Rhode Island’s annual Dominican Cultural Parade and Music Festival is coming up this Sunday. Artscape producer James Baumgartner and morning host Chuck Hinman talked with festival organizer Marilyn Cepeda about what to expect.
James Baumgartner
James produces and engineers Political Roundtable, The Weekly Catch and other special programming on The Public’s Radio. He also produces Artscape, the weekly arts & culture segment heard every Thursday. His favorite part of the job is talking with artists, musicians and other creators about their process and what inspires them.
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.
Posted inArtscape, Episode
Providence Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture 2022
Earlier this week, the three candidates for mayor of Providence spoke at a forum produced by The Wilbury Theatre Group and The Public’s Radio. The theme was the role of arts and culture in Providence. Former Director of Administration Brett Smiley, Providence City Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune and former Deputy Secretary of State Gonzalo Cuervo all participated in the event. The event was hosted by writer and filmmaker Don Mays.
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RI Philharmonic Conductor Bramwell Tovey remembered for connecting the community through music
Bramwell Tovey, the principal conductor and artistic director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic, died on July 12, 2022, one day after his 69th birthday. He joined the Philharmonic in 2018 after conducting many different orchestras, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, where he helped to found the VSO School of Music. Artscape Producer James Baumgartner talked with David Beauchesne, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic, about the time he spent with Bramwell Tovey.
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Lynne McCormack, new director of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
Last week, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee named Lynne McCormack as head of RISCA – the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. She comes to the position with a background in community development and arts administration, including previously serving as the Director of Art, Culture and Tourism for the City of Providence. She talked with Artscape producer James Baumgartner and Morning Host Chuck Hinman about her goals for the organization.
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This weekend: New Bedford Folk Festival and Newport Live
Mark Erelli is performing at Norman Bird Sanctuary on Friday, part of Newport Live – a concert series previously known as Common Fence Music. The New Bedford Folk Festival is this Saturday and Sunday. We talked with Tom Rush, one of the featured performers.
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Shelter from the elements and injustice at DATMA
With exhibits on the Underground Railroad, the ghost of a childhood home and a dome made from 3-D printed hexagons, DATMA’s current exhibit features public art in multiple locations across downtown New Bedford exploring the idea of ‘Shelter.’
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Rhode Island PrideFest returns; ‘Fairview’ lulls the audience with sitcom humor before implicating the ‘white gaze’
We have two items to feature in this week’s Artscape: Rhode Island PrideFest and “Fairview” at Trinity Rep
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PVD Fest 2022 brings music, footwork and spectacle to downtown Providence
Although PVD Fest had some small events in the last couple of years, this year is the first full festival since 2019. It’s a big one! There are events this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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Contemporary art, music, food and the semiotics of cod at Fabric Fall River
The Fabric Fall River Festival takes place May 12 – 14 and it’s about a lot more than textiles. There’s music, visual art, performance art, food and more.
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Chapman Cycles and the art of the custom bicycle
Most bicycles you see at the local bike shop today are made in factories in Taiwan and China. But there are still a few people in the U.S. who make custom bicycles by hand. Brian Chapman of Chapman Cycles is a local builder with a world-wide reputation. Artscape producer James Baumgartner met with him to find out more about the art of custom bike-building.
