| VOLUME 28 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | January 25, 2024 |
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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SAPPY ART SHOW (April 9)--The Vermont Maple Festival and Village Frame Shoppe & Gallery 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 Totally Eclipsed by Vermont Maple. Works will be juried and on display at the Village Frame Shoppe during the Vermont Maple Festival. Cash prizes. No entry fee. Click here for more info and to register. CALL FOR ARTISTS
MAPLE SUGARING AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST (April 23)--The Vermont Maple Festival and Village Frame Shoppe & Gallery exhibit is open to all amateur Vermont photographers only. This year's theme is Totally Eclipsed by Vermont Maple. Works will be juried and on display at the Village Frame Shoppe during the Vermont Maple Festival. Cash prizes. No entry fee. Find them on Facebook for more info and to register.
SWANTON--The Vermont Abenaki Artists Association features certified fine, decorative, and performing artists officially labeled as "American Indian" under Federal law. ART ON THE WALLS
Traditional storyteller, musician Jesse Bowman Bruchac is one of the last fluent speakers of Western Abenaki. He has produced several albums of Abenaki music and has opened for the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and at Woodstock '94. Click here for her story and a look at her work.
ST. ALBANS--The Collins Perley Sports and Fitness Center hosts the 2024 District Art Show of work from local students. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.
JEFFERSONVILLE--The Bryan Gallery in Stowe has the allure of Vermont's dusk in John MacDonald's painting, Stillwater, on display on Facebook.
The gallery has exhibits of the landscape painters of New England. The Stowe location is open Wednesday-Sunday but the main showcase in Jeffersonville is closed for winter break. Appointments are available. Call ahead (802.644.5100) to schedule or click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--14th Star Brewing Company holds the weekly Maker's Market in the Taproom on Sunday from 1 - 3 p.m. The pop-up booths host local crafters and makers every Sunday afternoon. Find them on Facebook for more info. ART FOR SALE
MILTON--The Milton Artists Guild hosts the Glow Paint and Sip--Northern Lights with Sylvia as a BYOB event at MAG this evening at 6 p.m. The neon glow in the dark painting party costs $45 for members or $50 for non-members. Click here for tickets and more info. ART YOU CREATE
MORRISVILLE--River Arts hosts the in-person, January "Sip n' Slurry: Folded Handle Mugs" with Chiara Keeling as the pottery twist on a Paint n' Sip on Friday at 6 p.m. Craft functional and sculptural mugs with a simple design that includes a built in handle.
The cost is $55. Click here to enroll and for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Awaken Yoga and Creative Arts Studio host a Sea Turtle (Black Light) Paint Party on Friday at 6 p.m. The paint-n-snack party includes all materials including a black light bulb to take home. BYOB. The cost is $50. Find them on Facebook for tickets and more info.
FAIRFIELD--Bent Northrop Memorial Library has Ben Raymond to spark creativity for Adult Painting with Acrylics, back by popular demand, at the library on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. All skill levels are welcome. Call 802.827.3945, email, or click here for more info and to sign up.
LOCAL and ONLINE--The Vermont Humanities Council has a busy week. HUMANITIES
VHC hosts an afternoon discussion of Gastronomy: Novels about Food and Culture featuring The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones at Thetford library and on the VHC Digital Channel today at 12noon. Call Emily Zollo (802.785.4361) or email for more info and the login for the Zoom event.
VHC hosts an evening book discussion of Last Night at the Telegraph Club, the Vermont Reads 2023 book by Malinda Lo, at South Burlington Library and on the VHC Digital Channel this evening at 6pm. The book follows teenager Lily Hu, coming of age in the 1950s, passionate about rockets and space exploration, and curious about the Telegraph Club. Call Mira Geffner (802.383.1796), email, or click here for more info and login for the Zoom event.
Amanda Gustin presents Justin Morgan’s Horse: Making an American Myth live at the Haston Library in Franklin on Saturday at 3pm. All Morgan horses trace their lineage back to a mystery stallion named Figure, owned by Mr. Morgan. Ms. Gustin will discuss the stories about him since he lived and worked in Vermont. Call Josh Worman (802.285.6505) or click here for more info.
MILTON--The Milton Artists Guild has two workshops this week. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
Social Sundays continue at the 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.
Lisa Cannizzaro begins the Art of Pressed Flowers as a two-session class at the Art Center this Saturday at 11 a.m. -1 p.m. Class 1 will focus on how to press flowers to keep their color vibrancy with tips on how to prevent them from turning brown. Class 2 on February 10 will use the pressed flowers from Class 1 to create works of art. $60 for members or $65 for non-members. Click here to register and for more info.
HIGHGATE--Highgate Library & Community Center hosts Needle Felting with Carolyn Kittell at Highgate Town Hall on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. All materials provided free of charge for a winter-themed creation but limited spots are available (15 total). Call Adah (802.868.3970), email or find them on Facebook for more info and to register.
For the first time in four years, none of Vermont's 247 municipalities have publicly announced plans to cancel in-person March Town Meetings due to COVID-19 concerns, according to a VTDigger survey. Many of those Towns have adopted pandemic protocols including mail-in ballots and online viewing options permanently. COVID NEWS
"I will try to prevent as many germs from spreading as possible," St. Albans City Clerk Nicole Robtoy told VTDigger.
