• Resistance: Cultural and Political Narratives in Mexican Art

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    The exhibition features works by contemporary Mexican artists whose practices primarily engage questions of freedom of expression, history, and social justice and serve as public channels of dissent. Through sculpture, installation, performance-based documentation, textiles, and printmaking, the exhibition considers how artists reflect on Indigenous knowledge, collective memory, and contemporary social contexts. The exhibition includes work by Jacobo and María Ángeles, master Oaxacan wood carvers, best known for their sculptural interpretations of tonas and nahuales—vivid, fantastical wooden sculptures that blend imagination, folklore, and cultural symbolism, drawing on Zapotec cosmologies. Their works stand as both cultural continuity and political assertion in the face of erasure. The exhibition also features work by Adela Goldbard, whose practice centers on collective memory, power, and the ways history is constructed, erased, or ritualized—often through acts that are both symbolic and materially destructive—and prints by Mario Guzmán, who utilizes graphic art as a tool for social engagement with a strong emphasis on community, labor, and political struggle, alongside members of Subterráneos, a collective he leads in Oaxaca, rooted in socially engaged printmaking traditions that address political and community-based concerns. Renata Cassiano Alvarez presents sculptures from her ongoing series Siempre Voy a Volver (“I Will Always Return”), alongside […]

  • WHEEL THROWING FOR EVERYONE

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Whether you are an enthusiastic beginner or an experienced pro with the wheel, you are welcome in this class, which will cover all aspects of the ceramics process. You'll learn how to throw on the potter’s wheel and you will practice new throwing techniques and hone specific skills. An Instructor will help students increase the amount of clay they can handle successfully, throw thinner and taller, and throw new shapes. We will practice attachments such as handles, as well as pulling handles directly from the side of the cup. The class will focus primarily on tableware shapes – mugs, cups, bowls plates, etc, but all ideas and forms of expression through clay are encouraged!

    $210.00 – $235.00
  • Wearable Ceramics: Jewelry Design Workshop

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Design, create, and wear your own handmade ceramic jewelry in this three session workshop led by ceramic artist Jillian McEvoy. Perfect for beginners but elevated in its approach, this class guides you through the full process of turning clay into finished, wearable pieces. You’ll shape your own earrings and pendants, experiment with glaze and surface design, and learn how to assemble your work using professional jewelry hardware. Whether you’re looking to create one of a kind accessories, meaningful handmade gifts, or simply try something new this spring, this workshop offers a rewarding, hands on experience with beautiful results. Each participant will leave with multiple finished pieces, ready to wear, gift, or show off. Class will meet Sundays, May 3, 10, & 17

    $165 – $180
  • KidZone

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Join us every Sunday in the Art Museum for family-friendly activities for kids ages 4-12 and their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends. Learn about our exhibitions and make art, get creative, and have fun! Drop in anytime. (Children must be accompanied by an adult.)

    $5
  • Hand Building with Clay: Beyond the Wheel

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    This four-week hand building ceramics class is designed as a perfect companion to wheel throwing and an excellent alternative for those looking to explore a completely different side of working with clay. While wheel throwing is more streamlined and technical, hand building is slower, more organic, and highly expressive. In this class, students will work entirely without the wheel, learning a whole new set of skills that emphasize form, texture, surface design, and sculptural freedom. Participants will create functional items such as mugs and plates, while also exploring molds and hand-sculpted forms that cannot be made on the wheel. Hand building allows for more detailed surfaces, decorative elements, and experimental shapes, making it ideal for artists who enjoy a more tactile, flexible, and creative process. This class is especially well suited for beginners, as hand building offers an approachable entry point into ceramics. It is also a great next step for wheel throwers who want to expand their skill set and gain a deeper understanding of clay as a material. Class Dates: Tuesdays, April 21 & 28, and May 5 & 12 All necessary materials are provided for this hands-on experience.

