| VOLUME 14 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | October 28, 2010 |
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
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.
Find links to these events and more in our Spotlight!
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.
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Tuesday's election means another chance to choose representatives who understand (and support) the vital role the arts play in our communities. We will elect a new Governor, Lieutenant Governor, plus eleven State Representatives and two State Senators for Franklin County. VOTE!
Whether or not there is Art in education and Art in your Town rides on your vote.
This column has covered the significant portion of the Vermont economy driven by the Cultural Economy. Studies of the 21st Century workforce, of brain function in general, and of student interest and engagement show that arts education remains critical to student success in school and on subsequent jobs. Arts training drives the success of many Vermont businesses in software development, in telecommunications, in new media, and in many other fields.
Vermont education standards and grade expectations are high for the arts but quality arts education varies town by town as schools cut back or eliminate arts education programs. Part of this can be solved only at the local level but the statewide decisions you make on Tuesday could help local boards with the funding needed to implement school standards.
The education mantra is that we place a generation of Vermonters at risk because we keep from them the cultural experiences and learning they need for the future. That's only partly true. When our students suffer today, we all lose. When today's students reach the workforce and are unable to perform and unable support arts-driven growth, we all fall behind. When today's students reach the workforce and are unable to perform, you and you and you and I will be hungry and cold.
Art in your Town is more personal and more immediate. Imagine if no painters could set up in the town park, or if Summer Sounds went unfunded or if City Hall were shuttered against theatrical events like Camelot or if MVU could not pay for their famed annual musical. Public support -- including programs like the Cultural Facilities Grant Program -- has helps arts councils and Towns improve, revive, or refurbish historic Vermont buildings for events like those concerts and exhibits and shows. Local public support is crucial not only to finding funding but also to spending it wisely.
You can see what many candidates think about Arts Council funding, non-profit tax legislation, arts education funding, and the cultural facilities grant program here.
If you don't vote, the trick you get will not be a treat.
MUSICIANS (Today!)--Be a part of the Festival of Trees. The Festival will have live entertainment throughout the three-day event. CALL FOR MUSICIANS
Rich Rodriguez will hold open auditions for singers, individual musicians and musical groups and novelty acts at Back Inn Time next Thursday, October 28, at 7:30 p.m. Call 802.378.1738 to book a 10-minute audition time. They encourage holiday themed performances.
A former off-Broadway actor and current SASPA board member, Mr. Rodriguez also directed the recent full-scale production of Camelot.
ST. ALBANS--The St. Albans Free Library invites kids to wear costumes to the Library tonight at 6:30 p.m. for a night of puppets, music, games, crafts and trick-or-treating inside the spooky confines of the Library. ON STAGE LIVE
ST. ALBANS--JW Ryan's Pub hosts a Halloween costume party and the Killer Band on Friday at 9:30 p.m. Josh Panda, Bob Wagner and Jason Corbiere will play country, blues and soul all night.
LINCOLN--The Burnham Hall Music Series presents the Will Patton Ensemble in Burnham Hall in Lincoln on Friday at 7 p.m.
With Dono Schabner, guitar, Clyde Stats, bass, and David Gusakov, violin, and Mr. Patton's jazz/choro mandolin, the group has a little rock & roll attitude, plenty of improv and group interaction. The concert will bring fiery Brazilian sambas and folk waltzes, gentle choros and hot Gypsy jazz from Paris to the heart of Rio.
Call 802.453.3665 or email for more info.
SOUTH BURLINGTON--Summer Sounds favorite Rumble Doll is back and Franny O's has them on Friday night at 9:30 p.m.
The country-pop band is centered on McKenna Lee and Ryan Malroux. The singer-songwriter duo came from two different worlds. Ms. Lee has small town Louisiana roots and Los Angeles drive. Mr. Malroux brings Burlington attitude to his wanderlust. That combination lets them bring a mix of first-hand experience and outside influence to all the music they write. The duo is backed by Gary Spaulding, drums, and Aram Bedrosian, bass.
ST. ALBANS--The Overtime Saloon presents the Rock and Roll band, Justice, on Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
The brand new Justice has four well-seasoned musicians with Chris Fleury, lead vocals and drums; Scott Belisle on bass and backup vocals; Todd Dunn, lead and rhythm guitar; and Scott Guptill, rhythm guitar and backup vocals.
"There are plenty of ice cold beverages, cash costume prize and giveaways," Mr. Guptill wrote. "Let your freaky/scary side out and let the fun be had."
ST. ALBANS--The City hosts the annual Pumpkin Lighting in City Hall on Saturday at 1 - 5 p.m. There will be music and crafts plus games, face painting, tattoo art, a bouncy castle, and trick or treating. Pumpkin categories include Most Interesting, Scariest, and St. Albans Theme.
Call 802.524.5715 for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Franklin County Home Health hosts the annual Blue Jean Ball in the American Legion Hall on Saturday at 6 p.m.
The benefit helps bring home health care and hospice to Franklin County. The Blue Jean Ball features music by D.J. Bob Wagner, door prizes, silent and live auctions, and catering by Bob Santini.
Admission is $45 per person and all tickets are reserved. Call 802.527.7531 for more info.
Corliss Blakely of St. Albans made a presentation on the ArtStudio App at the International Association of Mobile Digital Artists (iAMDA) conference MobileArtCon at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU over the weekend. The conference brought together visual artists, designers, musicians, and application developers to discuss art and music created on handheld devices such as the iPhone and iPad. CLICK HERE: ART SITE OF THE WEEK
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. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
Dick Harper, Chair
P.O. Box 1
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
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This article was originally published
in the St Albans Messenger and other traditional print media.
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Copyright © 2010 by Richard B. Harper. All rights reserved.
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