The Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center has taken up shop on 57 Circuit Ave. Executive Director Karla Hostetler has divided the space into two amazing sections.

There is a brilliant display of contemporary story quilts honoring the 400-year anniversary of the landing of the first enslaved Africans in North America. The quilts were drawn from a selection provided by The Women of Color Quilters Network.

The second section offers a variety of quilts that are for sale. By exploring events and people of four centuries through the lens of fiber artistry by women of color, the exhibit bears witness to and relates perspectives that written history has often neglected. Entitled And Still We Rise, the art space is intended to create conversations and discussions that are transformative. Indeed mariposa is the Spanish word for butterfly, a symbol of transformation in many cultures. Please stop by and bring friends!

On the Inkwell Beach, chief Polar Bear Caroline Hunter was giving a vivid update of her trip to Cannes to work with Adrianne Smith, the visionary creator behind the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective. Caroline officially inaugurated a cohort of Polar Bears at Inkwell Beach: Cannes by hosting meditation and swimming at 8 a.m. each morning at the beach near 58 Boulevard de la Croisette, across from the Carlton Hotel.

In addition to the water activities there were interviews with Naomi Campbell, Gabrielle Union and Bozoma Saint John among others. So excited about what took place this year.

Caroline and Adrianne will be hosting an informational panel in August in hopes of lining up more people from the Vineyard to attend all of the festivities for 2020.

Dorothy West and Lois Mailou Jones spent time in France developing their writing and artistic talents. Perhaps we can revive their memories and trace their footsteps.

This past Friday night the first Sunset Concert was held on the Tabernacle Green. Tamara and BK Boyle hosted cocktails and eats just before the performance with friends, family, neighbors and guests. Serving lobster rolls, salad and dessert to the lucky invitees was a nice pre-concert treat. Blankets with families and kids of all ages covered most of the lawn. Many folks were tapping rhythms on their legs and singing along with Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish. Just a perfect night for music and merriment! Stay tuned for next Friday.

Former Ed Brooke staffer Vivian Beard hosted her annual Independence Day cookout at her cottage in the library district. Food a plenty and meets and greets punctuated the bright sun in her sprawling yard.

Good friend and former Time Warner executive Toni Fay introduced me to attorney Shireen Dodson, also from New York. Ms. Dodson holds the distinction of being just the third United Nations Ombudsman, appointed by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in 2018. She also has a long record with the U.S. State Department. Shireen manages personnel issues among the UN family of employees. promoting cultural, tribal, religious and professional awareness around the globe. We wish her well.

Author, former media executive and Oak Bluffs Mayor Skip Finley has completed his new book, Historic Tales of Oak Bluffs. His Town of Oak Bluffs columns in the Gazette were very popular thanks to his breezy style and historical framing. He is gearing up for a flurry of August book events, starting at Cousen Rose Gallery on August 5.

Paradise on earth is living the Vineyard experience. Enjoy it, as life is fleeting!

Send Oak Bluffs news to rtaylor@mvgazette.com.