| VOLUME 29 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | March 20, 2025 |
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 Artist In Residence collection spotlight is on photojournalist, fine art photographer, and mixed media artist Cat McKeen. The art and fine craft cooperative features paintings, fiber arts, stained glass, sculpture, lamps, pottery, folk art boxes, scarves, hats and more by 38 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. ART ON THE WALLS
JEFFERSONVILLE--Bryan Memorial Gallery features Geese on an Antique Map of Lake Champlain an oil by Susan Bull Riley on an original map. It is in the 2025 New Horizon's Collection 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 on the other side of the mountain is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 - 5. Appointments are available. Call ahead (802.644.5100) to schedule or click here for more info.
MONTGOMERY--Take a virtual tour of MCA-Kelton Hall on their website at montgomerycenterforthearts.com.
MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild hosts a Gnome Paint and Sip with Sylvia Oblak this evening at 6 p.m. The cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Click here to register and for more info. ART YOU CREATE
FRANKLIN--Vermont Wellness hosts a Community Building Group Drumming at the Dick Wright Pub on Sunday. Kids circle at 3 p.m. and adult circle at 4 p.m. No musical experience is necessary for an event to have fun, reduce stress, and connect with others in rhythm. Admission is by $20 suggested donation. Find them on Facebook for more info. HUMANITIES
ST. ALBANS--Osher Lifelong Learning Institute continues the Spring weekly program series with Docent Peg Guerra to introduce the History of the Trapp Family in the Greg Brown Lodge at Hard'ack this morning at 11 a.m. This program is 90 minutes long as Ms. Guerra weaves a timeline from the beginning of Captain Georg Johannes "Ritter" von Trapp's life and all 10 of his children. The lecture will include the documentary film, The Real Maria.
This semester offers eight lectures, held from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Thursdays through April 10. A St. Albans series membership is $40 individual/$70 couple for all eight events, or $8 per program if purchased individually. Call 802.656.8407 or Email f or registration questions. Click here for more info.
WESTFORD--Vermont Humanities and the Westford Historical Society welcome Michael Lange to examine the Many Meanings of Maple live at the Westford Brick Meeting House on Saturday at 1 p.m. His live talk focuses on how and why maple has become so important to Vermont's identity, and how it helps us shape who we are as Vermonters. Dr. Lange is a professor of anthropology and folklore at Champlain College. Call Vermont Humanities (802.878.4524) or click here to register and for more info.
WASHINGTON, DC and ONLINE--In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum is exploring We Do Declare: Women's Voices on Independence, how generations of diverse women have experienced a key concept in American history: independence. Click here for more info.
MORRISVILLE--The River Arts Mindful Art Workshop with Jen Volansky takes on Whimsical Faces & Found Objects: A Humor-Filled Art this evening at 5:30 p.m. Participants will discover the whimsical world of Hanoch Piven, known for crafting faces from everyday items. The cost is $30 with pre-registration preferred. Click here to register and for more info. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
Morristown Free University begins a free month of workshops for Morrisville and the surrounding towns on April 1. MFU is presented by River Arts and the Morristown Centennial Library. Click here for the schedule and more info.
SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council sponsors Needle Felted Plants, a workshop with Abby at the Swanton Free Public Library on Saturday at 10 a.m. The beginner-friendly intro includes all supplies. The event is free but registration is required. Email the Swanton Library or click here to register and for more info.
MILTON--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.
COLCHESTER--The Spanked Puppy and Once Upon a Rock host a Pebble Art Workshop on Tuesday at 6 p.m. This workshop will use pebbles, rocks, stones, driftwood, and lake glass to create artwork. From framed pieces to candle holders, each piece is unique. Sip on wine and nibble while they provide guidance and inspiration; what you make will be completely your own creation.
The cost is $35. Find them on Facebook for tickets and more info.
ONLINE--Host Alex Foltz continues Season 2 of Foltz Studio with Episode 7 in a series of outdoor oil painting lessons, this week in St. Albans Town Forest at the pond. This episode has techniques in color, composition, and brushwork for Plein-Air painting in the woods on Northwest Access TV and on YouTube.
SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council Writers' Group meets in person at the Swanton Free Public Library this evening at 6 p.m. They meet the third Thursday of each month to share progress and join in the discussion about longer projects and anything else about writing, reading, publishing, and more. Email Becky Rupp or the Swanton Library for more info. IN THE SAC
Thursday, March 20 ON STAGE LIVE
SOUTH HERO--The Blue Paddle Bistro often hosts Acoustic Thursday on Thursday evenings at 5 - 7 p.m. Click here for more info.
ESSEX JUNCTION--Sparky's and the Vermont Blues Society host a Blues Night this evening at 6 - 9 p.m. The Winter Blues Jam will continue on the first and third Thursday of each month. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Friday, March 21
ST. ALBANS--14th Star Brewing Company has two events on Friday.
