DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 23 * * All Arts News On the Web * * December 5, 2019

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.


     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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FESTIVAL OF TREES

ST. ALBANS--The St. Albans Festival of Trees is a week long event ushering in the Holiday Season with activities, entertainment, dancing, and more, including the premiere Gingerbread House Exhibit, all in the historic downtown county seat. Residents and visitors are welcome to join us in celebrating the Holidays with many free events.
Thursday: Running of the Bells starts at Peoples Trust Company.
Friday: The Festival of Trees Gala features the Contois Scoll of Music Band in City Hall on Friday at 7pm.
Saturday: Live Entertainment and the Tree Showcase go all day Saturday and Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. FOT will auction and raffle the trees and other donated items. There will be dance performances and music by many local groups.
      St Paul's Methodist Church hosts the Holiday Craft Fair. Break your fast with Santa at St Mary's Parish Hall. Visit Santa's Workshop at St Luke's Parish Hall or the Saint Albans Museum. Walk the Candyland path. A The Frozen Ogre hosts a Cosplay Teen Dance.
      The Vermont Choral Union performs live at First Congregational Church on Saturday evening at 7:30. The a capella group performs early and renaissance classical as well as contemporary sacred and secular classical music.
Sunday: The Live Entertainment and Tree Showcase runs from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. FOT will auction and raffle the trees and other donated items. There will be dance performances and music by many local groups. The Merry 40th Christmas Concert is the "surprise" special at 3 p.m.
      The Ballet School of Vermont presents the Nutcracker in City Hall and hosts a Doll & Me tea party. Visit Santa's workshop at St Luke's Parish Hall.
      Many events are free. Click here for tickets and more info.


ART ON THE WALLS

SWANTON--The Swanton Free Public Library hosts an exhibit of Poetic Art by Sir Richard of Mooers in the Fiction section. Sir Richard's display will continue into December.


ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence Gallery features different artists each month. This month, the spotlight is on glass blower Tessa Hill, Vermont landscape photographer David Juaire, jewelry artist Longina Smolinski, and fiber artist Sally Tarr.
      The A.I.R. gallery hosts a free meet-the-artists reception with refreshments and a raffle today 4:30 - 7 p.m. The exhibit continues through the end of December.
      The Artist in Residence art cooperative features paintings, fiber arts, stained glass, sculpture, lamps, pottery, folk art boxes, scarves, hats and more by 40 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, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here for more info.


ST ALBANS--The Northwestern Medical Center Gallery hosts the busy Vermont photographer David Juaire in a special, holiday, solo show.
      The Vermont Life photographer is renowned for his views of the different seasons across the landscape of the state. The show continues through the end of December.


ST. ALBANS TOWN--The Town of St. Albans has installed an Art Wall at the Bay, beside the concrete dock. Check out the art and paint more "if you feel so moved."
      The Town Parks Committee was inspired by the art walls and quilts in Swanton. Anyone can create artwork on the Bay wall. Offensive themes, words or advertisements will be removed. Artists should tag the Town of St. Albans on Facebook. Work may be painted over at any time.


ART YOU CREATE

MONTGOMERY--The Montgomery Center for the Arts continues a Figure Drawing Workshop in the LAB at MCAKeltonHall today at 5 p.m. The workshop carries on every Thursday through December 26. Each week a very groovy group of artists gather to work and socialize.


SWANTON--Marie Speer will lead Painting Barn Quilts at the Swanton Free Public Library this evening at 5:30 p.m.
      The festively-themed workshop will show how to lay out your design, the painting techniques needed to create a smooth finish, pattern selection, and starting your canvas. $20 per person includes all materials and instruction.
      Swanton Arts Council and the Swanton Free Public Library host a new workshop on the first Thursday of every month. Click here for tickets and more info.


ST. ALBANS--Twiggs hosts Design a Sign Holiday Cheer on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Ticket sales close today, December 5.
      Jessica Smithshows participants how make wood wall art that showcases your personal style. Choose from hundreds of unique stencils, then build and paint a one-of-a-kind sign. Whether rustic or modern or a little bit of both, the finished wood wall art can add a pop of color to a room, make a perfect housewarming gift, or jazz up an otherwise ho-hum office space.
      The cost is $55 per person. Click here for tickets. Use the code YAYfbVT10off for $10 off.


IN THE ARTS COUNCILS

ST. ALBANS--St. Albans Community Arts hosts its monthly Community Arts MeetUp in City Hall on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The gathering will discuss new and ongoing business, meet new people, and discuss any creative ideas that crop up.
      Click here for the minutes and reports of prior meetings and more. Meetups are held on the second Tuesday of each month.


FILM

ST. ALBANS--Film School at the Grind Cafe continues its 12-week term for kids from 5th-8th grade on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Making a Short Film for Youtube will teach film production from start to finish. On the last day of class, the parents will be invited to a premier of the film that they created. Find them on Facebook for more info.


ON STAGE LIVE

Thursday, December 5
BURLINGTON--Young Tradition Vermont presents Ben Miller & Anita MacDonald with Zakk Cormier at the Burlington Violin Shop this evening at 6 p.m.
      Mr. Miller and Ms. MacDonald are well known for their synergistic approach to traditional Scottish music, blending Lowland pipes with Cape Breton fiddle. Mr. Cormier is a dynamic Acadian multi-instrumentalist from Prince Edward Island with deep roots in his own Franco-Celtic tradition. Their live shows transcend the Cape Breton and Scottish traditions. Click here or find them on Facebook for tickets and more info.


