The makers behind Block Island’s popular hunt for shiny things

Finders Keepers

A treasure hunt for glass orbs keeps the focus on the natural beauty of Block Island

By Megan Monte

There are few adventures more exciting than a treasure hunt – and not all of them are reserved for the plots of movies and books. Block Island is home to its very own type of finderskeepers quest, thanks to a local glassblower.

When Eben Horton was 19, he hid his glass creations on nearby beaches. “I just thought it’d be a fun thing to do that would blow peoples’ minds when they found these things,” Horton says. Fast forward to today – his fun and casual practice has been transformed into The Glass Float Project, an epic, nationally known scavenger hunt on Block Island.

Horton, who owns The Glass Station Studio and Gallery in Wakefield with his wife, Jennifer Nauck, conceived of The Glass Float Project in 2011. “As an artist, I was definitely a victim of the great recession, being a glass blower,” Horton states, explaining how he had an abundance of free time on his hands. Itching for something to do, he decided to hide glass, just like he’d done when he was a teenager, but on a much larger scale. With a grant from the Rhode Island Council on the Arts, Horton created 150 blown glass orbs, and, with permission from the Block Island Town Council, hid his floats on the island’s paths and beaches. Thus, The Glass Float Project was born.

Now, 11 years later, the project has grown and expanded into a well-known opportunity for locals and travelers alike, even garnering attention from CBS News and The New York Times.

Hidden orbs beckon exploration

With the help of their studio team, Horton and Nauck create over 550 glass floats each year that they and their volunteers hide on the island. “The Glass Float Project has totally taken on a life of its own. It’s not the only thing we do here, but I feel like it’s the most important because we reach so many people, including those who hear about this project and are booking trips to Block Island specifically to go out hunting,” Nauck says enthusiastically. Hunters get to keep the float they find, and each float is numbered and dated so it can be registered on The Glass Float Project’s website.

The project officially begins the first day of June and ends Columbus Day Weekend, but floats can be found any day of the year. Not all floats are found in a single season because with so many beaches and trails, seekers really need to search to find an orb. After all, the original intention behind the project was to simply encourage people to get outside and enjoy the island’s beauty. According to Nauck, “The thrill of the hunt keeps them looking for new trails and new places. There’s that element of discovery. Even if you aren’t finding a float, you’re discovering parts of the island you wouldn’t normally see.” For those who come away empty-handed, she adds, “It’s not about finding the float; it’s about the journey and being with yourself, your family, or your friends in nature.”

The Block Island Tourism Council helps to cover basic material costs, and the rest of the project is funded by an October raffle hosted by Horton and Nauck’s studio and gallery. As for where the project is headed, Horton intends to maintain the status quo. As he says, “Its identity is Block Island. I like it just the way it is.” Learn more at TheGlassStationStudio.com

Summer Stock

From Broadway to the Bard, Rhode Island stages offer something for everyone

By Karen Greco

Feminist improvised Shakespeare duo Juliet & Juliet (Meghan Wolff and Sami Haeli) return to this summer’s Ocean State Improv Festival at Contemporary Theater Company

Maybe it’s the proximity between NYC and Boston. Or perhaps it’s the homegrown talent that performs at Trinity Rep and The Gamm during the “regular” season. But Rhode Island has a theater scene just as lively over the summer as it is during the months between September and June. In the mood for a splashy Broadway musical? Head to Theatre By the Sea. How about something edgier and more low-fi? Hit up FRINGEPVD. “The weird stuff is the most exciting,” says Wilbury Theatre Group founder and artistic director Josh Short, who also founded FRINGEPVD in 2014. Short believes the affordability of work-life space in neighborhoods like Olneyville kept a number of accomplished artists within the city limits, which made producing the fringe festival a no-brainer. About 60 percent of this year’s festival features home-grown talent. “We have an audience that is enthusiastic and celebrates the weird and wonderful artists” that perform at the Fringe.

“Programming is the toughest thing I do. What are people going to want to see?” asks theater impresario Bill Hanney, who runs Theatre By the Sea in Matunuck. “Of course it’s summertime, so musicals! Nothing too heavy. And I always include a classic.” Hanney spares no expense in replicating the Broadway experience, complete with elaborate sets and costumes and a mix of New York City pros performing on stage beside local talent. Not to be missed is their Monday concert night series, which features performances from NYC musical comedy favorites like Sirius/XM’s Seth Rudetsky and John O’Hurley (of Seinfeld fame).

Whether you are looking for rib-tickling improv comedy, a classic Neil Simon play, an evening of theater under a blanket of stars, or a weird but wonderful stage delight, this small state buzzes with big theatrical offerings both indoors and out. Here are some picks for you to get your theater on this summer.

Shannon Stott, performing at the 2021 Ocean State Black and Funny Improv Festival, returns to the Contemporary Theater Company this summer

Shakespeare On The Saugatucket in Wakefield

SiriusXM Radio’s Seth Rudetsky will perform at Theatre By the Sea

The Colonial Theatre, Westerly

Rhody’s very own Shakespeare in the Park, The Colonial Theatre has been performing open-air theater in Wilcox Park since 1991. This year, they offer drama-lovers Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot under the stars. In Beckett’s absurdist masterpiece, Vladimir and Estragon ponder the meaning of life while waiting for the titular character. July 22 – August14, ColonialTheatreArt.org

Contemporary Theater Company, Wakefield

Contemporary Theater Company’s summer staple Shakespeare on the Saugatuck returns. Visit their performance patio for As You Like It, Shakespeare’s romantic comedy of mistaken identity between feisty heroine Rosalind and the love-struck Orlando, under a blanket of stars. July 24 – August 24, ContemporaryTheaterCompany.com

Firehouse Theater, Newport

A favorite spot of comedian, celebrity, and part-time Newport resident Jay Leno, the long-running improv show The Bit Players continues on weekends all summer long. FirehouseTheater.org

FRINGEPVD, Providence

It’s hard to pick just one from this smorgasbord of stage delights. Fringe shows are usually challenging, sometimes hilarious, and often downright weird, but that shouldn’t deter anyone from exploring their adventurous offerings. July 17 – 30, FringePVD.org

Granite Theatre, Westerly

The Granite Theatre is in the midst of their season when summer rolls around. This year’s highlight is Neil Simon’s classic four-part confection California Suite, a comedic slice-of-life look at four different couples rotating through the same suite in the Beverly Hills Hotel. August 12-27, GraniteTheatre.com

Newport Playhouse and Cabaret Restaurant

Newport’s dinner theater reopens after renovating from damage sustained by Hurricane Ida with Murder at the Howard Johnsons, a suspense comedy about a murderous love triangle set in a room at a HoJos. July 10 – August 31, NewportPlayhouse.com

The Arctic Playhouse, West Warwick

The Gin Game, 1978 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for drama, uses a card game between two nursing home residents as a metaphor for life. Through June 12, TheArcticPlayhouse.com

Theatre By the Sea, Matunuck

Broadway’s smash hit Kinky Boots is the season stand-out at South County’s summer staple. Featuring songs from Grammy- and Tony-winning icon Cyndi Lauper, drag queen Lola helps save a small English shoe factory from closing down in this vibrant story about friendship, acceptance, and some really hot boots. August 17 – September 11, TheatreByTheSea.com

Stadium Theatre, Woonsocket

Woonsocket’s Stadium Theatre brings the delightful story of a mom and her teen who swap bodies in Disney’s Freaky Friday: A New Musical. This funny and heartwarming musical is an update on Mary Rodgers’ beloved novel and the two classic Disney movies. July 15-17, StadiumTheatre.com

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