With a new program called Brattleboro Essential Arts Network (BEAN) Micro-grant Dinners, the museum and restaurant aim to enhance the vitality of art in thecommunity by encouraging dialogue and collaborative decision-making between artists and the general public.

Read more Reformer_BMAC Artists Funding.

The Town Arts Committee issues a call to local artists working in any and all media to participate in a project to further cement recognition of Brattleboro as a renowned center of artists and artisans.

The project, Horizontal Art, will transform Brattleboro’s material assets into works of art, and is a collaboration with the Public Works Department.

The art to be seen in the sidewalks is to be original art, is to be in compliance with the Town Arts Committee’s Public Arts Policy (www.brattleboro.org), and is to satisfy the technical parameters inherent in sidewalk construction.

The purpose of Horizontal Art is to create a showcase for Brattleboro’s artists and to create an aesthetically vibrant environment for the town with an envisioned outreach to all parts of town. This is an opportunity for the residents to enjoy the process and resulting creation of public art. This project is presently funded by donations to cover costs.

Please contact either Kate Anderson or Garry Jones (c/o Brattleboro Town Arts Committee, 230 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301)

We would like to thank The Richards Group and C&S Wholesalers for their financial support; Boys and Girls Club for helping with the set-up/clean-up, Brattleboro School of Dance, Brenda Siegal, Luminz Dance Studio, Cyndal Ellis, Anthony Manuel, Meg Van Dyke, Jahnavi Newson, Lauren Reedy, Brooke Paige. Brattleboro Music Center, Derrik Jordan, Lisa Ferrigno, Michelle Liechti, Peggy Spencer, Sabine Rhyne, Derrik Jordan, Julian Gerstin, Robin Matathias, Stephanie Petkanas, Phyllis Isaacson, George Adair, Vermont Jazz Center, Steve Sonntag / Dave Shapiro Jazz Quintet, Steve Sonntag, Paul Lieberman, Paul Arsianian, Dave Shapiro, Mirro Sprague, and food artisans Pepper Water and Cai’s Dim Sum Teahouse.  And, a big thank you to Orly Munzing and her wonderful staff at Strolling of the Heifers.

Public art is alive and well in Windham County.

Brattleboro ranks in national community poll
Reformer Staff / Reformer Staff
Thursday May 13, 2010

BRATTLEBORO — The town was among two Vermont cities recently listed among the Top Arts Destinations in American Style magazine’s annual readers’ poll.

Brattleboro was ranked No. 20 in the annual poll’s 25 Small Cities category (populations of up to 100,000); Burlington was placed at No. 12 on the list which featured Santa Fe, N.M., in the top spot, and which also included Boulder, Colo., Chapel Hill, N.C., Key West, Fla., and Carmel, Calif.

The 12th annual poll showcases the nation’s small, medium and large cities favored by art tourists and cultural travelers. Readers take into account such features as unique performance venues, premier galleries and year-round festivals.

“I’m delighted for both Burlington and Brattleboro and not at all surprised at their selection,” said Alex Aldrich, the executive director of the Vermont Arts Council. “Frankly, I am surprised that only two Vermont cities were named. My hope is that people visiting as a result of this article will discover that they have to return again and again to experience all the art and culture that Vermont has to offer.”

Wendy Rose, American Style publisher, credited the nation’s arts communities with paying a vital role in pulling the country out of the recession, with artists moving in to “dying Main Streets, shuttered factories and warehouse districts, and converted them into galleries and art scenes.

“Their murals, outdoor sculpture and other public art

enchanted tourists and helped spark new investment,” Rose said. “Artists led the way then, and they are leading the way now.”

The full list can be viewed online atwww.americanstyle.com.

http://www.reformer.com/ci_15074439?source=most_emailed

These are some of the questions to be explored at the first public artist potluck and forum hosted by Brattleboro-West Arts, Sunday, May 16 from 5:30-8:00 pm at the Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center.

Ceramicist Natalie Blake will share her story as a successful Brattleboro based artist. Information about her work and business is available at www.natalieblake.com.  General discussion will follow.

Artists and all interested in the topic are invited to bring food for a potluck starting at 5:30.  Potluckers should also bring their own plates and utensils.  The program and discussion will begin at 6:30.  Donations will be accepted to help pay for the space.

Brattleboro-West Arts is a diverse group of artists and craftsmen living and working west of Brattleboro along the Whetstone watershed The association is dedicated to improving the commercial and artistic success of its members.  BWA considers the arts to include not only the traditional visual, sculptural and performing arts, but also writing, landscape arts, and fine foods.

