The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents native son and a beloved musician of New Orleans Glen David Andrews and his band, on Saturday, August 5 at 6:00 pm at The Putney Inn.
Artist Aurora Robson new site-specific installation, “Human Nature Walk,” will be on view at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) through February 11, 2024.
The ribbons of colored tape that will soon be affixed to the front of the museum’s 1915 building are tape art—the handiwork of Michael Townsend and Leah Smith, a Rhode Island-based public art duo known as… Tape Art.
He was young when he almost died, in an accident involving an electric utility cable and a considerable height. But Tom Bodett went on to become a writer, NPR essayist, and Motel 6 spokesman. And now, at 68, he has found another calling, as a woodworker.
Next Stage Bandwagon Series Presents Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band, on Saturday, July 29 at 6:00 pm at Cooper Field, in Putney, VT.
New York-based artist Anina Major will take part in an online conversation with curator Sadaf Padder on Thursday, July 27, at 7 p.m.
Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present folk/roots/Americana trio Rainbow Girls, at Next Stage on Wednesday, July 26 at 7:00 pm.
Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents klezmer re-groove ensemble Klezperanto!, on Saturday, July 22 at 6:00 pm at West River Park, in Brattleboro, VT.
Hidden among an impressive lineup of concerts and events at Retreat Farm this summer are Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem, Friday, July 21st.
Next Stage Arts presents The Feeble Fantastical, a Vermont Suitcase Company production, at Next Stage Arts on Friday, July 21 at 7:00 pm.
Massachusetts-based artist Roberley Bell will take part in a conversation about her work at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) on Thursday, July 20, at 7 p.m.
Artist Terry Ekasala wins 2023 Vermont Prize, an annual award aimed at celebrating and supporting the best visual art being made in Vermont today.
Jerry Jam, now preparing for its 26th year, is proud to announce the lineup for this year’s festival on JULY 14, 15, and 16th 2023 at Pranksy’s Farm in Cabot Vermont.
Weston Theater Company takes audiences on an inspiring journey through our country’s founding document in WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME.
The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Ukrainian “ethno-chaos” band DakhaBrakha, on Thursday, July 13 at 6:00 pm at The Putney Inn, in Putney, VT.
Surely you’ve heard the term “froggy,” but have you heard of “Oggy”? Can you imagine a creature named “Squish” or “Snuggs”? How about a glue creature, a henna, or an “I AM THE EGGMAN?”
Next Stage Arts presents You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, a Weston Young Company production, at Putney Central School on Thursday, July 6 at 4:00 pm.
Weston Theater Company takes audiences for a musical ride chronicling Buddy Holly’s rise to fame in BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, playing June 28 – July 16 at The Playhouse stage.
Eight new exhibitions open inside and outside Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) on Saturday, June 24, at 10 a.m.
The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents a salsa and reggae dance party on Saturday, June 24 at 6:00 pm at The Putney Inn.
Susanna Gellert, Executive Artistic Director of Weston Theater Company, announces the 87th season of Vermont’s oldest, award-winning professional theater.
Members of the Vermont Glass Guild will participate in ‘Vermont Blown Away,’ on Saturday, June 17, at 2 p.m., at Fire Arts Vermont in Brattleboro.
Eugene Uman Reinvents the Convergence Project with members of The Fringe, on Saturday, June 10th at 7:30 PM.
River Garden Marketplace hosts Dine & Drag, a live drag show, will be presented with no cover charge at the venue June 9 and 23, from 8-10 pm.
Gregorio Uribe to Perform at Cooper Field as part of The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series, Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 6:00pm.
Every summer, Retreat Farm’s Thursday evening Food Truck Roundup signals the start of summer. With construction on Route 30 and the transformation of the North Barn into a gathering place for the community, Food Truck Roundup will evolve into a ticketed event this season. “To preserve the Food Truck Roundup experience everyone loves, it is necessary for us to limit the size of the event each week,” noted Events Director Jenny Crowell. To ensure the Roundup remains welcoming and accessible to the community, Retreat Farm is offering a variety of ticket and season pass options. The shift to a ticketed event also brings a unique opportunity to support the larger nonprofit community. “As one of the community’s largest events, the Roundup is a perfect platform to celebrate local nonprofits that bring people together and help support our unique and vibrant community,” shared Executive Director Kristin Sullivan. The Collective Impact Program at Retreat Farm will celebrate ten emerging nonprofits by donating $1 of every Food Truck Roundup ticket and 20% of season pass sales to selected nonprofits. Nonprofits who wish to be considered for the program can submit a 10-minute application at retreatfarm.org. Applications will be accepted through June 1st. “So much of our community is driven by the nonprofit sector. The Collective Impact Program is a chance to amplify the good work done by these organizations and showcase how our work intersects with the dozens of nonprofits in the community.” From Wyld Nightz to Zara Bode, the Roundup will host a diverse musical lineup starting with Rumboat Chili on June 22nd. With the Thirsty Goat Bar, HAngry Traveler, Anon’s Thai Cuisine, Mach’s Mobile Pizza, Vermont Gelato, and more space for your blanket — the Round will be more enjoyable than ever this summer. The Roundup begins Thursday, June 22nd, and continues each Thursday evening from 5 pm to 8 pm through August 24th. Advance ticket purchase is strongly suggested, with limited walk-up tickets available each week. Tickets are $5 for adults and free for children under 12. Roundup regulars are encouraged to purchase a Season Pass, available for families ($85), couples ($65), and individuals ($45). The Roundup will remain free for under-resourced families, thanks to generous support from Brattleboro Savings & Loan and Park Place Finacial Advisors. Free, Open Access tickets will be available online and at the Brattleboro Food Co-Op, Brooks Memorial Library, the Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro, and the DBA tent at Gallery Walk starting June 2nd. Season passes, and advance tickets go on sale Monday, May 15th at 10 am for Retreat Farm members. Tickets will open to the general public for purchase one week later. To gain early ticket access, become a free member by signing up at retreatfarm.org/membership. The Food Truck Roundup series is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and Brattleboro Savings & Loan.
Crocodile River Music, the critically acclaimed world music ensemble, is set to perform as part of the Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series on Friday, May 27, 2023, at 6:00 pm. The concert will take place at Retreat Farm in Brattleboro, Vermont, and tickets are available for $20 in advance or $25 at the gate. Children under 12 get free admission. Crocodile River Music is known for its unique blend of African and Western musical traditions, creating a sound that is both original and captivating. The group’s performances feature a range of instruments, including the kora, djembe, and balafon, as well as vocals in a variety of African languages. The Bandwagon Summer Series is a highly anticipated annual event in Brattleboro, featuring an eclectic lineup of musicians from around the world. This year’s series promises to be the best yet, with Crocodile River Music as one of the highlights. “West African music is rich in its history and impact on Western musical traditions, and Crocodile River Music does an incredible job showcasing that history and impact,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts.”They’re masters of their craft and do so with an authenticity that is infectious. People will be able to dance and have a great time doing so. We’re proud to present them as part of our Bandwagon Series.” Tickets for the event are available for purchase online or at the gate. The concert is also included in the Bandwagon Series Pass, which provides access to all shows in the series. The Bandwagon Summer Series is a family-friendly outdoor cultural performance series running from early May through mid-October. More than 20 performances ranging from a diverse group of musical styles, circus arts, dance, and theater will take place at ballfields, farms, and parks throughout Windham County. Kids under 12 always get in for free, and a dedicated play area will be available at all shows. Refreshments are sold onsite, including the return of the hugely popular Barr Hill cocktails. Bring a picnic and a blanket or fold-up chair to enjoy our concerts. This concert is funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies. Support for the Bandwagon Summer Series is provided by Brattleboro Reformer, Landmark College, Oak Meadow, Barr Hill, Vermont Public, The Porch, and Southern Vermont Solar. For more information about Crocodile River Music and the Bandwagon Summer Series, please visit www.nextstagearts.org. Next Stage Arts Next Stage Arts serve southeastern Vermont as a regional cultural hub, arts producer, and instigator of meaningful cultural experiences. Founded in 2010 as a nonprofit organization, Next Stage Arts is a transformative, community-centered project dedicated to revitalizing Putney’s cultural and economic village center through excellence in arts programming valuing diversity as a springboard for nurturing community. For more information and updates please go to: nextstagearts.org
