Big Samuel de Champlain Celebration Coming Up

By LOHR McKINSTRY - Staff Writer

CROWN POINT — Quadricentennial Day could attract more than 3,000 spectators to the Crown Point State Historic Site and Champlain Memorial Lighthouse, organizers say.

The rededication of the historic lighthouse on Saturday is open to the public. New York First Lady Paige Paterson and Vermont Gov. James Douglas are tentatively attending.

“This is a signature event for the quadricentennial,” Historic Site Manager Thomas Hughes said. “It’s also the only bi-state and international event that’s part of the quadricentennial.”

Representatives from the French and Canadian governments are attending.

RODIN WORK

The event will also mark the rededication of the Auguste Rodin bust that adorns the front of the lighthouse.

The plaque was a gift from the French nation in 1911, when the lighthouse memorial was originally dedicated. It was recently restored and replaced on the lighthouse.

Crown Point Quadricentennial Day will have performances from musicians Martin Sexton, Justin Jones, Stephane Wrembel and Darren Bonaparte; French musician Piers Faccini; the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Band and others.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian David Hackett Fischer will speak on the memorial’s significance.

“A lot of planning has gone into this event,” Hughes said. “I don’t think it will disappoint anyone who attends.”

Local Boy Scouts, the Wild Center of Tupper Lake and the Northern Adirondack Arts Council will also have programs at the event.

There will be a screening at the Historic Site Visitor Center of “Dead Reckoning,” the upcoming PBS documentary about Samuel de Champlain’s exploration of the region, and the day will conclude with a fireworks display over Lake Champlain.

Art Fits Vermont is the Vermont Arts Council's second statewide community arts project.  The Council distributed 15" wood and paper puzzle pieces to encourage all Vermonters to create art.

Since April of 2008 this is what has happened:

~ They have given 9,500 wood puzzle pieces and 51,000 paper puzzle pieces to individuals, schools and community groups across the state.

~ 191 organizations and 146 schools are taking part.

~ 60,000 people - 10% of Vermont's population - are making art.

~ puzzlePALOOZA on Saturday, July 11th.  A Guinness World Record was set for the World’s Largest Jigsaw puzzle with over 1,600 pieces measuring 2,603 square feet! And I was part of it!

So, my little guy and me decided to give it a go. We had a lot of fun with the whole process. Making multi-media collage pieces seemed be the direction we were going in. First we decided to go exploring along the shores of Lake Champlain for "treasures" to create our puzzle piece. Then we painted the background of the puzzle pieces. Finally, we added all the beautiful objects we found.

Here are the final pieces. This is mine, "Lake Goddess"

This is Colin's. He didn't name it. He said, "Mom, *sigh* I don't want to name it." In that whiny, but sweet four year old voice.

I did it. I achieved puzzle piece.

As I mentioned in this post, I officially named my piece Cheezle. Well, I changed my mind. It’s now named Chaiku – the book component of the puzzle piece contains 12 haiku that I wrote about cheese.

Due to lack of time, I wrote the haiku in by hand. Unfortunately, I realized that I have to redo the book because one of my haiku is structurally unsound. Since a rebinding is imminent, I’m also considering typing up the haiku for the new version. Anyone have an opinion on this? Do you think that handwritten pages are more appropriate?

Here are the contents of the book:

    So many species.
    Goat, sheep, cow, and buffalo.
    Your milk is cheese gold.

    Twig Farm, Thistle Hill,
    Fat Toad, Cobb Hill, Dancing Cow.
    Vermont makes great cheese.

    Dripping off my toast.
    Brie, why are you so gooey?
    Soft cheese misbehaves.

    I sure do love cheese.
    What’s with the farting? Oy. Lac-
    tose intolerant.

    Cabot Cheese, World’s Best.
    Hunter’s Seriously Sharp.
    Eat until I barf.

    Philadelphia.
    Freshman year I met my match.
    How I love cheese fries.

    Mozzerella, ick!
    Some cheese I just can’t stomach.
    Un-American.

    Oh,what is that smell?
    Stilton, Roquefort, Camembert.
    Music to my nose.

    Hmmm…Mayor McCheese.
    When’s his term done? No…I mean…
    Expiration date?

    Greek legal asset,
    Feta cheese sure is salty.
    Why don’t you export?

    Mild bits are cheese curds,
    Not to be confused with turds,
    That would be absurd.

