| VOLUME 24 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | December 10, 2020 |
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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ST. ALBANS--The Saint Albans Museum presents Lisa Evans with Holiday Hauntings & Other Traditions as a free Zoom on Monday at 7 p.m. HOLIDAY HAUNTINGS
The digital presentation explores some of the more obscure references around current and long-lost holiday traditions. Tune in for the figgy pudding and learn why we won't "go until we get some" of it. Despite a worldwide surplus of mistletoe, there will be no kissing under it this year. Ms. Evans will also share "scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of the Christmases long, long ago."
Free and open to the public. Click here for the required pre-registration via Zoom. Click here for more info.
Vermont is adding twice weekly testing of all patients, daily antigen testing for staff, and immediate testing available for symptomatic residents at long-term care facilities. CANCELLATION (AND RESTART) NEWS
The Vermont State of Emergency continues. All non-essential travel to and from Vermont requires quarantine. The Vermont statewide mask mandate remains in effect along with the ban on multi-household gatherings and an order to close bars and social clubs.
As of Sunday, the Vermont Dashboard showed a total of 5,015 cases, up from a reported 4,033 last week. There have been 79 deaths (1.6% of cases). The seven-day average test positivity rate has climbed to 2.4% on Sunday. CDC reported 861 new cases this past week although HealthVermont reported 120 new cases. The state's arithmetic does not add up; it is an interesting, and ongoing, disparity. Franklin County had 13 new cases this week, 123 in the last two weeks.
233,880 people (up to 37.5% of the Vermont population) have been tested a total of 583,802 times, although that data comes with a crucial caveat:
• A negative test result yesterday says nothing about an individual's health today. We need a daily test that costs ten cents and gives results in ten minutes.
A HealthVermont video, How Contact Tracing Slows the Spread of COVID-19, explains what contact tracers do. Click here for the YouTube video.
More artists and venues are doing more online. The Vermont Humanities Council has ongoing arts and literary digital events and programs including First Wednesdays and Vermont Reads. Although the activities may take place at a distance from Franklin County, they are available safely and locally online at vermonthumanities.org.
Most events this week have been canceled or postponed in response to new state restrictions. The Church Street Sounds of the Season is postponed until further notice. The Opera House at Enosburg Falls hosted its first virtual concert but the rest of its season has been canceled. 80-90% of Young Tradition events have gone online or been postponed when they couldn't be done live and in-person or the artists and youth couldn't travel into or out of state.
Because I write this weekly column largely on Sundays, the infection rates reported may lag "live media" reports. Since it appears on Thursday and covers an entire week in the future, that also means events and happenings are likely to change with changing State mandates. Be sure to check with the organizers of any event for up-to-the-minute info.
Although so many of our favorite activities won't happen this year, all the volunteers will stay as active as possible and this weekly column about the arts and entertainment around the region will continue to serve up live and almost live events and artists from around the region. Read all about it here every Thursday.
JEFFERSONVILLE--The Bryan Memorial Gallery Gems + Giants collection in the Main Gallery and in the Middle Room has works by Candy Barr, Robert Waldo Brunelle Jr., JoAnn Denehy, Mark Tougias, and many more. The small Gems are 8" x 10" or smaller and the Giants exceed 36". ART ON THE WALLS IN THE TIME OF PANDEMIC
The gallery us open Thursday - Sunday, 11 - 4 p.m. Click here for more info.
MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild artist pop-up features photographer stone jeweler the resin art and paintings of Charlene Murray and Ye Olde Sign Shoppe with hand-painted signs at the Guild on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. They will display new work, demonstrate, and explain their process.
MAG's artist pop-ups will feature artists every Saturday with appropriate social distancing. "This way, we can support our artists, and create a special and fun weekend destination." Come and meet the artists on Saturdays, while the Guild is open. Jessica True and Gary Walz were on tap last Saturday. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Take a virtual holiday tour of the MAG Gallery to see the artwork from over 140 artists in every medium imaginable on YouTube
River Arts is bringing back the community aspect of their pottery studio with ceramic artists Heidi Bielenberg and Lisa Wolfgang in the first Clay Studio Chat on Facebook on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. CLAY CHATS
One of the joys of the clay studio has always been the sharing of techniques and ideas, and the celebration of each other's work. River Arts Staff will invite some of their favorite ceramic artists to talk about clay techniques and to try a clay studio challenge. "Inspired by the Great Pottery Throwdown, we'll spin the wheel of chance to see if we can throw blindfolded, make a two-minute teapot or put a handle on a mug with only one hand."
