| VOLUME 28 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | April 18, 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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"Daysie" voting started this week. The Seven Daysies "shine a light on what's great about our state." The Award Groups include culture, recreation, services, shopping, food, and drink. The Culture categories include art galleries, museums, and events, crafts, painters, illustrators, sculptors, photographers, and cartoonists, music venues, festivals, vocalists, instrumentalists, and groups, Djs, karaoke, trivia and dance, comedy, movie houses and theater, writers and podcast, and TV and radio personalities. Click here to vote for your local favorites. AWARDS
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
Woodworker Lance Hodgdon specializes in flutes with a rich, pleasant tone. Click here for his story and a look at his work.
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence Gallery welcomes new members painter Tess Follensbee and Susannah Sakal. 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.
JEFFERSONVILLE--Bryan Memorial Gallery featured Singing to Vermont, Susan Bull Riley's painting of nature alive and thriving, in the gallery and on Facebook . The gallery has exhibits of the landscape painters of New England. The main showcase in Jeffersonville is open Wednesday-Sunday 11 - 4 and the Stowe Gallery is open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11 - 5, and Friday and Saturday, 11 - 6. Appointments are available. Call ahead (802.644.5100) to schedule or click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Youniquely Me Classes creates Crystal Sun Catchers as a "Wire Craft-n-Sip"at 14th Star Brewing Company on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Participants will combine wire and crystals to craft the sun catchers. The cost is $40. Find them on Facebook for tickets and more info. ART YOU CREATE
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. CALL FOR ARTISTS
NVAA ANNUAL JUNE SHOW (Now)--The Northern Vermont Artists' Association annual June Show seeks member works for the annual exhibit at Visions of Vermont Gallery. Email with the artist, phone, email address, and the title, medium, size, and price of two works. Drop off for the show is Saturday, June 1.
ENOSBURG (May 10)--Cold Hollow Sculpture Park seeks volunteers for the 2024 season (June - October) to provide support for programming and visitor services. Whether engaging visitors in the Welcome Barn, leading a walking art tour, or assisting with public events, volunteers play a vital role in fostering an inviting space for all to enjoy the art and nature of CHSP. Email or find them on Facebook for more info. HELP WANTED
ONLINE--Library technologist and author Jessamyn West talks about Every Problem Is Now a Technology Problem and the Vermont public library response at the Rutland Free Library and online on Wednesday at 7 p.m. "Register for this free event" for the link to the stream. Call Vermont Humanities (802.262.2626) or click here to register and for more info. HUMANITIES
ESSEX--The Metropolitan Opera presents Puccini's love story, La Rondine, "Live in HD"" on the big screen at the T-Rex Theater at the Double E on Saturday at 12:55 p.m. Speranza Scappucci conducts with soprano Angel Blue and tenor Jonathan Tetelma. Find them on Facebook for tickets and more info. OPERA
The Met's award-winning series of live movie theater transmissions concludes this season with repertory favorite Madama Butterfly on May 11. Click here for more info.
MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild has three workshops this week. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
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.
Tina Lesperance leads a six-week Workshop for those with Dementia and their Caregivers at MAG beginning Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. They will work on a different art/craft design each week through May 28. This workshop is free for participants thanks to a Vermont Arts Council grant for Creative Aging. Click here for more info.
Corrina Thurston leads the Powerful Vulnerability in Writing Workshop at Mag on Wednesday at 6 p.m. She will show how tapping into vulnerability can enhance writing and connect it to the reader. Click here for more info.
SWANTON--The Swanton Library hosts a Barn Quilt Class with Marie Speer on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The class is free, thanks to a generous donation to the Swanton Arts Council, but registration is required. Click here to register and for more info.
FAIRFIELD--The Brick Store offers classes in Letterpress Printing in the general store studio on Sunday. Christa will lead classes monthly on the 1918 Chandler & Price press. They will focus on the basics and print some stationery together to take home. The cost is $35. Click here for more info.
COVID-19 is still here. Statewide hospitalizations dropped to eight for the week ending March 30, the lowest since last summer. Six of those eight hospitalizations were in Franklin County! Three more Vermonters died from the virus for a pandemic total of 1,144 in Vermont. COVID NEWS
This was the final vaccine update for this season. Updates will be paused over the summer as the Health Department prepares for the next vaccine season.
CDC estimates that 97% of Americans have some level of immunity, from either vaccination or infection or both, but the fact many Vermonters have died or have been sick enough to require hospitalization this year alone remains worrisome. That Franklin County has less than 8% of the state population and accounts for more than one-third of those hospitalizations is more so.