    Cheez Whiz, Kraft Foods spread.
    Velvety smooth, pour it on.
    What’s cheese food? Unreal.

Lotsa pieces againOn Saturday, my hubby and I (along with Chaiku) attended puzzlePALOOZA, an event held by the Vermont Arts Council as part of Art Fits Vermont. The Vermont Arts Council distributed 9,500 wood and 51,000 paper puzzle pieces to Vermonters – the number of participants translates to 10% of Vermont’s population participating in the project.

At 2:00 p.m., I was part of the Guinness World Record that was set for the World’s Largest Jigsaw puzzle with over 1,600 pieces measuring 2,603 square feet.

It was fun being involved in such a grand project.

Click here for the full blog post with images.

Art Fits Vermont, Puzzle Palooza, Breaking Records

The culmination of the Art Fits Vermont statewide community art project, Puzzle Palooza,  is happening this Saturday, July 11th at Battery Street Park in Burlington, where thousands of 15” uniquely crafted puzzle pieces will be on display.
 
Art Fits Vermont started in 2008 with a goal to showcase and celebrate art among Vermonters both young and old. Over 9500 wooden 15” puzzle pieces and 51,000 paper puzzle pieces were given out, free of charge, to individuals, art organizations, schools and community groups. With over 61,000 blank puzzle pieces given, that calculates to 10% of Vermont’s population making art and being creative.
 
Specific community events have been going on; displaying these works of art, but Puzzle Palooza is the statewide event encouraging all puzzle piece artists to display their work in one place. With Guinness Book on hand, they are counting on breaking some records.  The showcase of puzzle pieces will be from 10am-4pm, with the Guinness World Record count happening at 2pm. After the display, participants are encouraged to walk their pieces in 400 Celebration Parade. Also during the art show, Woods Tea Co. will be performing on stage to provide some music for the event between 1-3pm. Be sure to come out and see this huge display of art. With no guidelines or boundaries on what could be created, this event is sure to be unique and entertaining.

Art Fits Vermont in Springfield Schools

Students at Park Street School and Union Street School in Springfield took part in the Art Fits Vermont event. The statewide event used puzzle pieces for the canvas, and the pieces were put together to create giant murals on the walls of the schools. All of the students in both schools participated in creating the mural.

Park Street School will be closing in 2010. The school dedicated its mural to the memory of the school. Union Street's theme was Community Unity. The mural is a celebration of the consolidation of Union Street and Elm Hill schools, and Elm Hill students also worked on the mural. Both of the murals were overseen by our teacher Melanie Levine-Kinne.

On June 5th, 2009, the Vermont Arts Council hosted a reception for artists exhibiting thier puzzle pieces of art at the Council through the month of June. For exhibit information, go to the link below. Cindy's husband, Ira, graciously played photographer for the reception.

While I was there, I had the distinct pleasure of observing art admirers. It was wonderful being able to tell parents to let their kids touch my peice. Parents were great in clearly instructing children NOT to touch the art. Because my piece was 3-dimensional, with my wool fiber, sculpted bear pair (Mother bear and Cub) the children were able to touch and feel the art. It thrilled them to be able to interact with the art on a different level than simply visual.

It was wonderful interacting with other Vermont artists and sharing interest in the upcoming Puzzle-palooza, being held July 11th at the waterfront in Burlington. You can read more about the HUGE event on the Vermont Art Council website through the link below. And yes, I will be there with thousands of other artists! What an experience.

Stop by the Vermont Arts Council during the month of June to see the exhibit.
Best to all,
Cindy

Pieces of Vermont

Story by Kristen Carlson

A new art exhibit looks at how Vermont fits together. It's called Pieces of Vermont.

The Arts Council distributed 15-inch puzzle pieces to almost 60,000 Vermonters. The goal is to get people of all different ages and skill levels to try their hand at art. The project started last May and all the puzzle pieces were handed out free to schools, community groups and arts organizations.

At the Arts Council gallery in Montpelier 23 puzzle pieces are on display and there are also exhibits taking place in more than 100 towns.

"A lot of the people who are doing it are not professional artists, they are people who got interested in the project, picked up anything; a pen, a paintbrush, to as you can see all types of media and decided to create a puzzle piece and what's really fun is they all fit together. So no matter what you have done with your piece it will interact with another piece," said Diane Scolaro of the Vermont Arts Council. "We are (going to put them together) on July eleventh. We are going to have a giant tent at Battery Park in Burlington and we are inviting everyone to bring their puzzle pieces and we're going to put them together and it should be amazing."

