| VOLUME 27 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | May 11, 2023 |
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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CLARENDON--The Rutland Heraldreports that a Rutland area high school student's art project was banned from the Mill River School District's Advanced Placement art showcase on the day of tha event because (a few) students complained the content made them "uncomfortable." ART ON THE WALLS ... CENSORED
"Art should make you uncomfortable," novelist Vu Tran reminded us in 2018.
The works were displayed in the public art room for six months before the exhibition. The school superintendent, the former principal, and an art teacher all had approved the project.
"Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable," Banksy, the pseudonymous English street artist, political activist, and film director, wrote.
Exactly. Great art tells a story. Sometimes we don't like the story or what it tells us about ourselves.
And yet, because one or two students were "uncomfortable," this art was censored. Perhaps that tells us more about our society than it does about the art itself.
ST. ALBANS--BFA hosts the 96th Vermont All State Music Festival today through Saturday. The festival is back with a full program and over 300 musicians to perform with the All State Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Jazz Band, and and scholarship winners. The Scholarship Concert will open the festival in the Performing Arts Center this evening at 7:30 p.m. Band Concert fills the Performing Arts Center Friday at 7 p.m. And the full Orchestra Concert will be staged in the BFA Gymnasium on Saturday at 2 pm. Click here for more info. FESTIVALS
ST. ALBANS--The second annual Kingman Fest offers a live band tribute to Queen in a block party on Kingman Street on Saturday at 5 - 9 p.m. Rain, snow, or shine. The live Queen tribute concert starts at 7:30 p.m. The Music of Queen on Kingman led by Jesse Agan, with Andre Maquera, Gary Spaulding, and more, will "Rock You!"
The City will close off Kingman Street again for one night only for a free outdoor block party. The family festival has activities for all ages. There will be fair food and a cash bar. Proceeds from the event will be donated to SAFF to "assist in their mission to help the revitalization of the St. Albans community."
Click here for more info and here to grab a preview .
ST. ALBANS--"Maple is the heArt of Vermont". The Artist In Residence Gallery won the People's Choice Award for the Maple Festival window display. They received the Blue Ribbon, a jug of Vermont Maple Syrup, and a plaque now on display in the gallery. Member artists Donna Blatchly, Amanda Blatchly, and Maureen Genzlinger created the window. ART ON THE WALLS
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.
MONTGOMERY--The Montgomery Center for The Arts hosts the semi-annual MES Student Spring Art Show in MCA-Kelton Hall on Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday at 12 noon - 4 p.m. The show will continue next weekend.
SOUTH HERO--The Island Arts Gallery at the Community Bank offers a solo show of works by Stephen Sharon for the month of May. Mr. Sharon is an abstract painter, musician and mixed media artist living in Burlington. His acrylic paintings are large, full of movement.
"The conference gallery is a happy place!" The branch is Operating on special hours. They recommend calling ahead. Click here for more info.
MORRISVILLE--River Arts hosts the in-person, May "Paint and Sip: Impressionism" with Carolyn Crotty on Friday at 6 p.m. Everyone goes home with a piece of art ready to hang on the wall. Ms. Crotty is an artist, art therapist, mental health counselor, and the founder of Whirled Tree Arts and Whirled Tree Designs. ART YOU CREATE
The cost is $55. Click here to enroll and for more info.
SWANTON--The Swanton Free Public Library hosts a Scrapbooking Meetup on Wednesday at 4 - 6 p.m. Bring your photos and use supplies from the Maker Space or bring your own. The meetups will repeat every other Wednesday in May. Click here or visit the library for more info. MEETUPS
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. Stay for 30 minutes or the whole two hours. Click here for more info. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
MORRISVILLE--River Arts begins a new, six-workshop series, Botanical Blockprinting, with artist and plant lover Sara Reigler on Wednesday at 6 - 8 p.m. Classes will be held each Wednesday through June 21. Ms. Reigler will explore two distinct crafts, bioregional botanical dyeing and block printing.
Tuition is $150. Click here to enroll and for more info.
About 30 states around the country have tested their deer populations for COVID-19 because deer and other mammals are reservoirs for the virus. Vermont is the first state to show no evidence of COVID in the state's white-tailed deer population. Nearly 500 deer were swabbed over the last two hunting seasons. Click here for more info. PANDEMIC NEWS
Although the World Health Organization has declared that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, the Vermont Health Department still recommends following best practices. The FDA authorized a second COVID-19 bivalent booster shot for people 65 years and older and those who are immunocompromised. Follow this link for the CDC summary of recent changes.
