WRIF 2024
2024-02-15 17:00 - 2024-02-18 22:00 (America/New_York) | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
The 19th annual White River Indie Film Festival is coming February 14-18 2024!
Get in touch!

Interested in sponsoring or partnering with WRIF? Contact samantha@uvjam.org

Opera Action Figures Installation
2024-02-15 09:00 - 2024-03-29 17:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Stop motion animations by Thetford based twins sisters Amy and Terry Lawrence on display alongside their sets and figurines.
ARTIST STATEMENT
We loved the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Akhnaten so much we decided to make an animated version. In the spirit of making it up as we went along, we sewed costumes, built a set, lit it and filmed it. Amy had made stop-action animation before but never with the small wooden dolls called artist’s mannequins. We had to learn how these faceless dolls could express emotion–through body language, the tilt of a head, how they walked, climbed stairs or juggled. There was lots of juggling.
The process was so engrossing we began looking for other music we loved so we could create a story to go with it (Gershwin Station), or a story we loved (The Magic Doll) that needed music to fit. (Sibelius, who knew?) The Prisoner’s Song was a 1920s recording that told its own story. Thank You, Mr. Sondheim was a tribute featuring sets and characters from 18 shows in four minutes.
Animation allows Terry’s theatre background to blend with Amy’s film background. Terry can build models and sets while Amy experiments with pans, tilts and action-movie montages (Ninja Nannies—note the obscure but wonderful Bob Seger score). It’s always about music and story. The only question is whether we’re making music videos (Moon Buggy) or musicals?
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Terry Lawrence has an MFA in Theatre/Set Design and experience in model-making, props and set painting. She has found that directing for the stage helps when it comes to moving little wooden people around.
Amy Lawrence is a former professor of Film and Television at Dartmouth College. She has made animated films in several old-school formats including fabric shot on film, needlepoint animated in Photoshop, and puppet films made with Dragon. She currently makes films with her sister in their mom’s basement.

WRIF Event: The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live Shadowcast
2024-02-14 21:00 - 23:30 | Briggs Opera House, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
White River Junction based shadow cast, the Creature Feature Club, will do the time warp again this Valentines Day, February 14th! Join us for an interactive, sexy, queer, freaky show with the traditions you love and some new surprises. Reserve your tickets with any WRIF pass, otherwise admission is free and first come first serve. Goody bags available for any donation amount ($10 recommended). This event is 17+.
Sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named ‘Rocky’.
Tickets & Festival Passes Available Here: https://uvjam.org/wrif-2024/

A Dialogue (Number One)
2024-02-03 17:30 - 19:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
A Dialogue (Number One) is the first movement of Rachel Bernsen’s new, loose performance suite, NOVEL FORMATS. Each movement will invite a different group of artists to experiment with a fluid vision of performance. Here, she’s brought together an ensemble of two dancers, three musicians and a visual artist, utilizing their range of expertise and individuality in the service of enacting her improvisational and choreographic structures.
Featuring
Rachel Bernsen (instigator/director/dancer)
Ellen Ahern Smith (dancer)
Tomeka Reid (cello)
Kyoko Kitamura (voice)
Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet)
Lindsay Packer (visual, light artist)
About the Artist
Rachel Bernsen is a dancer, choreographer and improvisor committed to interdisciplinary practice. She makes work in collaboration with musicians, visual artists, and writers and has choreographed for theater, opera and other large scale productions. She’s also an Alexander Technique teacher. rachelbernsen.com

Lampshade Poets Open Mic
2024-02-01 19:00 - 20:30 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Lampshade Poets RSVP
Please RSVP so we can be prepared with seating.

Email(Required)

Number of Atendees(Required)Please enter a number greater than or equal to 1.Do you want to share an original poem?(Required)

Yes and please record it!

Yes but turn the cameras off!

Not this time!
Name of poet sharing workHow did you hear about this event?

