BRATTLEBORO, VT — A new exhibit called “Shedding Light on the Working Forest” opens at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) on Friday, October 2 at 5:30 p.m. during Brattleboro’s monthly Gallery Walk. After the opening, starting at 7 p.m., Brattleboro bands The Snaz and NVS (Nomad vs. Settler) will perform in front of the museum. Admission is free all night.
“Shedding Light on the Working Forest” features 29 paintings by artist Kathleen Kolb of Middlebury, Vermont, accompanied by poems and other writings by poet Verandah Porche of Guilford, Vermont. Kolb’s paintings depict loggers and logging equipment, saw mills, wood chip power plants, and other scenes from the region’s vibrant forestry industry. Porche’s writings derive from interviews with loggers and foresters, as well as her own ruminations on the subject matter. Organized by BMAC in collaboration with Forest*Care; Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation; Vermont Land Trust; and Windham Regional Commission, the exhibit has been sponsored by Cersosimo Industries, Allard Lumber Co., East Mountain Forestry, and Vermont Woods Studios. Kolb and Porche are expected to attend the opening on October 2.
Brattleboro band The Snaz was ranked #5 by the blog NonHollywood in a nationwide survey of indie bands. The teens write all their own songs and have been playing throughout New England and beyond for the last four years. The Snaz song, “Anna,” from their self-titled 2013 debut recording, was a radio favorite in Massachusetts and Vermont, topping out at #2 on 93.9 The River’s 2014 Song of the Year. In 2013 The Snaz gained national attention as finalists in NPR’s Radio 360. The Snaz were nominated for 2014’s Best New Act by the New England Music Awards. To begin 2015, The Snaz released their second CD, “Running Way From Home.” Both their CDs are produced by multiple Grammy Award nominee, Peter Solley, who simply says, “They are the best band in Vermont.” Special BMAC Connection: The Snaz’s lead singer, Dharma Ramirez, fulfilled her high school’s community-service requirement by volunteering at BMAC.
NVS (Nomad vs. Settler) is a Brattleboro-based band creating super fresh, all original, alternative rock. The group — Owen J, 11, bass; REi K, 11, rhythm guitar and vocals; Archer P, 14, lead guitar; and Jacob S, 12, drums — came together in July 2014. Since then, Rei and Archer have been collaborating on distinctive, complex songs, creating a sound that sets NVS apart from the average kid band. Special BMAC Connection: Archer apprenticed at the museum last spring, and Rei’s artwork was featured in the exhibits VT Kids Design Glass I and II.
Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. The museum’s exhibits and gift shop are open every day except Tuesday, 11-5. Regular admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for students. Members and children 18 and under are admitted free of charge. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit www.brattleboromuseum.org.
Major support for BMAC is provided by its members and C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, People’s United Bank, Brattleboro Ford Subaru, Whetstone Station Restaurant & Brewery, and Allen Brothers Oil.
