Arts

Arts section

Cycles, an Exhibit of Art by 25 Vermonters with Disabilities

by ann.newsmith | Arts

Join us for an artists reception on Saturday, June 22, for Cycles, an art exhibit of Vermont artists with disabilities at All Souls Church. The show is presented in partnership with Inclusive Arts Vermont, through August 31. The theme, CYCLES, emerged from community input, and the artwork expresses cycles of nature, of the body, mind, and spirit, as well as experiences of repetition, circular shapes, and more.

According to Heidi Swevens, IAV’s Director of Community Partnerships and Exhibition, the CYCLES exhibition “is more than art on the wall.” Accessibility is an integral part of the show. The venue is physically accessible, and the art and artists can be experienced remotely in the online tour. Each of the 27 pieces in CYCLES has verbal descriptions. Tactile representations and elements accompany selected works. Materials are available in multiple formats, including print, large print, Braille, audio tour, and digital formats.

Swevens adds, “Yes, the art is exciting and engaging. What I find equally compelling is the artists’ stories. The creative processes.” As CYCLES artist Leah Schulz shares: “For the last five years, I have been cycling, in and out, up and down, riding the waves of chronic illness… I have been socially, financially, and systematically removed from society… The only thing that tethered me to society is art. I leaned into a different side of my brain that I had never allowed myself to explore before and found I loved crochet, block printing, and painting. This is my first piece to be included in an art show. I am grateful to Inclusive Arts Vermont for giving me a way to exist in these places again.”

Susan Brearey on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

SUSAN BREAREY is an accomplished artist whose evocative, unique paintings have been exhibited world-wide. Tune in to hear more about their origins – and hers. Susan also shares some terrific stories of her adventures in music, museums and magic lanterns.

Tucker Barrett on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

A master and innovator in the art of stringed instruments, Tucker is one of the nicest and most talented guys in town. Tune in for a peek into 80’s & 90’s rock ‘n roll in NYC, and folks who work the music scene back here in Brattleboro.

A Bit More About the Next Guilford Play

by DonInGuilford | Arts

People have been asking Guilford Center Stage about our upcoming play, as both the playwright and the play will be new to our audience.

We were chatting with a high school teacher, Marc Considine, way up in Hardwick, Vermont, about Charles Henry, who painted the four theater curtains at Broad Brook Community Center, and also some at Hardwick Town House. He coaches a very ambitious after-school drama club at Hazen Union High School, and had produced the Charles Henry play, “A Battle of Wits”, which we also staged in 2016.

He mentioned that he had written scripts for his students, and we asked him to send us one his kids had performed at a regional high school drama festival, and that’s the play we’re performing.

“Love Lost Diaries” will have three performances at Broad Brook Community Center: Friday and Saturday, May 3 and 4 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday May 5 at 2:00 pm. One of the lead actors in that 2016 play, who has appeared in almost all our productions, Julie Holland, is directing this show.

Anna Patton on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

An accomplished musician, Anna Patton loves to improvise and experiment in composing, performance, and teaching. She explores sound and harmony in creative, innovative ways. Anna shares stories of a life filled with music, and her performances and connections with the Vermont Jazz Center, the Julian Gerstin Sextet, the Soubrettes, Elixir, and contradancing.

Arts & Humanities Curators Speak at Next Stage Arts in March and April

by hahrenholz | Arts

Next Stage Arts announces the return of the NXT Curators Series, offering an opportunity for audiences to hear from curators in various arts/humanities fields. The intent is to shine a light on less known styles and genres, providing a behind-the-scenes look at what curators need to consider when working with their medium.

“Three curators, all speaking on a different facet of what it means to present, collect, and preserve various objects, will be a part of our yearly Curator Series,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “The series highlights a diverse lineup of topics – Art Deco, the environmental movement, and a historian committed to preserving music recorded on shellac. The range of topics gives the audiences a broad range of perspectives to consider.”

Guilford Center Stage 2024 Season

by DonInGuilford | Arts

Guilford Center Stage will again this year be staging two productions, in the spring and fall of 2024, at Broad Brook Community Center in Guilford. These will be the 12th and 13th shows since the group was founded in 2015, and both feature the work of Vermont playwrights.

On the first weekend in May, Hardwick, Vt. playwright Marc Considine’s “Love Lost Diaries” will be staged, directed by Julie Holland of Guilford. Considine is a science teacher at Hazen Union School in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. He is coach of the school’s ambitious Drama Club. It was for his student actors that Marc Considine wrote this play, which was the ensemble’s entry in a regional drama festival in the late 1980’s.

