DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 12 * * All Arts News On the Web * * November 20, 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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      Today is the 33rd Great American Smokeout. I know how hard it is. Believe me, it's worth it.
      In a time when you practically need a new mortgage for a cuppa Joe and a pack o' smokes, it's good to know that a one-pack-a-day smoker can save a pretty significant part of a mortgage payment out of pocket each month just by quitting.
      Click here for more info.


A REAL PLUM

     A multimedia road show version of Chickasaw, The Elixir of Love will debut in Bliss Auditorium at the St. Albans Historical Museum Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
      Chickasaw is a love story, a farce, and a musical sort of grounded in the real tale of John Rumsey. An English salesman banished to Montreal in the 1860s, he ends up in St. Albans selling snake oil extracted from the Chickasaw plum. Naturally, Confederate soldiers take him as hostage and naturally the Chickasaw elixir shows up when least (or most) expected. Written by Donald Davison, author of Raise the Flag and Sound the Cannon, and composed by Donald Patriquin, Chickasaw opened last year in Knowlton, Quebec. The St. Albans event features actors from the Knowlton theater group.
      Admission is $10 per person. A limited number of tickets are available at the St. Albans Messenger, Better Planet, Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and People’s Trust through today. Tickets will also be sold at the door.
      Proceeds will benefit the Chickasaw committee to bring a full, annual production of the musical in St. Albans. The event is sponsored by Peoples Trust Company and the St. Albans Messenger. Additional support comes from the BFA Theater Department, Cardiac Capers, Chow! Bella, the Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jeff’s Maine Seafood, the Park Cafe, St. Albans For the Future, and the St. Albans Historical Society.


ON STAGE LIVE

ESSEX JUNCTION--The Mystic Mojo Trio boys--Tommy, Roy, and official Mojo Maven Jimmy Branca will be rippin' it up and in rare form tonight in a "Pre-Thanksgiving" Celebration with the occasional holiday tune-jam-medley mania, other tunes, original and classic, and surprised musical guests, all at the WCLX Blues night at Lincoln Inn at 7 p.m. Saturday has Summer Sounds favorites RumbleDoll at 10 p.m.
      Call 802.878.3309 or click here for more info.


VERGENNES--The Will Patton Ensemble really does continue its ten year celebration and CD release party for 6th Street Runaround tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Vergennes Opera House. Really.
      "It's a bit more influenced by my early days playing jazz in New York City," Mr. Patton has said, "but with a lot of the same mix of Brazilian Choro and some folkie waltzes."
      The concert features Anna Patton on clarinet and string wizard Will Patton on jazz mandolin. The quartet includes Dono Schnaber, guitar; David Gusakov, violin; and Clyde Stats, bass. Every concert offers up some hot jazz, fiery Brazilian sambas, gentle choros, and original compositions.
      Admission is $15 for adults or $13 for seniors and students. Tickets are available at vergennesoperahouse.org and at the door. Call 802.877.6737 for tickets and info.
      6th Street Runaround is available locally at Rail City Market, Borders, Barnes & Noble, and on Amazon.com, CDBaby.com and even Target.com. Individual cuts are also available for download.


FERRISBURGH–Fiddleheads play a family dance at the Elementary School on Little Chicago Road tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. The fundraiser for the Four Winds Program features caller Mark Sustic.
      Young people from 5 to 20) who want to learn and perform the traditional fiddle tunes associated with northern Vermont make up Fiddleheads. Email or click here for more info.


CHARLOTTE--The Old Lantern hosts a Honky Tonk Hoedown with the Starline Rhythm Boys and Girl Howdy on Saturday evening. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and dancing starts at 7:30 p.m. A portion of the proceeds benefit the WARMTH program. Call 802.863.5966 or 802.425.3739 or email for more info.


CANAAN--Northland Restaurant and Lounge hosts the Backyard Bluegrass Band on Saturday with Will Patton, Deb Patton, Jim Reed, Cindy Reed and Roland Clark at 8 p.m. The program benefits the Canaan Memorial High School music program. Call 802.266.3988 for more info.


NOVEMBER-DECEMBER ART DEADLINES

FUNDED SCULPTURE RESIDENCY (December 1)--Sculpture Space wants emerging, mid-career, and established artists for a workstay residency in Upstate New York. Twenty artists will be selected for two-month funded residencies: a $2,000 stipend helps with residency expenses. Primary criteria are quality, originality, and potential for growth. Call 315.724.8381, Click here or email for application guidelines, requirements, and materials.


INTERNATIONAL JURIED SHOW (December 1)--The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey February exhibit is open to all artists in all media. Enter by slide or CD. Entry fee. Email or click here for a prospectus or more info.


6th ANNUAL VISUAL ART EXHIBIT (December 31)--Embracing Our Differences invites artists, photographers, professionals, amateurs, teachers and students to celebrate diversity. 45 national and international artists will be selected. The 39 billboard-sized Embracing Our Differences pieces will be displayed at Island Park, Sarasota, Florida, throughout April then move to Venice, Florida, for May. The exhibit has been viewed by more than 550,000 visitors. A total of $3,000 in awards. No entry fee. Call 941.928.0567, email or click here for submission forms and more info.


CLICK HERE: ART SITE OF THE WEEK

     The Encyclopedia of Canadian Theater collects information on plays, playwrights and theater people. The site accepts submissions and offers a searchable database and links. Athabasca University hosts the site with an editorial board from the Canadian Association for Theater Research.


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.


SUPPORT LIVE ARTS IN YOUR TOWN!


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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.