Art and Meditation class work on exhibit
BRATTLEBORO- During July, the River Gallery School will feature paintings and assemblage by student/artists who have been participating in the Art and Meditation class. The work in this exhibit is personal, intimate and a testimony to the inner journeys and landscapes of the exhibiting artists.
“To follow one's 'thread' not knowing where it may go asks for courage and willingness to trust one's creative vision. What emerges in the art is self-revelatory and often a great surprise,” Longtime instructor Barbara Campman said.
An opening reception on Friday, July 2, will run from 5:30 to 8 p.m., during Gallery Walk. Participating artists include Barbara Baker-Bury, Simi Berman, Beth Ann Betz, Jillian Farwell, Stephanie Foy, Shimon Malin, Dorothy Riccardi and Peggy Spence.
Summer by the sea at Experienced Goods
BRATTLEBORO-Experienced Goods will unveil its newest window, the Seaside Boutique, described as a “frothy, feminine fantasy scene,” at Gallery Walk on July 2.
At 6 p.m., customers can kick up their heels to the international fiddle music of Jill Newton and Laurie Indebaum and friends.
Landscape in a day
BELLOWS FALLS-The Saxtons River Art Guild will offer an oil or pastel workshop, “A Landscape in a Day,” with Peter Granucci, on Saturday, July 10, from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., at the United Church of Bellows Falls at 8 School St.
This class will look at various landscape paintings and discuss their strengths and methods so that participants will be able to recognize the important elements of landscape painting and use them in their own work.
After a demonstration by the the teacher, participants will paint a landscape using photos, all in a day's time.
The workshop is $60 for Saxtons River Art Guild members and $80 for non-members. To register for the class, call Kathy Waryas at 802-463-9456.
On Thursday, July 8, at 8 p.m., Open Music Collective will present GirlandPiano, featuring the music of Laina Barakat, and The Ragnells performing The Mabel Story, featuring the music of Maria Pugnetti, at the OMC's facilities in the Cotton Mill, Studio A-335.
The Mabel Story is based on Vasalisa the Brave. Written by Maria and Radhawill, it is a musical story telling of Mabel's fantastical journey through the ancient forest to seek fire from the witch Baba Sova. It will be performed by Maria Pugnetti, Yasuko Parmentor, Radha Newsom, Jahnavi Newsom.
GirlandPiano will feature composer Laina Barakat (of The Starving Artist Collective in Keene), Paul Vittum, Andrew Cunningham, Adam Hogue, and Nick Kelley.
General admission tickets are $5. For more information, contact the Open Music Collective at 802-275-5054 or [email protected].
NEYT presents Shakespeare's Cymbeline July 9-11
BRATTLEBORO- New England Youth Theatre's Senior Shakespeare actors will present a hot new version of one of Shakespeare's Cymbeline, a great romance that will thrill and terrify audiences, from July 9-11.
Directed by Keely Eastley with assistant director Harry Poster, this play weaves dramatic family battles and an epic war, with Todd Roach guiding the rhythmic clashes of the opposing sides.
Shows will be Friday, July 9 and Saturday, July 10 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, July 10 and Sunday, July 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets for students and seniors are $7.50, and $9.50 for adults, from the website or the NEYT box office (on Wednesdays between noon and 5 p.m.).
Performances take place at the theater at 100 Flat St. For more information, visit www.neyt.org, or call the office at 802-246-6398.
Sevincer Animation Festival on July 2
BRATTLEBORO- Animation lovers will once again get their chance to vote in this year's Sevincer Animation Festival at Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery on Friday, July 2, at 7 and 8:30 p.m.
For the last five years, the organizers of the festival solicited animations of every type from around the United States and the world. While some were created strictly on the computer, others were created using paint and ink. Still others utilized stop-motion animation.
“Our only real criterion for selection is quality,” said Rolf Parker-Houghton, festival organizer.
The organizers also want to let young animators have their work on the screen in the annual screening preceding the main event. Each audience member may vote for their three favorite animations.
The Sevincer Animation Festival is named after its founder, Caglayan Sevincer - since deported to his native Turkey. Sevincer lived in Brattleboro for more than four years and created puppetry and animations in solo performances, and in collaboration with local artists.
Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery is located at 139 Main St. in Brattleboro. Tickets for the Animation Festival are $6 in advance, $7 at the door, and can be purchased at the theater. For more information, contact Parker–Houghton at 802-387-5794 or [email protected].
Eat in style on a bare-bones budget
BRATTLEBORO- Love eating well, but hate paying a lot? Amy McCoy's new cookbook, Poor Girl Gourmet: Eat in Style on a Bare-Bones Budget, features decadent and delectable recipes for foodies with limited budgets but sophisticated tastes.
The Book Cellar will host a “Meet & Eat” with the author at the store (120 Main St.) on Friday, July 2, at 6 p.m., during Gallery Walk. The author will sign copies of the book and delicious snacks will be served.
With the economic downturn, McCoy found her mission: to eat the best food she and her husband could while spending as little as possible. The result was a popular food blog called Poor Girl Gourmet and eventually a cookbook of the same name offering engaging stories, friendly advice and savory recipes.
For more information, call 802-254-6810 or e-mail [email protected].
Author returns to site of novel's inspiration
WARDSBORO- Williamsville author and Commons columnist Deborah Lee Luskin will be signing books at the Wardsboro Fourth of July parade and street fair on Saturday, July 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Look for her at the Library Book Sale – the same place her characters Rose Mayer and Percy Mendell argue politics in Into The Wilderness, Luskin's novel set in 1964 Vermont.
Chapter Three, titled “Fourth of July,” bears an uncanny resemblance to Wardsboro's annual event. “No question,” says Luskin. “I modeled the Orton celebration after the Wardsboro one – which I love. I've been coming here for years, and I'm delighted to return with the book.”
Ten percent of the day's sales will be donated to the Wardsboro Public Library. Books cost $18 plus tax.
An interview with Luskin appears this week on Vermont Views (www.vermontviews.org), along with an excerpt of Into the Wilderness.
For more information, including future author appearances, visit www.deborahleeluskin.com.