Vermont Humanities Events  

Chittenden

February 22 — Book Discussion: Five Great Short Stories by Anton Chekhov. Part of the Masters of the Short Story series. Short stories, as a modern genre, emerged in the early 19th century, and mushroomed with the development of journals and magazines. This series reflects both the short story’s 19th century roots and its later development as a 20th century art form. Led by Merilyn Burrington. Hosted by the South Burlington Community Library. South Burlington Community Library, 540 Dorset St, 7:00 pm. Louise J. Murphy, (802) 652-7076.

March 5 — Book Discussion: Klee Wyck by Emily Carr. Part of the Canadian Cultural Diversity series. Travel through Canada with four critically acclaimed books that make manifest Canada's cultural diversity. Led by William Tortolano. Hosted by the Wake Robin Retirement Community. Shelburne, Wake Robin Retirement Community, 200 Wake Robin Dr, 7:30 pm. Natalie Albers, (802) 985-0659.

March 7 — The 2012 Presidential Campaign. Former ABC News correspondent Barrie Dunsmore considers which Republican will likely face President Obama in November and analyzes the domestic and foreign policy issues most likely to dominate the campaign.A First Wednesdays lecture. Hosted by the Brownell Library. Essex Junction, Brownell Library, 6 Lincoln St, 7:00 pm. Penelope Pillsbury, (802) 878-6957.

March 7 — Book Discussion: To Be A Slave by Julius Lester. Part of the Slavery and the Civil War series. With the 150th anniversary of the Civil War beginning in 2011, this series examines the root causes of the War, and the experience of soldiers on both sides. Led by Merilyn Burrington. Hosted by the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Williston, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 21 Library Ln, 6:30 pm. Martine Fiske, (802) 878-4918.

March 9 — The Western Abenaki: History and Culture. Who were the native people of Vermont and how did they live? This lecture, by Jeanne Brink, examines the importance in Abenaki society of elders and children, the environment, and the continuance of lifeways and traditions. Hosted by the Milton Public Library. Milton Public Library, 39 Bombardier Rd, 3:00 pm. Kathy Dulac, (802) 893-4644.

March 12 — Vermont History through Song. Singer and researcher Linda Radtke, joined by pianist Arthur Zorn, brings Vermont history to life with engaging commentary about the songs found in the Vermont Historical Society's collection of sheet music. Dressed in period costume, Ms. Radtke takes listeners through state history, using the songs Vermonters published in their communities. Hosted by the Burnham Memorial Library. Colchester, Burnham Memorial Library, 898 Main St, 6:00 pm. Joshua Muse, (802) 879-7576.

March 17 — The Irish "Wave" in the Green Mountains. Beginning in the late 1840s and lasting through the 1860s, thousands of Irish immigrants, escaping the potato famine in their homeland, settled in Vermont. They arrived in the Green Mountain State just as Vermont was undergoing a mini industrial revolution—a revolution based on railroad construction, the quarrying of slate and marble, and on textile production. Vince Feeney, author of the recently published history of the Irish in Vermont, Finnigans, Slaters and Stonepeggers, tells the little-known story of the impact of Irish immigrants on Vermont life in the middle of the nineteenth century. Hosted by the Essex Free Library. Essex Free Library, 2:00 pm. Caitlin Corless, (802) 879-0313.

March 19 — Book Discussion: The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Divakaruni. Part of the Gastronomy: Novels about Food and Culture series. One of the most tantalizing ways to learn about a culture is through its food. These mouth-watering novels highlight how what we eat is closely aligned with who we are. Led by Lesley Wright. Hosted by the Burnham Memorial Library. Colchester, Burnham Memorial Library, 898 Main St, 6:00 pm. Joshua Muse, 802-879-7576.

March 26 — Book Discussion: Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen. Part of the Slavery and the Civil War series. With the 150th anniversary of the Civil War beginning in 2011, this series examines the root causes of the War, and the experience of soldiers on both sides. Led by Merilyn Burrington. Hosted by the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Williston, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 21 Library Ln, 6:30 pm. Martine Fiske, (802) 878-4918.

March 28 — Book Discussion: Selected Works of Flannery O'Connor by Flannery O'Connor. Part of the Masters of the Short Story series. Short stories, as a modern genre, emerged in the early 19th century, and mushroomed with the development of journals and magazines. This series reflects both the short story’s 19th century roots and its later development as a 20th century art form. Led by Merilyn Burrington. Hosted by the South Burlington Community Library. South Burlington Community Library, 540 Dorset St, 7:00 pm. Louise J. Murphy, (802) 652-7076.

