Portugal is well-represented in the East Bay — especially in Bristol, where about half the town's residents claim some measure of Portuguese ancestry.

The Bristol Art Museum decided that it was past time to hold a community celebration in honor of all things Portugal, and conceived of "Alegria" — a summer of celebrating identity, creativity, and Portuguese tradition.

With the help of a Rhode Island Foundation grant, the event committee consisting of BAM Chairwoman Jane Lavender, Project Manager Keith Maloney, Curator Mary Dondero, and BAM Secretary Lynn Moran, among others, has created an ambitious schedule of events, with the first right around the corner.

Alegria will kick off on June 2 at the Bristol Maritime Center with a group of Azorean artisans, here in the United States for several weeks on the invitation of Roberto Medeiros, Azorean Cultural Coordinator. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., admission is free, and the artisans will demonstrate their crafts and sell their creations. A variety of Portuguese food will be offered for sale, courtesy of the St. Elizabeth Church feast committee.

The artisans will include Alcídio Andrade, who is one of the three basketers of the Vila de Água de Pau, municipality of Lagoa, in the island of S. Miguel, who creates traditional and contemporary art in wicker; Eduardo Gouveia, a ceramic artist who is the oldest potter of the county of Lagoa, a son and grandson of potters who learned his art in the old Ceramic Milk; Sandra Ferraz of Pico da Pedra, in Ponta Delgada, who creates nativity scenes; Eugênia Teixeira of Porto, who creates artifacts executed with bark of cork; and Teresa Baganha of Water of Pau, S. Miguel, who creates covers and flags of the Holy Ghost.

On June 13, the Bristol Art Museum with open "Arte Corajosa" (Courageous Art), a juried art exhibition of about 70 pieces , all by artists of Portuguese decent. The show will run at the museum through August 24.

Author and chef Maria Lawton, aka "The Azorean Green Bean" and author of "Azorean Cooking: From My Table to Yours" will hold a presentation at the Museum on June 21.

Additional events on the schedule include a July trip to the New Bedford Art Museum and the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and an August trip to the Lowell Textile Mills in Lowell, Mass., an industry that was central to the Azorean American experience for generations. Art classes teaching painting of the Rooster of Barcelos and hydrangeas (and if you have been to the Azores you know how those dominate the landscape!) will also be held at the museum.

Growing Up Portuguese in Bristol

A centerpiece of the summer's events will be a roundtable discussion on August 1, "Growing Up Portuguese In Bristol." Moderated by Catherine Zipf, director of the Bristol Historical Society and filmed by students from Rhode Island College, the roundtable will be held at the Bristol Art Museum. The committee is actively seeking people to participate, and hoping for a wide range of voices for this landmark event. If you, or someone you know, has a story to tell, please contact the Bristol Art Museum at 401/253-4400.

Collaborations with local museums

In a joint effort between the Bristol Art Museum and the Herreshoff Marine Museum; the HMM will display seven 8’ x 10’ panels that will be on loan from the New Bedford Whaling Museum. "Yankee Balieeros" will focus on the history of Portuguese immigration, culture, and especially the shared whaling heritage between New England and the Azores. The panels will be on exhibit from August 1 through 15. The committee is also working to put together a collection of local photographs highlighting the Portuguese community in Bristol from the 1880's through the 1940's, likely on display at the Bristol Art Museum; details to come.

Alegria: Identity, Creativity, and Portuguese Tradition will conclude with "How Sweet it Was," a reception featuring Portuguese sweets and the music of renowned fadista Sonia Bettencourt, at the Bristol Art Museum on August 24.

If you don't know much about Portuguese culture, you are in for a treat — and if you do, you'll enjoy a little visit from the homeland. In Portuguese, Alegria means joy, and that is exactly what the Bristol Art Museum hopes to bring to our greater community this summer — joy, and an appreciation of a culture that has always been an integral part of our community. To stay up to date with the complete schedule events, visit www.bristolartmuseum.org.