With gratitude and blessings
Our heartfelt thanks to all who joined us! We are still reflecting on how well-received the events were.
Thank you to our planning team—the Wolcott Arts Collaborative (WAC) would not exist without each and every one of you: Michelle Gudorf, Jim Ryan, Nikki LeRiche, Sally Gardner, and Liz Schroeter Courtney.
Thank you to our speakers, presenters, instructors, and performers—as well as to every attendee, volunteer, and supporter—who helped make these events impactful and meaningful. Your commitment to our community creates a safe space for education, entertainment, and empowerment.
To our workshop presenters, instructors, and authors—thank you for sharing your expertise, lived experiences, and passion.
To our primary 2025-2026 sponsors: the Wolcott Public Library, the Wolcott Selectboard, and the Vermont Arts Council—thank you for investing in this important work and helping us create opportunities for dialogue, connection, and change.
To every attendee—thank you for showing up and engaging in your community; especially for those actively breaking generational hermit lifestyles: your courage matters and your support keeps us going.
Everyone’s participation is building our story of a healthier community and reminding ourselves that the lights are on in Wolcott.
If you are interested in supporting our work, please email Michelle Gudorf.
Music Performances
With the support of the Wolcott Public Library, we had several fun nights of music, dancing, and socializing in the historic Wolcott Town Hall. We had great turnouts of loyal patrons and fresh faces. There was an abundance of smiles and ample dancing—each event was a beautiful thing to see. Our list of musical performances:
- The Shady Trees—a four-piece band with a mountainous style of music, blending Funk, Rock, Reggae, and some twang into what they call Northeast Mountain Music.
- The Eames Brothers—a trio known for dragging listeners into a bluesy, bottomless eddy of funk with primordial, psychedelic embankments that are as timeless as the unchanging truth of music.
- Lesley Grant Band—a natural voice and heartfelt songwriter drawn from Bluegrass and Americana traditions.
- Christine Malcolm and Sweet Cicely—folk-grass with threads of psychedelica, country, and rock; featuring Christine, Fran Forim, Marc Edwards, and Hank Clark with special guest fiddle player extraordinaire, Roland Clark, from Beg, Steal or Borrow.
- Dave Keller Band—Soul/Roots/Blues, nominated for multiple national awards.
- Wild Leek River—a true blue five-piece country band with a style and performance traced their roots from the honky tonks of days gone by.
Literary Presentations
For our Wolcott Winter/Spring Saturday Series we presented an array of events.
- Author Michael Caldwell shared excerpts from his acclaimed book of essays “The Tao of Snow”—a collection of 17 essays on backcountry skiing, wilderness paddling, and conversations with old-timers in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
- Author and Poet Laura Lee Bond led participants through an inspiring and uplifting workshop – Seventeen Syllables: An Introduction to Haiku Writing. The assemblage of words into soulful thoughts and imagery in the matter of five minute exercises was remarkable. Folks have asked that this workshop be brought back again.
“LaLee, thank you for guiding us deeply into these exercises in a comfortable manner.” —Attendee
- Author Jim Ryan had two book readings from his book “Whistling Up in Ghostland: Essays and Songs of Adventure, Awakening and Intuition” along with a musical performance by Lizzy Mandell of songs written for the stories in the book.
- Author Stuart Heinrich read from his book “The Quantum Revelations,” a scientific mystery and psychological thriller.
- Presenter Nadine Budbill read from “The Poetry of a Place and its People—David Budbill’s Judevine In the 1970’s” by writer David Budbill who was inspired by his own working-class background and the lives of his new neighbors who were, in turns, beautiful, ingenious, struggling to survive, and completely overlooked by the powers that be.
Artistic Workshops
Our art workshops were supported by the Vermont Arts Council Aging Grant which funded free workshops reserved for ages 60+ and had over 70 participants. These workshops included chair yoga—led by Linda Brady—as the perfect start to the morning. Surveys given at the end of each workshop were glowingly positive.
- Barn Quilting was led by Brittany Lumsden—owner and instructor at Native Art Studio in Wolcott, VT—extended over 2 weekends in May, was instructed by local artist Brittany Lumsden and participants were led through the design and creation of a 2’ x 2’ wooden barn quilt. Participants left with their own personal wooden ‘quilt’.
- Stained Glass was presented by local artist Ken Haggett, where participants created one of three stained glass window hangings (bird, feather, or star).
- Needle Felting was instructed by local artist Betsy Haushultz where participants were led through the basics and left with their creations.
- Collage on Canvas was led by artist Kelli Prescott who guided participants in creating a collage using vintage periodicals, new magazines, and other mediums.
“This is a great series for Wolcott. Thanks!” —Shelia Haplin
Additional Events
- In December we held a reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ followed by decorating holiday sugar cookies, graham cracker houses, and Christmas trees made from once loved books, upcycled into Christmas trees. This was a free event sponsored by the Wolcott Public Library and the Copley/Munson Fund. All materials were supplied. Cocoa and cookies were served.
Confirmed events for Fall/Winter 2026-27
- Friday, Oct 2—We’ll be starting our season with the Charlie Millard Band, a piano-driven, indie-rock and organic jazz trio from Northern Michigan. They are renowned for dynamic, cinematic live performances—often described as “small movies for the ears”—and tour year-round with a rotating lineup featuring Will Harris (percussion), Jercat Millard (guitar), and Charlie Millard (keys, organ, Rhodes bass, vocals).
Candidate events for the future
As we have completed the Winter/Spring 2025-26 season, we will start up again in Fall 2026 and are actively pursuing events for the October to April season.
What do you want to see?
- Contra Dance. We have all been wanting to have a proper dance; so, wouldn’t it be fantastic to have Joanne Garton and Aaron Marcus (a.k.a. Turning Stile) host a contra dance? You’d have to show up to find out! For us hermits out there: The Turning Stile is a Montpelier, Vermont-based fiddle and dance band 😉
- Chris Dorman from Bread and Butter Farm over in Shelburne is interested in putting together a dance band and I told him: come on over, this is the place!
- Write fiction: Go from ideas to scenes. Did anyone attend Hardwick University this year? I went to an excellent session with Natalie Hormilla Gordon called “Write Fiction: Go From Ideas to Scenes” which helped me turn cool ideas into stories. This class explained how and why scenes are what make a story go round. We analyzed scenes (including from Kenneth M. Cadow’s “Gather”), we studied types of and even “formulas” for scenes, and practiced a method for planning the chain of scenes that make up any great story. It was a lot of fun and I hope she can join us this coming year.
- Leather Crafts and Repairs. Katy Ann Leadbetter has a DIY craft class for all levels that is a wholesome experience for our community to enjoy together.
- Other requests: Altered Book Art, Artist Trading Cards, Felting, Watercolor, Acrylics, Photography, Culinary, Crochet & Knitting.
About the Wolcott Arts Collaborative
Bringing community home
The Wolcott Arts Collaborative was formed in 2025 by local residents, with the goal of hosting a diverse range of wholesome, intergenerational events that cultivate expression, empowerment and collaborative community enrichment—this includes a robust and eclectic offering of workshops, seminars, dances, and musical performances that encourage, inspire, and generate closer connections with our community.
Our goal is to create a “third space”—a social environment distinct from home (first space) and work (second space), serving as a vital, informal, and neutral gathering spot that fosters community, reduces isolation, and encourages relaxed, public socialization.
In cooperation,
Bradley Horstman, chair
Members: Michelle Gudorf, Jim Ryan, Nikki LeRiche, Sally Gardner, and Liz Schroeter Courtney.
wolcottvt.org/wac
