle Passage,” as well as artwork inspired by “Lost and Found,” a black rag doll that the artist transforms into a reflection on deeper cultural narratives. Through these works, Hardy invites viewers to consider how everyday objects can hold profound historical and emotional meaning. “Artist talks give our visitors the opportunity to connect more deeply with the work on view by hearing directly from the artist,” said Mary Dondero, Curator and Museum Board Member. “Susan Hardy’s work invites thoughtful reflection on history and identity, and we are pleased to welcome the community to hear about the inspiration and research behind this important body of work.” Admission is $5 for Bristol Art Museum members, free for students, and $10 for non-members.
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 The Bristol Art Museum invites artists to submit work for Shorelines and Stories, an upcoming juried exhibition to be presented in the Museum’s community gallery at the Rogers Free Library from Apr. 21 through Jun. 3, 2026. Juried by Bill McLane, the exhibition will explore artistic interpretations of the shoreline, both literal and imagined.
Artists are encouraged to share their unique shoreline stories and help celebrate the beauty, memory, and meaning found where land meets water. All works must be received by Tues., Mar. 24, to be eligible for consideration. Artists may submit their work on the Museum’s website. Shorelines and Stories seeks artwork inspired by the sea, the harbor, and the shifting edges where land meets water. From sweeping seascapes of Block Island to intimate studies of local docks, from memories of summers by the shore to metaphorical reflections on life’s transitions, artists are encouraged to consider the many meanings and moods of coastal living. Work may reflect the natural beauty of the shoreline, human interaction with the coast, or the emotional resonance of living near the water. “Living in a coastal community, the shoreline is part of our collective story,” said Jenn Tappero, Bristol Art Museum at Rogers Free Library Committee Member. “This exhibition invites artists to reflect on how the sea shapes our memories, our identity, and our sense of place. We’re excited to see the many creative ways artists interpret this theme.” Submission Requirements Artists must be 18 years of age or older. All work must be original, ready to install, and no larger than 18” x 24”. Eligible media include drawings, paintings, printmaking, collage, fiber arts, and photography. (No three-dimensional works will be accepted.) Artwork may be offered for sale; all sales are negotiated directly between artist and collector, and the Museum takes no commission. Submission fees are $20 for one entry or $30 for two entries for BAM members, and $25 for one entry or $40 for two entries for non-members. Questions may be directed to [email protected] .  The Bristol Art Museum invites its members to submit artwork for consideration of its upcoming exhibit Still Growing: Art Inspired by Trees, the Museum’s 2026 open Members’ Exhibition to be held at the Marjorie Van Wickle Lyon Gallery at Blithewold Manor, Gardens & Arboretum. The exhibition will be on view from Sat., Mar 28, through Sun., May 10, 2026, with an Artists’ Reception on Sun., Mar. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Submissions must be made online by midnight on Mar. 20. The exhibition celebrates Blithewold’s 100th anniversary as a recognized arboretum, first acknowledged by scientists from the Arnold Arboretum. “The Bristol Art Museum invites artists to reflect on the enduring presence of trees and their role in shaping landscapes, memories, and the passage of time,” said Museum Board Member and Curator Mary Dondero. “Submissions may explore trees as living forms, symbols of growth and resilience, or quiet witnesses to seasons, history, and change. Works may be inspired by Blithewold’s gardens and arboretum, personal experiences with trees, the natural environment, or the metaphorical meaning of trees in our lives. Representational, abstract, and conceptual approaches are all welcome.” The exhibition is open to artists 18 years of age or older who hold an active Bristol Art Museum membership. All submissions must be original works that have not previously been exhibited at the Museum. Artists may submit one two-dimensional work (maximum 20 inches in any direction) in any medium. Due to Blithewold’s gallery system, artwork must be wired for hanging; saw-tooth hangers cannot be accommodated. Artists may choose to offer their work for sale. All sales will be processed through Blithewold’s gift shop, with 50 percent of proceeds going to the artist and 50 percent to Blithewold. Alternatively, artists may designate their work as not for sale.  The Bristol Art Museum invites members of the surrounding community to learn how they can become more involved in the region’s vibrant arts scene at a Volunteer Information Session on Monday, March 23, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Museum, 10 Wardwell St.
