Nathaniel Hawthorne returns to life to read from some of his dark tales in “Nathaniel Hawthorne: The Haunted Mind” at The Artists’ Exchange on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $8; space is limited.
Though known today for his novels, including The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne first rose to prominence for his short tales. These works explore the nature of mankind, often delving into dark realms of the human mind. Herman Melville referred to these stories as “shrouded in blackness, ten times black.” After reading these stories, Edgar Allan Poe called Hawthorne “an indisputable genius.”
Hawthorne is portrayed in this one-man performance by literary historian and playwright Rob Velella. He has dramatically brought to life several literary figures, including performances as the young Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Edgar Allan Poe, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Velella also maintains the American Literary Blog (http://www.americanliteraryblog.blogspot.com/), an "almost-daily celebration of important (and not-so-important) dates in 19th-century American literary history."
The Artists’ Exchange is located at 50 Rolfe Square in Cranston, Rhode Island. The mission of this nonprofit arts collaborative is to create an atmosphere in which creativity, learning and discovery converge and individuality is celebrated. Artists' Exchange houses The Black Box Theatre and multiple art studios, as well as a gallery, art boutique and cafe. Visit for enriching classes and weekly events in art, theater and music.