COVID-19 is still here.
Hospitalizations continue to rise as they have since late summer. As of January 10, there were 59 more hospitalizations statewide. 18 were in Franklin County, a decrease from the week before. There were six more COVID-related deaths reported statewide in the week ending January 6 for a pandemic total of 1,094 in Vermont.
Vaccines are available for COVID, the Flu, and RSV, the three main viruses that cause people to end up in a hospital in the Fall and Winter respiratory virus season. According to the state COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination Dashboard still just 15% of Franklin County residents have received the new COVID vaccine, trailed only by Essex County. That compares to about 22% of Vermonters who have had the latest COVID-19 vaccine and 34% of Vermonters who have gotten a flu shot.
COVID vaccines are 100% free to everyone 6 months and older living in the United States, regardless of immigration or insurance status. The free shots are available via health insurance, Medicare, and through federally qualified health centers, pharmacies participating in the federal Bridge Program, or district health department offices. Free N95 masks are also available at many of the same locations. Pharmacies in Vermont may now give COVID-19 shots to kids ages 3 and older. Click here for more info.
Every U.S. household may order four free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to home. The state and many municipalities also still have home antigen tests, available in libraries and town halls or food pantries. Click here for more info.
Some health plans will also offer partial coverage of COVID-19 treatments such as Paxlovid but that will be plan dependent. As always, check with your insurer for specific information on your plan.
The Health Department still recommends following best practices. Call 855.722.7878 or visit healthvermont.gov for more info about the first or second dose and for booster shots of the vaccine.
My own plan remains unchanged, especially since our precautions have waned and the new COVID variant dodges our current immunity. I got the COVID and Flu shots, and the boosters, and I still take precautions because neither vaccine nor "natural immunity" is 100% foolproof. I wash my hands. I double mask with a genuine N95 mask (not a bandana and not a "chin strap") plus 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, January 25 ON STAGE LIVE
SOUTH HERO--Cooie Sings for Acoustic Thursday at the Blue Paddle Bistro hosts this evening at 5 - 7 p.m. Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--It's Karaoke and Open Mic Night live in The Room at 14th Star on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Thursday-Saturday, January 25-27
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap starts a weekend of music with Blue Northern tonight at 6 p.m. two shows Friday night, Natural Selection at 5 p.m., and then the Dirty Looks Band returns for late night music starting at 9 p.m., plus two more shows live on Saturday night with Matty and Me at 5 p.m., and Sanctuary at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.
Friday, January 26
COLCHESTER--The Duo plays the live and free Friday Music Night at the Spanked Puppy on Friday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Off The Rails at One Federal often has live performances in the lounge on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SHELDON--The Abbey Friday Night Music Series often has live performances on Friday about 6:30 p.m. Reservations are suggested. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SOUTH BURLINGTON--Higher Ground presents Ryan Sweezy and the Midnight Walkers on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Doors at 7. With Mr Sweezy, guitar; Joshua Glass, keyboards; Chris Doncaster, bass; and Eric Belrose, drums; it will be an evening of "million-dollar pop/rock songs." Admission is $15 in advance or $20 day of show. Click here for tickets and more info.
Friday-Sunday, January 22-28
ST. ALBANS--The Taphouse at Mill River has double header weekends in January with David Miller on Friday and Justice 3 live on Saturday night, Music starts at 6:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs often has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. This week they host Fairfax guitarist Tim Fitzgerald on Friday at 6:30 p.m., then Ethan Sawyer and Martin Fredrick together as the duo Blue Heron. live on Saturday night at the early time of 6 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, January 27
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents singer/songwriter David Karl Roberts for a night of live music in The Room on Saturday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Sunday, January 28
SOUTH HERO--Cooie DeFrancesco is back for Sunday Brunch at The Blue Paddle Bistro on Sunday at 11 a.m - 1 p.m. The Trivia Theme will be "music" to identify the artist and/or song in Cooie's play list.
KEY COLONY BEACH, FL--The KCB Community Association Concerts in Sunset Park series begins the new season with the Lady A Blues Band live in the new tiki in Sunset Park on Sunday at 4 p.m. Free. Click here for more info.
Virtual music and events continue this week. ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE
The Tyler Mast Band at Summer Sounds in Highgate is available "Almost Live" on YouTube thanks to Northwest Access TV.
The 2023 Farewell Reunion Concert featured the Youth Commission and Pascal Gemme at Grace Church in Sheldon. It is available on YouTube thanks to Northwest Access TV.
Jazz Premieres offers the 2023 concert premiere of eight new jazz works on YouTube . Written by the students in the Summer Composition Workshop and led by composer/mentor Erik Nielsen, this workshop included students in grades 5-12. Church Street Sounds of the Season featured these new works played by VT musicians Tom Cleary, Brian Boyes, Kyle Saulnier, Jeremy Hill, and Dan Ryan.
Don't mess around with Jim. If you missed Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton at Marathon Yacht Club or the American Veteran Biker (AmVet) Benefit ride, he sang a variety show on Facebook on Tuesday. Follow him on Facebook for a link to this week's offerings.
ST. ALBANS--The Traveled Cup bookshelves have books, games, toys, and Internet and feature Let's Be Pigeons by Ernie Hemingway with illustrations inspired by St. Albans. Click here for more info. FRANKLIN COUNTY 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 ... |
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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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