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!

... FROM THE ARTBITS DESK ...
E-Mail Delivery
Sign up to receive the free weekly ArtBits
newsletter by e-mail
or by RSS feed.

---

THE GIFT OF ART

      Other than a big diesel snowblower, nothing makes a better Christmas present than local art. Buy a painting or a photograph or a print. Buy a new CD. Ask Santa for theater tickets and dancing lessons. Buying locally means local artists can keep making the art you enjoy day in and day out.

---

CAROLING

      The Opera House at Enosburg Falls and Mountain Road Productions presents Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol tonight through Saturday at 7 p.m.
      "Pat Evans does a wonderful job as Scrooge," Suzi Hull-Parent said. The cast includes many local children plus Dinny Hawkesworth, Patience Willey, and more. Christmas Carol is directed by Emily Frappier who recently finished an after school production of The Wizard of Oz and has included many of the same students here.
      Emily and Any Frappier plan to make A Christmas Carol a new community tradition as Mountain Road Productions has said they want to repeat the show next year.
      Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available from the box office (802. 933.6171) or at the door.

---

ON STAGE LIVE

COLCHESTER--The Northeast New Music Collective, with clarinetist and VYOA alumnus Dan Liptak, will perform a benefit concert of the music of Vermont composer Erik Nielsen at the Elley-Long Music Center on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
      The concert program features two premieres: Nocturne for bass clarinet, and Jive City for tuba. The program also includes works for clarinet and strings, bass clarinet and vibraphone, string quartet, brass quintet.
      Dan Liptak is now a senior at the Hartt School of Music. Fellow Hartt students, including a string quartet and brass quintet, make up the Northeast New Music Collective. A VYO string quartet--Roland Clark and Joe Carlomagno, violins, Devon Govett, viola, and Josh Morris, cello--will also perform.
      Admission is by donation. All proceeds benefit the VYOA. Call 802.655.5030 or click here for more info.

---

BURLINGTON--Social Band celebrates the release of a new CD, Deep Midwinter: Songs from Winter's Heart, with a program of choral pieces old and new for the many moods of winter and the holiday season, all at the Unitarian Church on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
      The singers offer up harmonious eclectic fare, including new works by Vermont composers Peter Amidon, Billy Drislane, Betsy Brigham and Thomas L. Read, as well as a selection of English medieval carols and traditional wassails. Directed by Amity Baker.
      Admission is by suggested donation of $15 or $10 for students/financially challenged.

---

DECEMBER-JANUARY ART DEADLINES

FOCAL RESOLUTION-1 (December 28)--The New York climate/gallery has an open call for photography of any method or medium except purely digital. The gallery will publish a catalogue of the work of 10 selected artists and will include all participating artists in the catalogue. Artists may submit 3 photographs per entry for the show. No piece can be larger than 16 inches x 20 inches. Entry fee. There are representation opportunities and best of show awards. climate/gallery accepts multiple submissions for any show. Click here for more info.

---

SCHOLASTIC ART AND WRITING AWARDS (January 4, 2010)--Vermont students can get recognition, exhibition, publication and college scholarship in an awards competition in existence since 1923. Students must be enrolled in grades 7 - 12 for the 2009-10 in a public, private, parochial, home-school or after school program in the U.S., Canada, or in an American school abroad. Great River Arts will host regional judging, exhibits, and awards. The top regional winners will compete in New York City. Entry fee. Click here for more info about student and teacher awards, college scholarship opportunities, and submission guidelines.

---

PROCESS IMPACT (January 11)--This national juried Murray State University exhibition is a collaborative show for young activist artists in all media. Work showing environmental concern, consumerism, health care, or civil rights are some likely topics. Open to all artists currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate art program. No Entry Fee. Click here for complete submission info.

---

CLICK HERE: ART SITE OF THE WEEK

     Tim Stetson of Enosburg is working On Vermont Time... a new book project, an anthology really of his Vermont short stories, musings, essays sprinkled with writings from the later Lou Hill plus his own photography and poetry. He has worked for a few years On Vermont Time... about the little community he lives in. His new blog describes the project.

---

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!

All Arts Council of Franklin County

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