DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 27 * * All Arts News On the Web * * February 9, 2023

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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CALL FOR ARTISTS

2023 MRBA Art Contest (March 10)--Open to all Vermont artists and disciplines, this year's contest has the theme, "Celebrating the Missisquoi Watershed." No entry fee and easy entry. The Missisquoi River Basin Association is an active volunteer group working to restore the Missisquoi River, its tributaries, and the Missisquoi Bay. Email or click here for more info on how to enter, entry groups by age, prizes, and more.


SAPPY ART SHOW (April 15)--This exhibit is open to Vermont all artists, aspiring artists, and young artists working in any 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional media. This year's theme is "Maple--the Heart of Vermont." Works will be juried and hung on April 21 and will be on display at the Village Frame Shoppe during the Vermont Maple Festival through May 6th. Cash prizes. No entry fee. Click here for more info and to register online.


PANDEMIC NEWS

     The federal government will officially end the COVID-19 emergency declarations on May 11. That will affect access to vaccinations, testing, and treatment in Vermont because it will end the requirement that Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and private insurers must cover COVID-related care without cost sharing.
      COVID remains the third-leading cause of death in 2022. Cases statewide fell slightly but hospitalizations rose last week. The Vermont Department of Health reported on February 1 that 48 people remain hospitalized, up from 41 the week before. Overall, Vermont's new COVID-19 cases dropped to 478 statewide last week, down from 503 the week before. On the other hand, Franklin County's case load stood at 95 cases in the 14 days ending Saturday, up from 81. 889 Vermonters have died of COVID-19 to date. Franklin County has lost 85 residents to the disease. As of this month, the CDC calculates county-by-county COVID-19 "community levels." Infections in Franklin County remain at a "Medium" level.
      Because Vermont relies on self reporting, the number of actual cases is higher than the Department of Health finds. You can report self-test results by following instructions on your test kit to automatically provide your results to your local health department or with the Vermont COVID-19 Self-Test Result Reporting Form. If you test positive, stay home and isolate for five days or longer. You can leave your home on day six if your symptoms have improved and you have had no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medicine that reduces fevers.
      Take an at-home test if you begin having symptoms like fever, sore throat, runny nose, or loss of taste or smell, or at least five days after you come into close contact with someone with COVID-19, or if you plan a get together with people who are at risk of severe disease or may not be up to date on their vaccines. Every home in the U.S. is again eligible to order a new round of free at-home tests from COVIDtests.gov. Need other tests? COVID.gov also has for links for at-home tests at retailers and pharmacies, insurance reimbursement for at-home tests, and the 20,000 no-cost antigen and PCR COVID-19 test sites nationwide. Most major chains including Walgreens and Price Chopper locally should have free N95 masks.
      People keep getting sick, mostly because they aren't taking precautions. Original COVID-19 vaccinations remain below the level of herd immunity, and even fewer have gotten boosters. All of Vermont's walk-in clinics closed Tuesday. Only about 60% of adults and eligible children have even received a flu vaccine. Most doctors and area pharmacies offer COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.
      Whether you have contracted and recovered from this coronavirus or haven't yet received a booster or even if you have done it all, immunity has waned again for many of us. That lowered resistance leads to infections and increased transmission of the virus. To date, only 28% of eligible Vermonters age 5 and over have gotten the bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine. Here's my own advice. Get the COVID shot(s), get the booster(s), and take precautions, particularly if you are inside with other people--that still means wearing a mask indoors.
      No vaccine is 100% foolproof. Wash your hands. Keep wearing an N95 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 because so many parents refused to vaccinate their kids. Bonus: it will also help protect you from pollen, summer colds, and the winter flu.
      Call 855.722.7878 or visit healthvermont.gov for more info about the first or second dose and for booster shots of the vaccine. 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. Providers and pharmacies must give vaccines at no cost to the patient.


ART ON THE WALLS

ENOSBURG--Olaniyi Akindiya is the 2023 Cold Hollow Sculpture Park artist-in-residence. An interdisciplinary artist and a former artist-in-residence at Vermont Studio Center, Mr. Akindiya splits his time between Lagos, Nigeria, and Pflugerville, Texas. He uses repurposed objects in mixed media painting, sculpture, installation, video, photography, sound, and performance.


JEFFERSONVILLE--Bryan Memorial Gallery continues Around the World with Mary & Alden with a visit to Scotland. The Gallery is closed until March for winter break but appointments are available. Call (802.644.5100) to schedule or click here for more info.


MORRISVILLE--The 8th annual ART 100 takes over River Arts live and in person on Friday at 6 - 8 p.m. The evening will feature artwork and handmade crafts donated by local artists as the picks for every ticket. This year offers paintings, pottery, textiles and more.
      Admission is $100 for two for food and drink and art. Click here for more info.


ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence Gallery Hearts for Your Honey fundraiser offers ornaments uniquely painted or decorated by member artists. The hearts are for sale and prominently displayed in the front of the 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 is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.


FILM

ONLINE--Atun-Shei Films has released the video Warriors of the Dawn on YouTube.
      Historians Drew Shuptar-Rayvis and Dylan Smith helping filmmaker Andrew Rakich explore the military history of King Philip's War from an indigenous perspective. The war is named for Metacom, the Wampanoag chief who adopted the name Philip because of the friendly relations between his father Massasoit and the Mayflower Pilgrims. Sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, Pometacomet's Rebellion, or Metacom's Rebellion, 1675-1676 conflict pitted indigenous inhabitants of New England against the New England colonists and their indigenous allies. The war continued in the most northern reaches of New England until the signing of the Treaty of Casco Bay in 1678. Click here for more info.


HUMANITIES

ST. ALBANS--Osher Lifelong Learning Institute continues the weekly program series with GMP Vice President Kristin Carlson discussing GMP: Closer, Connected, Empowered with insights into how batteries are transforming how Vermont uses energy in the Greg Brown Lodge at Hard'ack on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
      OLLI no longer takes payments at the door. They "strongly recommend that all attendees/members pre-register prior to the start of the program." Click here for more info.


WORKSHOPS & CLASSES

MILTON--Social Sundays continue at the Milton Artists' Guild Art Center with free weekly art classes for families at MAG on Sunday at 1 p.m.
      Each week offers a different project--last week was potato stamped Valentine's Day cards. Stay for 30 minutes or the whole two hours. Click here for more info.


ON STAGE LIVE

     Here's my own plan with over one million U.S. deaths and as our precautions wane. I got the COVID and Flu shots, and the boosters, and I take precautions because no vaccine is 100% foolproof. I wash my hands. I double mask with a genuine N95 mask (not a bandana and not a "chin strap") and a surgical mask where ever I can't control the airflow. It isn't much of a burden and it mostly protects me from all the people without masks I see in stores and concerts.


Thursday, February 9
SOUTH HERO--The Blue Paddle Bistro hosts the Lloyd Tyler Band for a mix from Americana to current tunes this evening at 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.


Friday, February 10
SHELDON--The Abbey Friday Night Music Series steps up for Valentine's Day Weekend with Phil Graziano live on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.


SOUTH HERO--Ryan Sweezey plays pop/rock songs for Winter Wine Down Friday at Snow Farm Vineyard on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Food will be catered, call Kristen (802.922.8074) for all pre-order food requests. Click here for more info.


Friday-Saturday, February 10-11
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap has three shows Friday night with both Maple & Hanson and Whiskey & Wine at 5 p.m., followed by Funky Friday with Cozy for late night music starting at 9 p.m., then the Rough Suspects live on Saturday night starting at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.


ST. ALBANS--Twiggs often has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. Music starts about 6:30 p.m. Call 802.524.1405 or find them on Facebook for more info. Click here to book a reservation or to visit the art on the walls.


Saturday, February 11
ST. ALBANS--Off The Rails at One Federal, the city's new music venue, hosts Saturdays Are For Parents with Julia Parent in the lounge in a residency every Saturday in February at 6:30 p.m. The singer/songwriter has been performing at area venues including Mill River Brewing, the Abbey, the Champlain Valley Fair, Field Days, St. Albans Bay Farmers Market, and more. She has released five of her own original songs this year. Find them on Facebook for more info.


ESSEX--The Double E celebrates the GUMBO Album Release Bash in the T-Rex Theater on Saturday at 7 p.m. Doors at 6. Longtime area musical staple Fattie B. (Kyle Thompson of Bristol) released the collaborative album with Jennifer Hartswick, Dwight & Nicole, Craig Mitchell, Bob Wagner, Miriam Bernardo, Robinson Morse, Mister Burns, Rivan, Tha Truth, DJ Kanga, ILLu, Wish, Lone Nexus, and Double G, plus many surprise special guests.
      Admission is $12. 100% of the proceeds from the album go to Boston Children's Hospital. Click here for tickets and more info.


Wednesday, February 15
ST. ALBANS--Troy Millette's Sample Sets are back with v. 2.0 on Wednesday nights at 14th Star for a night of live music on the Taproom stage starting this Wednesday at 6 p.m. and continuing through April. Mr. Millette will introduce established solo acts, fresh new faces, special guest appearances, and more. Find them on Facebook for more info.


ST. ALBANS--The monthly Blues Jam continues at Twiggs, hosted by Vermont's leading blues man, Nobby Reed and the House Band, on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Blues Jam normally blows out the speakers at Twiggs on the second Wednesday of each month but was rescheduled for a special evening this week. Find them on Facebook for more info.


ON THE BOOKSHELF

      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
Music at the Meeting House
Citizens Concert Band
 
Enosburg Town Band


SUPPORT LIVE ARTS IN YOUR TOWN!


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