There will be a reception for "Pieces of Vermont" next Friday, June 5 at the Arts Council.

Memorializing Park Street School

By Shari McBride, Editorial Assistant

As part of the “Art Fits Vermont” statewide puzzle piece projects sponsored by the Vermont Art Council, the faculty and students of Park Street School have decided to memorialize the Park Street school with a mural of memories that will eventually hang in the wall of the school.

Students are busy drawing these memories with pictures of the school before the fire, as it looks today and a story sent in by a former student in which she tells the story of wearing the same dress to chemistry class because she knew that she would get chemicals on it.

Park Street School will be closing in 2010 and to help keep the memories of the school alive, retired teacher Pat Graves and teacher Karen Peck have delivered questionaires for people to fill out asking for their stories of Park Street.

Art teacher Melanie Levine-Kinne has run an ad on SAPA requesting information with some success.

If you have any stories or memories that you would like to share please call Park Street School at 885-4774.

Keeping the Arts Alive, One Display at a Time

By Cristina Kumka (Staff Writer)

The artistic expression of Rutland students has recently been displayed in many forms - as complex as creating music with professional bands and as simple as self-portraits drawn on hundreds of paper puzzle pieces. So how important are the arts to Rutland students?

Teachers and students who gathered this week at the Diamond Run Mall for an Art Fits Vermont display of student drawings said the arts are alive and well in area schools and community arts leaders have begun to partner with students in projects outside the classroom to keep art on Rutland's radar.

Student Leah Zoesch, 10, searched the mall's walls Monday for the self-portrait she worked on in art class at Rutland Intermediate School.

Her dad, Jeff, wasn't far behind.

"Our teacher lets us do whatever we want," Zoesch said, after showing dad her unique creation.

"You draw or paint and after you're done, you can show everybody what you've done … all they gave us was a white piece of paper."

Jeff Zoesch, a self-described art lover, said he completely supported the school's art initiative.

"It gets them (students) to think … instead of the standard way, it makes them invent," he said.

While educators nationwide were busy this week promoting March as Youth Art Month, leaders from the Vermont Arts Council were conducting a statewide listening tour to find out what more was needed to keep nonprofit arts organizations up and running in a near-debilitating economic recession.

Minutes before the tour's Monday stop at Stafford Technical Center began with a broadcast on Vermont Interactive Television, Peter Miller, the Rutland City Public Schools fine arts coordinator, said partnering with schools and students is an important part of keeping the arts alive.

"When students think outside of the box, exciting things happen in other parts of life," Miller said.

"It's the difference between discrete learning skills and process-oriented skills."

When students create art, they aren't looking for correct answers like when they take a multiple-choice test, according to Miller.

There are not set answers - students find themselves in foreign territory and they are forced to accept the discomfort, he said.

"Art is a metaphor for life … it's something we have to work with, vision and possibility," he said.

Mary Crowley, arts mentor and member of the board at the Chafee Arts Center, said students, when creating self-portraits, are forced to choose what to include in their image and what colors to use.

"They have to really think 'Who am I?'" Crowley said.

"Any creativity makes the brain more alive for everything else."

Schools have become an integral part of bringing excitement for the arts out of the classroom and into the community, according to Patricia Kreitzer, coordinator for Rutland Creative Economy.

In 2008, the Vermont Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts awarded Rutland Creative Economy $5,000 in seed money to put on ArtHop Rutland downtown, a Friday night event featuring bands and local art.

To subsidize the costs of paying for the weekly event, the Rutland Creative Economy partnered with Stafford - the school pays part of the cost of hosting the band in exchange for education, according to Kreitzer.

This past Friday, students in Stafford's music program mixed tracks with the Brooklyn, N.Y., gyspy klezmer tango band Luminescent Orchestrii at the school, Kreitzer said.

Professor Bill Comstock and students in Stafford's Jazz and Contemporary Music program opened their in-house studio to Luminescent to work with the group and learn from them during the day.

"None of us can do it alone," Kreitzer said, on art revival in the area."

Story and photos by Shari McBride, Editorial Assistant

The Riverside Middle School Student Council invites everyone to come view their puzzle piece display at the VAULT gallery from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 26. The students have been taking part in ART Fits Vermont, which encourages students to express themselves through their artwork.