Out of Nowhere featuring Bob Corbiere, Russ Flanagan, Bart Fellar, and Joseph Provost plays a night of live music in The Room on Friday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Next Stop Comedy plays live on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The former Boston Comedy Club brings stand-up comedians to local venues. Admission is $25. Click here for tickets or 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.
SOUTH HERO--Carol Ann Jones returns to play a special solo show for the Friday Night Wine Down inside the tasting room at Snow Farm Vineyard on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The Winter Wine Down Music Series continues inside the wineries with well known musicians, wine, and food every Friday through March 28. Click here for the menu and more info.
Friday-Sunday, March 21-23
ESSEX JUNCTION--Nighthawk sets the stage on fire to welcome Spring at On Tap on Friday night and then Something Reckless this way comes alive on Saturday night. Music starts at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.
ST. ALBANS--The Taphouse at Mill River has shows on Friday and Saturday nights in February. Chris & Erica play Friday and the Pet Project are live on Saturday night. Music starts about 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
JERICHO--The Jericho Cafe and Tavern fills the weekend with Live Music in March. Spencer Lewis plays Friday. Bob Gagnon 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. Ring in spring this weekend as they host Cooper, Bob Recupero on Friday at 6 p.m. and Rockin' Ron Gagnon live on Saturday night at 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, March 22
NORTH HERO--The North Hero House and Quadra host a Cabin Fever Dance remembering Dwayne Cormier in North Hero Community Hall on Saturday at 7 p.m. Admission is $30. Proceeds assist the fire department with essential gear. Entry Bracelets are available at Harborside Market and Hero's Welcome. Call Colleen (802.372.1084) or email or find them on Facebook for tickets and more info.
Sunday, March 23
KEY COLONY BEACH, FL--The KCB Community Association Concerts in Sunset Park series concludes with the 79th Street Band live in the new tiki in Sunset Park on Sunday at 5 p.m. Free. Click here for more info.
Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton sang Music by the Inch at Inch Beach and on Facebook. Follow him on Facebook for a link to this week's offerings. ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE
MONTPELIER--The Vermont Historical Society will release Life Became Very Blurry: An Oral History of COVID-19 in Vermont, edited by Vermont journalist and historian Garrett M. Graff, on Tuesday. Coming five years after the first COVID lockdowns, Mr. Graff chronicles Vermont's response to the pandemic and the experiences of Vermonters who experienced it. It is the result of an oral history initiative from VHS which now has largest and most comprehensive oral history of COVID-19 anywhere in the country. Life Became Very Blurry draws from interviews with more than 110 Vermonters. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
The book is available as a trade paperback and eBook and will retail for $24.95. It is available at the Eloquent Page, the Vermont Historical Society's bookstore, and in bookstores across the state. Bear Pond Books will hold a book launch next Thursday.
FAIRFIELD--Bent Northrop Memorial Library has two activities on Tuesday.
Franklin County Photogs with Harry Goldhagen hosts a virtual Zoom group on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The group meets monthly to share and learn about photography. Join the Zoom Meeting with passcode: 311344 or Click here for the Zoom link and more info.
Learn Create with Canva at the BNML workshop on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The graphic design platform is free to use online. All skill levels are welcome. Bring questions and a laptop. Registration is appreciated but not necessary. Click here to register or call 802.827.3945 during library hours for more info.
FRANKLIN--The Haston Library hosts a Bookmark Workshop with Canva with Miss Sierra on Saturday at 11 a.m. The graphic design platform is free to use online. All skill levels are welcome. Bring questions and a laptop. Registration is appreciated but not necessary.
ST. ALBANS--The Eloquent Page Mystery Book Club meets for Malice Aforethought by Avree Kelly Clark on Wednesday at 6 p.m. In mounting fear of the summer of 1874, a beloved schoolteacher is discovered mutilated in the woods of the small railroad village of St. Albans. Detectives will stop at nothing to bring the murderous fiend to justice. Find them on Facebook for more info.
The Eloquent Page also has signed copies of Chris Bohjalian's newest book, Jackal's Mistress.
ST. ALBANS--The St. Albans Free Library hosts Mornings, Muffins, and Mysteries to explore The Kingdoms of Savannah by George Dawes Green this morning at 10:30 a.m. Secrets, past and present, that tell a more sinister tale than the vine flowers, turreted mansions, and ghost tours reveal. The group reads a variety of mystery genres and meets the third Thursday of each month in the Martha Dalton Meeting Room. Click here for more info.
SWANTON--The monthly SPL Book Club meets to discuss the Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer on Monday at 6 p.m. Inspired by the real-life woman who saved thousands of Jewish children, this story of young Elzbieta Rabinek, Roman Gorka, and the life they once knew. Call 802.868.7656 or click here 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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