Clay Studio Chats will take place once each month via Facebook Live. Click here for more info.
ESSEX JUNCTION--An update to the live music at On Tap: they will continue offering music on Friday and Saturday nights. There may be some nights not scheduled and some that are rescheduled at the last minute, so check Facebook or click here for last minute info. ON STAGE LIVE
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs has been presenting "good music at Twiggs" on Saturdays around 7 p.m.
Call 802.524.1405 or click here for more info. find them on Facebook for more info.
Here's the roundup of virtual music and events for this week. ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE
Thursday, December 10
Emerson Gale hosts the Seven Stars Arts Center All-Comers Virtually Slow Jam online tonight at 6:30 - 8 p.m. Players do traditional dance tunes at a relaxed, accessible pace. The All Comers Jam will happen monthly on the second Thursday evenings.
Admission is free with a recommended donation of $10 - 15. All ages, levels, and instruments welcome. The Zoom link will be sent out to anyone who RSVPs "maybe" or "yes" by email.
Friday, December 11
Summer Sounds favorite John Bartus' Perpetual Island Tour will perform Social Distancing Concert 38, Live from the Florida Keys, thanks to Facebook Live on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Find him on Facebook for the watch party. He has a new single, Happy Holidays (My Own Damn Christmas Song), on the major download sites.
Social Distancing Concert 37 was live on Facebook last Friday.
Andrew Lloyd Webber will stream his musicals in the free YouTube series, The Shows Must Go On, every Friday at 7 p.m. for 48 hours. A new show begins tomorrow. Clips of famous performances and behind-the-scenes footage also appear on the channel beside the full shows.
Click here for Mr. Webber's YouTube channel for all the details and to subscribe.
Saturday, December 12
Chandler Center for the Arts presents Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy in A Celtic Family Christmas at home for some music, traditions and cheer on Saturday at 7 - 8 p.m.
Admission is $20 for the recorded stream. Call 802.728.9878 or click here for tickets and more info.
Wednesday, December 16
Big Heavy World presents Rocket Shop every Wednesday night from 8 - 9 p.m. Tom Proctor hosts the original local music radio hour with Vermont artists from across the state, performing live in every genre, 105.9FM The Radiator. Jacob Green performed live last week.
Listen on the radio, via the podcast, or at Rocketshop online.
Ongoing
Zachary Mills performed on Young Tradition's Facebook page as part of the series of online concerts and interviews by current and alumni members of the Touring Group. Find his event on Facebook.
Watching is free but YTV requests a $5 donation. Proceeds are split between participating group members and Young Tradition Vermont, all to support this year's Touring Group project, which started rehearsals in September and will continue through a final project in late April. Donations can be made through Paypal. email for more info.
Andre Maquera of 8084 and West Street Digital has released the first song of his "long overdue solo project" and his dedication, obsession, addiction to the guitar on YouTube.
George Murtie sings his original Jesus Strong at Baynes BBQ on Facebook.
The Opera House at Enosburg Falls Virtual Holiday Special live stream from last weekend is on Facebook and YouTube.
Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton went live to sing Elvis and Christmas songs with a snowy backdrop on Facebook on Friday evening. He sang gospel music on Facebook from the living room on the second Sunday of Advent.
Follow him on Facebook for a link to this week's offerings.
Vermont Creative Network hosts the VT Creative Jamboree, a day of meet-ups and sessions to celebrate creativity, share results, plan actions, and build connections, all online on Tuesday. CREATIVE JAMBOREE
The Big Reveal, VCN's new vision and action framework and original vision artwork from Juniper Creative Arts, happens at noon. Participants can vote on priorities for actions and next steps. Speakers will give lightning pitches about quick action opportunities. The schedule includes 45-minute Meet-Up Sessions in business and entrepreneurship, advocacy and government, social service and causes, community building and local placemaking, and in education. There will be an "Action Summit and Virtual Brown Bag Lunches."
Click here for more info and to register at Eventbrite.
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. ON THE 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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