PUTNEY, VT— The NXT Gallery presents an art exhibit by Karen Becker titled “Bearing Witness, Part 2.” The exhibit will run from May 21 to August 13, 2023, at the NXT Gallery located at 15 Kimball Hill, Putney. The opening reception for the exhibit will be held on May 21, 2023, from 3-5 pm. The majority of the exhibition is devoted to Becker’s love of nature, which is being severely threatened by the climate crisis. The animals and trees represented here are all bearing witness to the devastation that is unfolding due to industrialization and war. The exhibit is dedicated to Becker’s parents, Marianne and George Becker, for their lifelong courage, generosity, kindness, and devotion to the arts in Southern Vermont. Her parents instilled in her a deep appreciation of nature and beauty, and the courage to express her inner world. They fully and lovingly supported her art. This is a retrospective of artworks Becker made during the past 40 years, including her favorite maple which inspired paintings for 35 years and imaginary canyons. She uses many different media, including watercolors, pastels, and gouache. On display are her drawings of animals and birds which combine mono-prints and charcoal drawings. In addition, there are fantasies, including ‘The Sphere Series.’ Many of these paintings and drawings have been in her private collection. Karen Becker has exhibited her artwork in New York City, Boston, Maine, and Vermont. She received a BFA in Graphic Design from the Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, New York. The journey from Brooklyn to Brattleboro has been varied and has included creating on-air graphics and photography for Public Television in New York City, designing typography layouts on Madison Avenue, and working for Rolling Stone Magazine in San Francisco. Living in Vermont, Karen became part of the Vermont Arts Council’s Artists-in-Education Program. For 25 years she led over 150 mural painting workshops for children and adults. Karen was for a time a professional wedding photographer, and was voted “Best Local Wedding Photographer.” If you want to see more of Karen’s artwork, please contact her by email at [email protected]. This exhibit runs concurrently with a show of Karen Becker’s work at the West Village Meeting House, in West Brattleboro, titled “Bearing Witness, Part 1,” on view from May 14 to June 30. Next Stage is located at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney, VT. For more information, please call 802-387-0102, email [email protected], or visit nextstagearts.org. Next Stage serves southeastern Vermont as a regional cultural hub, arts producer, and instigator of meaningful cultural experiences. Founded in 2010 as a nonprofit organization, Next Stage Arts is a transformative, community-centered project dedicated to revitalizing Putney’s cultural and economic village center through excellence in arts programming valuing diversity as a springboard for nurturing community. Please visit our Health & Safety page for our current COVID protocols. For more information and updates please go to: nextstagearts.org
BRATTLEBORO, VT — Epsilon Spires and the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) will present a screening of “Hilma” by Swedish director Lasse Hallström, on May 21, at 8 p.m., in Epsilon Spires’ outdoor cinema. The film provides a nuanced portrait of the revolutionary female artist Hilma af Klint, only recently recognized as the earliest pioneer of modern abstract art. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at epsilonspires.org or in person at Epsilon Spires. Thanks to a generous grant from the Ben and Jerry’s Foundation, sliding-scale (pay-as-you-can) tickets are available for those who self-identify as experiencing financial hardship. “Hilma” explores af Klint’s innovative artistic practice, her deep commitment to theosophy, a form of occultism popular in Europe around the turn of the century, and her homosexual romantic life and close circle of female artists. Born in 1862 in Sweden, where she lived and worked until her death in 1944, af Klint lived through a period of drastic social, political, and artistic change across Europe. “Hilma” delves into the complexities and challenges of being an educated and talented woman artist and intellectual during this period in which women’s independence, professionalism, and rights were highly contested. Hallström first gained recognition for directing nearly all the music videos of the world-renowned Swedish pop group ABBA. Hallström has also directed acclaimed independent films, including “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993), “Chocolat” (2000), “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” (2009). He has been nominated for several Academy Awards, including best director and best-adapted Screenplay for “My Life as a Dog” (1988) as well as best director for “The Cider House Rules” (2000), which was filmed in the Brattleboro area. “I’ve spent several years trying to understand the mystery of Hilma af Klint. This is a story about an unwavering search for the truth about humanity and the universe, at a time when men set all the rules,” Hallström has said of the new film. “Despite so many obstacles, Hilma created art that influences our lives today. My ambition is for the audience to experience these struggles with all their senses.” According to a recent New York Times review of the film, Hallström has achieved an emotionally powerful image of af Klint. The upcoming screening hosted by Epsilon Spires offers the opportunity for all art and film lovers to experience af Klint’s remarkable story in a comfortable picnic-like setting. Restrooms and refreshments will be available. In the case of rain, this event will be moved indoors. Epsilon Spires Epsilon Spires is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts venue based in a repurposed historic cathedral in the heart of downtown Brattleboro, Epsilon Spires provides opportunities to engage in creative experimentation and critical thinking through innovative performances, art exhibits, film screenings, panel discussions, and educational workshops. We offer our community a safe environment for civil discourse by addressing current topics through the integration of diverse forms of expression on multimedia platforms. Our name combines a reference to the iconic architectural structure of our building with the Greek letter epsilon, which, when applied in physics, can be understood as “pushing the envelope.” To explore the dynamic range of programming we present at Epsilon Spires, please visit epsilonspires.org. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. BMAC is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10–4. Admission is free. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit brattleboromuseum.org. BMAC is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, and Whetstone Beer Co.
Next Stage Arts is pleased to announce that the Bandwagon Summer Series will kick off on Friday, May 19 at 6pm with a performance by the Brooklyn-based Afrobeat band, Underground System.
KEENE, NH — MoCo Arts is thrilled to present Into the Woods Jr, a musical performance by its talented middle school students, on May 14 at 2 & 4:30 p.m. at MoCo Arts’ Black Box Theatre. Tickets to the performance sponsored in part by Season Sponsor @310 Marlboro Street and Show Sponsor Savings Bank of Walpole cost $12. Tickets are selling fast! To purchase, call MoCo Arts at (603) 357-2100 or stop by MoCo at 40 Roxbury Street, Keene, NH during business hours. The show follows a baker and his wife as they journey into the woods to break a curse that was placed upon them by a wicked witch. Along the way, they meet well-known characters such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk. The musical is sure to delight audiences of all ages with its humor and catchy songs. “Into the Woods Jr is one of the most beloved musicals of all time, and we are excited to present this unique version of the story with our talented young performers,” said MoCo Arts Artistic Director of Theatre, Laura Carbonneau. “This is a wonderful opportunity to see young talent shine on stage and enjoy the magic of theater.” The performance is directed by Keene Middle School Drama Club Director and Teacher, Dominic DiBenedetto. Dominic joined MoCo Arts’ year-round theatre teaching staff this semester after directing and teaching at MoCo’s C.A.K.E. Summer Camp for eight years. He has experience performing in community theater for the past 25 years. You may have seen Dominic in The Lions Club productions in Keene or in Vermont performing with the Springfield Community Players, Main Street Arts, and Wild Goose Players. MoCo Arts’ award-winning theatre program, for kids and teens in grades 2 through 12, offers classes in musical theatre, straight plays, improvisation workshops, and more. Each Musical Theatre class rehearses once a week, working together to perform in a fully produced musical. All students are cast in a role and are encouraged (but not required) to practice and audition for specific roles. Students then work together with the director’s learning elements of acting, singing, and dancing to put on the production. Tuition assistance is available for all classes and camps at MoCo Arts. For more information, visit moco.org. About MoCo Arts Established in 1991, MoCo Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, multi-arts educational organization located in downtown Keene offering dance and theatre classes for children ages 18 months to 18+ years and multi-arts vacation and summer camps for students ages 4 through grade 12. As part of the educational process, MoCo Arts provides professional-quality performance experiences for students and family-friendly performances for audiences of all ages throughout the year. MoCo Arts is inclusive and welcoming to all, regardless of social, and current or past financial background, and provides up to $79,000 in tuition assistance per year. MoCo has never turned a child away because of a family’s lack of ability to pay. MoCo Arts is sponsored in part by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. To learn more about MoCo’s mission and ways you can support the organization’s work in arts education, please visit moco.org, contact (603) 357-2100, and/or MoCo Arts, 40 Roxbury Street, Keene, NH 03431
The Vermont Jazz Center welcomes Renee Rosnes and Bill Charlap who will perform on two Steinway concert grand pianos at the VJC on May 13th at 7:30 PM. The married couple are considered amongst the finest jazz pianists of their generation. Charlap is an unparalleled expert on the Great American Songbook and Rosnes is a five-time JUNO Award-winning pianist/composer and Artistic Director of the Oscar Peterson Jazz Festival. Interview and Performance – Live on Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland Rosnes’ and Charlap’s devotion to the music and to each other is symbolized by their choice to marry at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, a New York City jazz club, displaying their commitment to jazz and each other in one big statement. While performing with Rosnes on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz Bill Charlap claimed “It’s perfectly apropos that we should be married in a place that centers around music, as our lives center around music and each other.” The living room of Rosnes and Charlap’s New Jersey home is taken up mostly by two Steinway grand pianos. When asked by Ms. McPartland if they ever play together “for fun,” Rosnes replied, “All the time, that’s mostly what we do!” She continued by saying we “spend a lot of time at the piano. It can be 2:00 in the morning or whenever we feel like it, we can sit down and play.” For those of us in the jazz community, it is intriguing to imagine the ephemeral sounds emanating from their home as they play alone or together in the wee hours of the morning. A review in M Music & Musicians magazine states that “Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes are not like most couples. By the time they married in 2007, each was already a world-renowned jazz pianist with an impressive discography and a packed touring itinerary. …” In discussing their approach to