SOUTH HERO--The Snow Farm Winery Concert Series, Winter Wine Down, features a special solo performance by Carol Ann Jones in the Tasting Room this evening at 6:30 p.m.
      Live music comes to the vineyard every Friday evening to light up the dark days of Winter. The series ranges from classical to jazz to swing to bluegrass to classic rock. All concerts are free and no tickets are required. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 8:30.


Friday, December 6
ST. ALBANS--The Lloyd Tyler Band is back for more fun on the taproom stage at 14th Star on Friday at 6 p.m.
      Vermont based Zack Tyler, Trevor Ainsworth, and Jeff Lloyd play an eclectic mix of covers, "acoustically and authentically."


SHELDON--Friday Night Music Series continues at the Abbey with Homebrew's mix of Celtic, jazz, and Americana in the Pub on Friday at 6:30 p.m. click here for more info.


Friday-Saturday, December 6-7
ST. ALBANS--The Old Foundry at One Federal presents independent folk singer-songwriter Allison Fay Brown on Friday and the Blue Rock Boys almost for sure inside on Saturday.. Shows begin at 6:30 p.m.
      Call 802.524.0330 or find them on Facebook for more info.


ST. ALBANS--Twiggs presents veteran acoustic musicians Dale and Darcy on Friday and honky-tonk songwriter Erin Cassels-Brown on Saturday. Shows begin at 7 p.m.
      Call 802.524.1405 or click here for more info.


Saturday, December 7
ENOSBURG--The Enosburg Business Association invites the community for Christmas cheer and live music by Troy Millette and The Old Man Garage Band. It's the Community Christmas Party at the Opera House at Enosburg Falls on Saturday at 7 p.m.
      Admission is $10 per person and includes heavy hors d'oeuvres and cash bar. Back this year is a Christmas Stocking Auction. All proceeds from the stocking auction will go to the Dough Boy Monument Project in Lincoln Park. Admission helps support all Christmas in Enosburg events. Call Shawna Lovelette (802.933.4359) for more info.


MORRISVILLE--The Festival of Lights takes over River Arts on Saturday at 12 noon - 4 p.m. It's a chance to add your part to the clay studio's community candelabra, make a lantern for the Town parade, and catch artist Verunique's demo on how to make tatted jewelry.
      The Town Parade begins at 6:30 p.m.
      A special concert features Tim Eriksen live at 7 p.m. The folk musician is acclaimed for transforming American tradition with his interpretations of old ballads, love songs, shape-note gospel, and dance tunes from New England and Southern Appalachia. Admission is $15. Click here for tickets and more info.


ST. JOHNSBURY--Bluegrass returns to the Catamount Arts Center with Summer Sounds favorites Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing and this month's featured guest, The Hot Pickin' Party on Saturday at 7 p.m.
      Admission is free but donations are gratefully accepted.


Sunday, December 8
SHELBURNE--The Shelburne Museum hosts a Young Tradition Showcase at Deck the Halls, on the Museum grounds on Sunday from 11 a.m - 3 p.m. The event celebrates the creative spirit of the holiday season with festive trees, art activities, and the sounds of the season with area musicians.
      Touring Group members Ava White and Merry Kimble will play two sets at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The Vermont Young Harpers, a performance-based youth group organized and lead by Dominique Dodge, will accompany them.
      Free with Museum admission. Click here for more info.


ENOSBURG--The Opera House at Enosburg Falls pulls out all the stops for a local tradition with a full program of holiday music by the Enosburg Community Chorus and the Enosburg Town Band, all at the House on Sunday at 2 p.m.
      Admission is free. The Friends of the Opera House will sell refreshments by donation. Click here for more info.


ST. ALBANS--The 40th Army Band will help St. Albans celebrate the Festival of Trees with a Merry 40th Christmas Concert in City Hall on Sunday at 3 p.m. They will perform some favorites of the holiday season.
      The band was organized at Brattleboro as the 1st Infantry Band in 1907. They have performed on the steps of the Capitol and the Ellipse in front of the White House, led the International Alpini Reunion Festival parade in Verona, Italy, and was activated for "Operation Waterlog" to transport first responders and citizens through high water during the Barre flood.


Wednesday, December 11
ST. ALBANS--The monthly Blues Jam returns to Twiggs hosted by Vermont's leading blues man, Nobby Reed, and the House Band on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Blues Jam blows out the speakers at Twiggs on the second Wednesday of each month. Find them on Facebook for more info.


CREATIVE ECONOMY

SWANTON--Whaddya mean you don't have a website for your art or music?
      Caroline Matte hosts a Website Workshop at the Swanton Free Public Library on Monday at 6 p.m. This workshop will help guide participants ready to start or update a site. Ms. Matte will show how to build a following and sell your products, look at the best web platforms for artists, define what you want to communicate, and give more tips for creating a great site. All proceeds go to the Swanton Arts Council.
      $20 per person includes all materials and instruction. Click here to register and for more info.


ON THE BOOKSHELF

      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 ...
All Arts Council of Franklin County
Cambridge Arts Council
Franklin County Regional
Chamber of Commerce
Island Arts
St Albans Community Arts
Swanton Arts Council
Young Tradition Vermont

Music!

Links to the Summer Music series in Franklin County
Summer Sounds
Summer Music at Grace
Downtown Summer Concert Series
Summer Evenings with
Vermont Treasures
Citizens Band
Wednesday Night Live
Enosburg Town Band


SUPPORT LIVE ARTS IN YOUR TOWN!


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