AAM to kick off Community Read with salute to frozen treats
Sun Chronicle, August 29, 2025. Attleboro, MA —
“Frost Bite: Memories Masquerading as Frozen
Treats,” an invitational exhibition inspired by the Attle-
boro’s 2025 Community Read, will be at the Attleboro Arts Museum, 86 Park St., from Sept. 6-20.
Since 2007, the museum has been an active partner in the city’s reading initiatives, which encour- age participants to read the same literature at the same time — and extend their connection to the work through local arts and cultur- al activities.
This year’s activities are sched- uled from September through April and are inspired by “Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil.
The author, a poet and essayist, explores the way food and drink evoke associations and remem- brances. She shares her encoun- ters with a range of foods and food traditions and investigates how they mark experiences and identities.
“Bite by Bite” will be the springboard for public book club discussions, lectures, exhibitions of art, and more.
“The memories of family and friendship in ‘Bite by Bite’ are deliciously written, allowing the reader to find themselves experi- encing new foods and old favorites with all of their senses,” Amy Rhilinger, director of the Attleboro Public Library, said in a news
“Shave Ice Melting in Rain” by Rachel Brask; oil on canvas.
release. “The medley of foods in the book speak to the variety of ex- periences in our city. Whether you make favorite recipes from scratch or always have takeout options at the ready, Nezhukumatathil will remind you of meals shared with loved ones and inspire you to invite more people to your table.”
The museum participates
in this year’s programming by presenting “Frost Bite: Memories Masquerading as Frozen Treats.”
The invitational exhibition fea- tures original art from 13 members of the Seekonk Artists Network,
a collaborative of working artists from the Seekonk area with many members who have been long- standing, active members of AAM.
After reading “Bite by Bite,” museum Executive Director and
“Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jam- borees” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil is Attleboro’s 2025 Community Read.
Chief Curator Mim Brooks Fawcett said she was inspired to mount
an exhibition that drew from the nostalgia of Nezhukumatathil’s vignette on “shave ice.”
“From the siren song of an
ice cream truck, to deciding on which pretty flavor to fill your paper cup, frozen desserts sur- face remembrances of childhood, family rituals, neighborhood, and celebration,” Fawcett said. “Some- how, each of us can track how a sugar or wafer cone unexpectedly found their way into our personal history.”
Fawcett asked the SAN artists if they would produce original art in any medium that was inspired by an icy delight.
The resulting exhibition will feature photographs, paintings, sculptural forms and mixed media. The exhibition’s pieces reflect “colorful and unforgettable asso- ciations with frosty bites enjoyed during childhood and other chap- ters of their lives,” the museum said.
In addition to their art, the artists have provided personal statements to be displayed along- side their work. This information covers memories associated with the subject of their creations and/ or their artmaking process.
Exhibiting artists include Mary Jane Andreozzi, Deb Baldizar, Dianne Burns, Rachel Brask, Dawn Campbell, Bill Clark, Alex Dunwoodie, Lars Grant West, Phil Gruppuso, Ann-Marie Gillett, Beth Goulet, Sarah Jane Lapp, and Martha Manno.
On Saturday, Sept. 6, a Com- munity Read kickoff and opening reception will be held from 2 to
4 p.m. at the museum. Exhibiting artists will be honored at the event and representatives from the Attle- boro Library will share highlights from the 2025 Community Read schedule of programs prompted by “Bite by Bite.”
Reservations are not required — but are appreciated — by Sept. 5: 508-222-2644 x10 or office@attle- boroartsmuseum.org. The event is free and open to all.