NORWICH — One of the roles of area historical societies is to bring people together to celebrate — and learn from — a collective, shared history.
But in 2020, historical societies have also focused on another purpose: Documenting the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has impacted residents. Another element has been helping people interact with their surroundings in different ways.
“I’ve been trying really hard to provide opportunities to engage with the world around us in person through art or the driving podcasts, through scavenger hunts, through the doing and the making and the arts and the history,” said Sarah Rooker, director of the Norwich Historical Society. “There have been opportunities in this to deepen our mission and deepen our connection to the community.”
One project that has emerged is the Community Circles Project, in which Norwich residents paint their pandemic experiences on a circular piece of canvas that will then be incorporated into a mural that will hang on a wall outside Dan and Whit’s beginning Oct. 2.
“We’re asking them to take a circle and think about what’s bringing them hope right now, what they’re grateful for right now, to celebrate who and what has been in their circle during the pandemic,” Rooker said. “It’s a way to bring people together and it’s a way to honor all these interconnected circles that have come together over the past months.”
Norwich residents of all ages are welcome to participate and can request a canvas by emailing info@norwichhistory.org. People can do them individually, or work on them with their families or pandemic pods.
“I think that art is so important right now. It creates wellness. It helps us process what is going on and it also lets us come together collectively. This a project that has a safe way to come together collectively,” Rooker said. “Maybe it’ll help each other understand each other more, that we’re collectively all in a similar place.”
The goal is to have around 120 circles for the mural. The historical society has been hosting socially distanced painting workshops as well as providing instructional videos.
“We’re starting to get the circles back and some of them have celebrated the landscape, some have honored what many people consider to be the Norwich community center, Dan and Whit’s,” Rooker said. “Some have celebrated our diversity and highlighted concerns for social justice matters.”
In other Norwich Historical Society news, the annual Antique Show and Sale will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday on the organization’s back lawn located at 277 Main St. Admission is $5 per person, with children under 12 free. There will be 15 dealers present.
“In the past the dealers have all been under one big tent and this year they’re all in their own tents spaced apart,” Rooker said.
Masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be in place.
“In some ways, really beautiful fall weather puts people in the mood for antiquing,” Rooker said. “It’s a chance to find some holiday gifts in a fairly safe, outside, interesting manner.”
Here’s a look at other Upper Valley-based events that are coming up over the next few days.
■Stream four free films through White River Indie Films (WRIF) as part of their Race & U.S. Elections Film series. John Lewis: Good Trouble and Time for Ilhan are available now through Sept. 22. Slay the Dragon and Capturing the Flag will be up from Sept. 22-Oct. 6. Panel discussions will take place virtually on Sept. 22 and Oct. 6. Register at wrif.org.
■Take a tour of The Hub Teen Center (9 Barton St., Bradford, Vt.), from 6-8 p.m. Treats provided by teens. bradfordteencenter.org.
■Poet and jazz historian Reuben Jackson will read from his newest book of poetry, Scattered Clouds, at 7 p.m. during a Virtual Bookstock 2020 event. Registration required at bookstockvt.org/reuben-jackson.
■Oscar-winning filmmakers (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Lego Movie) Phil Lord ’97 & Chris Miller ’97 share tales from the Hollywood trenches with Dartmouth student filmmakers on YouTube from 8-8:30 p.m. hop.dartmouth.edu.
■Twin DJ duo Angel+Dren (Angel and Dren Coleman ’13) host a dance party from Social Sanctuary in Los Angeles on YouTube from 9-9:30 p.m. hop.dartmouth.edu.
■Make a reservation and pick up a free Harvest Festival to Go kit from the Enfield Shaker Museum from 2-5 p.m. The kits will include crafts, Shaker recipes and other items. Visit shakermuseum.org to request a kit.
■Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to Lyman Point Park in White River Junction to watch The Princess Bride from 6:45-9:45 p.m. Social distancing guidelines available at hartfordrec.com.
■Head to Mountain View Farm Conservation Area (Mousley Brook Road, Orford) for the Upper Valley Land Trust’s annual Star Gazing Party from 7-9:30 p.m. The event is led by Bobby Farlice-Rubio of the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium. COVID-19 guidelines available at uvlt.org/calendar.
■Area crafters and vendors will be at the Valley Artesian Parking Lot (6248 Route 5, Ascutney) from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for a Fall Craft Fair. Social distancing and face masks required.
■The Bradford Historical Society Museum (top floor of Bradford Academy building, 172 N. Main St., Bradford, Vt.) will be open from 10 a.m.-noon. Exhibits include 200th anniversary of the establishment of Bradford Academy and “What’s Cooking, Washing and Sewing?” Mask required. Facebook: “Bradford Historical Society.”
■Scott Moreau and Allison Kelly will perform in “Darlin’ Companion: A Tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter” at 5:30 p.m. outside at ArtisTree Community Arts Center (2095 Pomfret Road). Reservations required by calling 802-457-3500 or emailing theatre@artistreevt.org. Free, donations accepted. Social distancing and masks required.
■The Petty Goat, described as a seven-piece “dive-bar cover band” will perform from 3-7 p.m. at Fable Farm (1525 Royalton Turnpike, Barnard) during a benefit concert for the South Royalton Area Food Shelf. Reservations required at feast-field-at-fable-farm.square.site/fable-saturday.
■Musicians Bill Brink, Josh Hall, Milk House Heaters, Pat Daddona and James Cass will perform in a drive-in benefit concert from 4-7 p.m. at World Under Wonder Playhouse (5755, Route 5, Ascutney). $10 donation per car. Register at worldunderwonder@gmail.com.
■Mr. Chris & Friends will perform at 4 p.m. at Farr’s Hill (24 Elm St.) as part of the Chandler Center for the Arts’ Live&Out! concert series. Tickets are $10 for both in-person and livestream show. Tickets available at chandler-arts.org.
■Pentangle Arts in collaboration with North Universalist Chapel, will screen the film Downton Abbey at the North Chapel Back Lawn (7 Church St.) at 7 p.m. as part of the September Film Series. Free, donations accepted. Patrons required to observe social-distance and mask-wearing guidelines. Advance reservations required. pentanglearts.org.
■Springfield, Vt.’s Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse is hosting a virtual discussion about The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Email uuspringfieldvt@gmail.com for Zoom information.
■Ford Daley and Paul Barker will sing gospel songs outside Beaver Meadow Chapel (Beaver Meadow Road, Norwich) at 3 p.m. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Masks required.
■Scott Moreau and Allison Kelly will perform in “Darlin’ Companion: A Tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter” at 5:30 p.m. outside at ArtisTree Community Arts Center (2095 Pomfret Road). Reservations required by calling 802-457-3500 or emailing theatre@artistreevt.org. Free, donations accepted. Social distancing and masks required.
Editor’s note: Submit Upper Valley-based events to the Valley News at calendar.vnews.com.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com.
Clarification
This story has been updated to make clear the antique sale is on Saturday, Sept. 19.
