DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 12 * * All Arts News On the Web * * June 26, 2008

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.


      Stop in for live music and more at the Fairfax Music Sessions at the Foothills Bakery in Fairfax most Saturday afternoons at 1 p.m., at various restaurants around Franklin County throughout the week, at the Bayside in St Albans Town most Sunday afternoons, and the Cambridge CoffeeHouses at 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of every month.
     These gatherings bring new opportunities, gossip, "show-and-tell" and occasional workshops. The booked performances and acoustic Open Mike Nights feature music, readings, and more from the best new artists in Vermont.

      Find links to these events and more in our Spotlight!

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WILD FROM LIFE

      The Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge presents an art exhibit created by the Friends of the Wildlife Refuge and the Saint Albans Artists' Guild. The exhibit opens with a public reception at the Wildlife Refuge on Saturday from 2 until 5 p.m.
      The compositions show an often unseen look at the wildlife, the waters, and the scenic landscape of the refuge in realistic, abstract, and contemporary styles. There nearly 50 photographs and painted pieces in the exhibit.
      The photographers, Natalie LaRocque Bouchard, Christopher Bouchard, Robert Chaperon, Jr., April Henderson, Gillian Ireland, David Juaire, Stina Plant, Daniel Pattullo, and Steven Riley, toured the Wildlife Refuge over a period of several months to capture the images shown.
      Artists in the Saint Albans Artists' Guild, Harald Aksdal, Eric Bataille, Lourdes Bielsa, Natalie LaRocque Bouchard, Louise Counos, Karen Day-Vath, Paule Gingras, Barbara Hamm, Ann Levy, Cheryl Messier, Gladys Nokes, Meta Strick, and Linda Wirts, worked from the original photographs.
      Many of the pieces are for sale in a benefit for the Friends of the Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge and the Saint Albans Artists' Guild. All of the artwork will be displayed in the halls of the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge building for a month. The exhibit opens Monday June and continues through July 31. The Wildlife Refuge is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
      Call Dave Frisque at the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge (802.868.4781) or click here for more info.


SUMMER SOUNDS

     I swam in the Lake yesterday and have almost finished haying my front yard (I think I need a new tractor). My tan is getting close `to George Hamilton standards. That means the All Arts Council Summer Sounds series will begin Sunday, July 6, at Bay Day with Rumbledoll playing into the fireworks. The lineup includes Mango Jam, the Davis Brothers, Meg Willey, and more. The entire schedule is online at here.
      There will be no Summer Sounds concerts in St. Albans City in 2008.
      Besides the music, food is a big part of the fun of an outdoor concert. Local community groups will host each event with special activities, family fun, bake sales, grilled hot dogs, and even ice cream socials to make every Sunday a great family holiday in the park. This year, the AAC, Foster Grandparents, Highgate Historical Society, Highgate Library, and Highgate Youth Group host the concerts.
      "Free" concerts are expensive to stage. The host towns, local business sponsors, and the All Arts Council hire the bands, create the publicity, and set up shows every summer weekend. Summer Sounds welcomes our sponsors of this popular series: Chevalier Drilling, Desorcie's Market, O. C. McCuin & Sons, Northwestern Medical Center, Pete Paquette Real Estate and Development, Ray's Extrusion Dies, and Scotty's Taxi. These businesses need your support to continue. Please remember to thank the hosts and patronize the sponsors.


ON STAGE LIVE

RICHFORD--The New Life Christian Church of Enosburg and the First Baptist Church of Richford present the summer Christian Music on the Parks Concert Series on Saturday evenings in several Franklin County Town Parks. The inaugural concert introduces the Campbells, New England’s first family of gospel music, this Saturday in Davis Park at 7 p.m.
      Leo A. Campbell, Sr., Lead Singer, and Trumpeter, was a Music Director for 8 years, sang with quartets for 6 years, and has now been singing full-time with his family for over 30 years. Lead Singer Cindy Campbell-Frith is a film and television personality. Vocalist Naomi Campbell is able to sing any part except bass. Bass Scott Alan Brunt has taken over that role nicely. They have released 7 CDs including the 2005 Hope for the Journey.
      The Christian Music on the Parks concerts will feature a wide variety of Christian music styles including southern gospel, Christian country, bluegrass, contemporary, and praise music and will feature Christian artists from throughout New England and New York state.
      All concerts are on Saturday nights at 7 p.m., in Town parks around the county. Admission is free. A free will offering will be taken at each concert to support the ministries of each artist or group.
      Call organizers Jaye O’Hara (802.933.4669) or Pastor Tim Stetson (802.933.2513) for more info about the concert series.


ALTAMONT--The 28th annual Old Songs Festival fills the weekend, Friday through Sunday, at the Altamont Fairgrounds in New York State. It features Le Vent du Nord, plus Vermonters Peter and Mary Alice Amidon, Adirondack singer songwriter Dan Berggren, area favorites Joe Bruchac, Marge Bruchac and Justin Kennick, and April Verch (known for her Events for Tom apperances) and many, many others.
      Old Songs is a family-friendly gathering of folk, traditional, Celtic and world music and dance. It also includes interactive sessions and workshops, hands-on experience. There are three major concerts plus 120 daytime workshops with the performers, a juried craft show, food and instrument vendors, and more.
      An adult all-festival admission with camping is $115. Event tickets start at $15 and children 12 and under are free! Click here for more info , tickets, directions and the daytime schedule.


RICHMOND--On The Rise Bakery presents Jim Branca and the Mystic Mojo Trio on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The show (and the Bakery) are good for all ages. A donation is suggested at at the door. Click here for more info.


ST ALBANS--The St. Albans Concert Series presents the Celtic rock band Prydien in concert in the Edric A. Loomis Memorial Band Shell on Sunday at 6 p.m. The high-energy kilt-rock/bagpipe-rock/Sham-rock concert features Aron Garceau, lead guitar, who knows how to play Stairway to Heaven and Iain Mac Harg who can play Maggies Pancakes and Dancing Feet on the pipes. Any pipes. Andy Smith, bass, is a member of the Mighty Sam McLain Band. Hazen Metro plays second pipe. Drummer Caleb Bronz of the Gordon Stone Band spans all genres. Their first album, Unfinished Business, came in 1999. The newest, Loud Pipes (save lives), was released last fall.
      Admission is free. The rain site is BFA.


CLICK HERE: ART SITE OF THE WEEK

     Katerine Aubry began copying the Old Masters in Paris. She studied nude modeling and sketched the Paris Cafe crowds live. She now distills the "Wild Spirits of Nature" on her sustainable family farm in the woods of Wardsboro. Her site includes a gallery, biography, artist's statement, contact info, and a link to coming shows.


FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF

      ArtBits features a quick weekly peek at the bookshelf or night stand of the folks you know in and around Franklin County. That popular feature has a page of its own at the Franklin County Bookshelf here on the AAC site.


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      This article was originally published in the St Albans Messenger and other traditional print media. It is Copyright © 2008 by Richard B. Harper. All rights reserved. Archival material is provided as-is. Links are not necessarily maintained (if a link in this article fails, try Google.com or your favorite search engine).
      Thanks to recent misuse of copyright material on the Internet by individuals and archival firms alike, we emphasize that your rights to this article are limited to viewing it and printing it for personal use only. You must receive explicit permission from the All Arts Council and the author before reprinting or redistributing this article in any medium.