The brief presentation will highlight a wide range of volunteer opportunities designed to match diverse interests and talents. Areas of service include hospitality, facilities support, gallery preparation, exhibition installation assistance, event and education planning, photography of Museum programs, content editing, fundraising, and general exhibition support. “Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do,” said Board Member Lynn Moran. “From welcoming visitors and preparing galleries to supporting exhibitions, educational programs, and special events, our volunteers help create a warm, vibrant, and inspiring environment for everyone who walks through our doors. Their dedication not only supports the Museum’s operations, but also strengthens our mission to connect people through art.” Founded in 1964, the Bristol Art Museum has long served as a cultural anchor for Bristol and the surrounding East Bay community. Located in the historic Linden Place Carriage House, the Museum is dedicated to presenting innovative exhibitions, fostering artistic excellence, and creating meaningful educational experiences for audiences of all ages. In recent years, the Museum has expanded its reach through dynamic juried exhibitions and community-centered programming. Notable recent exhibits have included Prescribing Creativity, celebrating the artistic talents of medical professionals and Knock on Wood, a juried exhibition exploring themes of the eerie and uncanny. The March 23 session will offer attendees an opportunity to meet current volunteers and leadership, learn about upcoming exhibitions and programs, and explore how their skills and interests can contribute to the Museum’s continued growth. Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP by contacting the Museum at [email protected].  BRISTOL, RI — The Bristol Art Museum announces, “When in the Course of Human Events…”, a national juried exhibition featuring works that reflect on the personal, political, and cultural moments that shape our collective story. The exhibition will be on view Sun., Feb. 22 to Fri., Apr. 10, with an Artist Reception on Sun., Feb. 22 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Working across drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, collage, mixed media, and experimental forms, 65 selected artists explore paper as both material and metaphor. From intimate personal milestones to sweeping societal shifts, this exhibit examines how artists witness, document, and commemorate human events in the contemporary world. “Paper is fragile, but ideas are not,” said Mary Dondero, exhibit curator and Museum board member. “Through When in the Course of Human Events…, artists use paper to document injustice, express dissent, and affirm humanity while demonstrating how creative expression can respond powerfully to political and cultural upheaval.” The exhibition was juried by Meredith Stern, an artist and printmaker whose multifaceted practice includes printmaking, zine publishing, and social action. Stern holds a BFA in Ceramics from Tulane University and is a member of the Just Seeds Artists’ Cooperative. Her work is included in the permanent collections of the Library of Congress, RISD Museum, the Museum of Modern Art (Book Arts Collection), and the Obama Presidential Museum Collection. Artists from across the United States are represented, featuring twenty artists from Rhode Island, whose work brings regional perspectives to broader questions of freedom and community. Together, all the participating artists present interpretations that are reflective and deeply personal. In addition to the juried artists, the exhibition will feature 2026 Rhode Island Featured Artist Susan Hardy, whose work will be on view in the Abbot Low Gallery. Hardy’s installation includes selections from her Middle Passage series (intaglio prints created on used tea bags) that reflect on the imprint of history on everyday materials. Also on display is her work Lost and Found, a black rag doll (c. 1880–1920) discovered in an abandoned home destroyed by fire in Wardtown, Virginia, an artifact that speaks to survival, erasure, and remembrance. The Artist Reception will provide an opportunity to meet the featured artists and view their works up close. For more information about “When in the Course of Human Events …” or the Bristol Art Museum, please visit the Museum’s website: www.bristolartmuseum.org.  Exhibition, Film Screening, and Conversation to