Vaccines are available for COVID, the Flu, and RSV, the three main viruses that cause people to end up in a hospital. According to the state COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination Dashboard still just 17% of Franklin County residents have received the new COVID vaccine, still trailed only by Essex County. That compares to about 25% of Vermonters statewide who have had the latest COVID-19 vaccine and 43% of Vermonters who have gotten a flu shot. Vermonters have not moved those numbers much in February or March.
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.
Although the free program has been suspended, there are thousands of free testing sites. The state and many municipalities may 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 current JN.1 variant dodges all but the most up-to-date 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 everywhere 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, April 18 ON STAGE LIVE
SOUTH HERO--Cooie Sings traditional tunes, popular songs, and originals at the Blue Paddle Bistro for Acoustic Thursday 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 Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Thursday-Saturday, April 18-20
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap starts a weekend of music with Jesse Agan tonight at 6 p.m. two shows Friday night, Uncle Jimmy at 5 p.m., and then Sticks & Stones for late night music starting at 9 p.m., plus Dan Parks live on Saturday night at 5 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.
Friday, April 19
COLCHESTER--Justice 3 rocks the stage off its piers in the live and free Friday Night Live Music at the Spanked Puppy on Friday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents the six-piece Shane Murley Band for a night of live Americana, country, and alternative rock with a twist in The Room 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.
Friday-Sunday, April 19-21
JERICHO--The Jericho Cafe and Tavern fills the weekend with Live Music in April. PET House plays Friday. The Phillip Hyjek Trio performs live on Saturday night. Music starts at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs often has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. This week they host Rockin' Ron Gagnon on Friday and Roger Giroux live on Saturday night. 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, April 20
ST. ALBANS--14th Star celebrates the 9th annual 11 Bravo Release Party with a Music Festival for the Josh Pallotta Fund on Saturday at 4 - 9 p.m. The line up includes Summer Sounds favorites Troy Millette & the Fire Below kicking the show off at 4 p.m., Jerborn at 5:15, Isaac Mathews at 6:30 and Bad Horsey riding in at 8 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ESSEX--The Double E celebrates Magic Mann's fifth birthday with vendors, collect swag, and music throughout the day on Saturday. Live music begins at 7 p.m. Doors at 6. The lineup includes the Pleasant Street Boys at 7 p.m., Dobbs' Dead featuring Jess Leone and Lara Cwass at 8:15 p.m. and PHISH live from Sphere in Vegas (as a live stream in TREX) at 10:30 p.m.
All proceeds go to The WaterWheel Foundation. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Virtual music and events continue this week. ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE
Northwest Access TV covered the Richford Hometown Follies which featured singing, dancing, piano, violin, "and even acting" on YouTube.
Jimmy T & The Cobras play live at Summer Sounds in Highgate and on YouTube.
Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton sang Gospel on Facebook on Palm Sunday. He will be back on Facebook Live doing songs from Elvis on Friday at 7 p.m.
MONTGOMERY CENTER--Melinda Claire Arceneaux-Swearingen, 76, passed away peacefully on March 18th at her home. Her sons were by her side. PASSAGES
Born in Dallas, Texas, she moved to Austin where her passion for photography blossomed. Her photos of Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Jerry Jeff Walker, Delbert McClinton, Marcia Ball, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson, and others provided album covers, concert photographs, and behind the scenes pictures. Some of the images are on display at The Wittliff Collection at Texas State University. She worked as a still photographer for television and movies and has credits including The Blues Brothers, Popeye, Coal Miner's Daughter, and more. She moved to her house by the side of the road in Montgomery Center and became a school librarian, first at BFA-St. Albans and then at Enosburg Falls High School.
She brought beauty and love into the world. A service will be held at Pratt Hall, on Saturday at 11 a.m.
ST. ALBANS--The Eloquent Page hosts a talk and book signing with Avree Kelly Clark for her debut novel, Malice Aforethought, on Saturday at 10 a.m. In 1874 and 1875, two beautiful women mysteriously disappeared in Vermont and New Hampshire. Authorities questioned everyone in the small railroad village of St. Albans. The cases were never solved; in Malice Aforethought, Ms. Clark shares a theory never before explored. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
Call Donna Howard (802.527.7243), email, or find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Vermont Antiquarian Bookseller's Association presents the 30th Spring Book, Card & Ephemera Fair at St. Albans City Hall on Sunday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
VABA will include books, postcards and unique collectibles from booksellers across the state, including our own Donna Howard from the Eloquent Page. Local bookbinders will show how books are bound and repaired. Local writers will show, discuss, and sell their books. Admission is free. Call Ms. Howard (802.527.7243) or find them on Facebook for more info.
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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