their duo presentations, Charlap mused “We don’t alter our playing styles for each other, we just listen and react; the result is a new entity comprised of both our voices.” Rosnes added: “Certainly both of us have distinct styles, but there is also a lot of common ground that existed before we ever sat down to play together. Being married, there is also an intimate spirit that comes through in the music.” Renee Rosnes and Bill Charlap are both currently touring their most recent releases: Charlap’s Street of Dreams and Rosnes’ Kinds of Love. Because they are so busy with their own personal careers, their duo performances are rare and celebrated. Because this concert will not be live-streamed or recorded and because it’s nearly impossible to find their work on streaming or social media sites, it is a must-see! Their music is available on CD or via music streaming services via their 2010 collaborative Blue Note album Double Portrait. According to Rosnes’ website “[t]he album is a sparkling set of four-hand piano duets that traverses many of the couple’s musical touchstones. Double Portrait is a work of significance and depth, but also flows with the casual and organic quality of musicians with an uncommon simpatico, in life as well as in art.”Double Portrait is filled with choice bossa novas and lesser-known gems from the Great American Songbook. They will likely be performing a similar set at the Vermont Jazz Center. Their deeply rooted repertoire is filled with joyful surprises and generously informed by the two artists’ rich and diverse experiences. Bill Charlap Playlist on Spotify Bill Charlap has performed with many of the leading artists of our time including Phil Woods, Tony Bennett, Gerry Mulligan, Wynton Marsalis, Freddy Cole, and Houston Person. Born in New York City, Charlap began playing the piano at age three. His father was Broadway composer Moose Charlap, whose credits include Peter Pan. His mother is Grammy-nominated vocalist Sandy Stewart who appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Johnny Carson Show and toured with Benny Goodman and Perry Como. Charlap is distant cousins with piano legend Dick Hyman, with whom his family is still very close. In interviews, Charlap shares colorful stories of growing up in a musical family amidst the company of some of the finest Broadway composers, lyricists, and actors of his parent’s generation. His music embodies the intersection of jazz and Broadway musicals. Charlap is strongly influenced by the best of Broadway and Tin Pan Alley, but when it’s his turn to interpret this repertoire he digs in, asserting his own interpretations and impeccable sense of rhythm. His love for and knowledge of the Great American Songbook is conveyed in the songs he chooses to perform and record. For example, several of Charlap’s albums celebrate the music of a single composer thus giving listeners a taste of both familiar and lesser-known tunes from the respective composer’s songbook. These recordings include Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein), Stardust (Hoagy Carmichael), Silver Lining: The Music of Jerome Kern (with Tony Bennett), and Bill Charlap Plays George Gershwin: The American Soul. Time magazine wrote, “Bill Charlap approaches a song the way a lover approaches his beloved…no matter how imaginative or surprising his take on a song is, he invariably zeroes in on its essence.” In 2023, Charlap will be celebrating his 19th year as Artistic Director of New York City’s Jazz in July Festival at 92Y. He has also produced concerts for Jazz at Lincoln Center and New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Renee Rosnes Playlist on Spotify Renee Rosnes is the Artistic Director of the Oscar Peterson International Jazz Festival and a 5-time JUNO Award-winning jazz pianist. Canadian-born Rosnes relocated from Vancouver to New York in 1986 where she was quickly recognized as a major talent. She has recorded and toured with absolute top-tier jazz soloists including Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, JJ Johnson, Buster Williams, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, and Bobby Hutcherson. From 2004-2009, Rosnes was a member of the SFJAZZ Collective and from 2008-2010 she was the radio host of Jazz Profiles, an interview series produced by Canada’s CBC. Rosnes has released over 19 albums as a leader and performed on over 300 recordings as a side person. As a leader, she has performed with string quartets and called on the talents of other world-class musicians like Dianne Reeves, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Jack DeJohnette, Zakir Hussain, Christian McBride, Chris Potter, Nicholas Payton, Steve Nelson, and many others. She is a formidable composer and was named SOCAN’s Composer of the Year in 2023. Rosnes currently tours as a member of bassist Ron Carter’s Quartet and is the music director for ARTEMIS, an all-star international band featuring the vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, clarinetist Anat Cohen, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, bassist Noriko Ueda, and drummer Allison Miller. This concert promises a rare opportunity for viewers/listeners to experience in real-time a collaborative journey of two artists at the top of their game as they explore a repertoire that includes choice selections from the Great American Songbook, Brazilian gems, and harmonically rich original compositions. Rosnes and Charlap will delight and amaze us with their passionate delivery, exquisite technique, and telepathic interplay. Tickets for the Show Admission to this in-person event is offered on a sliding fee scale from $20 to $50 per person. All seats are general admission. Mask-wearing is optional and light refreshments available. Be sure to purchase your tickets soon as this event will likely sell out quickly. Tickets are available online at www.vtjazz.org and by email at [email protected]. Handicapped access is available by emailing [email protected]. Vermont Jazz Center VJC is grateful for the sponsorship of this concert by two couples who are very important to the VJC Family: Beth Raffeld and Philip Khoury, Rob Freeberg, and Judy Fink. Beth Raffeld has been involved as a vocalist, board member, and consultant to the Jazz Center for over 20 years. VJC Board Vice President Rob Freeberg is an instructor at the VJC Summer Workshop, director of The VJC Sextet, and Music Director of the VJC Big Band. Freeberg and Fink are dedicating their sponsorship to honor the 100th birthday anniversary of Don Freeberg, Rob’s father who was a New York-based pianist. Publicity is underwritten by The Commons and The Brattleboro Reformer. The VJC is also grateful to the Vermont Arts Council, the Vermont Humanities Council and New England Foundation of the Arts for their support.
Vermont-based artist Cathy Cone, whose work is on view in the exhibition “Portals and Portraits” at Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) through June 11, will take part in an online conversation with BMAC Director of Exhibitions Sarah Freeman on Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m. The conversation will focus on Cone’s photographic practice, including her integration of multiple photographic and drawing media and techniques in her work. The event is free and will take place via Zoom and Facebook Live. Attendees can register online at brattleboromuseum.org. Cone’s artistic practice explores the vulnerability of memory and feelings of nostalgia. To create her painted portraits, Cone photographs or scans tintypes from her personal collection and modifies the reproduced images using gouache, watercolor, collage, stamping, and drawing. Her photogravures, also on view in the BMAC exhibition, similarly include layers of imagery that simultaneously reveal and hide their subjects. In an essay accompanying the BMAC exhibition, Cone describes her process: “I begin by discovering an image. The image emerges and appears as a rather strange surprise. This surprise is the charge that I take back into my studio as ‘something’ found to translate.” Reflecting on Cone’s abstracted portraits, Freeman writes, “This push and pull between visibility and obscurity calls into question the very purpose of a portrait and invites us to consider the process of knowing and understanding ourselves and each other.” In their conversation on May 11, Cone and Freeman will delve deeper into Cone’s interest in the human face. Through her focus on the face, Cone explores its psychological importance in human interactions and interconnections. Cone’s surrealist approach to photography began in the late 1970s with the introduction of the “Diana” camera. This led to her investigation of experimental techniques and a multidisciplinary approach to her poetic image-making. Cone received her training at Ohio University and the Vermont Studio Center. She received her M.F.A. at Maine Media College. Her work has been exhibited at various institutions, including the Weisman Art Museum, DeCordova Museum, Griffin Museum of Photography, and Vermont Center for Photography. Cone is currently creative director of the Workshops and Studio at Cone Editions Press, a collaborative printmaking studio co-founded by Cone and her husband, master printer Jon Cone, in Port Chester, New York in 1980 and now located in East Topsham, Vermont. Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. BMAC is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10–4. Admission is free. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit brattleboromuseum.org. BMAC is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, and Whetstone Beer Co.
Guilford Center Stage returns after a 3-year intermission with a production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, at the Broad Brook Community Center in Guilford. Performances are Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 7 at 2 p.m. Ian Hefele directs a cast from the tri-state region. A theatrical groundbreaker when it debuted in 1938, Our Town was written at the nearby MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, NH, and the town of Grover’s Corners in the play is based upon that locale. Among the innovative features of the play is Wilder’s use of a central character, the Stage Manager, who communicates directly to the audience, and both move the action along and interrupt it with commentary. Jennifer Gagnon plays this pivotal role. Others in the cast, in order of appearance, are Randy Lichtenwalner, Oliver Bolz, Lesley Malouin, Tara Sabino, Julie Holland, Archer Holland, Amiliah, Owen Malouin, Magdalena Keppel, Aaron Morse, Charlie Morse, Terry Carter, Beverly Langveld, Bob Tucker and Gregory. This is the theater group’s tenth show since its founding in 2015 and resumes a twice-a-year production schedule, now in the renovated and fully-accessible building, complete with a new elevator from the ground floor up to the theater space. Broad Brook Community Center is at 3940 Guilford Center Road. General Admission is $12 at the door, by cash or check. Advance tickets, for which a credit card may be used, are available online: bpt.me/5769579.
