DANCE - FINE ARTS - MUSIC - THEATER - WRITING

ARTBITS by Richard B. Harper


VOLUME 28 * * All Arts News On the Web * * March 28, 2024

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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ART ON THE WALLS

SWANTON--The Vermont Abenaki Artists Association features certified fine, decorative, and performing artists officially labeled as "American Indian" under Federal law.
      Basket maker (and lumberman) Bill Gould celebrates the heritage of functional and beautiful baskets. Click here for his story and a look at his work.


JEFFERSONVILLE--Thinking about the weather this past weekend, Bryan Memorial Gallery featured Winter Berries by Tom Adkins new at the Stowe gallery and on Facebook . The gallery has exhibits of the landscape painters of New England. The main showcase in Jeffersonville is open Wednesday-Sunday 11 - 4 and the Stowe Gallery is open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11 - 5, and Friday and Saturday, 11 - 6. Appointments are available. Call ahead (802.644.5100) to schedule or click here for more info.


MILTON--The Milton Artists Guild introduces painter Deb Burbo, a new artist at the gallery and on Facebook. The MAG art center and gallery showcases the work of over 145+ artist members in Milton Square behind the Milton Post Office. They are open Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.


ART FOR SALE

ST. ALBANS--14th Star Brewing Company holds the weekly Maker's Market in the Taproom on Sunday from 1 - 3 p.m. The pop-up booths host local crafters and makers every Sunday afternoon. Find them on Facebook for more info.


ONLINE--St Albans Community Arts now features works by local artists on Facebook. This is a promotion, not an "exhibit for exposure." They will share the work you have advertised on your own website or page.
      "We love seeing all of the diverse creativity in our community!" they wrote. "What are you working on?"


CALL FOR ARTISTS

SAPPY ART SHOW (April 9)--The Vermont Maple Festival and Village Frame Shoppe & Gallery exhibit is open to Vermont all artists, aspiring artists, and young artists working in any 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional media. This year's theme is Totally Eclipsed by Vermont Maple. Works will be juried and on display at the Village Frame Shoppe during the Vermont Maple Festival. Cash prizes. No entry fee. Click here for more info and to register.


MAPLE SUGARING AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST (April 23)--The Vermont Maple Festival and Village Frame Shoppe & Gallery exhibit is open to all amateur Vermont photographers only. This year's theme is Totally Eclipsed by Vermont Maple. Works will be juried and on display at the Village Frame Shoppe during the Vermont Maple Festival. Cash prizes. No entry fee. Find them on Facebook for more info and to register.


HUMANITIES

ST. ALBANS--Osher Lifelong Learning Institute concludes the Spring program series with sleight-of-hand artist Christopher McBride to discuss the History and Presentation of Classic Sleight-of-Hand Card Magic in the Greg Brown Lodge at Hard'ack on Wednesday at 11 a.m. OLLI no longer takes payments at the door. They "strongly recommend that all attendees/members pre-register prior to the start of the program." Click here for more info.


MILTON--Milton Historical Society and Museum and Vermont Humanities welcome Michael Lange to examine the Many Meanings of Maple live at Milton Grange Hall on Saturday at 10 a.m. His live talk focuses on how and why maple has become so important to Vermont's identity, and how it helps us shape who we are as Vermonters. Dr. Lange is a professor of anthropology and folklore at Champlain College. Call 802.893.1604 or click here for more info.


THEATER

ST. ALBANS--The BFA-St. Albans production of Little Women opened in the BFA Performing Arts Center last night and continues on Saturday as part of the One Act Regional Theater Festival. Featuring 5 schools and 5 one-hour long shows. Block One is Lamoille and BFA-Fairfax at : 9 a.m. Block Two: is Milton and Long Trail at 12:45 p.m. Block Three is BFA-St. Albans only at 6 p.m.
      Under the guidance of their beloved mother, the four young March sisters -- tempestuous Jo, motherly Meg, shy Beth, and spoiled baby Amy -- struggle to keep their family going while Father's away in the Civil War.
      Tickets are available at the door. Find them on Facebook for more info.


VOLUNTEERS

MONTGOMERY--The Montgomery Center for the Arts has gone digital, but you still have to show up for your shifts. They need volunteer docents to open the Gallery for March 30 and 31, plus April 6,7 and 13. It's easy to sign up for a 2-hour or 4-hour shift to help keep the doors open to the public. Bring a book to read, remote work, knitting, a painting project, or enjoy perusing the collection of ski articles and memorabilia. Volunteers unlock the front door, put out the open sign, and say hello to visitors, Click here for more info.


