INSIDE THIS EDITION:
- LOOKING FORWARD TO FALL: EDWARD MITCHELL BANNISTER
- UPCOMING EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND WORK OF EDWARD & CHRISTIANA CARTEAUX BANNISTER
- FOR BOOK LOVERS: CLAIRE T. CARNEY LIBRARY ASSOCIATES 15TH ANNUAL AUTHORS BRUNCH: JACQUELYN MITCHARD, SARA PARETSKY, AND ADRIANA TRIGIANI – Sunday, October 15
Looking Forward to Fall
EDWARD MITCHELL BANNISTER
November 2, 1828 – January 9, 1901
Edward Mitchell Bannister was born in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. When he was just four years old, his father died. Edward and his brother William were raised by their mother. It was his mother, Bannister said, who recognized his artistic skill early on and encouraged it.
With his brother, Edward immigrated to Boston in the 1840’s. They made their living as barbers. Edward continued to paint, but in Boston, a city deeply segregated, he could not receive artistic education. Despite this lack of education, Bannister did receive commissions for portraits among wealthier members of the African American community.
In 1853, Edward met Christiana Carteaux when he applied to work in her barbershop. They were married four years later in 1857. Both were extremely active in a wide variety of abolitionist activities. With Christiana able to provide for them financially, Edward was finally able to study painting at Lowell Institute in Boston. He also learned the skill of photography in New York. By 1870 the Bannisters were living in Providence and Edward was a full-time painter.
“The Oaks”: an example of Bannister’s work
Bannister earned acclaim for his painting, both portraits and landscapes, but his biggest award came in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial celebration. His large landscape “Under the Oaks” was awarded first prize. Some among the judges wanted to rescind the award because the work was submitted by a Black man, but pressure was brought by other artists in the exhibition and the prize was awarded.
In Providence, Bannister was an original board member of Rhode Island School of Design, and in 1878 he was one of the founders of the Providence Art Club. Edward and Christiana continued to speak out for abolition just as they had in Boston.
In 1901, while at a prayer service, Edward suffered a heart attack and died.
The gravestone marking his burial site at the North Burial Ground was designed and given in his memory by artist friends.
Upcoming Events to Celebrate the Life and Work of Edward & Christiana Carteaux Bannister
All events are free and open to the public.
Sunday, September 10
12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
A PVD Fest Event: Edward M. Bannister Parade and Sculpture Unveiling in Market Square
The event begins at the Michael S. Van Leesten Bridge (the Pedestrian Bridge) with a parade led by the Providence Drum Troupe. The parade will lead the public to Market Square for the sculpture unveiling and a speaking program.
Note: The sculptor of the Bannister Memorial is Rhode Island artist Gabe Prentiss.
The sculpture project has been under the auspices of The Providence Art Club.
Sunday, October 8
10 a.m.
A Stages of Freedom Event: Dedication of a memorial plaque to recognize the life and work of Edward Bannister’s wife, Christiana Carteaux Bannister
The event will be held at the Stages of Freedom headquarters, African American Museum and gift shop at 10 Westminster Street.
Thursday, November 2
5 p.m.
Event supported by Stages of Freedom, RISD Museum, and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts: Saving Bannister: placing Edward Bannister’s paintings in the Smithsonian Institution
The event will be held at the Metcalf Auditorium at the RISD Museum of Art, 20 North Main Street.
Speakers: Ed Shein, Barnaby Evans and Ray Rickman
Reservations needed.
FOR BOOK LOVERS
CLAIRE T. CARNEY LIBRARY ASSOCIATES
15TH ANNUAL AUTHORS BRUNCH
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, 2023, 12 NOON
UMASS DARTMOUTH MARKETPLACE
The Claire T. Carney Library Associates proudly announces its 15th annual authors' brunch on Sunday, October 15th at 12 noon. The event will feature three outstanding authors, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Sara Paretsky and Adriana Trigiani.
The venue for this year's event has been changed to the University Marketplace for its ease in access. Parking is in lot 5. Guests can be dropped off at the entrance to the Marketplace. An elevator to the second floor venue is available to the far left as you enter the building.
The cost of the event is $50 for non CTC Library Associate members, $45 for CTC Library Associate members and $35 for current UMass Dartmouth students. Reservations are required and should be made either online at https://bit.ly/authorsbrunch23 or by contacting Maria Sanguinetti at [email protected] or by calling her at 508-991-5096. Reservations should be made by October 9th.
A Q&A book signing will follow the talks.
Jacquelyn Mitchard is an American journalist and author. Ms Mitchard began her career as a a newspaper reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Her weekly column, The Rest of Us: Dispatches from the Mother Ship, appeared in 125 newspapers worldwide. She holds the distinction of having her book, Deep End of the Ocean, chosen as the first Oprah Winfrey book selection. Her novels have been bestsellers, as well as her winning critical acclaim for The Most Wanted Cage of Stars, andThe Breakdown Lane. Ms. Mitchard has also written for children and young adults. She is an alum and distinguished fellow of the Ragdale Foundation.
Sara Paretsky is credited with changing mystery with the introduction of her female private eye, V.I. Warshawski in 1982 in her novel, Indemnity Only which changed the role of women who had previously been relegated to the role of victims or vamps. She has written 20 more novels featuring V.I. Warshawski. In 2007, she wrote her memoir, Writing in an Age of Silence, which describes her transition from a Kansas farm girl to a New York Times bestselling author. She has two stand alone novels, Ghost Country and Bleeding Kansas and a short story collection entitled Love & Other Crimes. Her books are international best sellers appearing in almost 30 languages.
Adriana Trigiani is the best-selling author of 18 fiction and non-fiction books. She wears many hats, distinguishing herself as a playwright, television and movie producer, screenwriter, and director. She has published a novel each year since 2000. Ms. Trigiani has written for the Cosby Show and Different World. She produced City Kids, an ABC/Jim Henson production and Growing Up Funny, a TV special on Lifetime which garnered an Emmy nomination for Lily Tomlin. Ms. Trigiani has written extensively about her experience growing up in an Italian-American family in Appalachia in her Big Stone Gap series. Her books have been published in 36 countries around the world.
If you are a dreamer, come in
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer
If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some fla-golden tales to spin
Come in, come in
Shel Silverstein