BRATTLEBORO, VT – “Brewing up adventure” isn’t just a motto for Whetstone Beer Co., it’s a way of life. Partners David Hiler, and Tim and Amy Brady were brought together by not just a love of beer, but also a love of adventure. Their years of exploring the beauty of Vermont State Parks have led them to launch the Pints for Parks project, a partnership benefitting Vermont State Parks through Vermont Parks Forever. Pints for Parks kicks off on May 6, at Jamaica State Park. Pints for Parks is a collaboration between Whetstone Beer Co. and Vermont State Parks, where twice per year Whetstone will focus on a different State Park to create a unique, limited-edition beer celebrating that specific park. In addition, Whetstone will donate proceeds from all Pints for Parks beer to VT State Parks’ partner charity, Vermont Parks Forever. “We are very excited about the Pints for Parks program and the opportunity to partner with Whetstone Beer Co. This program is a terrific way to celebrate Vermont’s amazing state park system and encourage folks to get outside” said Nate McKeen, Director of Vermont State Parks. “Whetstone is a terrific company to work with who understands the value of outdoor recreation and connecting people to the parks.” The inaugural Pints for Parks launch celebration will take place on May 6th, 2023, from 12 pm to 4 pm at Jamaica State Park: 48 Salmon Hole Ln, Jamaica, VT 05343, with the release of a limited-edition Jamaica State Park Kolsch beer inspired by the park’s iconic Hamilton Falls, and the spring Whitewater Release on the West River. “Jamaica State Park is the perfect park to showcase a Kolsch. This spring beer style is warm fermented – a nod to the tropical island which shares the park’s name – and cold conditioned like the West River which is fed by the park’s Hamilton Falls in springtime,” said Whetstone partner Tim Brady. “Somewhere between a lager and an ale, this Kolsch is well-balanced and subtle. It’s perfect for a warm spring day while relaxing after whitewater rafting or exploring your favorite state park. We couldn’t think of a more fitting brew to launch for our Pints for Parks program supporting all VT State Parks.” “We are grateful for this creative partnership that will showcase Vermont’s beautiful state parks and raise awareness of Vermont Parks Forever (VPF), the foundation for Vermont’s state parks,” said Sarah Alberghini Winters, Executive Director, Vermont Parks Forever. “The support from Whetstone Beer Co. will bolster VPF’s efforts to expand nature education in the parks and provide more free entry through the Park Access Fund. Thanks Whetstone!” Follow the Pints for Parks project at whetstonebeer.com/parks and please consider joining us in our support for Vermont State Parks by giving at https://vermontparksforever.org/give/. About Whetstone Beer Co. Whetstone Beer Co is a part of the Whetstone Brands family established in 2012, including The Station at Whetstone Beer Co., and River Garden Marketplace in Brattleboro, VT, and Kampfires Campground Inn & Entertainment with Scoops Ice Cream Shop, Putter’s Mini Golf, and the Pit Amphitheater in Dummerston, VT. About Vermont State Parks Vermont State Parks provides environmental education and information and supports the economies and values of local communities. Additionally, state parks promote, operate, and maintain a large and complex system of conserved lands, as well as both historic and modern facilities that are enjoyed by over half a million visitors every year. We work towards ensuring a safe, welcoming, and inclusive place for our staff, volunteers, and visitors. Plan your Vermont State Parks adventure at vtstateparks.com. About Vermont Parks Forever Vermont Parks Forever is the nonprofit foundation for Vermont’s 55 state parks. VPF was founded in 2013 to enhance and protect Vermont’s state parks by inspiring stewardship of natural places, providing educational experiences, and improving access for those who would otherwise be unable to experience all the benefits the state parks have to offer. Visit vermontparksforever.org to learn more.
Performed in MoCo’s black box, The Founder’s Theatre. Tickets to the performance sponsored in part by Season Sponsor @310 Marlboro Street and Show Sponsor Joe Flood Insurance Brokerage, Inc. cost $10. Tickets are selling quick! To purchase, call MoCo Arts at (603) 357-2100 or stop by MoCo at 40 Roxbury Street, Keene, NH during business hours. “Now, I’m here, there is no telling what may ensue with a Cat such as me, and a Thinker like you!,” says the Cat in the Hat. Seussical Kids Seussical Kids begins with a young boy named JoJo who conjures up the Cat in the Hat with his powerful imagination and is whisked to the Jungle of Nool for a fantastical adventure. There JoJo learns of the plight of the tiny citizens of Whoville, who live on a planet the size of a speck of dust. Their sole protector is Horton the Elephant, who is the only one with large and sensitive enough ears to hear them bipping and beeping and playing their oompahs. The small world is threatened by Sour Kangaroo and the Wickersham Brothers, who in disbelief that a world could be so small, try to steal the dust-speck so they can cast it into a vat of Beezle-Nut oil. During all of this drama, Horton has not noticed that he has an admirer, Gertrude McFuzz. She blames his indifference on her one-feather short tail and endeavors to find a way to change her looks. Meanwhile, Horton’s friend, Mayzie LaBird, is bored of perching on her nest, and convinces the watchful elephant to sit on her egg so she can take a vacation. The Cat follows all of these storylines and finally casts the boy into his own as the irresponsible son of Mr. and Mrs. Mayor of Whoville, JoJo, who ultimately saves his whole tiny world with one big, imaginative “think.” About MoCo Arts MoCo Arts’ award-winning theatre program, for kids and teens in grades 2 through 12, offers classes in musical theatre, straight plays, improvisation workshops and more. Each Musical Theatre class rehearses once a week, working together to perform in a fully produced musical. All students are cast in a role and are encouraged (but not required) to practice and audition for specific roles. Students then work together with the director’s learning elements of acting, singing, and dancing to put on the production. Tuition assistance is available for all classes and camps at MoCo Arts. For more information, visit moco.org. Established in 1991, MoCo Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, multi-arts educational organization located in downtown Keene offering dance and theatre classes for children ages 18 months to 18+ years and multi-arts vacation and summer camps for students ages 4 through grade 12. As part of the educational process, MoCo Arts provides professional-quality performance experiences for students and family-friendly performances for audiences of all ages throughout the year. MoCo Arts is inclusive and welcoming to all, regardless of social, and current or past financial background, and provides up to $79,000 in tuition assistance per year. MoCo has never turned a child away because of a family’s lack of ability to pay. MoCo Arts is sponsored in part by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. To learn more about MoCo’s mission and ways you can support the organization’s work in arts education, please visit moco.org, contact (603) 357-2100, and/or MoCo Arts, 40 Roxbury Street, Keene, NH 03431
The line separating Vermont and New Hampshire runs right through Whetstone Beer Co.’s taproom on the Connecticut River, inspiring the brewery to celebrate its unique location with the release of Borderline Pale Ale. The “interstate” nature of Whetstone Beer Co. has a complex history. The original 1903 wooden bridge crossing the Connecticut River to New Hampshire at Whetstone’s Bridge Street location was replaced in 1920 by an extensive 330-foot-long truss. To support the heavy structure, new footings were poured and set deep into the riverbed, extending the “land” on the Vermont side of the river by about 5 feet. However, the state line already established by the US Geological Survey refused to budge – even as the structure that now houses Whetstone Beer Co. was built atop the footings. Today, you can stand on the USGS borderline painted on the floor of the taproom or, planting a foot on either side, literally be in two places at once. Whetstone Borderline Pale Ale celebrates two states, sometimes known for their differences, but both of which share the spirit of adventure that underpins the Whetstone brand. Borderline’s fresh, bright, and citrus characteristics are also at the “borderline” between several different styles of pale ale, complex but easy to drink at just 5% ABV. Please join Whetstone Beer Co. in its celebration of the release of Borderline Pale Ale, and all things Brattleboro, on Thursday, April 13, 2023, for an exclusive Downtown Brattleboro Alliance and Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce “pre-function” business mixer from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at its taproom at 36 Bridge Street in Brattleboro. The event will be open to the public from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Complimentary Borderline tasting and light snacks will be available, alongside a cash bar, full pours, swag raffle, and 4-pack cans of Borderline and other Whetstone beers to go. For more information, contact Maia Segura at [email protected] or go to our website whetstonebeer.com.