Greg Worden on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

Greg Worden is a mainstay of downtown Brattleboro, bringing beauty and ingenuity through art and crafts at Vermont Artisan Designs. A tireless advocate for Brattleboro, Greg serves the community with heart, insight and experience.

Willow O’Feral on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

A most delightful and fascinating show with filmmaker Willow O’Feral. An award winning documentary filmmaker, Willow’s films focus on social justice and human interest. Co-founder of Haptic Pictures she leads with finely tuned cinematic skills and curiosity – her approach is “fiercely heart-forward”. Her film “Break the Silence” features local Brattleboro women.

A Haunting Show at Guilford Center Stage

by DonInGuilford | Arts

Guilford Center Stage’s first autumn production in four years brings Haunts of the Season to the stage at Broad Brook Community Center on October 20-22. Shows are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 2:00 pm. The production is helmed by local playwright/director Michael Nethercott with a cast of sixteen. The show is a combination of original plays by Nethercott and a bevy of creepy classics.

Included are monologues, songs, and poems by Edgar Allan Poe, William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson and others. Robert Frost’s poem/play “The Witch of Coos” is among the offerings. Also featured are several works by Nethercott himself, with influences by Vermont legends, ghost lore, and The Twilight Zone.

The veteran cast includes (in alphabetical order) Cyndi Cain Fitzgerald, Richard Epstein, Jennifer Gagnon, Jenny Holan, Archer Holland, Julie Holland, Cassandra Holloway, Joel Kaemmerlen, Cassidy Majer, Stewart McDermet, Aaron Morse, Hunter Savage, Marvin Shedd, Carolyn Taylor-Olson, and Bob Tucker. Nethercott acts as host. Stage Manager for this production is Sue Shedd, with tech work by Maria Pugnetti. Don McLean is producer.

“Here We Are” with Sandy Rouse

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

Brattleboro Literary Festival is coming soon!
Over the last 25 years, Sandy has been a community builder and advocate – she founded the Brattleboro Literary Festival in 2002 and talks about how it’s become one of the top ten LitFests in the Northeast. And this year’s is Oct. 13-15.

Wyn Cooper on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

One of our finest poets, WYN COOPER has had some remarkable serendipity over the years (Joni, Madonna, Sheryl), and written some wondrous poems and lyrics that he creates by sound – harmonies of depth, irony and pure pleasure.

Nye Ffarrabas on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

An artist, writer and poet, NYE FARRABAS’s experiential art is in many collections including MoMA, The Getty, the Walker Art Center AND at CX Silver Gallery here in W. Brattleboro.

In the early 60’s she and her FLUXUS cohort – including Yoko Ono, Geoffrey Hendricks and John Cage – created a new wave of art way outside the box, and the first “Happenings” in NYC.

NXT Gallery Presents an Exhibit of Works by Vermont Center for Photography Artists

by hahrenholz | Arts

This small group exhibit, entitled “Four Perspectives,” represents the work of Al Karevy, Davida Carta, Joshua Farr, & Vaune Trachtman, four different local artists who are members of the Vermont Center for Photography in downtown Brattleboro. Each of these artists create photographic work covering a diverse range of style and subject matter, though are unified via a shared passion for the photographic arts and its many expressive possibilities. Each of the four artists will be displaying a small selection from a body of work, giving a greater context to their creative vision and process.

Guilford Brass Band Concert Postponed

by DonInGuilford | Arts

Christ Church Society sadly announces that the Celebration Brass Band concert scheduled for Sunday has been postponed due to a particularly wet weather forecast (even by the standards of the past week!)

Even Gov. Scott has proclaimed Sunday a miserable weather day.

Jamie Mohr on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

“Rewarding the Curious” is what Epsilon Spires is all about – and Jamie Mohr is finding ways to bring the arts and science together in ways we never imagined……Tune in to hear about some of her adventures!

Eowyn Jakub on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

Eowyn loves Circus! Since age 5, Eowyn has been on the ropes…..and the tramp and the silks and more. Now 13, she looks forward to every session and performance with NECCA (New England Center for the Circus Arts).

Bearing Witness, a Retrospective by Artist Karen Becker

by ann.newsmith | Arts

Bearing Witness, a retrospective exhibit of watercolors, pastels, and prints, by Brattleboro artist Karen Becker, is currently on view at the All Souls Church in the West Village Meeting House., through June 30. Becker’s artwork focuses on the beauty she finds in nature, and she represents the animals and trees that are all bearing witness to the devastation of climate change.

The public is invited to an artist’s reception on Saturday, June 10, from 3 – 5 pm. All Souls Church is located at 29 South St, West Brattleboro. The exhibit is open Sundays, 12 – 2 pm, or by appointment (802-257-4710).