| VOLUME 25 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | May 13, 2021 |
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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Federal guidance on wearing face masks may soon change. PERSPECTIVE
"We're at the point right now where we could start lifting these ordinances and allowing people to resume normal activity," former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said on Face the Nation Sunday.
"The CDC will be updating their recommendations and their guidelines. We do need to start being more liberal as we get more people vaccinated," Dr. Anthony Fauci said on ABC News Sunday.
From my own perspective, I've had both shots so masked or unmasked I'm reasonably safe from you and you and you over there.
Precautions work. We killed smallpox. We almost killed the measles until the anti-vaxxers brought it back.
I broke my back when I smacked the wall at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the race car but I never thought of racing as risky. I've seen what this coronavirus does to people. That's risky and I don't want to get near it.
I mostly don't wear a mask outside--I walk every day, go to the beach every day, and so on. I still mask up to go to the store. I don't care that the stores still require it or whether the state does. I do it for me.
Here's my own current advice, updated to today. Get the shot(s). Wear a mask where you can't control the airflow around you until we reach the same herd immunity we have for smallpox and once had but lost for measles. Don't do it for me. Don't even do it for yourself. Do it for your mom.
- Cloth or paper procedure masks mostly keep you from spreading virii.
- N95 masks mostly keep you from inhaling virii.
- Vaccinations mostly keep you from becoming infected by virii.
- Mostly.
Summer Sounds begins its 30th season of outdoor concerts with Mark Shelton on Sunday, July 11. The Abbey Summer Music Series starts June 4. Arrowhead Golf Course also resumes the Friday Night Live Music and Buffet on June 4. Blue Paddle begins live music June 10. Celebration of Expressive Arts begins the season on May 30. Cold Hollow Sculpture Park will reopen on June 12. The Double E begins Trucks, Taps and Tunes June 16. The 18th annual Farewell Reunion happens online this year. Franklin County Field Days goes live August 5 - 8. Ten live Meeting House on the Green summer concerts begin June 12. Music returns twice a week to North Hero House starting June 16. The Opera House at Enosburg Falls cannot host summer camp but will offer an arts-based virtual summer program for kids ages 11-14. River Arts returns to Music on Main, the Downtown Summer Music Series in Morrisville. 14th Star, Twiggs, and other restaurants are offering some live music while other artists and venues continue livestreaming 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. RESTART NEWS
The Vermont Dairy Festival has changed format.
On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine to include kids 12 - 15 years of age. The FDA had amended the EUA in December for adolescents age 16 and older. On Wednesday, the CDC formally adopted the recommendation to use Pfizer's vaccine in those adolescents, clearing the final remaining federal hurdle to making the shots available to all Americans as young as 12. The Pfizer vaccine is administered in the same dosage and dosing regimen--two doses, three weeks apart--for everyone age 12 and up. Schools hope all middle school- and high school-aged students will be vaccinated before school starts this fall.
Sen. Patrick Leahy announced that Vermont will receive $12 million in COVID relief funds. "A billion dollars has just fallen from the sky, in some respects," said Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican. Gov. Scott wants to put the Vermont money toward economic development, climate change, water and sewer infrastructure, housing, and high-speed internet.
The state is in stage two of the Vermont Forward plan; that puts more businesses under universal guidance and has loosened indoor and outdoor gathering restrictions. The five basic tenets of "universal guidance": Stay home if you are sick, wear a mask, maintain 6-foot spaces, practice good hygiene, and know travel restrictions. The full plan is outlined here. Click here for the details about which sectors are impacted and what Universal Guidance includes.
Vermont had received 722,500 doses of vaccine and had administered 606,400 shots as of Saturday morning. 368,436 people or about 67.3% of the Vermont population 16 and older has received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 48.1% have been fully vaccinated. 61.9% of Franklin County residents have received at least one shot. The state has COVID-19 appointment times in St. Albans. Call the state's COVID-19 vaccine call center (855.722.7878) for info and appointments or Click here to get started and find more info.
• We still face the most dangerous time of the pandemic.
As our normal social activities resume with over 60% of
residents vaccinated, please don't let down your guard.
The State of Emergency continues.
As of last Sunday, the Vermont Dashboard showed a total of 23,486 cases, up by 360 from a reported 23,126 last week. There have been 249 deaths (1.1% of cases). The seven-day average test positivity rate dropped to 1.0% Saturday. The CDC COVID Tracker shows that Vermont's seven-day per capita infection rate dropped to 66.2 per 100,000 residents; Minnesota displaced Colorado to "lead" the nation with 167.3 cases/100K. California ticked up to 31.6/100K while nearby New York dropped below 100 to 97.7/100K, and Florida eased to 126.3/100K. CDC reported 413 total new cases (down from 536 last week) in Vermont this past week. Franklin County had 60 new cases in the last two weeks.
381,852 people (up to 61.2% of the Vermont population) have been tested a total of 1,591,852 times, although that data still comes with a crucial caveat:
• A negative test result yesterday says nothing
about an individual's health today.
We still need a daily test that costs ten cents and gives results in ten minutes (and a way to collate those results).
Because I write this weekly column largely on Sundays, the infection rates reported here will 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 morphing 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 going into the new 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.