Scott Sparks always knew he wanted to open a cannabis business, but it was not until he was in his 60s, ready to retire from his decades-long career in food service, that his dream began to take shape. A few days after deciding to leave his position as VP of Sales at Black River Produce, he received a spam email promoting the Northern Colorado Hemp Expo. “I took it as a sign,” he said, “and booked two VIP tickets.” Sparks had heard a little about CBD, but was not prepared for what he saw at the expo. “I was blown away,” he said. “It was all serious, professional business people.” That was 2017, the early days of CBD’s popularity. CBD, is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant and contains only small amounts of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis that produces a “high.” At the time, CBD products were required to be lab tested and confirmed to contain 0.3% THC or less. Consumers of CBD use it to treat chronic pain, inflammation, migraines, and anxiety, among other conditions. CBD Gummies line the shelves at Vermont Hempicurean in West Brattleboro. Photo by Erica Houskeeper. Recognizing an opportunity to be at the forefront of CBD retail, Sparks opened Vermont Hempicurean in downtown Brattleboro in April 2018. His initial offerings included hemp products such as rope, paper, seeds, and oil, but realized that his customers were more interested in locally-produced CBD and growing supplies such as soil, nutrients, and lights. Thus began a years-long effort to navigate consumer demand as well as new, and sometimes changing, local, state, and federal rules and regulations. For the next few years, he operated Vermont Hempicurean, always with one eye on legalization, establishing himself as a successful, respected business owner and a welcome addition to downtown Brattleboro. So, when the state of Vermont legalized cannabis sales in October 2020, Sparks was well-positioned to be among the first to open a recreational dispensary. He began conversations with the Brattleboro Selectboard about putting retail cannabis sales on the Town Meeting Day ballot. It was not without controversy but, with support from town officials, Sparks doubled down to make his case and ultimately the ballot measure was passed 1,397- 425 in March 2021. From banking to advertising, however, Sparks says almost everything he tried to do was met with “no.” “You have to find your way around ‘no’ in this business,” he said. “I had to overcome so many odds, but overcoming the stigma and being able to sell cannabis is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.” Finding support Through Coaching Realizing that he was navigating uncharted waters, Sparks reached out to Ellen Kahler, who he knew from his years in the food industry, at the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) about business coaching. Kahler connected him with Victor Morrison, a VSJF business coach also based in Brattleboro in December 2021. “Just having a sounding board, someone to talk to was the biggest benefit,” said Sparks. VSJF business coach Victor Morrison, left, consults Scott Sparks on a recent visit to Vermont Hempicurean in West Brattleboro. Photo by Erica Houskeeper. “CBD and cannabis are multidimensional and new,” said Morrison. “Scott has been confronted with regulations that are changing all the time. It’s hard to get traction. You can’t do business the normal way.” Coaching Sparks was unique, according to Morrison, in that he was already an experienced business person, confident and realistic in his vision. “I’m not trying to talk him down from an unrealistic dream; I’m helping him figure out how to realize his dream,” he said. “Scott is a professional,” he continued, “but no one had experience in this brand new market with unclear laws that conflict at the state and federal level, few if any standards of quality, and a gold rush mentality among many. His years of experience with CBD prepared him–as best one can be–for the cannabis roll out statewide, but it was still a challenge.” Morrison made important introductions, helped Sparks think through an employee handbook, and worked alongside him to sort through a myriad of regulations around cannabis. Most importantly, he was available to help Sparks work through challenges as they arose, acting as a sounding board to bounce ideas around or simply vent frustrations. Realizing a Lifelong Dream Leslie Garziano scans products at Vermont Hempicurean in West Brattleboro. Photo by Erica Houskeeper. Sparks began looking to expand from the downtown location of Vermont Hempicurean. He found a big, old, barn on Route 9 in West Brattleboro that was perfect for his vision. “The barn was just the vibe I had in mind,” he said. But, it turns out, buying the building would be far from straightforward. “You can’t have a cannabis business in a building with a mortgage,” explained Sparks, “and I didn’t have the money to purchase and renovate the barn outright.” He began talks with potential investors, eventually finding one who was willing to purchase the building. The next day, however, he found out the barn had been sold to someone else. “I scrambled to find out who had bought it,” said Sparks, who discovered the new owner was the father of a fellow Brattleboro business-owner he knew. “After multiple meetings, we came to an agreement and started making build out plans,” he said. “I had to jump through lots of hoops to make it happen and the bills kept going up but I realized that I did not want an investor; I had to make this happen on my own.” He moved Vermont Hempicurean to the new location in February 2022 and established a separate LLC for growing supplies, called Vermont Grow Barn. On October 24, 2022, once cannabis sales were legalized, he opened the Vermont Bud Barn. It was a dream come true. For Sparks, opening a cannabis business is about much more than selling products. It’s about dispelling myths about cannabis consumption, supporting local growers and producers, and moving beyond the stereotypes and stigma associated with its consumption. “CBD and cannabis consumers are not who you think they are,” he said. “We have ladies from the church, older folks and successful business owners, as well as young people. People can finally come out of the shadows and talk openly about cannabis without fear.” Navigating the New Rules of Cannabis His challenges, however, were far from over. Among the most significant was banking. Because cannabis is still illegal on a federal level, most FDIC insured banks will not work with cannabis businesses. The only bank that was willing to do business with Vermont Hempicurean was the Vermont State Employees Credit Union, but they declined to continue working with Sparks when he opened Vermont Bud Barn. His only choice at that point was an online bank called Dama Financial. They promised an on-site safe where he could make cash deposits that would be credited to his online account the next day. Once a week, an armored vehicle would pick up the cash. As soon as Sparks paid the fees, however, he learned they would do neither–no safe and no armored pick up. “They sold me a bill of goods that cost me thousands of dollars,” he said. Signage at Vermont Hempicurean located on Route 9 in West Brattleboro. Photo by Erica Houskeeper. Although Brattleboro Savings & Loan was initially willing to work with Sparks, they have since closed down all cannabis business, sending Sparks back to square one. “Here I have a legal business and no way to do banking.” Advertising and licensing have also been points of frustration for Sparks. State law requires all employees who sell accessories, like rolling papers and pipes, to go through tobacco training at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. “What does tobacco have to do with this business?” asks Sparks. “Nothing.” State law requires cannabis businesses to “age-gate” their websites, asking visitors to confirm they are over the age of 21, and to prove that no more than 15 percent of people who view their ads are underage. “It effectively means I can’t advertise,” said Sparks, who notes that recipes for craft cocktails and events sponsored by beer companies are promoted freely. “Why is one controlled substance treated so differently from another?” asked Sparks. “I just want to be treated like a normal business,” he said. “It hasn’t been that long since he opened his doors and he’s done well,” said Morrison. “I can only imagine how successful he’d be if banks, insurance companies, payroll services, and accounting software had provided services to cannabis companies without reservation from the outset.” Undeterred, Sparks Plans for the Future Sparks now operates four businesses: Vermont Hempicurean, Vermont Bud Barn, Vermont Grow Barn, which sells growing supplies, and his newest endeavor, In the Weeds, where he plans to grow cannabis. Despite a challenging road to this point, Spark’s has big goals for the future. Cannabis plants at the Vermont Grow Barn in Brattleboro. Vermont Grow Barn, a grow supply store, was established in 2021 by Scott Sparks as a sister store to his CBD shop Vermont Hempicurean. Photo by Erica Houskeeper. Dedicated to selling locally-made and locally-grown hemp and cannabis products, Sparks sees an opportunity for Vermont to tap into the same branding that has put the state on the map for craft beer and cheese. “It’s about terroir and small producers who care deeply about the quality of their product,” he said. His businesses sell exclusively Vermont-made CBD, hemp and cannabis. He also hopes someday to open a cannabis cafe, where people can gather to see live music and socialize, and is considering a viewing window at In the Weeds, where customers can learn about the growing process. Mostly though, he looks forward to a day when cannabis businesses in Vermont can operate without the stigma, extra steps, and added fees that currently add complexity and cost. “I run a legal business,” said Sparks. “Why should I be treated differently?” About VSJF’s Business Management Coaching Program The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund provides tailored, high-touch planning, coaching, and advising for business owners and their management teams to advance profitability, job creation, and sustainable job development. Click for more information about business management coaching. Signage at Vermont Hempicurean located on Route 9 in West Brattleboro. Photo by Erica Houskeeper.
PUTNEY, VT — Next Stage Arts announce the lineup for the third summer of its outdoor, cultural performance series running from May through October throughout Windham County. The series will include more than 20 performances ranging from a diverse group of musical styles, dance, and puppetry that will take place in fields, farms, and parks throughout the area. “The Bandwagon Summer Series is an opportunity to cultivate friendships, experience new music, and bask in Vermont’s outdoor beauty,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “The series began as a response to Covid, and it has blossomed into something the community looks forward to every summer. Kids running around, Vermont-made food and drinks, and the lineup add up to be an attractive way to meet friends and family. This year’s lineup is easily the best we’ve had yet.” The full lineup, with information about ticket options, can be found at nextstagearts.org. The series invites children 12 and under into any concert for free, boasts a kid’s play zone, and donates free tickets to every public library in Windham County and to select social service agencies. Vermont-made food and drinks will be available. The Bandwagon Summer Series kicks off on Friday, May 19, at 6 pm, with the return of Next Stage favorites Underground System, the Brooklyn-based, Afrobeat-influenced indie dance band that blew us all away at the Putney Inn last summer. The Stone Church, which hosted Underground System in February, joins Next Stage as co-presenters. Venue TBA. The following week, Saturday, May 27, at 6 pm, Crocodile River Music brings their African and African-influenced blend of Brazilian, Caribbean, and flamenco music to the Retreat Farm The series continues with Canadian singer-songwriter Kiran Ahluwalia, whose nearly two decades of music-making have taken her from Punjabi folk and Indian classical music to refreshingly original borderless songs. She performs at venue TBA on Friday, June 2, at 6 pm. The series continues throughout the summer and fall with performances by Colombian singer and accordionist Gregorio Uribe on 6/10; Sia Tolno & Afro Dead, performing Grateful Dead covers through the lens of Afrobeat, soukous, and highlife, on 6/18 (co-presented with Stone Church); a salsa and reggae dance party with LPT and The Human Rights on 6/24; tap dance reimagined by Subject:Matter on 7/8; self-described Ukrainian “ethnic chaos” band DakhaBrakha on 7/13; instrumental dance band Klezperanto (they’ve “delivered irresistible dance music from everywhere except your cousin’s bar mitzvah”) on 7/22; Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band (“a joyful cacophony of Balkan, Klezmer and funk, with a tasteful thrash of metal thrown in for good measure”) on 7/29; Celtic bands Cantrip and House of Hamill on 8/13 (co-presented with Twilight Music); Armo (the union of Afrobeat and avant garde jazz) on 8/18 at the Retreat Farm; Bread & Puppet on 8/24; The Slambovian Circus of Dreams (“Punk Classical Hillbilly Pink Floyd”) on 9/3; Balla Kouyate & Mike Block (Western Africa meets American musical styles) on 9/9; Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp (“mixing free jazz, post-punk, highlife, brass band, symphonic mixtures and kraut rock”) on 9/16; New Orleans funk, soul, and street beat band the Soggy Po’ Boys on 10/7 (co-presented with Twilight Music); and, on dates still to be determined, Rev. Vince Anderson & His Love Choir; Burlington Taiko; and Anbessa Orchestra. Series passes and ticket bundles are available for purchase now; tickets to individual shows will go on sale in coming weeks. Please visit nextstagearts.org for more information. Sponsors of the 2023 Bandwagon Summer Series include Oak Meadow, Landmark College, The Porch, Barr Hill, M&T Bank, Vermont Wide Plank Flooring, The Richards Group, Southern Vermont Solar, Farnum Insulators, and Vermont Country Deli. Media sponsors include Vermont Public and the Brattleboro Reformer.
