DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 16 * * All Arts News On the Web * * July 19, 2012

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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      The Summer of Music continues with major concerts in Highgate (twice), the Sound of Music, Comedy for a Cause, and more.

FIDDLIN' IN HIGHGATE

      Ray's Extrusion Dies and Tubing presents one of the best known and loved Celtic Folk bands, Longford Row, in the free Summer Sounds concert in Highgate Municipal Park on Sunday evening at 7 p.m.
      The outdoor concert will feature music performed on traditional acoustic instruments and inspired by the rich history of the Green Mountain State. Gerry Feenan, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist; Marshall Paulsen, clawhammer five string banjo; Patrick McKenzie, lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist; Dan Blondin, guitar; fiddler Matt Bean of the Fiddleheads; and Scott McGrath, bass, sound engineer, and composer bring a sense of state and local history to keep the area's traditional music alive. They will perform their own original tunes and songs plus the music of their ancestors.
      Just before the concert, stop by for the MAHA-Summer Sounds Social in the Park starting at 6 p.m. The social hour is a chance to visit with friends and eat some delicious desserts.
      The Summer Sounds concerts are sponsored by the Town of Highgate and the All Arts Council, and underwritten by Chevalier Drilling, Desorcie's Market, Drummac Septic Service, O. C. McCuin and Sons, and Ray's Extrusion Dies and Tubing.
      The community based All Arts Council brings the performing arts to northwestern Vermont. The concerts are always on Sunday evenings, always at 7 p.m., always in Highgate Municipal Park, and always free. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair for the outdoor family music and festivities. The rain site is the Highgate United Methodist Church.
      Click here for more info.


ART AFIELD

     The seventh annual Art in Bloom Festival brings a day of music, a gazillion exhibits, and plenty of food to Swanson's Farm in Fairfax on Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Festival is a benefit for the BFA-Fairfax Nordic Ski Team.
      "It's a day filled with beautiful things, wonderful live music and mouth watering food. Very child friendly so plan on spending the day and supporting this wonderful fundraiser," organizer Shelly Potalla said.
      The artists and artisans include The Animal Whisperer, Amanda Bates photography and fabrics, Corliss Blakely iPhone and iPad paintings, Barbara and Josh Derner, Humming Wheel Pottery, In the Ferns stained glass, Lena Meunier Jewelry, Vermont Moods Photography, Ellen Powell photography, Tia Rooney Photography, Darla White, Karen Day-Vath contemporary fine art and t-shirts, plus Adelita's Jewelry, Julie Bernor's Wonderful Massage and Stones, Eastman's Bakery, Fairfax Perennial Farm, hand painted birdhouses, Lise-Anne Cooledge HappyCaps of Vermont, Jen Drury Stationary, Wayne Freeman's Hand carved Animals, The Mill and Anvil, Once Upon A Slope Furniture, Mary Smith Baskets, Steeple Market Catering, Windy Hollow Studio and Gift Shop, and Art in Bloom Tie Dye, face painting, maple iced coffees, the petting zoo, and fresh veggies and flowers.
      "Bring the kids, get their face painted, eat all the ice cream you can eat while enjoying 'Our Loving Family' mini goat petting zoo." Ms. Potalla said.
      The Festival offers music all day.
      "This is a free event with free parking. If you would like to Tie Dye something please bring it with you," she said. We will gladly take donations. Art in Bloom will also have raffle items including Shelly's Famous Basket of Wonderful Things and two Adirondack Chairs made of old skis.


ART ON THE WALLS

FAIRFIELD--The new Bent Northrup Memorial Library hosts Undercurrents, a show of Gail Salzman's monotype collages. There will be a reception this evening from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Ms. Salzman will give a brief talk about the work and the monotype process at 7 p.m.
      The exhibit includes experimental work from her transitional period, from figurative to abstract, all of which explore energy and movement in the natural world, or what Ms. Salzman says "lies beneath the surface." The show will close August 12.
      The library hours are Monday 2:30-5, Tuesday 2:30-8, Wednesday 9-5, Thursday 2:30-8, Friday 9-5, and Saturday 9-1. The exhibit areas are the main children's space, the sun room, and the computer room.