WORKSHOPS & CLASSES

MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild has two workshops this week.
      Social Sunday continues at the MAG Art Center with free weekly art classes for families at MAG on Sunday at 1 p.m. Each week offers a different project--last Sunday was paper stars. Stay for 30 minutes or the whole two hours. Click here for more info.
      Learn Zentangle with Julia Davenport is at the MAG Art Center on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Zentangle is a drawing technique invented by the monk Rick Roberts and artist Maria Thomas to combine meditation and art. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Click here to reserve a seat and for more info.


IN THE SAC

SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council will hold a Board Meeting and Updates in person at the Swanton Free Public Library on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month. Find the SAC on Facebook for the agenda and more info.


COVID NEWS

     COVID-19 is still here. Reported cases have fallen to their lowest level since early fall but hospitalizations statewide rose by one to 18 for the week ending March 9. Six of those hospitalizations were in Franklin County. Six more Vermonters died from the virus in the week ending March 9 for a pandemic total of 1,138 in Vermont.
      Vaccines are available for COVID, the Flu, and RSV, the three main viruses that cause people to end up in a hospital. According to the state COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination Dashboard still just 17% of Franklin County residents have received the new COVID vaccine, trailed only by Essex County. That compares to about 25% of Vermonters statewide who have had the latest COVID-19 vaccine and 37% of Vermonters who have gotten a flu shot. Vermonters have not moved those numbers much in the past six weeks and lag behind prior years in both COVID and flu vaccinations.
      COVID vaccines are 100% free to everyone 6 months and older living in the United States, regardless of immigration or insurance status. The free shots are available via health insurance, Medicare, and through federally qualified health centers, pharmacies participating in the federal Bridge Program, or district health department offices. Free N95 masks are also available at many of the same locations. Pharmacies in Vermont may now give COVID-19 shots to kids ages 3 and older. Click here for more info.
      Although the free program has been suspended, there are thousands of free testing sites. The state and many municipalities may still have home antigen tests, available in libraries and town halls or food pantries. Click here for more info.
      Some health plans will also offer partial coverage of COVID-19 treatments such as Paxlovid but that will be plan dependent. As always, check with your insurer for specific information on your plan.
      The Health Department still recommends following best practices. Call 855.722.7878 or visit healthvermont.gov for more info about the first or second dose and for booster shots of the vaccine.
      My own plan remains unchanged, especially since our precautions have waned and the current JN.1 variant dodges all but the most up-to-date immunity. The omicron variant is long gone. I got the COVID and Flu shots, and the boosters, and I still take precautions because neither vaccine nor "natural immunity" is 100% foolproof. I wash my hands. I double mask with a genuine N95 mask (not a bandana and not a "chin strap") plus a surgical mask where ever I can't control the airflow. It isn't much of a burden and it mostly protects me from all the people without masks I see in stores and concerts.


ON STAGE LIVE

Thursday, March 28
SOUTH HERO--The Blue Paddle Bistro often hosts Acoustic Thursday on Thursday evenings at 5 - 7 p.m. Click here for more info.


ST. ALBANS--It's Karaoke and Open Mic Night live in The Room at 14th Star this evening at 6:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.


Thursday-Saturday, March 28-30
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap starts a weekend of music with Shellhouse tonight at 6 p.m. two shows Friday night, King Me at 5 p.m., and then the Hitmen return for late night music starting at 9 p.m., plus two more shows live on Saturday night with John Geno at 5 p.m., and Nickel & Dime at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.


Friday, March 29
COLCHESTER--Dave Miller plays easy listening music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s in the live and free Friday Night Live Music at the Spanked Puppy on Friday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.


ST. ALBANS--Off The Rails at One Federal often has live performances in the lounge on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.


SHELDON--The Abbey Friday Night Music Series often has live performances on Friday about 6:30 p.m. Reservations are suggested. Find them on Facebook for more info.


Friday-Sunday, March 29-31
JERICHO--The Jericho Café and Tavern fills the weekend with Live Music in March. The Jeff Salsbury Band plays Friday. The Rustics perform live on Saturday night. Music starts at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.


ST. ALBANS--Live Music fills The Taphouse at Mill River this weekend. Jacob Green kicks it off on Friday at 5:30 p.m. followed by Uncle Jimmy polishing his ride on Saturday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.


ST. ALBANS--Twiggs often has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. Music starts about 6:30 p.m. Call 802.524.1405 or find them on Facebook for more info. Click here to book a reservation or to visit the art on the walls.


Saturday, March 30
ST. ALBANS--Justice 3 brings the Rock to Rock N Roll and the dance party live to 14th Star Brewing Company on Saturday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.


JOHNSON--Purple, the tribute to Prince featuring Craig Mitchell, returns to Moog's Joint on Saturday at 9 p.m. The "energetic, booty shakin'" band plays the hits and more. Find them on Facebook 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
Music at the Meeting House
Citizens Concert Band
 
Enosburg Town Band


SUPPORT LIVE ARTS IN YOUR TOWN!


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