The Board of Trustees of the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) on March 29 elected five new trustees to three-year terms on the board. According to BMAC Director Danny Lichtenfeld, the new trustees bring to the museum “invaluable personal experience and expertise in contemporary art and museums, community engagement, nonprofit administration, and financial management.” The new trustees are Enrique Chavez, Katherine Gass Stowe, Laura Howat, Stephanie Huestis, and Petria Mitchell. Enrique Chavez has served as Brand Stylist at The Orvis Company since 2021. In that role, he is responsible for apparel styling, art direction, production design, and coordination of multiple photo shoots per year, on location and in studio, for Orvis catalogs, mailings, retail stores, and the website. Before joining Orvis, Chavez lived in New York City for 14 years, where he worked as a photo stylist and interior designer. Originally from Brownsville, Texas, Chavez lives in Jamaica, Vermont, with his husband, artist Michael Abrams. Katherine Gass Stowe is a professional curator and art advisor who has successfully organized private and public collections, installations, exhibitions, and related programming for clients in the U.S. and abroad for over 30 years. Since 2002 she has been the contracted New York Metropolitan Area Curator for Bank of America. Gass Stowe has curated exhibitions at BMAC and the Hall Art Foundation, among others venues, and she has held positions at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Gass Stowe lives in Walpole, N.H., with her husband, Chris Stowe. Laura Howat grew up immersed in the world of art and museums, as her late father, John K. Howat, was the longtime Chairman of the Department of American Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Howat served as a trustee of BMAC from 2009 to 2015 and again from 2016 to 2022. In addition to her work with BMAC and other Brattleboro-area nonprofits, Howat is on the Board of the New York City nonprofit Urban Glass. She lives in Brattleboro. Stephanie Huestis is Vice President & Commercial Banking Officer at Brattleboro Savings & Loan. Since 2021 she has been a member of BMAC’s Finance Committee. Huestis is a Board member of the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance and Groundworks Collaborative. She is former Board Chair of the United Way of Windham County and past President of the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce. She was born and raised in Brattleboro. Petria “Petey” Mitchell of West Brattleboro is an artist and co-owner, with her husband Jim Giddings, of the Brattleboro gallery Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts. Mitchell has served several prior terms on the BMAC Board of Trustees. She was instrumental in the planning and fundraising that led to the renovation and dedication of BMAC’s Wolf Kahn & Emily Mason Gallery. Mitchell is actively involved with many Brattleboro organizations, including River Gallery School of Art, Brattleboro West Arts, and Brattleboro Area Hospice, among others. With the election of five new trustees and the departure of five others—Steve Heim, Christie Herbert, Aaron Morehouse, Christopher Sink, and Neil Swinton—the size of the BMAC board remains at 19. In addition to electing new trustees, the Board also elected the following officers to one-year terms: Suzie Walker, President; Daniel Goldstein, Vice President; Christophe Gagne, Treasurer; and Ed McCatty, Secretary. Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. BMAC is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10–4. Admission is free. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit brattleboromuseum.org. BMAC is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, and Whetstone Beer Co.
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — Boston-based artist Daniel Callahan, whose work is on view in the exhibition “En-MassQ” at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC), will take part in two events focused on his unique practice of “MassQing,” a ritual marking of the face with paint that aims to reveal the inner essence of his subjects and to find “connection and communion with all things.” Callahan will give an artist talk on April 21, and he will host a participatory MassQing workshop on April 22. His BMAC exhibit is on view through June 11. The exhibit and related events are supported by a grant from The Artist’s Resource Trust. Callahan’s artistic practice is related to long-standing traditions of face painting as a means by which individuals shape their own identities by marking, decorating, and adorning the body. Callahan’s MassQs also draw attention to contemporary ways in which people present themselves and perceive others through bodily appearances. Through collaboration, Callahan seeks to connect with the people he MassQs, and his resulting multimedia works are a platform through which he shares their stories. “Simultaneously symbolic, abstract, and figurative, MassQs aim to change the way we ‘look’ in both meanings of the word: how we appear to others and how we gaze upon them in turn,” Callahan writes in an essay accompanying the BMAC exhibition. “The broader socio-political and racial implications of how we look determine our collective reality.” On Friday, April 21, at 7 p.m., Callahan will give an artist talk in which he will discuss his multidisciplinary work and its themes, influences, and evolutions. Topics will include mediums, mysticism, afrofuturism, personal and community expression, and the role of art, culture, and ritual in human society. This event will take place in person at BMAC and online via Zoom and Facebook Live. Registration is optional and walk-ins are welcome. On Saturday, April 22, at 2 p.m., Callahan will host an art-making workshop, also at BMAC. He will share the techniques and meaning behind his practice of “MassQing,” and participants will create their own MassQs. This event will take place in person at BMAC. Space is limited, and registration is required. Tickets, which are $55, $45 for BMAC members, can be purchased online at brattleboromuseum.org or by calling 802-257-0124 x101. Daniel Callahan is a multimedia artist, award-winning filmmaker, and designer. His work has been featured at the Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Institute of Contemporary Art, New Orleans Museum of Art, and Queens Museum, as well as in publications such as Believer Magazine, The Bay State Banner, Smithsonian Press, and Words Beats & Life: The Global Journal of Hip-Hop Culture. He holds an M.F.A. in film and video from Emerson College and a B.A.S. in fine arts and Africana studies from the University of Pennsylvania School of Design. Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. BMAC is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10–4. Admission is free. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit brattleboromuseum.org. BMAC is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, and Whetstone Beer Co.
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — A Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) exhibition of drawings by famed pop artist Keith Haring, originally scheduled to close on April 16, has been extended to June 11. The works in the exhibition were previously slated to ship directly from Brattleboro to Barcelona for an exhibition opening this spring at the Moco Museum. With that exhibition now scheduled to open in November, BMAC visitors have two more months to enjoy Haring’s iconic art. “We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to keep the exhibition up for another two months,” BMAC Director Danny Lichtenfeld said. “The response to Keith’s work has been so enthusiastic from visitors of all ages and backgrounds.” “Keith Haring: Subway Drawings” includes a selection of the historic drawings that Haring made illegally in New York City subway stations in the early 1980s. These groundbreaking works, which embody the street art, hip-hop, and urban energy of their time, catapulted the previously unknown artist to fame. Following on previous projects Haring had carried out in public spaces, the subway drawings brought the artist’s work directly to the public, bypassing the rarefied world of art galleries and museums. Haring recognized the significance of the subway drawings in his artistic development and career: “The subway drawings were, as much as they were drawings, performances. It was where I learned how to draw in public. You draw in front of people. For me it was a whole sort of philosophical and sociological experiment. When I drew, I drew in the daytime, which meant there were always people watching…” On Friday, April 14, at 8 p.m., BMAC will celebrate the exhibition with a “Radiant Baby Dance Party” for ages 21 and up. DJ Matt Krefting will serve up 80s hits, and the Whetstone Beer Co. will provide a cash bar with a selection of beers, cocktails, and mocktails. Creative 80s attire is encouraged. This event is sponsored by Vermont Hempicurean, Vermont Bud Barn, and Vermont Grow Barn. Tickets can be purchased at brattleboromuseum.org. Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. BMAC is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10–4. Admission is free. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit brattleboromuseum.org. BMAC is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, and Whetstone Beer Co.