Celebrate the Legacy of Edward Mitchell Bannister Bristol, RI — The Bristol Art Museum announces In Bannister’s Footsteps, a special exhibition and program in recognition of Black History Month honoring the life, work, and enduring influence of Edward Mitchell Bannister, a Canadian-American oil painter who resided in New England in the late 1800’s, on Sat., Feb. 7, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The event features an exhibition and screening of a nine-minute documentary highlighting the Bannister Community Art Project and Bannister’s significant yet often underrecognized contributions to American art, followed by guest speakers and an engaging audience conversation. This program is sponsored by Annie Castelnovo McMullen in memory of her mother, Providence Art Club artist Mary Castelnovo. “In Bannister’s Footsteps invites our community to engage more deeply with the legacy of Edward Mitchell Bannister, an artist whose work and influence deserve broader recognition,” said Mary Dondero, Museum Curator and Board Member. “This program honors not only his artistic achievements, but the continued dialogue his life inspires around creativity, community, and representation.” The program will feature guest speakers Theresa Guzmán Stokes, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and Gage M. Prentiss, sculptor. The conversation will be facilitated by Dr. Victoria Gao, Director of the Bannister Gallery and Adjunct Professor at Rhode Island College. Participating artists include Darrel Perkins, ponnapa prakkamakul, and Michael Talbot. Theresa Guzmán Stokes is a writer, historian, U.S. Navy veteran, and cultural preservation leader whose work centers on African Heritage, Latin American, and diasporic histories. She is president and founder of 1696 Heritage Group and founder of Historical Writers of America, and she leads statewide efforts to preserve and elevate African and Indigenous histories through her role at the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society. Gage M. Prentiss is a Rhode Island–based visual artist whose loosely representational sculptures and evocative oil paintings explore presence, place, and light. Working in materials ranging from welded steel and bronze to resin and concrete, Prentiss’ work spans private commissions and an expanding public art practice. He has a BFA in Sculpture from Boston University. Dr. Victoria Gao has served as Director of the Bannister Gallery and Exhibitions at Rhode Island College since 2018. She received her PhD and MA in Visual and Cultural Studies from the University of Rochester and her BA in Physics and in Art History from Cornell University. Victoria has had a longstanding interest in curating and in art exhibition spaces and previously interned at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Admission is $10 for Bristol Art Museum members and $15 for general admission. Tickets and additional information are available via Eventbrite.  The Bristol Art Museum, in partnership with Rogers Free Library and Bristol BookFest, is pleased to announce an open call for art for its upcoming exhibition, A Day in a Life, inspired by the themes of the 2026 BookFest selection, Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. The exhibit will be on view in the Rogers Free Library Herreshoff Room from Feb. 18 through Apr. 15, 2026. All entries are due by Mon., Jan. 26 at 11:59 p.m. An entry form is available on the Museum’s website. Woolf’s groundbreaking novel, written in stream-of-consciousness form, explores the depth of the human experience through memory, perception, and emotion over the course of a single day. Artists are invited to interpret these themes and create works that reflect what a day in their lives means to them. “Virginia Woolf reminds us that even the most ordinary day can reveal extraordinary inner worlds,” said Trish Sylvester, BAM@RFL Committee Member. “We look forward to seeing how artists translate the beauty, complexity, and rhythm of daily life into visual form. This collaboration with BookFest and Rogers Free Library is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate literature and art together in Bristol.” Submission Requirements All artists must be at least 18 years old, and work must be original, installation-ready, and fall within 18" x 24" maximum dimensions. Eligible media include drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, fiber arts, and photography. (No 3-D works.) Artwork may be offered for sale. Sales are negotiated directly between artist and buyer; no commissions are taken by the Museum. Submission fees for Bristol Art Museum members are $20 for one submission or $30 for two; non-members, $25 for one submission or $40 for two.
 The Bristol Art Museum will host Art For Your Mind: Social Realism in American Painting with local art historian Jill Sanford on Tues., Nov.,18, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 10 Wardwell Street, Bristol. The interactive program, open to the public, will explore how early 20th-century artists captured the struggles and spirit of urban America through the bold and compassionate lens of the Social Realism movement.
Art For Your Mind offers a welcoming, educational experience that encourages participants of all backgrounds, artists and non-artists alike, to observe and interpret art in new ways. “Programs like Art For Your Mind reflect the Museum’s mission to make art accessible, thought-provoking, and connected to our shared human experience,” said Mary Dondero, Bristol Art Museum Board Member and Curator. “Social Realism remains as relevant today as when it first emerged, challenging us to see truth and beauty in the lives around us.” To register for this lecture, please contact [email protected]. |
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