| VOLUME 25 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | December 2, 2021 |
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. STUFF YOU SHOULDN'T MISS
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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ST. ALBANS--The Festival of Trees continues with volunteer-run community events to raise funds for local food charities and provide free family and cultural entertainment. The activities, include an Arts & Crafts Show, a Holiday Puppet Show by the Traveling Storyteller, the Running of the Bells, Santa's Workshop, the Tree Showcase and Train and Doll Displays at City hall, and much more. There will be no gala this year. FESTIVAL OF TREES
Each year, proceeds go to various nonprofit groups in Franklin County. This year, the Festival will help fight hunger, benefitting Martha's Kitchen and Franklin/Grand Isle Community Action - CVOEO. Call Pauline Cray (802.309.4407), email, or click here for the schedule and more info about the events, or to donate a tree.
Gov. Phil Scott reported that Vermont is the state with the highest vaccination and booster rates in the country, and among the lowest hospitalization and death rates but the Administration and the Democratic Legislature are trading political shots over mandates, remote learning, shut downs, and more. The real answer is for Vermonters to protect themselves. RESTART NEWS
Vermont reported 1,266 new COVID-19 cases last week, up again from 1,097 the week before. Franklin County reported 494 cases in the 14 days ending Sunday. Unvaccinated Vermonters are still three to four times more likely than vaccinated Vermonters to contract COVID-19 according to the Vermont Department of Health.
Here's my own advice. Both natural and vaccine immunity is waning for many of us, leading to mild infections and increased transmission of the virus. Get the COVID and Flu shot(s), get the booster, and take precautions. No vaccine is 100% foolproof. Wash your hands. Wear a mask where you can't control the airflow around you until we reach the same herd immunity we have for smallpox and once had but lost for measles. Bonus: it will also help protect you from pollen, summer colds, and the winter flu.
Vaccination clinics for booster shots and for the first or second dose of vaccine are open across Vermont for anyone age 12 or older. Call 855.722.7878 or Click here to make an appointment or for more info. You can also walk-in at Costco, CVS, Hannaford, Price Chopper/Market 32, Rite Aid, Shaw's, Walgreens, or Walmart, or get an appointment with CVS, Kinney Drugs, Walgreens, or UVMMC Outpatient Pharmacies.
JEFFERSONVILLE--Bryan Memorial Gallery continues Let's Find Out, an online series that explores the 17 artists on display in their 2021 Legacy Collection. Artist Eric Tobin is featured this week. ART ON THE WALLS
The gallery is open Thursday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call the gallery (802.644.5100) or find them on Facebook for more info.
MORRISVILLE--The River Arts Festival of Lights & Artisan Gift Fair is a celebration of light this weekend. The Artisan Sale begins Friday at 9 a.m - 4 p.m. Festival Events run Saturday from 10 a.m - 2 p.m. The community event features a community luminary project, an open clay studio, and an expanded holiday craft sale.
Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence Gallery features different artists each month. This month, the spotlight is on metal sculptor Rebecca Nase Chomyn, exquisite small wood sculptor Barry Genzlinger, and fiber artist Maureen Genzlinger.
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 is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.
MIAMI--The "movers and shakers in the art world" are in the Magic City for Art Basel Miami Beach and the Miami Art Week beginning today and continuing through Sunday.
The 2021, in-person Art Basel fair in Miami Beach is back and bigger than ever with 253 galleries from around the world. Design Miami across the street has furniture, lighting and objets d'art. The 31st Art Miami has Botero and Picasso and Banksy's Charlie Brown. There's even more around town with galleries and grass-roots shows of local artists' collaborations.
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence Gallery Holiday Tree Walk has ArtisTREE ornaments, all original works of art designed by Gallery members for $12. The gallery on South Main Street is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info. ART FOR SALE
ST. ALBANS--The St. Paul's Arts and Crafts Show offers country crafts, American doll clothes, maple products, homemade baked goods, weaving, and much more including lunch, all at Saint Paul's United Methodist Church on Saturday at 9 a.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
MORRISVILLE--River Arts hosts the in-person, Paint 'n' Sip--Acrylic Intuitive Paintings on Friday at 6 p.m. BYOB. No experience is required, just a positive attitude and a willingness to go with the flow as you create intuitive abstract paintings. ART YOU CREATE
The cost is $35. Click here to enroll and for more info.
MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild will host the Top Five Habits of Successful Artists with instructor Dr. Steve Taubman as part of their ongoing series of online seminars this evening at 6 - 8 p.m. Art is a business. This workshop introduces simple and effective strategies to prosper. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
The cost is $40 for members or $45 for non-members. Click here to reserve a space.
MORRISVILLE--River Arts hosts the in-person, Zines & Book Arts with instructor Emma Percy on Sunday at 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. This workshop will explore what zines and artist's books are and what they can be, starting with introductory layout, printing, and bookbinding techniques, and looking at things to consider when beginning a do-it-yourself publishing or bookmaking project.
The cost is $55. Click here to enroll and for more info.
SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council will hold the Annual Meeting in the Swanton Free Public Library on Monday at 6 p.m. The SAC will recognize community members who have led art projects or made a significant impact to the arts in 2021. The event will include the annual board vote and a visioning exercise to help guide future art projects. Light refreshments will be available. I still want to know about the Unicorn Spit. IN THE ARTS COUNCILS
Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month. Email or find the SAC on Facebook for the agenda and more info.
SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council Art Journaling Group is taking December off. Gatherings are usually held at the library on the second Wednesday of every month. Email for more info about the group.
Vermont has lifted all remaining statewide COVID-19 restrictions. ON STAGE LIVE
Here's my own advice. Immunity is beginning to wane for many of us, leading to mild infections and increased transmission of the virus. Get the COVID and Flu shot(s), get the booster, and take precautions. No vaccine is 100% foolproof. Wash your hands. Wear a mask where you can't control the airflow around you until we reach the same herd immunity we have for smallpox and once had but lost for measles. Bonus: it will also help protect you from pollen, summer colds, and the winter flu.
Friday, December 3
ST. ALBANS--The Festival of Trees presents the Traveling Storyteller's Holiday Puppet Show in City Hall on Friday at 4:30 p.m. Ernie Hemingway will recount the story of Nanook the polar bear in Alaska in a dramatic performance for younger children. Children will also be able to take part in a craft project. Admission is free. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents B-Town for a night of live rock and roll / blues dance music with covers new and old in The Room on Friday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ESSEX JUNCTION--The Double E Presents Beg Steal or Borrow with YTV alum Roland Clark, violin, at the T Rex Theater on Friday at 8 p.m. Doors at 7. Known for its harmonies, instrumentals, and tight interplay, the northern Vermont "Triple Crown Bluegrass Band" has won band competitions at Podunk, Grey Fox, and Thomas Point Beach.
General admission is $15. Click here for tickets and more info.
Friday-Saturday, December 3-4
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap has two shows Friday night, King Me at 5 p.m., and then the Phil Abair Band with Keeghan Nolan for late night music starting at 9 p.m., plus two more shows live on Saturday night with Rough Suspects Acoustic at 5 p.m., and Brit Kane & Company starting at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. And to confirm. Click here to reserve a table.
Saturday, December 4
ST. ALBANS--The Festival of Trees presents the Tree Showcase with Dance and Music plus Train and Doll Displays on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. Vermont Studio 3 performs at 11 - 12:30 p.m, Up North Dance Studio at 1 - 2 p.m, and Electric Youth Dance Company finishes the afternoon at 3 - 4 p.m. The model train display is offered by Jim Murphy and the dolls are from Mrs. Scangas' collection. Crafts and gifts will be available for purchase as a benefit for Martha's Kitchen and Franklin/Grand Isle Community Action. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Vermont Choral Union presents Missa Pandemica--Mass in Time of Pandemic at the First Congregational Church on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Festival of Trees. Maarten van Ryckevorsel composed the entire new Mass. The program includes Marques Garrett's My Heart Be Brave and Stephen Paulus' The Road Home, three settings of O Magnum Mysterium, and other holiday settings of music written for the holiday season.
The Vermont Choral Union ensemble was founded in 1967. It has offered its popular carol dinners, December concerts, spring programs around the state, collaborative concerts with the BFA Chorus, and recordings featuring composers who lived and worked in Vermont. Admission is $15 – $40. Click here for tickets and more info. Masks are required for all audience members at this event.
Sunday, December 5
ST. ALBANS--The Festival of Trees presents the Tree Showcase with Dance and Music plus Train and Doll Displays on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. Vermont Studio 3 performs at 10 - 11 a.m, BFA Orchestra at 12 - 1 p.m, and the 40th Army Band brings the weekend home at 2 - 4 p.m. The model train display is offered by Jim Murphy and the dolls are from Mrs. Scangas' collection. Crafts and gifts will be available for purchase as a benefit for Martha's Kitchen and Franklin/Grand Isle Community Action. Find them on Facebook for more info
Wednesday, December 8
ST. ALBANS--The monthly Blues Jam continues Twiggs hosted by Vermont's leading blues man, Nobby Reed, and the House Band on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Blues Jam blows out the speakers at Twiggs on the second Wednesday of each month. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Virtual music and events continue this week. ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE
Ballett Dortmund dances The Four Swans by Israeli choreographer Itzik Galili on YouTube. "You really have to be good to do parody like this," writer Alma Alexander said.
Ben's Old Song of the Week is Serenade in Blue. Ben Patton is joined by the Fabulous Spiders, Will Patton, Deb Patton, Marcia Brewster and Pat Austin, in this living room concert on YouTube.
Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton sang a First Sunday of Advent Concert on Facebook on Sunday and returned Tuesday with the "Wow, there's a concert" concert on Facebook. Follow him on Facebook for a link to this week's offerings.
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. ON THE 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 ... |
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Music!Links to the Summer Music series in Franklin County |
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Dick Harper, Chair
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