We're in the thick of it: Stowe and summer arts. Everywhere you turn, there's the creative energy of actors, musicians, crafters, sculptors and other visual artists. Stowe is rife with creative types, and it's easy to find their wares, be it singing, dancing, acting, glass blowing, watercolor artistry, or jazz and blues guitar. Coupled with a perfect summer day or evening. the arts enhance the charm of Stowe. Here's your menu: (speaking of menu--dozens of places for a leisurely meal, a quickie cocktail, all of the above, and all al fresco, if you chose. I would so chose--summer, and life are short)
Starting with visual arts and crafts
EXPOSED! 2008 Outdoor Exhibition, presented by Helen Day Art Center, Stowe's non-profit arts organization. This is a walkable outdoor art exhbition that entertains and provokes the age-old question "what is art". Ho hum. Just enjoy. Their current indoor exhibition is Mexican master painter and muralist Rafael Caudero. Helen Day Art Center is also a part of one of the 4th Annual New Taste of Stowe Art Festival, This is a great culinary AND arts fest. Best of all worlds! Plus, 150 juried crafters--no junk here, folks--to quote their website, "All three dimensional media are represented including clay, glass, leather, jewelry, metal, wood, wearable and non-wearable fiber, sculpture, and other categories The ensemble makes for creative shopping and the region’s best art/craft show."
Little River Hotglass's Michael Trimbol is the creator of vivid and memorable blown glass art. You can see him at work here: http://www.littleriverhotglass.com/visit-process-video.html You can see Michael live and in person and puffing away by visiting the studio. Really fun for kids as they see bags of sand turn into something they can drink juice out of.
West Branch Gallery is an exceptional place. Right on the Little River, large scale sculpture to browse among, exquisite art from both emerging and established artists, both out and inside the indoor exhibition hall. Founders /owners Chris Curtis and Tari Swenson are enormously talented scultor andwatercolorist, respectively, and the heart and soul they bring to their art is apparent the moment you enter.
Lest you think that art is something that you hang and gaze upon, you may want to expand your knowledge at Cotswold Furniture Makers, where craftsman John Lomas makes your piece by hand. A sure-fire guarantee your heirs will end up with an heirloom.
Can't possibly omit Stowe Craft Gallery. Susan Bayer Fishman is an artist in her own right--breathtaking stained class is her medium. She and her husband Stephen Fishman are advocates and promoters of American craft, and their gallery is a testiment to that mission
Regional visual artists are featured at the Green Mountain Fine Art Gallery--you can definitely afford to invest in a collectible from a Vermont artist! Check out owner Sandra Noble's watercolors. Sandra and her husband Scott are also the driving force behind Third Thursdays gallery hop.
On to Performing Arts!
Since its humble beginnings in 1995, the Stowe Theatre Guild has presented oh, a zillion shows-- musical, comedy and a little Arthur Miller and Edward Albee for good measure. The Town Hall Theatre right in historic Stowe Village summer offers BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL; A DELICATE BALANCE (that's the Edward Albee part...), and an original comedy written and directed by Stowe Theatre Guild vet Carole Vasta-Folley.
Now this is REALLY historic: The Lamoille County Players began trodding the boards in 1954. This summer they will present GREASE and later this fall, 1776 (it's an election year! as director Dean Burnell qualifies).
New kid on the block Waterbury Festival Players consistently gives us first-rate comedies (sorry, but summer is made for laughing), including ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS; INDOOR/OUTDOOR, and later this fall WAIT UNTIL DARK. Wait...that's not a funny show. Oh, well.
The Vermont Mozart Festival gives you the opportunity to wine and dine in one of the most beautiful and music-friendly venues anywhere: Trapp Family Lodge Concert Meadow. Picnics underscored by fabulous music (or, music underscored by fabulous picnics...) are a huge summer tradition in Stowe. BTW, Beethoven RULES this summer.
Stowe Performing Arts is our non-profit arts presenter, and now that their Trapp Family Lodge Music in the Meadow concerts have run their course they've moved on to the smaller village venue, The Gazebo on the Helen Day Memorial. Picnics again are encouraged, and you can't miss a New England tradition, the Morrisville Military/Waterbury Community Combined Bands. Our friends and neighbors from the towns both north and south of Stowe bring a concert of favorites. And, because the Stowe Free Library shares the Helen Day Memorial Building, you can browse the hugely popular Porch Book Sale! A total of four concerts in the Gazebo, all presented by Stowe Performing Arts and The Friends of Stowe Free Library.