Lampshade Poets Email List

JAM Email List

Newspaper Ad

Social Media

Word of Mouth

Δ

In 2012 David Celone couldn’t find a poetry reading group in the Upper Valley area, so he started his own, offering readings both at his then Long River Studios Gallery in Lyme, NH, and WRJ, where Lampscapes owner Ken Blaisdell opened his store to the event. Two of the original poets, Janet Watton and Pam Ahlen, will resume the readings at JAM, open to all Lampshaders as well as any poet who is interested in reading an original piece or two. Poets have the opportunity to be videoed for JAM’s community access station and YouTube channel if they wish.

Finding Babel: A Tribute To Isaac Babel
2024-01-23 16:30 - 21:00 | Dartmouth 105, Dartmouth Hall, College Street, Hanover, NH, 03755, United States
4:30 PM Performance by Andrei Malaev-Babel
7:00 PM Film Screening and talk back with director David Novack and Samantha Davidson Green
“Finding Babel follows Andrei Malaev-Babel, a Florida acting teacher, as he retraces the steps of his grandfather, Isaac Babel, the author of “Red Cavalry” and “The Odessa Tales” and a vivid chronicler of the early years of the Soviet Union. A Jew who, working for a newspaper, had gone riding among Cossacks, Babel is discussed as a voracious observer of details and ambiguities. Arrested in 1939 by the Stalinist secret police and executed in 1940, he was granted posthumous official rehabilitation in 1954. Much of his work is lost.” – The New York Times
Find out more here.

Story JAM: Bi-Monthly Storytelling Circle - Theme: “I can’t believe I did that!”
2024-01-18 18:00 - 19:30 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
In a society increasingly divided and isolated, storytelling can bring us together.

Story Jam is a bi-monthly story circle where community members can meet to get to know each other through personal stories. All members of the Upper Valley community are invited to join the circle and share an unrehearsed 5-minute true story from their own life. No competition, no judgment, no lecturing, no ranting… Just share a story about something that happened to you and listen to other people’s stories. Whether you are a new or seasoned storyteller; whether you are shy or extroverted – all are welcome! The moderators will keep track of time to make sure everyone has a chance to speak.
The next circle will be held on Thursday, January 18th from 6:00-7:30 PM
For more info, reach us at storyjam@uvjam.org

Poetry for Palestine
2024-01-17 17:00 - 19:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Join Upper Valley for Palestine for our first community event, which focuses on uplifting the voices of Palestinian poets as well as poets in solidarity with Palestine. The event will begin with a poetry reading, including an open mic portion for those who are moved to share their own words or read from a selection of provided poems. The remainder of the evening will include children’s storytime featuring Palestinian authors, art-making and poetry writing stations, and opportunities to connect with local, state, and national organizing efforts towards a ceasefire and Palestinian liberation.
Upper Valley for Palestine (UV4Pal) is a solidarity coalition of organizations as well as unaffiliated locals in the Upper Valley region of Vermont and New Hampshire who are advancing the fight for a free Palestine right here in our community. We seek to organize against hate, apartheid, and oppression as we help build toward liberation and a just peace for Palestinians.
Our members currently include comrades from Jewish Voice for Peace VT/NH, the Upper Valley Democratic Socialists of America, Sunrise Dartmouth, and the Dartmouth Palestine Solidarity Coalition. If you or your organization are based in the Upper Valley and would like to get involved, please contact us at uv4pal@gmail.com!

Animation Domination Workshop!
2024-01-13 11:00 - 13:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Anyone can animate!
All ages are invited to drop by and take part in this hand drawn animation workshop. Participants will rotoscope (trace real video footage) onto blank notecards then learn how to digitize their drawings to create animations ready to share via social media and more. Feel free to bring a piece of video you’d like to rotoscope or even your favorite book passage/song you’d like to write out and animate! Local animation enthusiast and shenanigan aficionado Alex Roberts will be on hand for instruction, to share his animation work, and to offer encouragement.