Vermont currently has the lowest hospitalization rate in the nation. People keep getting sick--11 new cases were reported last week--mostly because they aren't taking precautions. Only a third of Vermonters have received a bivalent COVID booster and only about 60% of adults and eligible children have even received a flu vaccine. A bivalent booster is recommended for adults and most children if it has been at least two months since their last dose. Herd immunity remains a dream and COVID has killed 957 Vermonters so far including 11 in April through the middle of the month.
Today's bivalent vaccines provide limited protection against COVID transmission, Vermont Health commissioner Mark Levine, said, but people may want to strengthen their protection against the "more serious outcomes" like hospitalization by getting another booster to fight the virus. Call 855.722.7878 or visit healthvermont.gov for more info about the first or second dose and for booster shots of the vaccine.
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 still 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, May 11 ON STAGE LIVE
SOUTH HERO--The Blue Paddle Bistro will reopen this evening for dinner. "Come on in and check out The Paddle," Mandy Hotchkiss wrote. "so much as changed since February 4th." Call 802.372.4814 to reserve a table or Find them on Facebook for more info.
Friday, May 12
ST. ALBANS--Before he rocks Kingman Fest with the music of Queen, 14th Star presents Jesse Agan in a special live solo performance in The Room on Friday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SHELDON--The Abbey Friday Night Music Series continues with Sean Jarvis in the Pub on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
NEW HAVEN--Eleven takes its No Rest for the Wicked Tour to Porky's Place & Backyard BBQ on Friday at 8 p.m. "Super excited to play new places and here is another first for us." They'll be inside. Porky's has live music most Friday and Saturday nights and offers grass fed beef and pork burgers from their own farm plus pulled pork, ribs, brisket, and corned beef. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Friday-Sunday, May 12-14 ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap has two shows Friday night, Matty and Me at 5 p.m., followed by 90 Proof for late night music and beads starting at 9 p.m., plus two more shows live on Saturday night with the Duncan Macleod Trio at 5 p.m., and Mirage starting at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.
COLCHESTER--Live Music in May fills the Spanked Puppy with music all weekend. The Dirty Looks Band kicks it off on Friday at 6 p.m. followed by the Duo on Saturday at 6 p.m. and Elizabeth Begins on Sunday afternoon at 1 - 4 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
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, May 13
ST. ALBANS--Northwest Farmers Market fills Taylor Park with live music, handmade crafts, locally grown food, prepared foods, free kids activities on Saturday from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sister Speak plays this Saturday. The market and the music continue every Saturday through October. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Wednesday, May 17
ST. ALBANS--14th Star continues mid-week live music with Stefani Capizzi live on the Taproom stage on Wednesday at 6 p.m. A musician, singer, and songwriter, Ms. Capizzi blends country, blues, and folk with her guitar for a mix that includes her originals and more.
Find them on Facebook for more info.
Virtual music and events continue this week. ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE
The Flying Komorowski Brothers played live on Facebook . They will appear live live at Downingtown PA's free Summer Jam in Kerr Park in June. The band of brothers "drives fast and takes chances," playing harmonies, funk, and music from around Philly.
Randy Max, timpani, with Benjamin Powell, piano, arranged and perform the Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 at Royal Northern College of Music Day of Percussion on YouTube. The timpani's pitch is heard in the overtones. Note the footwork as he changes the pitch.
Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton will sing a a special Elvis by Request show on Facebook live on Friday.
Waltz for Anna on YouTube is a track from the Vermont Mandolin Trio's recent mini-tour.
FAIRFIELD--The Bent Northrop Memorial Library continues the Vermont Reads discussion of the Most Costly Journey with a book discussion this evening at 6:30 p.m. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
Much of the work on Vermont dairy farms is done by people from Latin America. Over a thousand migrant laborers from Mexico and other countries milk cows, fix tractors, shovel manure, and take care of calves in our state. Email or click here for more info.
Barbara Kingsolver's modern recasting of the Dickens classic, Demon Copperhead, and Hernan Diaz with Trust, a narrative of wealth and deceit set in 1920s New York have won Pulitzer Prizes for fiction.
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
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Highgate Springs, VT 05460
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