Students of all grades are participating in this project and it is all about teamwork, whether it be outlining, sketching or making the invitations. Student Council President and artisan, Lauren Bolduc, said the project was fun “because everyone came together and did stuff”. The students meet for 30 minutes Monday through Friday, to draw, cut and paint these puzzles, each hoping to share a piece of their personality and show off Vermont. If unable to attend the reception on the 26th, the display will be up until March 18.

BRATTLEBORO -- Art Fits Vermont is this year's statewide community arts project presented by the Vermont Arts Council and its partners.

With 60,000 puzzle pieces distributed statewide, each decorated puzzle piece becomes an individual work of art that can potentially connect to other pieces of the puzzle from one end of the state to the other. Art Fits Vermont will last through July, when the Vermont Arts Council will hold the culminating event, a giant PuzzlePalooza, to be held in conjunction with the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration.

Linda Whelihan, local arts educator, has created an Art Fits kickoff for Brattleboro with several events on Gallery Walk night, Friday, Feb. 6.

The Robert H. Gibson River Garden will be "Puzzle Central," with an artist reception and exhibit of student work from Brattleboro Union High School (advanced studio, fundamentals, and diversity classes), Brattleboro Area Middle School, Leland & Gray and The Grammar School. In addition, other area artists and community members will have puzzle pieces on display.

For hands-on puzzle fun, Beadniks has donated supplies for jewelry-making with miniature puzzle pieces. Whelihan adds, "Drummond Biles, a senior at BUHS who works at Beadniks, is captain of the Nordic ski team. He's organized a jewelry-making event to support the team." The ski team will have some ready-made puzzle jewelry available for a $5 donation. The Vermont
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Arts Council's ArtMobile will also be on hand for puzzle-related activities.

Starting Gallery Walk night and continuing through February is the Art Fits Scavenger Hunt. Downtown businesses have decorated puzzle pieces to represent themselves in wonderful and creative ways. These pieces of puzzle art will be displayed in each others' businesses. The public is invited to pick up a scavenger hunt form and match the business with the correct puzzle piece. Forms can be picked up and returned to the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center or the River Garden. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the month for three of the correct submissions.

"It's not too late to get involved," said Whelihan. "There's room for many more pieces of puzzle art at 'Puzzle Central.' Painting, sculpture, found objects, anything that will fit on a 15-by-15 puzzle piece can be part of our big connection between the community and the arts."

Blank wooden puzzle pieces are still available at Vermont Artisan Designs and Brattleboro Arts Initiative, Room 112 at the Latchis. Contact Linda Whelihan at l.whelihan@comcast.net for more information.

Something puzzling is going on in Rutland City this Friday.

This week's Friday Night Live, which runs from 6 to 10 p.m. each week through Aug. 22 in downtown Rutland along Center Street and Merchants Row, will feature many of the usual foods, vendors and entertainers that have made the event a summer staple.

This week also features the monthly ArtHop Rutland event from 5 to 8 p.m. throughout the city, holding displays at the Chaffee Art Center, Timco Gallery, Café Terra, Vermont Creates, Paramount Box Office, Brick Box, Arts and Antiques on Center.

This month's ArtHop includes "Art Fits Vermont," a display of hundreds of differently decorated pieces of puzzle art scattered about the city in addition to its regular demonstrations and art openings.

Also making appearances at Friday Night Live this week include a number of performers and entertainers.

Todd Wellington, "The King of Silly," will perform his all-ages act, a unique blend of juggling, unicycle, balloons, magic and his own brand of physical comedy at the children's stage.

Local musical favorites Rick Redington and the Luv, who have toured with members of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, will perform first on the main stage. Vermont's blues-diva Sandra Wright and her band, will follow.

Woodchuck's Revenge will be performing in the street from 6 to 8 p.m.

For more information, call 773-9380

Listen to an interview with Alex Aldrich on VPR.

MORE THAN 60,000 TO PARTICIPATE

MONTPELIER – The Vermont Arts Council will launch their newest initiative, Art Fits Vermont: A Statewide Community Arts Project That’s Greater than the Sum of its Parts, on Wednesday at the Statehouse.

The project, which is expected to involve more than 60,000 Vermonters, will be kicked off during an 11:30 a.m. press conference in the Cedar Creek Room.

The announcement is part of the Annual Arts Achievement Day which showcases art and artists, and provides an opportunity for arts advocates to meet with legislators to discuss the important role the arts play in their communities.