April 2 — Book Discussion: Pelagie-La-Charrette by Antonine Maillet. Part of the Canadian Cultural Diversity series. Travel through Canada with four critically acclaimed books that make manifest Canada's cultural diversity. Led by William Tortolano. Hosted by the Wake Robin Retirement Community. Shelburne, Wake Robin Retirement Community, 200 Wake Robin Dr, 7:30 pm. Natalie Albers, (802) 985-0659.

April 3 — Competition and Collaboration: Painting in Early Renaissance Florence. Middlebury professor Katy Smith Abbott explores how competition led to great artistic achievements in fifteenth-century Florence—and how simultaneously a network of collaboration among artists, workshops, and patrons characterized painters’ daily experiences and productivity. Note: This talk takes place on a Tuesday.A First Wednesdays lecture. Hosted by the Brownell Library. Essex Junction, Brownell Library, 6 Lincoln St, 7:00 pm. Penelope Pillsbury, (802) 878-6957.

April 9 — Book Discussion: The Boys' War: Confederate and Union Soldiers by Jim Murphy. Part of the Slavery and the Civil War series. With the 150th anniversary of the Civil War beginning in 2011, this series examines the root causes of the War, and the experience of soldiers on both sides. Led by Merilyn Burrington. Hosted by the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Williston, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 21 Library Ln, 6:30 pm. Martine Fiske, (802) 878-4918.

April 16 — Book Discussion: Crescent by Diana Abu-Jaber. Part of the Gastronomy: Novels about Food and Culture series. One of the most tantalizing ways to learn about a culture is through its food. These mouth-watering novels highlight how what we eat is closely aligned with who we are. Led by Lesley Wright. Hosted by the Burnham Memorial Library. Colchester, Burnham Memorial Library, 898 Main St, 6:00 pm. Joshua Muse, 802-879-7576.

April 18 — Book Discussion: Park City by Ann Beattie. Part of the Masters of the Short Story series. Short stories, as a modern genre, emerged in the early 19th century, and mushroomed with the development of journals and magazines. This series reflects both the short story’s 19th century roots and its later development as a 20th century art form. Led by Merilyn Burrington. Hosted by the South Burlington Community Library. South Burlington Community Library, 540 Dorset St, 7:00 pm. Louise J. Murphy, (802) 652 -7076.

April 19 — George Houghton: Vermont's Civil War Photographer. A hidden gem in Vermont's history is the photographic work completed by Brattleboro photographer George Houghton. He took poignant views of Vermont soldiers in the field, camp, and at home. This program by Donald Wickman will explain some of Houghton's life and show a number of the images that brought the Civil War back to Vermont via photography. Hosted by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UVM. Burlington, University of Vermont, L403 Lafayette Hall, 5:30 pm. Cathi Cody-Hudson, (802) 656-2085.

April 30 — Book Discussion: Canoe Lake by Roy McGregor. Part of the Canadian Cultural Diversity series. Travel through Canada with four critically acclaimed books that make manifest Canada's cultural diversity. Led by William Tortolano. Hosted by the Wake Robin Retirement Community. Shelburne, Wake Robin Retirement Community, 200 Wake Robin Dr, 7:30 pm. Natalie Albers, (802) 985-0659.

May 2 — Beethoven’s Sketchbooks. In this performance lecture, pianist Michael Arnowitt considers Beethoven’s creative process by exploring Beethoven’s sketchbooks.A First Wednesdays lecture. Hosted by the Brownell Library. Essex Junction, Brownell Library, 6 Lincoln St, 7:00 pm. Penelope Pillsbury, (802) 878-6957.

May 19 — Vermont and the Civil War. From Cedar Creek to Gettysburg, Vermonters were central to the Union cause. Vermont author and Civil War historian Howard Coffin addresses the Vermont contribution to the Civil War. Hosted by the Green Mountain Folklore Society. Richmond Congregational Church, 1:00 pm. Ina Isham, (802) 879-1925.

May 21 — Book Discussion: Island by Alistair MacLeod. Part of the Canadian Cultural Diversity series. Travel through Canada with four critically acclaimed books that make manifest Canada's cultural diversity. Led by William Tortolano. Hosted by the Wake Robin Retirement Community. Shelburne, Wake Robin Retirement Community, 200 Wake Robin Dr, 7:30 pm. Natalie Albers, (802) 985-0659.

May 28 — Book Discussion: Paper Fish by Tina de Rosa. Part of the Gastronomy: Novels about Food and Culture series. One of the most tantalizing ways to learn about a culture is through its food. These mouth-watering novels highlight how what we eat is closely aligned with who we are. Led by Lesley Wright. Hosted by the Burnham Memorial Library. Colchester, Burnham Memorial Library, 898 Main St, 6:00 pm. Joshua Muse, 802-879-7576.