Cheers, and seize the summer!
Starting with visual arts and crafts
EXPOSED! 2008 Outdoor Exhibition, presented by Helen Day Art Center, Stowe's non-profit arts organization. This is a walkable outdoor art exhbition that entertains and provokes the age-old question "what is art". Ho hum. Just enjoy. Their current indoor exhibition is Mexican master painter and muralist Rafael Caudero. Helen Day Art Center is also a part of one of the 4th Annual New Taste of Stowe Art Festival, This is a great culinary AND arts fest. Best of all worlds! Plus, 150 juried crafters--no junk here, folks--to quote their website, "All three dimensional media are represented including clay, glass, leather, jewelry, metal, wood, wearable and non-wearable fiber, sculpture, and other categories The ensemble makes for creative shopping and the region’s best art/craft show."
Little River Hotglass's Michael Trimbol is the creator of vivid and memorable blown glass art. You can see him at work here: http://www.littleriverhotglass.com/visit-process-video.html You can see Michael live and in person and puffing away by visiting the studio. Really fun for kids as they see bags of sand turn into something they can drink juice out of.
West Branch Gallery is an exceptional place. Right on the Little River, large scale sculpture to browse among, exquisite art from both emerging and established artists, both out and inside the indoor exhibition hall. Founders /owners Chris Curtis and Tari Swenson are enormously talented scultor andwatercolorist, respectively, and the heart and soul they bring to their art is apparent the moment you enter.
Lest you think that art is something that you hang and gaze upon, you may want to expand your knowledge at Cotswold Furniture Makers, where craftsman John Lomas makes your piece by hand. A sure-fire guarantee your heirs will end up with an heirloom.
Can't possibly omit Stowe Craft Gallery. Susan Bayer Fishman is an artist in her own right--breathtaking stained class is her medium. She and her husband Stephen Fishman are advocates and promoters of American craft, and their gallery is a testiment to that mission
Regional visual artists are featured at the Green Mountain Fine Art Gallery--you can definitely afford to invest in a collectible from a Vermont artist! Check out owner Sandra Noble's watercolors. Sandra and her husband Scott are also the driving force behind Third Thursdays gallery hop.
On to Performing Arts!
Since its humble beginnings in 1995, the Stowe Theatre Guild has presented oh, a zillion shows-- musical, comedy and a little Arthur Miller and Edward Albee for good measure. The Town Hall Theatre right in historic Stowe Village summer offers BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL; A DELICATE BALANCE (that's the Edward Albee part...), and an original comedy written and directed by Stowe Theatre Guild vet Carole Vasta-Folley.
Now this is REALLY historic: The Lamoille County Players began trodding the boards in 1954. This summer they will present GREASE and later this fall, 1776 (it's an election year! as director Dean Burnell qualifies).
New kid on the block Waterbury Festival Players consistently gives us first-rate comedies (sorry, but summer is made for laughing), including ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS; INDOOR/OUTDOOR, and later this fall WAIT UNTIL DARK. Wait...that's not a funny show. Oh, well.
The Vermont Mozart Festival gives you the opportunity to wine and dine in one of the most beautiful and music-friendly venues anywhere: Trapp Family Lodge Concert Meadow. Picnics underscored by fabulous music (or, music underscored by fabulous picnics...) are a huge summer tradition in Stowe. BTW, Beethoven RULES this summer.
Stowe Performing Arts is our non-profit arts presenter, and now that their Trapp Family Lodge Music in the Meadow concerts have run their course they've moved on to the smaller village venue, The Gazebo on the Helen Day Memorial. Picnics again are encouraged, and you can't miss a New England tradition, the Morrisville Military/Waterbury Community Combined Bands. Our friends and neighbors from the towns both north and south of Stowe bring a concert of favorites. And, because the Stowe Free Library shares the Helen Day Memorial Building, you can browse the hugely popular Porch Book Sale! A total of four concerts in the Gazebo, all presented by Stowe Performing Arts and The Friends of Stowe Free Library.
Cheers, and seize the summer!
