by Ashley Witzenberger, Executive Director, Montpelier Alive
October is busy with fun events downtown. Kick off a long weekend on Thursday, October 16, from 6 to 9 p.m., with Moonlight Madness—blowout sales in downtown stores and star-gazing at the North Branch Nature Center. Don’t miss it!
Friday, October 17, from 4 to 8 p.m., it’s Montpelier Alive’s Fall Art Walk. Visit downtown stores, cafés and restaurants showcasing the visual-art talent of central Vermont artists.
The Fall Art Walk will whet your appetite for our new Montpelier Arts Festival, to take place on Saturday, October 18, from 4 to 8 p.m. Explore unique venues exhibiting local art, including visual arts, crafts, culinary arts, poetry, and performance art. Creative groups involved include Studio Place Arts, Vermont College of Fine Arts, the Art Resource Association, member artists of Montpelier’s gallery SIX, the Summit School, the Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Contemporary Dance and Fitness, and others.
State Street will be closed to vehicular traffic on the evening of October 18 to showcase craft artisans and performance art. An Airstream trailer, converted by the American Institute for Architects into a mobile design gallery and education center, will offer a unique State Street destination. Lastly, there will be a silent auction for Paint Montpelier, a fundraising and arts-promotion program that is part of the larger event.
Call to artists: The Montpelier Arts Festival invites all artists, young or old, professional or beginner, to participate in Paint Montpelier by creating, in one day—October 18—a piece of visual art, such as a painting, drawing, or sculpture, that depicts a Montpelier scene. The piece must be created within the city of Montpelier. The completed artwork will be sold at the end of the day at the silent auction mentioned above.
• Artists do not have to be Montpelier residents.
• Artists must be at least 14 years old.
• Registration is Saturday morning, 7 to 9 a.m., at the entrance to the farmers’ market.
• Pieces need to be turned in by 4 p.m., ready to display or hang.
• The silent auction and reception will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., on State Street.
• Proceeds from auctioned pieces will be split, with 50 percent going to the artists and 50 percent to Montpelier Alive.
• For more information, contact Jana Markow at 802-793-3473.
This week Montpelier Alive would like to thank the Kiwanis Club of Montpelier and the law office of Amy K. Butler for their continued support as members, and Emma Guyette as a stellar volunteer!
See you in Montpelier!
