Museum Reads is the Newport Art Museum’s art-themed book group for adults. Are you looking to learn more about art and artists, or enjoy digging into some of the issues present in the museum’s current exhibitions? Then this friendly discussion group is for you. The club meets monthly on the third Thursday at 12 noon, in person and virtually. Join virtually from the office for an invigorating lunch break, or enjoy an hour of inspiration during a wee one’s nap time, or join in the gallery for in-person conversation. Free for museum members and $5 for nonmembers. Be sure to register online to receive email updates and Zoom links.

Jamestown, Rhode Island, set in the shimmering waters at the entrance to Narragansett Bay, is marked by cliffs and fields looking out to the sea- a vision of paradise, a place of natural abundance and scenic beauty. For centuries, builders devised architecture that seamlessly rose from and merged back into stony coast and rolling meadows. This island is home to a timeless landscape of pastoral richness and picturesque views; its buildings a testament to those who sought their fortunes and fulfilled their fantasies, within sight of the mainland, but a world apart. In each case, there is a remarkable relationship between the island’s topography and its architecture. Through maps, paintings, poetry and prose, this book illustrates the vibrant heritage of Jamestown, its role as a place of refuge and retreat through the ages, a paradise shaped by the visions and labors of its inhabitants.