DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 25 * * All Arts News On the Web * * April 8, 2021

STUFF YOU SHOULDN'T MISS

      ArtBits always features a calendar of the goings on of Franklin County artists. Check out these events around Franklin County. Each issue includes the entire text of our weekly newspaper column.


     Franklin County's arts and music gatherings bring new opportunities, gossip, "show-and-tell" and occasional workshops. There are also booked and acoustic Open Mic Nights that feature music, readings, and more from the best new artists in Vermont.

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RESOURCES

      Help is here for venue operators hit by the pandemic. The Small Business Administration Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program opens for applications today. It addresses the eligibility requirements of each type of applicant. Venues may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
      Click here for applications details and eligibility.


CANCELLATION (AND RESTART) NEWS

     Gov. Phil Scott will not allow college students from out of state to get a Covid-19 vaccine in Vermont. The Health Department claims that providing the vaccines to those students would limit the number of doses available to full-time residents. Neighboring New Hampshire has the same policy but other states, including Massachusetts and New Jersey, vaccinate all students, no matter where they're from. Gov. Scott says the policy ensures "we take care of Vermonters first" although infection rates among young Vermonters and college students are surging. UVM reported 80 new cases last week.
      He is expected to release his re-opening plan with the framework and guidance to full reopening this week.
      Vermont leads the nation in vaccinating people over the age of 65. All Vermonters 50 and up can now get vaccination appointments. 40.1% of residents over 15 have received at least one dose of the vaccine. The state has COVID-19 appointment times in St. Albans. Call the state's COVID-19 vaccine call center (855.722.7878) for info and appointments or Click here to get started and find more info.
      People who are fully vaccinated and at least 14 days out from their final vaccine dose, can travel to and from Vermont without quarantine restrictions but it is crucial to maintain our precautions as the number of new COVID-19 cases in Vermont continues to rise.

We face the most dangerous time of the pandemic.
With the vaccine "here," many want to resume normal
social activities. Please don't let down your guard.

      The State of Emergency continues.
      As of last Sunday, the Vermont Dashboard showed a total of 19,905 cases, up by 1,282 from a reported 18,623 last week. There have been 224 deaths (1.2% of cases). The seven-day average test positivity rate jumped again to 2.2%. The CDC COVID Tracker shows that Vermont's seven-day per capita infection rate has risen to 201.5 per 100,000 residents; even California is still at 43.4/100K while next door New York rose to 255.6/100K, and Florida is at 171.5/100K. CDC reported 1,257 new cases (up from 1,105 last week) in Vermont this past week although HealthVermont reported only 149 new cases. The state's arithmetic still does not add up; it is an interesting, and ongoing, disparity. Franklin County had 18 new cases this week, but 202 in the last two weeks--another statistical oddity since there were "ten" last week which by regular arithmetic adds up to 28 new cases in two weeks, not 202.
      358,303 people (up to 57.4% of the Vermont population) have been tested a total of 1,359,911 times, although that data comes with a crucial caveat:

• A negative test result yesterday says nothing
about an individual's health today.

We still need a daily test that costs ten cents and gives results in ten minutes (and a way to collate those results).


      For summer event planning purposes, the state recommends following last summer's event guidance baseline including capacity limits of 75 people indoors and 150 people outdoors, with pods of participants for larger events.
      Summer Sounds will host the 30th season of outdoor concerts. Arrowhead Golf Course will resume the Friday Night Live Music and Buffet in June. Celebration of Expressive Arts begins the season on May 30. Cold Hollow Sculpture Park will reopen on June 12. The 18th annual Farewell Reunion happens online this year. The Meeting House on the Green has ten live summer concerts scheduled. The Opera House at Enosburg Falls cannot host summer camp but will offer an arts-based virtual summer program for kids ages 11-14. River Arts returns to Music on Main, the Downtown Summer Music Series in Morrisville. 14th Star, Twiggs, and other restaurants are offering some live music while other artists and venues are doing more online. The Vermont Humanities Council has ongoing arts and literary digital events and programs including First Wednesdays and Vermont Reads. Although the activities may take place at a distance from Franklin County, they are available safely and locally online at vermonthumanities.org.
      The Vermont Dairy Festival has changed format and Vermont Maple Festival will host only virtual events for 2021.


      Because I write this weekly column largely on Sundays, the infection rates reported here will lag "live media" reports. Since it appears on Thursday and covers an entire week in the future, that also means events and happenings are likely to change with morphing State mandates. Be sure to check with the organizers of any event for up-to-the-minute info.
      Although so many of our favorite activities won't happen going into the new year, all the volunteers will stay as active as possible and this weekly column about the arts and entertainment around the region will continue to serve up live and almost live events and artists from around the region. Read all about it here every Thursday.


ART ON THE WALLS

PARIS--The Musée du Louvre and Musée National Eugène Delacroix remain closed until further notice but thanks to Virtual tours in English, we can enjoy the Louvre at home. The tours include the Advent of the Artist, Power Plays, the Body in Movement, Founding Myths: from Hercules to Darth Vader, and more. Click here to view one or all the tours and for more info.


ST. ALBANS--There is always something new at the Artist In Residence Gallery. The art and fine craft cooperative features paintings, fiber arts, stained glass, sculpture, lamps, pottery, folk art boxes, scarves, hats and more by 40 Franklin County and surrounding area artists. It is owned and operated by the artists and sponsors. The gallery on South Main Street has new hours, Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.


WORKSHOPS & CLASSES

MILTON--The MAG Virtual Social Sunday Program has free art kits and online instruction available for reservation each week, free to all families, for pick up at the gallery. Videos will be added each week for instruction. Click here for more info.
      The MAG online shop is open 24/7 and the gallery is open Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.


