Singers
The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus’ spring session will begin the last week of February, and all women ages 10 and up are invited to join.
The theme of the music this spring will be “The Road Home.” The first rehearsals are Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church at 29 South St., and Thursday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Brattleboro Music Center at 72 Blanche Moyse Way.
These are open rehearsals, and singers are welcome to check out whether the chorus is right for them without obligation.
Founder and Director Becky Graber will be joined at a rehearsal by Moira Smiley, whose song “The Little Road” is in the repertoire. Other songs for the spring include “I’m Gonna Walk It With You,” “The Road Home,” and “People Get Ready” by Curtis Mayfield.
The chorus rehearses weekly to prepare for concerts on Mother’s Day weekend. Performing in the concerts is optional.
The fee is $120 for the session, and there are family and student rates as well as financial aid.
See BrattleboroWomensChorus.org for more info or call 802-254-8994.
Actors/Actresses
Auditions for Silverthorne Theater Company’s musical, “The Fantasticks” will be held Friday, Feb. 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Pushkin Gallery, 4 Federal St. in Greenfield.
“The Fantasticks,” the longest running musical in Broadway history, is an allegorical story that focuses on two young lovers, their meddling fathers, and the journey we all must take through adolescent thrills, hurt and betrayal, the highs of passion, the challenges of distance and the agonies of heartbreak to discover how to truly love.
All roles are paid. People of all body types and ethnicities are encouraged to participate. Those who audition should prepare a one- or two-minute memorized monologue or excerpt from a song, and bring a current resume and headshot to auditions, or send them electronically.
Callbacks will be held Sunday, Feb. 24, from 1 to 4 p.m. The play will be performed from June 20 to 29. Staging begins May 13.
For a full list of roles, visit silverthornetheater.org. Call 413-768-7514 or email silverthornetheater@gmail.com for more information or to schedule an audition.
Poets
The Friends of the Greenfield Public Library are seeking poems for the 28th annual Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest, which is open to all Franklin County residents and students.
Awards will be given in three categories: first, second and third place in the adult division, and the four top poems in the youth division for ages 12 to 18. (The youth category is divided into age brackets of 12 to 14 and 15 to 18 for judging.) The awards ceremony and poetry reading will take place in April.
The adult first-prize winner will receive stewardship of the Poet’s Seat chair, with his or her name on a plaque listing all the previous winners, as well as a handcrafted Poet’s Platter and a gift certificate to a local bookstore. All other winners will receive a handcrafted mug along with a gift certificate to a local bookstore.
Participants may submit up to three poems, with a deadline of March 4. Poets must:
■Number the pages of multi-page poems
■Indicate “Adult” or “Young Poet” on their submissions; Young poets should write and circle their age on the front of the sheet where the poem appears in the lower right-hand corner
■Not include identifying information on the front of sheet
■Not use staples on their works
■Write their name, address, telephone number and email address on the reverse side of each poem
■Submit their works on white paper, with words printed clearly in ink or typed in plain typeface
■Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for notification of receipt of entry, otherwise notification will come via email
Poems will not be returned, and only unpublished poems may be submitted. Previous first-place winners may not submit poems, though top-placing youth poets may resubmit when they enter a new age category.
Entries can be mailed to Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest, Greenfield Public Library, 402 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301. For more information, contact Hope Schneider by phone at 413-772-0257 or by email at hopeschneider395@comcast.net.
Photographers
The Deerfield Valley Art Association’s Center for the Arts in Northfield is seeking media photographers to show original or altered photos in an upcoming exhibit called “Off the Record: Images by New England News Photographers and Photojournalists.”
To be eligible, you must be an active employee or a regular paid freelance agent of a media outlet in New England and own the photos submitted.
The deadline to submit work is April 1. The exhibit will run from April 5 to May 19. For more information, email Marge Anderson at margedvaa@gmail.com.
Proposals
Organizers of the 10th annual Langstroth Bee Fest are seeking design proposals by Feb. 28 for large, fiberglass bee sculptures, the first multi-locale art installation in downtown Greenfield.
The sculptures will be on display in June as part of the festival and Greenfield’s weeklong celebration of Lorenzo Langstroth, the creator of the original wood frame beehive still used today.
There is no limit to the number of proposals an artist can submit. Submit digital proposals in PDF or JPG format. Also include an artist biography and a brief (no more than one-page) statement about your design. Previous public art experience may be included as examples of the artist’s work.
Finished bees will be approximately 38 inches long, 40 inches across (widest point of wings) and about 30 inches high. The bees will be at eye level when installed. Design proposals cannot contain direct advertisements for companies, products or services, and there can be no design proposals with offensive subject matter.
Artists must only work with approved types of paints and finishes to assure the longevity of the artwork on the fiberglass surface. The artwork will need to be protected with varnish before it leaves the studio, though an additional primer or gesso coat is recommended.
Artists or groups must be able to pick up and transport their bee to their studio from the staging area; and, from their studio back to the staging area. In certain extenuating circumstances, the Crossroads Cultural District Committee, which approves the designs, may be able to help.
Once an artist’s design is accepted, the artist will receive a total honorarium of $1,000. The Crossroads Cultural District will own the completed bee, and will have the right to reproduce and distribute the design for the purposes of promoting Bee Week.
Email design proposals to Rachael Katz at rachael7@comcast.net, or send them by mail to Greenfield Gallery, c/o Rachael Katz, 231 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301.
Vendors
The Bernardston Kiwanis Club is seeking artists, craftspeople and specialty food purveyors for its two-day Scarecrow in the Park event on Oct. 19 and 20.
The booth fee for the two-day weekend is $45 per 10-by-10-foot space and $70 for a 10-by-20-foot space. It is expected that artists will commit to the whole weekend, however, a limited number of single-day applications will be accepted at the full weekend price.
To receive an application for booth space or if you have questions, email scarecrowinthepark@gmail.com. Details are also available on the Scarecrow in the Park Facebook page.
Participants
The Pioneer Valley Mini Maker Faire is calling all “makers” — from scientists and engineers, to artists and craftspeople — to participate in its April 13 event at Smith College’s Davis Ballroom.
Participants must apply by March 4. For more information, visit pioneervalley.makerfaire.com or email capenannex@smith.edu.