For more information contact Doug Cox at dcox@sover.net or 257-1024

The celebration will take place on June 5, 2010 at the River Garden in Brattleboro from 6-10PM.  FREE to the public but donations will always be accepted.

SCHEDULE

6-10PM: Visual artists’ works connecting art with agriculture will be on display.

6-10PM: Food artisans will be offering their talents

6:00-6:50PM: Luminz Dance presents a group of choreographers and dancers who collaborate with musicians to create new performance work.  An eclectic mix of pieces ranging from 20’s flappers to classic modern dance to capoeira/modern fusion.  Choreographers: Meg Vandyck, Joan Sanchez, Cyndal Ellis, Anthony Manuel, and Aurora Corsano

6:50-7:00PM: Brattleboro School of Dance: Under the direction of Kathleen Keller. Piece TBA

7-7:30PM: The Brattleboro Music Center presents: A world fusion piece by Derrik Jordan: “Welcome Santo” in three movements for kalimba, shekere, and string quartet and  ”The Jet Whistle” by Heitor Villa-Lobos for flute and cello. Featuring: Lisa Ferrigno, violin; Michelle Liechti, violin; Peggy Spencer, viola; Sabine Rhyne, cello; Derrik Jordan, kalimba; Julian Gerstin, shekere; Robin Matathias, flute

7:30-8PM: Stephanie Petkanas (voice), Phyllis Isaacson (piano) and George Adair (bass)

8-10PM: Steve Sonntag/Dave Shapiro Jazz Quintet, in collaboration with the Vermont Jazz Center.  The band started in 1993 as a trio and has gone through many configurations over the years. The current quintet consists of Steve Sonntag, tpt/flug; Paul Lieberman, sax/flute/piccolo; Paul Arslanian, piano; Dave Shapiro, bass; and Peter Moutis on drums. The musicians in the quintet have performed with a wide variety of artists including Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, The AJO, Chet Baker, Woody Herman and The Temptations, to name just a few. The band plays many jazz styles and will present original jazz compositions as well as some tasty jazz classics.

Food artisans include Cai’s Dim Sum Tea House.

Some funding has been received by The Richards Group and C&S Wholesalers.

COME HELP CELEBRATE OUR 35 WONDERFUL YEARS OF INSPIRING CREATIVITY!

For more information, please visit Strolling of the Heifers.

Students at Bellows Falls Union High School, Brattleboro Union High School, The Compass School, The Insight Photography Project, Leland & Gray Union High School, The Putney School, Twin Valley High School and Vermont Academy will have works in the shows .  Best in Show Awards in eight different categories: Drawing, Painting, Water Color, Photography, Ceramics, Sculpture, Mixed Media and Weaving will be presented at 7:30 pm at Vermont Artisan Designs & Gallery 2.  Awards are gift certificates for art supplies from Zephyr Designs.

The Arts Council of Windham County has sponsored Student Art Month in cooperation with Windham County art teachers since 1980.  These annual displays of student art provide an opportunity for the public to enjoy the creative expressions of young artists in our community and to appreciate the quality of instruction provided by our schools dedicated art teachers.  In addition to the High School Art Shows, there will be an Exhibition of works by Windham County elementary school students at Brooks Memorial Library opening on Saturday, March 6.   Art teachers tell us that students who have their works chosen for these shows for the general public are encouraged and validated for their efforts.   Come and see for yourself the imaginative works our young artists have produced and be sure to leave your response in our show guest books.

For more information about Student Art Month or to volunteer, call 254-2115.

This year Student Art Month will feature two shows of High School artists from March 5 to 31.

2D works will be on display at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro). 3D works will be exhibited at Vermont Artisan Designs & Gallery 2 (106 Main Street, Brattleboro).

There will be an exhibition of elementary school art at Brooks Memorial Library from March 6 to 31.

These shows provide the opportunity for Windham County art teachers to display their students’ works at libraries, businesses and storefronts throughout the county. In so doing, the Arts Council is recognizing the importance that art plays in the lives of young students and is fulfilling an important aspect of its mission to promote the arts as a vital part of the life, education and economy of Windham County through active collaboration with the creative, business and educational communities.

The High School Poster provides information about this year’s high school shows and presentation of Best in Show Awards in eight different categories.

Presentation of Awards will take place on Friday, March 5 at 7:30pm at Vermont Artisan Designs & Gallery 2.

For poster, click here.