MORRISVILLE--The River Arts workshop, Online Exquisite Landscapes: Writing Place in Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction, continues today at 5:30 p.m. It will be held on six Thursdays through April 15.
      Instructor Ellen Parent explores that important backstop of creative writing. The guided workshop will revise and strengthen writing with strategies for building evocative and purposeful settings. Ms. Parent has a degree in poetry writing from Wheaton College and a forthcoming degree in fiction writing from the Solstice MFA Program. Her writing has been featured in Vermont Magazine, Bloodroot Magazine, Blueline Literary Magazine, Birchsong, and elsewhere.
      The workshop fee is $65. Click here to register and for more info.


SWANTON--Swanton Arts Council hosts a T-shirt Applique Class online on Saturday at 1 p.m.
      The class will cover ornamental needlework in which pieces of fabric are sewn or stuck onto a large piece of fabric to form pictures or patterns and will use recycled fabric to create a custom t-shirt. Participants will need an iron and ironing board, scissors to cut the t-shirt, and a blank t-shirt to decorate. Everything else will be provided. Email Ali or find the class on Facebook to register or for more info.


IN THE SAC

SWANTON--Van Joe talks with Judy Paxman and Khristian Jackson about the Swanton Arts Council on NWA-TV on YouTube.


ON STAGE LIVE

Friday, April 9
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents Shrimp Tunes live in The Room on Friday at 6 p.m. Vermont's one-man-band brings rhythms from the briny deep.
      Seating is limited to one household per table and reservations are required. Reservations can be made online up to six days in advance. Click here and select "The Room Indoor Seating to reserve your table.


Friday-Saturday, April 9-10
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap offers Lee Ross tomorrow night and Jeremy Sanborn live for Saturday night. Music starts at 5:30 p.m. Check with On Tap before going. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. And to confirm. Click here to reserve a table.


Saturday, April 10
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs presented Arthur James last Friday and may have a new act this week at about 7 p.m. Reservations are necessary. Call 802.524.1405 or click here for more info.


ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE

     Here's the roundup of virtual music and events for this week.

Thursday, April 8
      The Frost Jazz Hour UM presents the Leo Folsom Trio on Facebook today at 11 a.m.
      The University of Miami Jazz Department broadcasts live from WDNA 88.9 FM studios every Thursday at 11 a.m. Admission is free. Anyone on or off Facebook is invited. (Programming note: the Eric Stern Trio, scheduled for last week, was cancelled.)


      The Virtual Open Mic goes live on Facebook every Thursday from 7 - 10 p.m. It's a central location in Waitsfield for streaming and invites artists to post performances freely.


Friday, April 9
      Summer Sounds favorite John Bartus' Perpetual Island Tour will perform Social Distancing Concert 55, Live from the Florida Keys, thanks to Facebook Live at about 7:30 p.m. Find him on Facebook for the watch party.
      Mr. Bartus played the Social Distancing Concert #54 featuring Tom Petty, live from Havana Jacks on Facebook on Friday evening.


      Andrew Lloyd Webber streams his musicals in the free YouTube series, The Shows Must Go On, every Friday at 7 p.m. for 48 hours. A new show begins tomorrow. Clips of famous performances and behind-the-scenes footage also appear on the channel beside the full shows.
      Click here for Mr. Webber's YouTube channel for all the details and to subscribe.


Tuesday, April 13
      Great Music in a Great Space--Cathedral of St. John the Divine--returns with Samuel Kuffuor-Afriyie in Tuesdays at 6 live on Facebook on Tuesday. The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine is the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. The 2021 concerts are streamed on Facebook every Tuesday at 6 p.m.


Wednesday, April 14
      Big Heavy World presents Rocket Shop, the original local music radio hour hosted by Tom Proctor, every Wednesday night from 8 - 9 p.m. Vermont artists from across the state perform live in every genre on 105.9FM The Radiator in Burlington and as a podcast on bigheavyworld.com.


Ongoing
      Tim Fading with Willie Pipkin, Nate Rowe, and Jason Corbiere played for Rob Andrews' Memorial Service at Evangeline Cafe on Facebook.


      Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton sang "Love Songs for Lisa" on Facebook last Tuesday and Easter Sunday gospel music outdoors with palm trees on Sunday on Facebook . Follow him on Facebook for a link to this week's offerings.


FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF

ST. ALBANS--The Eloquent Page hosts Gary Taylor for a book signing for A Red Dress on Saturday at 11 a.m. The veteran police officer and former St. Albans Police Chief will discuss his biographical novel based on the brutal attack on two twelve-year-old girls in Essex in the 1980s. Find them on Facebook for more info.


      ArtBits features a quick weekly peek at library events in and around Franklin County. That popular feature has a page of its own at the Franklin County Bookshelf here on the AAC site at AllArtsCouncil.org/books. We also take an occasional peek at the bookshelf or night stand of the folks you know in and around Franklin County. Those reviews can be found on the ArtBits Bookshelf.


Good News!

There are so many events around the region that we miss some of them.
Be sure to check these calendars for what's happening near you ...
All Arts Council of Franklin County
Cambridge Arts Council
Franklin County Regional
Chamber of Commerce
Island Arts
St Albans Community Arts
Swanton Arts Council
Young Tradition Vermont

Music!

Links to the Summer Music series in Franklin County
Summer Sounds
Summer Music at Grace
Downtown Summer Concert Series
Summer Evenings with
Vermont Treasures
Citizens Band
Wednesday Night Live
Enosburg Town Band


SUPPORT LIVE ARTS IN YOUR TOWN!


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