ST. ALBANS--The Village Frame Shoppe & Gallery showcases the art of the Milton Artists' Guild this month with a reception tomorrow evening, from 6-8 p.m. with refreshments served. The reception is open to the public.
      The diversified group of artists and artisans working in all media include Ann Allen, Gisela Alpert, Ann Bissonette, Karen Day-Vath, Mary Ann Duffy Godin, Lorraine Manley, Frank Mason, Jane Morgan, Pilar Paulsen, Jenn Pierstorff, Christine Porter, Mary Reed, and Adam Wimble. The Milton exhibit will remain on display throughout July.
      Village Frame Shoppe & Gallery features artwork by Vermont's leading artists. The gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 5. Call 802.524.3699, email, or click here for more info.


ST ALBANS--The Northwestern Medical Center Gallery hosts Barbara Hamm this month with an exhibit of 12 watercolor paintings, both prints and originals.
      The show continues through the end of July.


ON STAGE LIVE

ST. ALBANS--The One Federal Restaurant and Lounge Thursday Night Summer Concert Series presents the Missisquoi River Band this evening at 7 p.m. The band includes Cindy Weed, stand up bass, Jim Weed, lead and rhythm guitar, and artist Pat Murphy, guitar.
      Admission is free.


HYDE PARK--Lamoille County Players present The Sound of Music with a run starting this evening at 7 p.m. Artist, singer, poet, Horsewoman, Nurse Meredith Roberts of Fairfax appears as Mother Abbess.
      The show runs tonight through Sunday and again next week, Thursday through Sunday. Admission is $18 for adults and $12 for students or seniors. There will be a half price matinee on July 22. All Shows are at 7 p.m. except matinees on Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Click here for tickets and more info.


HIGHGATE FALLS--St. John Episcopal Church presents Calloway Taxi in concert on Sunday at 4 p.m.
      The a capella jazz vocal group from Northwest Vermont performs big band standards and show music as well as contemporary jazz, rock, and pop music. The group includes Musica Sacra and Bella Voce singer Michele Grimm, physician Terry Lawrence who has accepted the challenge of learning to play the piano as an adult, retired IBM Distinguished Engineer Dave Lackey of the Vermont Choral Union, and retired toxicologist Bob Drawbaugh also of the Vermont Choral Union and the Burlington Choral Society. They have performed at churches, farmers' markets, parties, concert series, and the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival.
      The historical brick St. John's Church is now used for weddings, Evensong services, and concerts in the summer.
      Admission is by free will donation.
      Call 802.868.7185, click here , or here for more info.


ST. ALBANS--Chow Bella begins Comedy for a Cause, a new, charity event series on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. A night of stand up comedy with five of Vermont's best comedians, the inaugural show will benefit Northwest Access TV, Channel 15/16.
      Channel 15/16 has the best of local programming, often the only way we can see ourselves. "I certainly have taken the station for granted myself for years, not even thinking about how valuable they are to our community," Tom Murphy said.
      Colin Ryan of A Stand Up Life produces the show.
      Admission is $15. There are just 70 tickets available at Chow and at the Channel 15 studio. Call 802.527.6474, email Channel 15 , or click here for more info. Call Chow or click here for dinner reservations.


BARRE--Gusto's presents Justice to keep the neverending party rolling with Scott Belisle on bass and backup vocals; Todd Dunn, lead and rhythm guitar; Gary Greeno, lead vocals; Mike Fredette, drums; and Scott Guptill, rhythm guitar and backup vocals tomorrow evening at 10 p.m.
      Call 802.476.7919 or click here for more info.


FAIRFAX--The Fairfax Summer Concert Series presents the traditional Franco-American folk songs of the Michele Choiniere on the Green at BFA-Fairfax on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
      Admission is free. Bring your blanket, lawn chairs, and family. In the case of rain the concert will be held in the middle school gym.


FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF

ST. ALBANS--The new St. Albans Free Library hand painted three-part wall mural is finished in the hallway. Kids from the Open Doors summer camp program created the work.


RICHFORD--The A. A. Brown Public Library Richford Summer Camp will have a series of musical guests (mostly) on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. This Tuesday, July 24, the camp hosts Miss Ellie's Preschool Party sponsored by Building Bright Futures.


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.


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      This article was originally published in the St Albans Messenger and other traditional print media. It is Copyright © 2012 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.