DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 22 * * All Arts News On the Web * * November 22, 2018

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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GIVING THANKS

      The arts have touched all of our lives all year, with benefits and friendship and glorious exhibits and performances grand and small.
      "I'm grateful for a wonderful Summer Music at Grace season," Beth Crane said. This season featured Pete's Posse ("with huge thanks to Mark Sustic for organizing it"), Chasing 440, Village Harmony, Va et Vient, and David, Permelia, and Rebecca Sears. "What talented and inspiring musicians! We're blessed to have an amazing performance space in which to experience their talent - the much-beloved Grace Church."
      "I had a vision some 50 years ago of living a simple life in a sane, healthy community close to nature and practicing the art of combining sound and silence into something pleasing to the ear, and I've never regretted the decision," mando master Will Patton said. "I'm exceedingly thankful for this rural life in old Vermont."
      "I've had a decent year," Heather McKeown said. Her rock painting has taken a back seat to bigger projects. She creates multi-media on discarded doors to depict socially relevant topics or, if ordered for a professional office, the actual profession is created as an 'object-of-interest' for her New York audience. "Here in Vermont, my energies have been exerted in another, more self-serving direction," she said. "I'm not cut out to be a homeless nomad; I moved into my newly built Hobbit home [two weeks] ago. Now that the boxes are unpacked and I'm actually living here instead of just working and wishing the project would finish, I'm very content. Painting will resume when I'm ready 'n able."
      Pastor, sound guy, and AAC director Tim Stetson is "very thankful for all the extremely talented people that have come forth this summer to make all of our arts endeavors successful. We could not pull off some of the events that we do without the outpouring of support and work."
      Amen, Tim.
      "Happy holidays to everyone!" Carol Ann Jones said. "Wishing you good health and joy!"
      Exactly.


CHRISTMAS GIFTS and EVENTS

AROUND THE COUNTY--Saturday is Small Business Saturday in a town near you.


SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council's 2018 Handmade Holiday Craft Show features more than 20 local artisans at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Saturday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. A variety of handmade items will be available from local handcrafters.
      Support local artists, enjoy one of a kind gifts and grab some homemade soup.


FESTIVAL OF THE TREES

ST. ALBANS--The tenth annual Festival of Trees hosts a variety of community events throughout the week. Proceeds from this year’s annual auction, and other Festival of Trees events, will benefit the St. Albans Community Arts.
      Saturday: The Festival lights up in Taylor Park Saturday at 5 - 6 p.m. with the tree lighting, visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and fireworks in Taylor Park. All events are free.
      Tuesday: Children's PJ Party and Holiday Stories at the St. Albans Library at 6 p.m.
      Wednesday: FREE holiday classic movie on the large screen at the Welden Theater at 6:30 p.m.
      Next week includes the gala and holiday art live auction, the 8th annual Running of the Bells, breakfast with Santa, the Tree Showcase with live entertainment, and more.
      Click here for more info and here for tickets to the gala.


IN THE ARTS COUNCIL

ST. ALBANS--St. Albans Community Arts announced that the city raised $2,500 at the Mayor's Photography Contest auction. Next year's theme will be "lakes, rivers, and waterways."


ON STAGE LIVE

Friday
ST. ALBANS--The Bayside Pavilion presents Too Much at Bayside on Friday at 6 p.m. It's live music in the pub.


Friday-Saturday
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs presents the Harmonica Bob Mackenzie Blues Trio on Friday and English blues guitarist the Tom Caswell Duet on Saturday. Shows begin at 7 p.m.
      Call 802.524.1405 or click here for more info.


Saturday
SWANTON--The Swanton VFW Post 778 rocks out the holidays with the debut show of S.A.S. on Saturday at 7 p.m.
      Scott Guptill, April Reynolds Begnoche, and Scott Belisle are a trio of seasoned musicians playing classic and pop rock from the 70s to the 90s. Ms. Reynolds-Begnoche was in the bands Ambush, Flipside, and more.


SOUTH BURLINGTON--Higher Ground presents a special show of Quadra, the Phil Abair Band, and Summer Sounds favorites Mr. French all on Saturday at 8 p.m. Doors at 7:30.
      The Quadra boys are rocking and rolling better than ever. The two sets of musical brothers bring solid harmonies and great musicianship to rock from the 70's through today. Break out your bell bottoms, dig out the spandex, poof up your hair and, "Hey, when's the last time you heard Hocus Pocus by Focus anyway?"
      Click here for tickets and more info.


ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap offers Shake the Band live on Saturday at 9 p.m.
      On Tap has music on Tuesday through Saturday nights. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info.


FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF

SWANTON--The Swanton Free Public Library hosts the 90 Second Newbery Film Festival on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m.
      The Film Festival is an annual video contest in which young filmmakers create movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books in about 90 seconds. The library wants to get creative and make a movie together: plan, script, film, and edit movies for the festival.
      Call 802.868.7656 or come to the library to sign-up. Click here for more info on the 90 Second Newbery Film Festival.


ONLINE--ArtBits features weekly links to library events in and around Franklin County. That popular feature has a page of its own at the Franklin County Bookshelf 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


SUPPORT LIVE ARTS IN YOUR TOWN!


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All Arts Council of Franklin County

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Dick Harper, Chair
P.O. Box 1
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
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