| VOLUME 26 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | February 3, 2022 |
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 Depot hosts local artist and preserve maker Kreations by Katherine for a Paint 'N Sip Winter Wonderland on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 and are available at square.site. ART YOU CREATE
Vermont hit record highs for COVID-19 hospitalizations about the middle of this month putting elective surgeries in some hospitals on hold. Pediatric hospitalizations have increased. The good(ish) news is that vaccinations, masking, and other mitigation measures have protected Vermonters from the worst outcomes. The hospitalization rates are the lowest in the nation. PANDEMIC NEWS
Vermont reported 5,455 new COVID-19 cases last week. Franklin County reported 830 cases in the 14 days ending Friday. Vermont now relies heavily on self reporting. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests from COVIDtests.gov. Most major chains including Rite-Aid, Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart should have free N95 masks for distribution.
Years ago, a state trooper would have said, "I've never unbuckled a dead person after a car crash." Last week, a pediatrician said, "I have not admitted a vaccinated child to the hospital with covid." Neither statement is a guarantee, but the safety measures make the odds so much better.
Here's my own advice for dealing with COVID-19. Whether you have contracted and recovered from this coronavirus or haven't yet received a booster or both, immunity has waned for many of us. That lowered resistance leads to infections and increased transmission of the virus. Get the COVID and Flu shot(s), get the booster, and take precautions. Statewide, about 286,800 Vermonters or 63% of the eligible population has completed vaccination and gotten a booster. In Franklin County, about 59% of the people have the complete vaccine and the additional dose; only Essex County with 50% vaccinated and boosted, and Orleans and Windsor Counties at 58% have lower rates.
No vaccine is 100% foolproof; get the shots anyway. 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 is publishing Techniques and Mediums on Facebook. Each brief segment looks at specific techniques or mediums. They cover Tempera Painting this week. ART ON THE WALLS
The gallery is closed for winter break but appointments are available. Call the gallery (802.644.5100) or click here to schedule or for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence Gallery features different artists each month. This month, the spotlight is on stained glass artist Lindsay Didio, Vermont Life photographer David Juaire, watercolor painter Marianne Marshall, and potter Marissa McFadden. A.I.R. will continue celebrating the monthly Featured Artists online and on Facebook.
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.
SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council and the Swanton Free Public Library Valentines from the Heart--Valentine's Day Card Kit Program has free craft kits at the library. HEARTS AND ART
Kits have all the supplies to create cards for personal use and for makers to create one or more Valentine's Cards to donate as a thank you to NOTCH and and NMC healthcare workers. Each kit includes cardstock and envelopes for 12 cards, decorative colored and patterned paper, lace and ribbon, glue, glue dots, gel pens and markers, heart or flower themed rubber stamps and a stamp pad, stencils, craft paint, paint brushes, heart and flower stickers, washi tape, and other embellishments. You need only supply scissors, a ruler, and a pencil.
Cards for donation should be returned to the library by February 11 for delivery before Valentine's Day. Find them on Facebook for more info.
MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild will host the Zoom workshop, the Top Five Habits of Successful Artists with Dr. Steve Taubman, this evening at 6 - 7:30 p.m. Dr. Taubman introduces simple and effective strategies to prosper. The cost is $40 for members or $45 for non-members. Click here to reserve a space. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
MORRISVILLE--River Arts begins two new meditative, healing workshops this week.
Psychotherapist Megan Bisbee hosts the in-person, heART Work in Mixed Media Drawing this evening at 5:30 p.m. Cultivate creativity, connection, and mindfulness with a guided meditation followed by a contemplative art project, tea, and discussion. No experience necessary! All materials provided. The cost is $40. Click here to enroll and for more info.
Slow stitch, meditative stitch artist Martha Evelyn Dunbar leads Slow - Meditative Stitch Workshop in Embroidery and Mending on six Wednesdays begging this Wednesday and continuing through March 23. The workshop will introduce embroidery and Japanese sashiko stitching.
