The Story of Island Arts
The Beginning
Island Arts was brought to life in the late 1970s, in Katya Wilcox’s Dance Studio in North Hero Vermont. It began with a few artist friends performing and teaching over a week-end, and in 1984 took the shape of a two-week-long summer offering. Over the next 35 years Island Arts grew into a full-fledged Summer Festival. Its hub was the North Hero Community Hall. The St. Anne Shrine in Isle La Motte, the Historic Preservation Trust’s Grand Isle Lake House, Eagle Camp, Knight Point State Park, and Camp Ingalls were often used for performances, exhibits, and/or instruction.
In South Hero, the then Merchants Bank offered its meeting room in the historic Ethan Allen Tavern as a gallery space.
Over the years Island Arts developed unique projects such as Kids Arts Exchange between our five local Grand Isle County schools and four schools in Bhutan, a Tibetan Buddhist country nestled in the Himalayas. Our school children enjoyed the visit of Kenpho Phuntsok Tashi, head of the National Museum of Bhutan in Paro. The children loved him. He also taught Grand Isle County residents how to meditate, and a group gathered for years after his visit to meditate together.
We also offered Movement Choirs, Community Dances, Kite Festival, wooden bows Archery Contest, and “Honoring Native Ways” Festivals. Other events included Traditional Chinese Lion Dance performed for Good Luck, African dance and drumming with Yaya Diallo, traditional Québécois dances with Michèle Choinière, Margaret Morris Movement (MMM) classes, and Shakespeare in the Park. Robert Rousseau offered training in the practice of Tai Chi and Qigong, as he continues to do today—30 years and counting!
In the late 1980s, Island Arts and Linda Fitch of Isle La Motte created our own Champlain Island Symphony Orchestra! For two years local musicians played with musicians from NYC and Montreal under the baton of Joe Eger, who had been conductor of the Symphony for United Nations and also a horn player.
We fundraised for 20 years with a yearly House Tour and Outer Island Day boat trips. In 1991 we had High Tea and Music on Fish Bladder Island to benefit the Symphony Fund of the Celebration of the Arts.
In 1988 Island Arts incorporated as the Champlain Islands Celebration of the Arts, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our programs extended to Grand Isle County libraries, churches, schools, parks, and Camp Abnaki for instruction and visual, literary and performing arts events.
The People
Lyn Jarvis took on Island Arts marketing, producing videos, informing newspapers, and paying for ads to publicize our events across the Northern Tier. Marco Ayala gave countless hours to video production and graphics work. George Fowler, owner of The Islander newspaper, took on the role of treasurer for years. Bob Ayers spent untold hours working with each County school to identify the best ways for Island Arts to support County-wide “Arts Boost” programs. Mary Jo McCarthy took on the Island Arts Gallery program which she has continued to oversee for over 20 years.
Music, Dance, & Nature
Island Arts dreamed of creating a summer music school, and pianist Young Bao came to perform in the Islands for several years. He created the Island Arts’ Yang Bao Tone Studios, bringing young dancers, musicians, and improv from Julliard to Vermont to offer both performances and local classes. A generous benefactor sponsored this program.
Pianist Jorge Garcia Herranz from Paris visited the Islands and began giving annual concerts. The 8 Cuerdas Duo of soprano and classical guitar offered a stunning program of Spanish and South American composers. Birding expert Maeve Kim, long an Island Arts favorite teacher, began virtual classes on Zoom, and folk dance classes continued despite a pandemic “distancing” requirement.
The Jazz
Jazz has always been an equally important part of Island Arts’ mission and cultural span. Local concerts with the famous Charlie Biddle on “fiddle” were followed a few years later by those of the civil rights activist and professor Dr. Larry McCrorey on saxophone. An Island Arts scholarship in Dr. McCrorey’s name helps local youth follow their dream of playing better jazz. Today’s jazz program is under the leadership of musician and educator, clarinetist Tony Pietricola. Today’s jazz program is under the leadership of musician and educator, Tony Pietricola. It includes the Island Arts Jazz Combo for youth as well as performance events.
The Barn
In 2014 Island Arts’ dream of owning a home base came true when we were gifted a Vermont iconic barn rescued by North Hero sculptor Anne M. August. The next year, we acquired the field adjacent to the barn in North Hero, making it possible to host up to 175 guests, expand the picnic area, and broaden our views of Lake Champlain and the Green mountains. After much structural work and renovations funded with grants and donor contributions, Island Arts concentrated most of its 35th year celebration there, in its own Island Arts Center, with programming meeting the needs of our communities and visitors.
In 2021, after the cancelled year of the pandemic, our offerings returned in full force to the Island Arts Center. New partnerships have been added, with Full Circle Theater Collaborative bringing fresh opportunities for our youth through professionally-taught summer workshops and public performances. A second partnership with the Grand Isle County Farm Bureau and the University of Vermont Extension is working to bring back 4-H programs to our Grand Isle County.
The Future of Island Arts
Island Arts now has a strong youth agenda and provides funding annually to support creative projects in arts, the environment, and education in the Grand Isle County schools. Our scholarship and financial aid programs are open to County residents of all ages. We are able to do this through the generosity of many friends, partners, area businesses, sponsors both private and corporate, volunteers, and foundation grants. Our mission has evolved over the years. We are now concentrating on making our Island Arts Center in the historic barn an inviting gathering place for the people of our communities to enjoy each other and the arts.
With a promising future supported by our fans and supporters, a dedicated board of directors and our many partners, Island Arts is Grand Isle County’s intergenerational cultural oasis and a destination for travelers.
