2012 Events

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Following closely on the Washington Square Community Charrette, members of the Newport Architectural Forum and of the community at large will had a great opportunity to come see the improvements to the area, to visit the historic interior of the Colony House and to help kick off the Holiday season with a tree lighting in Eisenhower Park.

The evening included a proclamation from the Mayor, the tree lighting ceremony, a cannon salute by the Newport Artillery Company, and live entertainment. Although there were plenty in attendance and the evening was full of holiday cheer, there was now snow this year to completely set the mood, but the nice weather made parking spots easy to find in the new rejuvenated Washington Square!

Jane Pickens Theater (Newport, RI) 

Washington Square is the traditional civic and commercial heart of the City of Newport since its founding more than 350 years ago in 1639. After working for more than a dozen years to plan, finance and undertake the Washington Square pedestrian improvements, the question naturally arises “How do we maximize the benefit of this investment in terms of stimulating community use and enjoyment of the area.”

We are delighted to report that plans for the Washington Square Community Charrette, which have been in the planning stages for quite a while, are now in place. This event is planned to be a 1 ½ day exercise that will bring the community together to accomplish a number of important objectives. This is going to be one of the biggest, best and most important things that the Architectural Forum helps to organize this year and we would welcome the participation of Newporters at this major undertaking.

Spring Bull Gallery (Newport, RI) 

There was a great opening to the “Art of Architecture & Design” show at the Spring Bull Gallery with large numbers of people coming through to see an interesting collection of work (ranging from 1720 architectural prints to up-to-the minute computer renderings) and enjoy a fabulous reception of wine, cheeses and other delectable treats.

The show will be up from October 6 to October 31 and it is well worth your time to come by to enjoy the show and perhaps even take a piece home with you! Spring Bull Gallery is located at 35 Bellevue Avenue.

The Point (Newport, RI) 

For twenty-five years, the self-guided Secret Garden Tours” of Newport’s Point District have helped provide financial resources to support arts education in the public schools. The point section, one of Newport’s oldest colonial neighborhoods, is marked by small lots with lovely gardens deftly hidden in the back and side yards.

The Newport Casino (Newport, RI) 

A wonderful day of lectures by prominent architectural historians, lunch on the Horseshoe Piazza and tours of three magnificent Trumbauer buildings. Horace Trumbauer was a prominent American architect of the Gilded Age and designed more than 1,000 buildings during his career. His work ranged from hotels and commercial buildings to libraries, museums, and private homes, for which he is best remembered. Known as a classical revivalist, his notable projects include the Harry Elkins Widener Library at Harvard University, Whitemarsh Hall, the Free Library of Philadelphia, and much of Duke University. In Newport, Trumbauer is known for designing Clarendon Court and The Elms. Horace Trumbauer: Residential Architecture offered a unique opportunity to examine the architect and his influence on Newport’s landscape and the opportunity to visit three of his most important projects in Newport: Miramar, Seaweed and the renovation of Roughpoint. 

USTA Wing, Newport Casino (Newport, RI) 

URI Professor and Newport architecture expert Ron Onorato, Ph.D. presented on a rarely explored aspect of the casinos history – the inspiration behind the “Shingle Style” architectural masterpiece. Onorato reviewed blueprints and explored the influences that inspired the firm of McKim, Mead & White, in the first building done by the combined association of architects. This building is individually listed on the US Register of Historic Places, the highest honor available.