Greetings from the Sage Street Mill
(Home of the Vermont Arts Exchange, VAE)

Summer is here and there is a lot going on here at the mill.

At our new web site you can receive general info and find out about workshops, classes, camps, exhibitions and the Basement Music Series concert schedule as well as Arts and Healing programs. You can print out a register form for classes and buy tickets to the shows. So welcome, as you as join us on the web! If you don't have access to the web and would prefer to receive your news via snail mail, please let us know by filling out the area regarding this on the registration below and send back or fax to VAE.

In 2008 we have great art in the Mill galleries, art classes in the studios and new performers on stage with the Basement Music Series. Sculptor Joe Chirchirillo currently has his Water & Wind sculptures on exhibit in the small gallery. On exhibit in the main gallery is artist, Stephen Alcorn displaying his relief block prints of Modern Music Masters. These beautiful prints pay homage to the men and women who bridged the gaps between tradition and innovation, craft and genius, music and poetry, composition and improvisation, black and white. Speaking of music, the Basement Music Series has had a terrific season to date with lots of new faces and more to come when we start up in October! If you have not been to a show, mark your calendar now because you won't want to miss the opportunity to see such great live music in such an intimate setting. The artists that perform just rave at what a great venue it is to play in and more so, always an incredible audience. We applaud you all for supporting live music, keep it coming! Don't miss our annual Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra concert at Hildene Estate in Manchester Village on July 11th. Preceding the concert is a series of Latin Dance lessons taught by Ray Warren and Michael Rodriguez. The proceeds from the dance lessons go directly to benefit the VAE! If you can't make any of the lessons, you can get one on the night of the show. Doors open at 5:00pm and they'll be lots of food, good drink and the incredible original Latin dance music!

Our summer offering of Art camps for children is vast and filled with excitement, imagination and creativity. The VAE grounds and trails turn into sculpture parks and the inside studios on the first two floors turn into "art factories" which is appropriate for the building was originally built as a factory!

Our outreach work continues to flourish locally as well as throughout New England. This work, which began locally 16 years ago, is what VAE's mission is based on: "bringing the arts to people of all ages, abilities and income", and includes longtime partnerships with the Bennington School Inc.; youth-at-risk, United Counseling Service; developmentally delayed adults, The PLUS Program; special needs youth and the Vermont Veterans Home residents suffering from Alzheimer's/Dementia. With many of these programs, we integrate the youth with the elders for an intergenerational approach to the studio classes. Most of the art sessions/residencies culminate in an exhibition, performance or some form presentation for the community.

Through The Healing Arts: New Pathways To Health, we are developing a network of affiliated healthcare sites dedicated to developing sustainable partnership programs that deliver the highest quality arts and healing programs to targeted patients, residents and their caregivers. Artists such as dancers, writers, drummers, visual and multi media artists work intensively with staff and caregivers at each healthcare site as well as the young and old that are challenged physically and mentally, living with severe chronic illnesses and/or disabilities.

Connecting and sharing the highest quality artists as well as new programs and services, within a regional network of hub healthcare sites throughout New England is one way that we can expand our impact and share 'best practices' and 'lessons learned' with a committed network of arts and healthcare professionals throughout the region. For more information, go to: www.artsandhealing.net

Thanks to all who continue to support VAE, and remember, by helping the organization, and supporting these programs, you're helping us to meet our mission and touch so many lives through the arts.

We couldn't do it without you. Hope to see you this summer!

Sincerely,

Patricia Pedreira,
Executive Director, VAE
Program Director: The Healing Arts: New Pathways To Health

Matthew Perry
Artistic Director, VAE