Featured performers will include several contest-winning and touring comedians most often seen in the Burlington area. “We’ve got to keep laughing to handle the news, these days,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “The Vermont Comedy All Stars bring the best and brightest from around the state and beyond. We’ve had a number of Vermont comedians go into New York and start careers. We’re proud to give them a space in southern Vermont to be seen.” Event Hillary Boone Hillary Boone started life in a log cabin in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont where they spent their childhood waiting to escape. After traveling the country and some of the world, Hillary is back in Vermont, making people laugh. Hillary is a regular performer at the Vermont Comedy Club and has opened for comics such as Deanne Smith, Myq Kaplan, and Kyle Kinane. They are a host of the Moth Story Slam in Vermont and a proud member of the Vermont Comedy Divas. Hillary likes to think that they enjoy a sort of “local fame,” consisting primarily of warm fuzzies when other Burlingtonians quizzically ask, “do I know you from somewhere?” or when anyone comments on their cartoon blog. Their comedy has been described as quirky, likable, queer and smart, and “simply delightful” by a local comedy critic. Vicki Ferentinos Vicki Ferentinos started her comedy career over a decade ago at the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City. She has been seen on Comedy Central, WOR Radio, and the Food Network. Her one-woman show “Lady Bug Warrior” was a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She was called “effervescent and captivating” by the New York Times, and most recently performed her new one-woman show “Woman of the Woods” to a sold-out audience at the Grange Theater, in Pomfret, Vermont. Vicki was a top three finalist at the 2022 Vermont’s Funniest Comedian Contest and has performed at the Vermont Comedy Festival, The Boston Comedy Festival, and The Portland Comedy Festival. When she’s not making with the funny, Vicki is a professional chef; she was the winner of “Rocco’s Dinner Party” on Bravo TV, and writes a weekly column, “From the Mixing bowl, a mix of funny stories and recipes,” for the Vermont Standard. Al Ghanekar Al Ghanekar has been a stand-up comic in the New England scene for the last 6 years. After starting comedy he learned to write a bio in the 3rd person to make it look like you’re important enough that someone else wrote your bio. I spent…I mean…he spent 8 years in Washington, DC as an actor working in different independent films that went nowhere. Since starting comedy he’s been seen at Gotham and Broadway Comedy Clubs in NYC, Funnybones, and other clubs across the US as well as abroad in places like Australia and India. He’s opened for national headliners like Lenny Clarke, Jim Gaffigan, and Jerry Seinfeld. His comedy is centered around his confusing life experiences and embarrassments, as well as very unique stories, of being a first-generation Indian American dude. Marisa Imôn Marisa Imôn’s comedy, often expressed through music, addresses the light-hearted nature of issues like death, mental illness, identity, and spirituality. She’s the international Amazon bestselling author of the book Super Intense, an award-winning composer, and host of the podcast, Incandescent, and her comedy screenplay recently made the shortlist at Barnstorm Fest. Marisa Imôn’s music and meditations have been listened to by millions of people between the various platforms that feature her work, even though you probably never even heard of her since she often works anonymously – like a modern-day, meditation-loving, bipolar, pacifist, Batman. Although, perhaps that makes her the opposite of Batman. What’s the opposite of a batman? A mouse woman. She’s like a mouse woman. Liam Welsh Liam Welsh is a Burlington-based stand-up comic. He performs regularly at the Vermont Comedy Club, has been a multiple-time finalist in Vermont’s Funniest Comedian Contest, and has featured for national headliners such as Solomon Georgio, Jay Jurden, and Janelle James. He also hosts a weekly stand-up showcase called Free Stuff, every Tuesday at Lincoln’s, in Burlington. Gordon Clark Gordon Clark is the producer and host of the Next Stage comedy shows, and the Director of Vermont Comedy All-Stars, a non-profit dedicated to promoting the comic arts in Vermont. He also produces and hosts two monthly shows, the “Second Wednesday” Comedy Jam at the iconic Nectar’s Lounge in Burlington, and the Third Thursday Stand Up Specials at Bent Nails Bistro in Montpelier. Next Stage Arts Next Stage is located at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney, VT. All talks are free to attend, but donations are appreciated. Advance registration is available at nextstagearts.org. For information, call 802-387-0102. Next Stage Arts serve southeastern Vermont as a regional cultural hub, arts producer, and instigator of meaningful cultural experiences. Founded in 2010 as a nonprofit organization, Next Stage Arts is a transformative, community-centered project dedicated to revitalizing Putney’s cultural and economic village center through excellence in arts programming valuing diversity as a springboard for nurturing community. Please visit our Health & Safety page for our current COVID protocols. For more information and updates please go to: nextstagearts.org
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. “For most, the arts are something we interact with as a finished product. We love the musicians we love, but we don’t understand the inner workings of how those mediums create their work,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “This curator series shines a spotlight on some less mainstream mediums to hear from the people who help facilitate the vast body of work, how it gets made, what goes into making it, and how to make sense of it. I hope this series helps people appreciate all forms of art at a deeper level.” March 23rd: Poster House’s Angelina Lippert What is a poster and how is it different from a print, a handbill, or a flyer? What makes a poster valuable? Join Angelina Lippert, chief curator and director of content at Poster House in New York City, the first and only museum in the United States dedicated to the art and history of the poster, and learn about how this ephemeral medium marries the worlds of art and commerce. This talk will cover the birth of posters in the mid-1800s, major stylistic movements, important moments in printing history, and a glimpse into the wide array of exhibitions Lippert has curated on posters. This talk is co-presented with the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center. March 30th: The Association for Cultural Equity’s Anna Lomax Wood, interviewed by Miriam Elhajli Singer-songwriter and musicologist Miriam Elhajli interviews Anna Lomax Wood, President of the Association for Cultural Equity (ACE) and daughter of the organization’s founder, musicologist Alan Lomax. The talk will focus on ACE and the Global Jukebox, an online database and interactive website, which allows users to listen to and learn about more than 6,000 songs from 1,000 cultures — including many from Lomax’s personal collection. Miriam Elhajli will perform a few songs to lead the presentation. April 6th: Jacob’s Pillow’s Melanie George Melanie George is a jazz dance artist, dramaturg, and scholar. She is an Associate Curator & Scholar-In-Residence at Jacob’s Pillow. Named one of Dance Magazine’s “30 over 30” in 2021, Melanie aims to deconstruct traditional hierarchies in dance. Next Stage is located at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney, VT. All talks are free to attend, but donations are appreciated. Advance registration is available at nextstagearts.org. For information, call 802-387-0102. Next Stage Arts Next Stage Arts serves southeastern Vermont as a regional cultural hub, arts producer, and instigator of meaningful cultural experiences. Founded in 2010 as a nonprofit organization, Next Stage Arts is a transformative, community-centered project dedicated to revitalizing Putney’s cultural and economic village center through excellence in arts programming valuing diversity as a springboard for nurturing community. Please visit our Health & Safety page for our current COVID protocols. For more information and updates please go to: nextstagearts.org
The events are presented in connection with the exhibition “Keith Haring: Subway Drawings,” on view at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) through April 16. Subway as Studio To begin, on Thursday, March 16, at 7 p.m., art historian Amy Raffel, author of “Art and Merchandise in Keith Haring’s Pop Shop,” gives an online talk titled “Subway as Studio” that charts Haring’s artistic development amidst the early 80s downtown New York art scene and the social and political climate of the day. Admission to the talk is free. Registration is optional. A Brief History of the Poster On Thursday, March 23, at 7 p.m., Angelina Lippert, chief curator of Poster House in New York City and author of “The Art Deco Poster,” gives an in-person talk titled “A Brief History of the Poster” at Next Stage Arts (15 Kimball Hill, Putney, Vermont). The talk will cover the birth of posters in the mid-1800s, major stylistic movements, and important moments in printing history. Admission to the talk is free. Registration is optional. Walk-ins are welcome. Keith Haring: Subway Drawings On Thursday, March 30, at 7 p.m., BMAC Director Danny Lichtenfeld, who curated “Keith Haring: Subway Drawings,” leads an in-person tour of the exhibition. In addition to discussing the subway drawings themselves, Lichtenfeld will shed light on how a group of the drawings came to be exhibited in Brattleboro this spring. The tour will not be live-streamed, but a recording will be made available afterward. Admission to this event is free. Registration is optional. Walk-ins are welcome. Radiant Baby Dance Party Finally, on Friday, April 14, at 8 p.m., BMAC’s Keith Haring exhibition closes out with a Radiant Baby Dance Party, sponsored by Vermont Hempicurean, Vermont Bud Barn, and Vermont Grow Barn. DJ Matt Krefting will serve up 80s dance hits, and Whetstone Beer Co. will provide a cash bar. Creative 80s attire is encouraged. Tickets are $25 ($20 for BMAC members) in advance at brattleboromuseum.org and $30 at the door. “We’re excited to offer this range of opportunities for people to learn more about one of the most admired artists of the past half-century,” said Lichtenfeld. “And we know Keith would have loved the dance party.” Brattleboro Museum & Art Center Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. BMAC is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10–4. Admission is free. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit brattleboromuseum.org. BMAC is partly supported by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, the Four Columns Inn, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, and Whetstone Beer Co.