The cost is $30. Click here for more info. This class is currently full. Email to join the waitlist.
SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council will hold a Board Meeting and Updates in person at the Swanton Free Public Library on Monday at 6 p.m. IN THE SAC
Find the SAC on Facebook for the agenda and more info. Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month.
Here's my own advice for dealing with COVID-19. Whether you have contracted and recovered from this coronavirus or haven't yet received a booster or both, immunity has waned for many of us. That lowered resistance leads to 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. ON STAGE LIVE
Friday, February 4
SHELDON--The Abbey Live Music Series continues the Winter Season with Laura Fedele Rasco in the Pub on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Friday-Saturday, February 4-5
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap has two shows Friday night, Uncle Jimmy 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 Kyle Stevens at 5 p.m., and the Dog Catchers starting at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. And to confirm. Click here to reserve a table.
Saturday, February 5
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents Rushmore for a night of live music in The Room on Saturday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ESSEX--The Double E presents the Kat Wright Trio on Saturday at 8 p.m. Box office at 6:30, Double E at 7, and theater doors at 7:30. Ms. Wright, Bob Wagner, and Josh Weinstein bring a folky/rootsy love of songs and singing and story to the stage. Burlington singer-songwriter Giovanina Bucci opens.
General admission is $20. Click here for tickets and more info.
ST. ALBANS--Dance to Bad Horsey, Vermont's own classic rock band, at the Depot live on Saturday night at 9 p.m. The cover charge is $5. There will be a Cash Bar and food available for purchase. The Depot adheres to all CDC and State guidelines and recommendations for events and shows.
Virtual music and events continue this week. ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE
Summer Sounds favorite John Bartus' Perpetual Island Tour played Social Distancing Concert #84 with some of his favorite guitars and a little group of friends and family from the studio on Facebook on Friday evening. The tour stopped in the Key Colony Inn last night, Sparky's Landing tonight at 6:30 p.m., and Boondocks on Monday. Find him on Facebook for the watch party for Social Distancing Concert #85 on Friday about 7:30 p.m.
"When it's 4 below up in the hills of Vermont and gigs are shut down," Will Patton wrote, "I grab some tenor guitars, mandos and such and get together on the interwebs with old buddy fiddlin' Tom Fraioli and make a tango recording. Always did love this one," Por Una Cabeza, on Facebook.
Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton sang Gospel Music on Facebook on Sunday. Follow him on Facebook for a link to this week's offerings.
The Vermont Abenaki Artists Association connecting the public to Abenaki teachers and to artists from the visual, performing arts, and literary genres. The site has a new "" tab to search for jobs, grants, training, and COVID-19 assistance. There is also an index of artists, events listings, a blog, and more. Click here for more info. ART SITE OF THE WEEK
CHICAGO--The American Library Association has awarded the 2022Caldecott Medal to Burlington artist and illustrator Jason Chin. It is the top annual honor for an American picture book for children. Illustrated by Mr. Chin and written by Andrea Wang, the book tells the story of a young girl embarrassed by her family when they stop by the roadside to gather watercress from a ditch. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
ST. ALBANS--Native Vermonter A Y Berthiaume joins the Eloquent Page to answer questions and sign copies of her first memoir, Dear Universe, I Get It Now: Letters on the Art and Journey or Being Brave and Being Me on Saturday at 1 p.m.
She holds an M.F.A. in creative writing and owns the Write Place, Right Time, a "virtual boutique of ghostwriting services." Find the Eloquent Page on Facebook for more info about the book signing and click here for more info about the author.
ONLINE--Vermont Humanities Council hosts poet and actor David Mills for a free 90-minute Creative Writing Workshop on Zoom. The workshop will use prompts about slavery in New York City to encourage participants to write their own poems on the subject. Click here for the Zoom registration to get an invitation to the free workshop.
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 ... |
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Music!Links to the Summer Music series in Franklin County |
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Dick Harper, Chair
P.O. Box 1
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
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