ST. ALBANS--Hardwood artist Toby Fulwiler has joined the Artist In Residence Gallery with fine turned hardwood bowls and kitchen implements. 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. New hours: 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. ART ON THE WALLS
The Vermont International Performance Salon concludes with a Sunday Soiree on Saturday and Sunday. Tune in anytime between 10 a.m. on Saturday and 7 p.m. on Sunday to view filmed performance pieces by artists from the United States, Canada, and beyond. VIPs will host a Zoom gathering of the artists this Sunday and on each Sunday of the festival at 7 p.m. THEATRICALLY YOURS
VIPs is co-hosted by community-based arts organizations on both sides of the Vermont- Quebec border. The virtual presentation and viewing platform is gives performers and audiences a re-entry into the theater. The Montgomery Center for the Arts is a founding partner.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Viewing is free, but they encourage donations. Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Saint Albans Art Supply hosts its first art class, acrylic painting on canvas, on May 20 at 6 p.m. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
The "small town Art Supply store" will host classes in different mediums. $35 per person. Limited spots are available so overflow reservation will take place the following week. Call the store (802.528.5194) for reservations. COVID restrictions apply.
The art store also carries acrylics and oil paints, watercolor papers, sketch pads and canvas, Artograph lightpads, brush sets, brush cleaners, and more plus materials for kids. The store, located at 118 North Main Street, directly across from Ace Hardware, is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild will host Instagram for Artists with instructor Caitlyn Kenney as part of their ongoing series of online seminars on Monday 6 - 7:30 p.m. Art is a business. This online workshop for beginners will cover the building blocks for running a professional Instagram page for it with segments on how to use Instagram to gain followers, cultivate a well-curated page, utilize your art online in a portfolio presence, find other artists to relate to, learn how to connect to galleries and art contests, and understand Instagram analytics.
The cost is $5 for members or $10 for non-members. Click here to reserve a space.
The Vermont Crafts Council hosts Designing Professional Graphics with Canva with instructor Elissa Campbell of Blue Roof Designs on Tuesday at 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. This seminar examines the program's predesigned layouts and drag-and-drop interface which allow you to create graphics for social media, an Etsy shop, business cards, brochures, postcards, and more.
The seminar is $25 for VCC members. Click here to register for the Zoom seminar.
Thursday-Saturday, May 13-15 ON STAGE LIVE
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap offers The Trevor Ryan Duo tonight, Rough Suspects tomorrow night at 5 p.m., and King Me live for Saturday night. Music usually starts at 5:30 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. And to confirm. Click here to reserve a table.
Friday, May 14
ST. ALBANS--Rockin' Ron Gagnon plays The Room at 14th Star live on Friday at 6 p.m.
Seating is limited to one household per table and reservations are required. Reservations can be made online up to six days in advance. Click here and select "The Room Indoor Seating to reserve your table.
Friday-Saturday, May 14-15
ST. ALBANS--On Friday, Twiggs hosts Fred Brauer covering and writing simple songs about complex things: love, family, home, heaven, and good food and, on Saturday, English blues guitarist Tom Caswell burns the strings that bind. Music begins at about 6:30 p.m. Reservations are necessary.
Call 802.524.1405, find them on Facebook, or click here for more info.
Here's the roundup of virtual music and events for this week. ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE
Thursday, May 13
The Frost Jazz Hour UM presents the Russ Spiegel Quartet on Facebook today at 11 a.m. The University of Miami Jazz Department broadcasts live from WDNA 88.9 FM studios every Thursday at 11 a.m. Admission is free. Anyone on or off Facebook is invited.
The Virtual Open Mic goes live on Facebook every Thursday from 7 - 10 p.m. It's a central location in Waitsfield for streaming and invites artists to post performances freely.
Friday, May 14
Young Tradition interviews Touring Group member Anna Butcher on Facebook page on Friday at 7 p.m. as part of the series of online concerts and interviews by current and alumni members of the Touring Group.
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.
Summer Sounds favorite John Bartus' Perpetual Island Tour will perform Social Distancing Concert 59, Live from the Florida Keys, thanks to Facebook Live at about 7:30 p.m. Find him on Facebook for the watch party.
Mr. Bartus started Social Distancing Concert #58, the piano concert with a special lineup of songs from the living room on Facebook on Friday evening.
Andrew Lloyd Webber streams 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.
Wednesday, May 12
Big Heavy World presents Rocket Shop, the original local music radio hour hosted by Tom Proctor, every Wednesday night from 8 - 9 p.m. Vermont artists from across the state perform live in every genre on 105.9FM The Radiator in Burlington and as a podcast on bigheavyworld.com.
Ongoing
Practice.
Carnegie Hall Selects presents Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by pianist Alexis Weissenberg and the Berliner Philharmoniker, conducted by Herbert von Karajan on CarnegieHall.org on Friday at 12 p.m.
The first four weeks of the series highlight works performed during the Hall's Opening Week Music Festival in May 1891. Presented as part of Live with Carnegie Hall, the series of free concert films from stages around the world will feature some of the greatest performances of music important to Carnegie Hall's history. A new film will be released each Friday; each will stream for one week exclusively on the Hall's website.
A jam broke out with Nobby Reed, Walt Delaney, Eric Belrose, Joseph Moore, Bob Mackenzie, Bob Weisburgh, Bruce Leclaire, and Toni Basanta during the filming of Nobby Reed and Friends on the Havana-Fairfax Connection. It's on Facebook.
May the Fourth was with You. Trinity Church Wall Street guest organist David Briggs finished his Pipes at One recital with something very familiar. Click here to view the full concert and find the finale on Facebook
Click here for Music at Trinity, a ministry of cultural enrichment and spiritual renewal. Trinity offers an array of free programming online by world-class performers.
Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton sang Elvis in front of a tapestry on Facebook on Friday and then went live with Gospel for Mothers' Day on Facebook on Sunday. It's not too late: call your mother; he will sing to her.
Follow him on Facebook for a link to this week's offerings.
Digital graphic novels have flourished in recent years. Vermont Humanities Council Scholar Deborah Lee Luskin hosts a reading and discussion evening of Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast on Tuesday at 6 p.m. This event is free and all are welcome. Copies are available at the McCullough Library. Email to reserve one and for an invitation to the virtual discussion. Find them Facebook 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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