The article “Two Days in King Tuff’s Brattleboro, Vermont” by Patrick King highlights the vibrant artistic community of Brattleboro, a town that serves as a significant backdrop for the creative endeavors of musicians like Kyle Thomas, known as King Tuff. The narrative captures Thomas’s deep-rooted connection to Brattleboro, tracing his artistic growth from humble beginnings in a small-town atmosphere to the broader music scene. The town itself is depicted as a nurturing environment, fostering a sense of connectivity among its residents and artists, which enhances their creative expression. Brattleboro holds historical relevance as a haven for various musicians and artists, reflecting a unique blend of cultural heritage and modern-day innovation. The article illustrates how the town’s affordable living conditions and supportive community allow creatives to pursue their passions without the pressures commonly found in larger cities. This is underscored by Thomas’s ability to manifest his artistic goals while remaining closely tied to Brattleboro, showcasing the charm and inspiration the town provides for those who create within its borders. This exploration of Brattleboro serves not only as a tribute to its artistic legacy but also as a commentary on the importance of community and environment in nurturing creativity. The article clearly demonstrates that for musicians like King Tuff, Brattleboro is more than just a location; it’s an integral part of their identity as artists. Source: daily.bandcamp.com
Walter Parks, longtime guitarist sideman to Woodstock legend Richie Havens joins accordionist extraordinaire Rob Curto in presenting their self-described “Swampalachian” acoustic and roots style – a blend of reels, hollers, spirituals, and blues. Their project reimagines the historic soundtrack to the building of America reminding us all regardless of political and cultural diversity, that whereas an often painful history may bond us, we are nonetheless moved and united in the present day by the love of great music. “The southern swamps mix with the Brazilian accordion when Walter and Rob meet,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Walter is a presence on stage, showcasing his talents as a guitarist, songwriter, and scholar. He spent time studying swamp hollers in the Okefenokee Swamp. When Walter performs, it causes you to take note. We’re thrilled to present this unique experience at Next Stage.” In 2020 The American Folklife Collection of The Library of Congress featured and archived Parks’ research work on the music of Southeast Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp. For this new project with Curto, Parks has modernized the hollers, shaped-note hymns, and banjo porch songs performed by the swamp homesteaders. Parks was a founding member of the popular cello/guitar folk duo called The Nudes. Since relocating to Philadelphia from New York, Curto has been passionately pursuing the Irish button box which has become a defining aspect of Parks and Curto’s swampalachian sound. Curto was a founding member of the “Brazilian Bluegrass” band Matuto, which gained a following across the US, Canada, and Europe and more recently he led the accordion-centric American roots band Fish Harmonics. Curto also currently studies under the tutelage of Irish button accordionist Billy McComiskey. In their live show Parks and Curto frequently use back-stories to preface songs – be they historic or original compositions or the occasional tributes to Richie Havens. Jason Scaggs Opener Jason Scaggs’s music began in the heart of Appalachia, his home state of Virginia, and that mountain sensibility shines through his music to this day. The twang of his guitar, much more assertive in his Jatoba days, has since been tempered with the addition of effects, looping, an indie flavor if you will. The pleasing result is a modern, full sound that belies it coming from one person. About Next Stage Next Stage Arts serves southeastern Vermont as a regional cultural hub, arts producer, and instigator of meaningful cultural experiences. Founded in 2010 as a nonprofit organization, Next Stage Arts is a transformative, community-centered project dedicated to revitalizing Putney’s cultural and economic village center through excellence in arts programming valuing diversity as a springboard for nurturing community.
Modern acoustic singer-songwriter Brandon Ayre will be joined by uber-talented friends Natalie Blake and Shawn Magee to bring an evening of music to help support the South Newfane Schoolhouse Community Center on Saturday, Feb 25th at 7:30 PM. The concert kicks off a “Building Fund” campaign to help preserve the South Newfane Schoolhouse Community Center, a donation-based venue welcoming all. Brandon Ayre is an acoustic singer-songwriter who has been writing songs for a long time. Both personal and tender—or gently humorous—they are the product of many hours of sitting alone with a guitar. Ayer, Blake, and Magee are donating to the concert to launch a fundraising campaign for the much-needed maintenance of this treasured community schoolhouse structure. About South Newfane Schoolhouse Built-in 1867 and activated as a one-room schoolhouse until 1952, the upgraded property serves as a bright and welcoming example of old Vermont architecture. The space has hosted a variety of concerts, story nights, community meetings, a space to practice music and meditate during the pandemic, weddings, rager dance parties, and is the hub for the annual Rock River Artists Tour. South Newfane Schoolhouse is located at 387 Dover Rd, South Newfane, VT. No one will be turned away, but a $10 suggested donation will assist the South Newfane Community Association. Like the building itself, the concert is open and welcomes all. Feel free to bring your own snacks and beverages. For more information, please get in touch with [email protected]
“It’s an honor to host a virtuosic presence like Cecilia, coming from South America on her US tour,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “The fact that we get to host her and Grammy Award-winning Eugene Friesen makes the evening a one-of-a-kind performance. We’re excited to be presenting this in our region.” Cecilia Zabala Cecilia Zabala of Buenos Aires, Argentina is a rising star on the global music scene. With 10 CDs and close to 20 years of international touring experience to her credit, Zabala’s music embodies the deep soul of the acoustic guitar, from its Iberian and North African roots to its versatility as a worldwide voice of modern musical expression. Cecilia Zabala’s distinction as a performing artist is multi-dimensional. From a technical perspective, she is a master singer and instrumentalist, conservatory-trained, and a respected guitar instructor in the cosmopolitan center of Buenos Aires. But her musical vision is far from staid. Her music bridges genres from the European classical guitar tradition to Brazilian bossa nova and MPB, from Chilean Nuevo Cancion and its Argentine relative, Nuevo Cancionero, to global jazz. Her music combines many elements of global folkloric music, in a synthesis that bridges so many styles and genres that it can fairly be described as “sui generis,” or without comparison. In one respect, the essence of her artistic identity is as a singer-songwriter, but with a poetic rather than narrative character that seems distinctly South American. Her music is dreamlike and steeped in the deep soul of her native Argentina, and by extension, Spain. In performance, whether solo or with an ensemble, Zabala is mesmerizing, from start to finish. As an instrumentalist, her performances are hypnotic. As a singer and presenter, she’s both seductive, and a bit of a sorceress, or as they say in Argentina, a “bruja.” Eugene Friesen Vermont resident Eugene Friesen is active internationally as a cellist, composer, recording artist, and teacher. He has performed on six continents as a soloist and with the Grammy Award-winning Paul Winter Consort. Eugene is an artist-in-residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, and on faculty at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. More information on Eugene can be found online at www.celloman.com Next Stage Arts Next Stage is located at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney, VT. Tickets are $20 in Advance / $24 At the Door. Advance tickets are available at nextstagearts.org. Next Stage will provide a beer, wine, and cocktail cash bar. For information, call 802-387-0102 or visit nextstagearts.org. Next Stage serves southeastern Vermont as a regional cultural hub, arts producer, and instigator of meaningful cultural experiences. Founded in 2010 as a nonprofit organization, Next Stage Arts is a transformative, community-centered project dedicated to revitalizing Putney’s cultural and economic village center through excellence in arts programming valuing diversity as a springboard for nurturing community. Please visit our Health & Safety page for our current COVID protocols. For more information and updates please go to: nextstagearts.org
In spring 2019, artist Madge Evers saw Emily Dickinson’s “Herbarium” for the first time. Housed at the Harvard Library, the 66-page volume contains hundreds of pressed, dried plants, their scientific names written on labels in Dickinson’s distinctive script. Later that year, during a walk in Northampton, Massachusetts, Evers began to conceptualize an herbarium of her own. “There, in the cracks and along the sidewalk, plants were busting out all over,” Evers said in an interview with the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) for the museum’s blog, Art Loves Company. “Tendrils of frost grape vine were raising their arms, literally waving at me. Lush greenery spoke of purpose, lives well-lived. I wanted to pay homage to their spring bursting, their summer gathering of energy, their fall retirement, and their winter waiting. I had a desire not to capture all of these stages, but to depict the perfect, strange beauty of plants.” The New Herbarium In “The New Herbarium,” currently on view at BMAC, Evers uses mushroom spores and plant matter as her artistic mediums. Instead of preserving and displaying the plants themselves, Evers places foraged mushrooms gill-side down on top of plants that serve as stencils. “After the billions of spores contained in the gills or pores of the mushroom are released, they fall and mark the paper,” Evers said. “Leaf and petal silhouettes are rendered in spores with organic patterns, photographic detail, and varying textures.” The resulting images are finely detailed and appear lit from within, leading some viewers to mistake them initially for photographs. They are mostly black and white with occasional pops of color from dried flowers, like the bright orange Shirley poppies featured in one work. “Using spores as a zero-waste art medium appeals to me as a gardener and composter,” Evers said. “When I forage for materials, I engage in an interspecies relationship with fungi. Like the wind and other animals, I spread the spores of mushrooms; I germinate those powdery spores into a fruiting body that takes the form not of a toadstool, but of a two-dimensional image on paper.” About Madge Evers Evers is an educator, gardener, and visual artist. She has been paying close attention to signs of fungi since 2015, when she began making mushroom spore print art. Referencing photosynthesis and the ancient collaboration in mycorrhiza, her practice involves foraging for mushrooms and plants, and sometimes includes the cyanotype process and paint. In 2021, she was a Mass Cultural Council fellowship finalist in photography. She has attended artist residencies on Cape Cod and Maine; current residencies at Mount Auburn Cemetery and the Kinney Renaissance Center at UMass allow Evers to interact with landscapes and their histories. After teaching for 25 years in Rhode Island and Massachusetts public schools, she now works as a full-time artist. “The New Herbarium” is on view at BMAC through February 12, 2023. About Brattleboro Museum & Art Center Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. BMAC is open Wednesday-Sunday, 10-4. Admission is on a “pay-as-you-wish” basis. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit brattleboromuseum.org. BMAC is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, the Four Columns Inn, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, and Whetstone Beer Co.
Join our Newsletter to Stay Informed
