BRATTLEBORO — On Saturday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m., Arts Alive invites artists and creatives to connect to Brattleboro through its local arts spaces. This field trip will convene at 10 a.m. at the River Gallery School of Art on Main Street.
With the community art school's gallery as the backdrop, participants will hear about a few local visual arts programs and businesses directly from the arts leaders who run them. Afterwards, visitors will tour the nearby Vermont Artisan Designs and Stone Church. Arts Alive will provide coffee, tea, and fresh baked goods.
To begin, River Gallery School of Art board member Carolyn DiNicola will give an introduction to the school, including a brief overview of its history, current programming, and various opportunities for artists and arts enthusiasts to get involved.
Following, Downtown Brattleboro Association (DBA) Creative Director Erin Scaggs will tell the story of Gallery Walk. As the founder of the current version of Gallery Walk, she will describe the seasonal monthly event that enlivens Brattleboro downtown and unites the local creative community. Also the program director for the Stone Church, Scaggs will also share about the Victorian-Gothic concert and event venue and her role within it.
Afterward, a short walk through the River Gallery School will segue into a tour of Vermont Artisan Designs, just up Main Street. Owner Greg Worden will lead participants through the two-level store and gallery space. He will talk about how he's created and maintained a stable downtown arts retail space and how the business advocates for the market for American crafts.
John Dimick, a Brattleboro-based watercolorist featured in the store, will talk about his work and relationship with Vermont Artisan Designs.
Finally, Scaggs will offer a tour of the Stone Church. The 140-year-old structure, whose character has been preserved through careful restoration, is juxtaposed weekly with rock, punk, folk, and metal music concerts, among other events.
Register at monadnockartsalive.org/artist-field-trips. Field Trips are $12 to cover the cost of refreshments and $7 for Arts Alive members. Limited space is available on most field trips. For information about accessibility, contact 603-283-0944 or [email protected].
This The Arts item was submitted to The Commons.