In 2006, 40,000 Vermonters from 247 towns took part in Palettes of Vermont, a statewide art project involving wood and paper palettes. Participants represented more than 180 organizations and 145 schools. Between Memorial Day and Columbus Day 2006, there were more than 250 palette exhibitions and festivals spanning the state.

Art Fits Vermont will allow even more Vermonters to create and share art, according to Arts Council officials. At least 8,000 wood and 50,000 paper puzzle pieces will be distributed to individuals, community organizations and schools. Puzzle events will begin this spring and continue through January 2010.

Art Fits Vermont has been designated one of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration Partnership Projects. PuzzlePalooza, a statewide celebration involving all Art Fits Vermont participants, is scheduled for July 2009 in Burlington, as part of the Quad Celebration. In addition to distributing puzzle pieces to Vermonters, a number of pieces will be given to artists in New York State, Quebec and France. These pieces will be joined with Vermonters’ pieces to form a massive art display during the celebration.

Other Arts Achievement Day events include advocacy training and tips on effective citizen lobbying, lunch with Legislators, tour of the State House Art Collection, and a recitation by Caleb Smith-Hastings, Vermont’s Poetry Out Loud State Champion. At 2 PM, the Council on the Future of Vermont will host a session titled “A Conversation on the Future of Vermont”. This discussion is an opportunity for artists and cultural organizations to envision how the arts can impact Vermont for the next generation.

The day will conclude with a reception at 4 p.m. in the Cedar Creek Room. Arts Citation Awards will be presented to Sabrina Brown, Executive Director of Pentangle Arts Council in Woodstock, Paul Costello of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, and Mary Prior of Danville. Members of the Vermont Youth Orchestra will perform during the reception.

Arts Achievement Day events are free and open to the public. For a schedule of events or to learn more about Art Fits Vermont, visit the Vermont Arts Council’s website www.vermontartscouncil.org.
 

VT Arts COUNCIL AIMS TO SPOTLIGHT VALUE OF ART

BY JAMES ASKEW

If there was any question about the value of art in Vermont; the Vermont Arts Council has given a definitive answer.

In January 2006, the council launched its first statewide arts project: Palettes of Vermont and nearly 40,000 Vermonters (6 percent of the population) in 247 towns, 147 schools and 180 organizations participated in the program.

The project was the brainchild of artist Warren Kimble. Having organized community art projects in and around Brandon, where he lives, Kimble brought his statewide idea to the arts council.

The idea was this: Distribute free of charge 37,000 blank, palette shaped canvases, made of either wood or paper, and allow artists of all ages, styles, media and skill levels to create what they would.

In less than six weeks, the palettes were gone, spurring nearly 280 palette-related art events statewide and raising more than $300,000 from palette sales.

On Wednesday, April 16, the arts council will launch its second big push: Art Fits Vermont. The launch coincides with Arts Achievement Day, a day-long celebration of art in Vermont that will be held at the Statehouse in Montpelier.

Arts Fits involves puzzle pieces, and 58,000 pieces (8,000 in wood and 50,000 in paper) are slated for distribution. One paramount question the council is asking arts advocates and residents is this: How will the arts affect the future of Vermont?

Nathan Suter, executive director of the Helen Day Art Center in Stowe, says statewide arts projects are great for one simple reason: They inspire a lot of people to try their hand at art.

And that, he says, is always a good thing.

"I think art and engaging in free expression and creativity really does influence and expand the abilities of the next generation, or any generation for that matter," Suter said.

THE KILLINGTON ARTS GUILD ANNOUNCES ART FITS VERMONT

Smell the Roses, Make/Paint A Puzzle, Your Mother in Laws Portrait, The Mona Lisa, Tic- Tac- Toe. Your Old Sox!

We have all been looking for some kind of unusual fun thing that our community could enjoy together.... The Killington Arts Guild (KAG) feels this is it!!! It's called "Art Fits Vermont!" Thanks to the Vermont Arts Council.

It's a perfect time for us all, while we are beginning to leam what Growing a Community really means. This is a found, genuine opportunity to get together, have some fun, stretch our minds and be a "fun" raiser for the KAG. Make a puzzle any way you please, paint, out, paste, nail. KAG will help you in workshops. We will have fun events: A Sneak preview Show & Tell event, exhibit & sales, potluck food & music. It's certainly different, definitely fun while supporting our own community.