    $210.00 – $235.00
  • Ink & Identity: A Collaborative Printmaking Workshop

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    This four-week workshop offers a rare and unique opportunity to study printmaking with master printmaker and retired Professor of Fine Arts Adrian Tió, an artist with over 50 years of professional experience and work held in major collections including the Andy Warhol Foundation and the White House. Inspired by the exhibition RESISTANCE: Cultural and Political Narratives in Mexican Art, participants will explore how artists use printmaking to express identity, memory, and social commentary. Students will develop their own designs, carve linoleum blocks, and create prints that come together in a final collaborative composition. Designed for both beginners and artists looking to deepen their practice, this workshop invites participants to learn professional techniques while working alongside a highly accomplished artist and drawing inspiration from the museum galleries. No prior printmaking experience is required.

    $250.00
  • New Bedford Art Museum Annual Spring Gala: Fiesta ¡Viva México!

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    A Vibrant Celebration of Art, Culture, and Community. MAY 7, 6PM-8:30PM Immerse yourself in an evening of art and enchantment featuring Resistance: Cultural and Political Narratives in Mexican Art, including the presentation of our Patron of the Arts Award to Steve Silverstein and Helen DeGroot. Enjoy live Mariachi music, a traditional Mexican dance showcase, and a captivating performance by illusionist Lyn Dillies. Savor themed cocktails along with the fresh, spicy, and savory flavors of México.

    $150.00 – $650.00
  • Figure Drawing Open Studio

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Drawing from a live model has been an important part of many formal artistic practices since the Renaissance. Our open figure drawing studio is intended to provide artists of all levels a relaxed environment and a dedicated space where they are able to continue the tradition of working from a live nude model. Sessions are three hours long, and will start with a series of short gestures and ranging from 5-10 minutes before moving into longer 30 minute poses. Each class typically concludes with an hour long pose. There will be no formal instruction during the class; artists are encouraged to work from the model independently, in any medium they wish to bring.

    $20
  • Sketchbook Club

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Every Other Friday | 6:00–8:00 PM Upcoming: June 13 Tickets: $10 Whether you use your sketchbook to creatively brainstorm a work project, capture daily observations, imagine a fantasy world, or just mindfully doodle, it can be a unique record of your day or your life. Join other sketchers at our informal gathering, led by local artist and illustrator Isiah Botelho. Each session will kick off with a prompt to inspire discussion and drawing, and participants will be able to share their work comfortably. Bring your sketchbook and preferred materials; we will have some basic supplies available. No pressure, no judgment, no guilt -- just community.

    $10
  • Wearable Ceramics: Jewelry Design Workshop

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Design, create, and wear your own handmade ceramic jewelry in this three session workshop led by ceramic artist Jillian McEvoy. Perfect for beginners but elevated in its approach, this class guides you through the full process of turning clay into finished, wearable pieces. You’ll shape your own earrings and pendants, experiment with glaze and surface design, and learn how to assemble your work using professional jewelry hardware. Whether you’re looking to create one of a kind accessories, meaningful handmade gifts, or simply try something new this spring, this workshop offers a rewarding, hands on experience with beautiful results. Each participant will leave with multiple finished pieces, ready to wear, gift, or show off. Class will meet Sundays, May 3, 10, & 17

    $165 – $180
  • KidZone

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Join us every Sunday in the Art Museum for family-friendly activities for kids ages 4-12 and their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends. Learn about our exhibitions and make art, get creative, and have fun! Drop in anytime. (Children must be accompanied by an adult.)

    $5
  • Hand Building with Clay: Beyond the Wheel

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    This four-week hand building ceramics class is designed as a perfect companion to wheel throwing and an excellent alternative for those looking to explore a completely different side of working with clay. While wheel throwing is more streamlined and technical, hand building is slower, more organic, and highly expressive. In this class, students will work entirely without the wheel, learning a whole new set of skills that emphasize form, texture, surface design, and sculptural freedom. Participants will create functional items such as mugs and plates, while also exploring molds and hand-sculpted forms that cannot be made on the wheel. Hand building allows for more detailed surfaces, decorative elements, and experimental shapes, making it ideal for artists who enjoy a more tactile, flexible, and creative process. This class is especially well suited for beginners, as hand building offers an approachable entry point into ceramics. It is also a great next step for wheel throwers who want to expand their skill set and gain a deeper understanding of clay as a material. Class Dates: Tuesdays, April 21 & 28, and May 5 & 12 All necessary materials are provided for this hands-on experience.

    $210.00 – $235.00