The Arts Council will support us in this project and allows sales moneys to remain with the puzzle makers and the local arts organization. Each puzzle maker may choose their way to help. 1) Keep 100% of sale price. 2) Give 50% to KAG. 3) Give 25% to KAG. 4) Give 100% to KAG. KAG will help you place fair price on your puzzle.

Puzzles are FREE - but they need to be ordered SOON! The Art's Guild gave 7,000 palettes in 2007 this year 8,000 puzzles will be given out. Go on line: www.vermontartscouncil.org — Go to Art Fits VT. Do it now and don't miss the fun.

VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL TO BEGIN NEW INITIATIVE

A statewide arts initiative, organized by the Vermont Arts Council, is coming to Vermont beginning next summer.

Art Fits Vermont will involve puzzle pieces made of wood and paper handed out by the Arts Council. "Puzzle-related events" will begin next summer and continue through the summer of 2009, according to the council. The 400th anniversary celebration of Samuel de Champlain's exploration of Lake Champlain, in July 2009, will feature PuzzlePalooza.

"The puzzle pieces will form a massive visual display signifying the creativity, history and lake that unites Vermont and neighboring regions," according to a news release from the Vermont Arts Council.

For more information, visit www.vermontartscouncil.org.
 

VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL ANNOUNCES ART FITS VERMONT

It's been nearly two years since Palettes of Vermont took the state by storm with nearly 40,000 Vermonters creating art on wood or paper palettes. On Wednesday, February 20th the Vermont Arts Council will hold an informational meeting in North Hero at the Lake Champlain Islands Chamber office at 5:30 p.m. to discuss a new project "Art Fits Vermont - A Statewide Community Arts Project That's Greater than the Sum of its Parts".

The Arts Council will distribute nearly 60,000 wood and paper puzzle pieces to individuals, community organizations and schools across the state. Puzzle-related events will take place beginning in summer 2008 and continue through 2009. PuzzlePalooza, a statewide celebration of art and creativity is scheduled for July 2009 in Burlington, as part of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration.

The formal launch of Art Fits Vermont will take place on April 16 at the State House as part of Arts Achievement Day. In upcoming weeks, Council staff will visit communities to introduce the project and relay experiences from Palettes of Vermont. These meetings are an opportunity for local organizers to network and share ideas for economic and community development through the project. The meetings are primarily for organizations and schools interested in taking part in Art Fits Vermont but anyone is welcome to attend.

Art Fits Vermont is the second statewide community arts project created and produced by the Vermont Arts Council. In 2006, the Council distributed 7,000 wood and 30,000 paper palettes to 180 organizations and 145 schools. Residents from 247 of Vermont's 251 towns participated. More than 280 palette-related events took place and the sale of palette art raised more than $300,000 for Vermont communities. Beyond the level of participation or even the body of work that was created, Palettes of Vermont demonstrated a significant community and economic impact.

Art Fits Vermont will provide even more communities with the opportunity to raise funds and community awareness through the arts. Through a marketing partnership with the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, Art Fits Vermont is expected to draw visitors from well beyond the state's borders. A number of puzzle pieces will also be given to artists in New York State, Quebec and possibly France. The completed art will join puzzle pieces created by Vermonters at PuzzlePalooza, an exhibit held in conjunction with the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration in July 2009. The puzzle pieces will form a massive visual display signifying the creativity, history and lake that unites Vermont and neighboring regions.

Art Fits Vermont is presented by the Vermont Arts Council in partnership with the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, and sponsored by Chittenden Bank and the Vermont Wood Manufacturers Association. For more information on Art Fits Vermont, visit www.vermontartscouncil.org.
 

PALETTES OF VERMONT MEETING ON FEB. 12

It's been nearly two years since Palettes of Vermont took the state by storm with nearly 40,000 Vermonters creating art on wood or paper palettes.

On Feb. 12, the Vermont Arts Council will hold an informational meeting in Rutland at the Chaffee Center for the Visual Arts on South Main Street. The meeting is set for noon.

This year's project, "Art Fits Vermont: A Statewide Community Arts Project That's Greater than the Sum of its Parts," involves the arts council distributing nearly 60,000 wood and paper puzzle pieces to individuals, community organizations and schools across the state. Puzzle-related events will take place beginning in the summer of 2008 and continuing through 2009.

PuzzlePalooza, a statewide celebration of art and creativity, is scheduled for July 2009 in Burlington, as part of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration.

The community meetings, such as the one taking place next week in Rutland, is an opportunity for local organizers to network and share ideas for economic and community development through the project.

The meetings are primarily for organizations and schools interested in taking part in Art Fits Vermont but anyone is welcome to attend.
 

VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL "CONNECTS" WITH A NEW STATEWIDE PROJECT

By Pamela Polston

Last year the Vermont Arts Council ran a statewide arts campaign, called Palettes of Vermont, that engaged 118 organizations and 40,000 palette-painting participants in 247 of the state's 251 towns. (Aren't the other four gores or something?) Most of those towns hosted painting-party workshops and exhibits of their palettes, and collectively raised some $300,000. On the heels of that happy success, this year's project, dubbed Art Fits Vermont, is a puzzle.

Literally.

"Since we accomplished all our goals last year, we took the time to think about whether we wanted a theme, " says Diane Scolaro, communications and development director at the VAC. "The thing that was the most outstanding result was the connections between people " artists connecting with communities, communities with other communities, etc. " Bingo: Nothing says connection more than puzzle pieces, right?

Beginning in April, participants will be given an outsized puzzle piece to decorate as they see fit. It's approximately 14 by 14 inches, with "two innies and two outies,” as Scolaro puts it, "so it's universally connectable.” The Vermont Wood Manufacturers will provide about 8000 wood puzzle pieces, she explains. Another 50,000 paper versions will be made available to kids in school or summer camp programs. "So right there we're looking at almost 60,000 pieces,” Scolaro adds.

The scope of the puzzle project is more ambitious in other ways, too; for starters, it will last 18 months rather than just a year. "The Lake Champlain Quadricentennial is an opportunity to showcase to a much larger audience,” says Scolaro, who notes that on the weekend of July 4, 2009, "we'll put on 'Puzzlepalooza.' We'll line the lakeside with thousands of puzzle pieces. “

The VAC is partnering with the state's tourism department to make sure visitors find out about puzzle events, too. And that's not all. This year, the neighbors are invited. Because of the Lake Champlain celebration, Scolaro says, "We will give puzzle pieces to artists in Quebec and New York, as well as France.” France? Mais oui" the birthplace of explorer and lake namesake Samuel de Champlain, n'est-ce pas?

Though it may involve connecting puzzle pieces along the Burlington Bike Path, the grand finale of the project is still TBA. "Someone suggested getting puzzle pieces to cross the lake,” Scolaro confides. But first things must come first: Until March 26, VAC staffers will be hosting meetings in towns across the state to toss around ideas and network with community organizers. And then there's that all-important fundraising part. "In our endless quest for money, we're going to request $90,000 from the legislature,” says Scolaro. "We saw last time those communities that participated were able to leverage income from the Palettes project. If we can get the legislature to invest, we're pretty sure the return on the investment will be worthwhile. “

Either way, Art Fits Vermont will launch on April 16. To find out the meeting schedule or otherwise get involved in this project that's "bigger than the sum of its parts,” visit www.vermontartscouncil.org.

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IN WAKE OF POPULAR PALETTES ARTS COUNCIL HAS A FIT

It's been nearly two years since Palettes of Vermont took the state by storm with nearly 40,000 Vermonters creating art on wood and paper palettes. On April 16, the Vermont Arts Council will launch a new project - Art Fits Vermont: A Statewide Community Arts Project That's Greater than the Sum of its Parts.

The Council plans to distribute nearly 60,000 wood and paper puzzle pieces to individuals, community organizations and schools across the state. Puzzle-related events will take place beginning in summer 2008 and continue through 2009. PuzzlePalooza, a statewide celebration of art and creativity is scheduled for July 2009 in Burlington, as part of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration.

In upcoming weeks, Council staff will visit communities to introduce the project and relay "experiences from Palettes of Vermont These meetings are an opportunity for local organizers to network and share ideas for economic and community development through the project. The meetings are primarily for organizations and schools interested in taking part in Art Fits Vermont hut anyone is welcome to attend.

The upcoming Northeast Kingdom event will he taking place at the St. Johnsbury Academy on Feb. 25 at 4 p.m.

Art Fits Vermont is the second statewide community arts project created and produced by the Vermont Arts Council. In 2006, the Council distributed 7,000 wood and 30,000 paper palettes to 180 organizations and 145 schools. Residents from 247 of Vermont's 251 towns participated. More than 280 palette-related events took place and the sale of palette art raised more than $300,000 for Vermont communities.

Art Fits Vermont will provide even more communities with the opportunity to raise funds and community awareness through the arts. Through a marketing partnership with the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, Art Fits Vermont is expected to draw visitors from well beyond the state's borders.

A number of puzzle pieces will also be given to artists in New York State, Quebec

and possibly France. The completed art will join puzzle pieces created by Vermonters at PuzzlePalooza, an exhibit held in conjunction with the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration in July 2009. The puzzle pieces will form a massive visual display signifying the creativity, history and lake that unites Vermont and neighboring regions.

For more information on Art Fits Vermont, visit www.vernontartscouncil.org.
 

STATEWIDE ARTS PROJECT
WCAX – Jack Thurston

Montpelier, Vermont - Colorful images, beautiful designs. But this is just the start of a puzzle that needs the input of thousands. The Vermont Arts Council is launching Art Fits Vermont-- a statewide arts project.

"You don't have to explain to people what art is and why it's important once you've given them that experience. They know it," explains Alex Aldrich of the Vt. Arts Council.

The group will distribute thousands of wooden puzzle pieces for artists, and paper pieces for schoolchildren to decorate so they can hang the work in their communities.

"Our goal at the moment is to be much better prepared for the onslaught of people who want to participate in this project than we were last time," says Aldrich.

Last time, was the 2006 Palettes of Vermont project. More than 7,000 artists and 30,000 schoolchildren took part. The goal then-- as it is now-- was to make art accessible to a wide audience while promoting cultural tourism.

"There were artists in 247 of Vermont's 251 towns involved in Palettes, which I think is astonishing," says Aldrich.

State tourism officials say the effect on commerce could be equally as astonishing. Commissioner Bruce Hyde expects the puzzle pieces to draw attention from out-of-state media, luring visitors to Vermont's smallest towns and largest cities. He also thinks it's a good kickoff for another large regional celebration: the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's arrival in Lake Champlain.

"As chair of the quadricentennial commission, I'm hopeful we'll get New York, Quebec, and even France to participate in this project. And we'll put together a whole new puzzle full of history, culture, and friendship," says Hyde.

Next week, the Vermont Arts Council will start meeting with artists and community groups to drum up interest in the project. The first puzzle pieces should go on display in the late spring or early summer.
 

ARTS COUNCIL PIECES TOGETHER A NEW PROJECT

By Sarah Hinckley Herald Staff

Two years ago, the state of art in Vermont was taken over by palettes — this year the Vermont Arts Council will be distributing wooden and paper puzzle pieces on which artists can leave their mark.

Art Fits Vermont: A Statewide Community Arts Project That's Greater than the Sum of its Parts is scheduled to be launched April 16. Beginning in February, the Arts Council will be visiting 16 communities to introduce the project and share experiences from the first project, Palettes of Vermont.

Nearly 40,000 Vermonters created an original design on wooden and paper palettes in the project that lasted for six months in 2006. All but four towns in the state had someone participate and 145 schools — approximately half of those in the state — were involved.

"The palettes project was just unbelievably wonderful," said Diane Scolaro, communications and development director for the Vermont Arts Council. "As soon as it was over, everybody started asking what was next."

The announcement for the puzzle pieces was released Monday and the council's phone had been ringing off the hook throughout the day, Scolaro said. Delivery of the 14-square-inch puzzle pieces, distributed free through the Arts Council, is set for the beginning of April.

"We just give them out to the communities," Scolaro said, noting it is up to the recipients to make the most of the experience. "I think this project is going to be huge."

It is set to go for 20 months and be presented at PuzzlePalooza, which is part of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration in Burlington in July 2009. The puzzle pieces are designed as middle pieces, with "two innies and two outies," according to Scolaro.

"I don't expect that all 60,000 pieces will fit together, but they're being made so we could," she said. "I have this vision that they will just line the bike path — miles and miles of puzzle pieces."

Palettes of Vermont resulted in 280 palette-related events and the sale of palette art among participating communities raised $300,000. During that project the Arts Council took notes, interviewed participating individuals and organizations, did surveys and evaluated the outcomes.

The Vermont Arts Council is 43 years old and one of the leading advocates and endorsers of the arts in the state. The objective behind the palette and puzzle projects is to give communities a way to engage people, raise money and bring visitors into the region.

"I don't know that we'll do this again, so we want to make sure we get as many people as we can," said Scolaro. "This is a model we're hoping will be conducted on the community level."