Animation Domination is hosted by Alex Roberts. Alex received his BA in Film & Electronic Arts at noted “weird person school” Bard College. His thesis film, Celestial Railroads explores landscape and motion through 16mm black and white film and rotoscope animation. His latest animation project, entitled <n0stalg1a>: Random Access Dreams, will accompany the set by his band The Y Lie at The Main Street Museum on Saturday, January 20th. Alex is a firm believer that “Animation Is For Everyone, Never Stop Animating!”

Anonymous On Location POSTPONED
2024-01-07 15:00 - 17:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Anonymous Coffee House and JAM present “Anonymous On Location.”
Celebrate community music producers, Chad Finer and Barbara Krinitz in JAM at 3PM with a projected installation of the local live performance archive these two dedicated videographers have created for JAM over the years. Then, head up to the Briggs Opera House at 4PM for live music by Still Hill, The Halley Neal Trio, & Patrick Ross!

ABOUT OUR PRODUCERS AND MUSICIANS
Chad Finer
Chad Finer produces “Music in the Upper Valley.” Born and raised in New England, Chad got his start documenting live performances by recording Mende women’s music while in the Peace Corps in upcountry Sierra Leone in 1968. Chad came up to the Upper Valley in 1970 to attend Dartmouth Medical School and worked as an ER physician for 35 years in the area. Despite both his Mom and Dad being accomplished violinists, Chad has no musical talent. His interest is in recording and archiving music performance in the Upper Valley area. Watch Chad’s videos here!

Barbara Krinitz
Hailing from New York City, Barbara has been living in the Upper Valley for 12 years and producing programs with JAM for the past 11 of them. Barbara’s oeuvre includes two music programs (“Have You Heard?” and “The Magic’s In The Music”), local history programs, a 3-minute storytelling series, and a few other programs on topics that interest her. You can watch Barbara’s videos here!

The Halley Neal Trio
Halley Neal is a folk singer and songwriter based in Nashville, TN. Joined by her backing band, Halley’s sound combines inspirations of classic folk music with bluegrass instrumentation, and her live shows center on themes of positivity and peace.

Still Hill
Formed in early 2016 and hailing from the woods of central Vermont, Still Hill plays a unique blend of progressive bluegrass dipped in folk, Americana, and old time roots music. Still Hill’s original songwriting, instrumental improvisation, and 3-part harmonies will make you hoot, holler, dance and leave you wanting more each and every time.
Patrick Ross
Vermont born, fifth generation fiddle player, Patrick Ross won the Vermont-State Fiddle Championship at age fourteen.His solo concerts include a world wide range of fiddle styles as well as songs he has penned with guitar, banjo, mandolin and cello. For full length videos and other musings please visit www.patrickrossmusic.com.

JAM Script Writers' Group
2023-12-11 18:30 - 20:00, 2023-11-27 18:30 - 20:00, 2023-11-13 17:30 - 19:00, 2023-10-30 18:30 - 20:00, 2023-10-16 17:30 - 19:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Gather bi-weekly with a dedicated group to meet talented local writers, learn new script writing techniques, and receive peer feedback on your work. We workshop stage plays, screenplays, radio/podcast scripts, and any story that’s meant to be performed!
REGISTER HERE

Crowdsourced VT Toy Story: WRJ Premiere
2023-12-10 16:00 - 18:30 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Grab your partner and join us at JAM for the local premiere of Crowdsourced VT Toy Story! Created by more than 200 people of all ages and experience levels (including our very own Advanced Animation JAMcampers!) from across Vermont (and just a smidgen from the rest of New England), this remake of the good ol’ animated frenemy movie is chock-full of your favorite moments and some new ones.
Crowdsourced Cinema VT is a statewide creative challenge, produced by the Media Factory in partnership with an alliance of Vermont community media centers. The organizations are all members of the Vermont Access Network, (VAN), a membership organization of the 24 regional Community Media Access Centers operating more than 80 local cable channels across Vermont.
Thanks to a grant from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, this premiere will have captions. This event is FREE and open to all ages! RSVP Below!

Hip Hop Holiday Party + Light River Junction
2023-12-01 17:00 - 19:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Sick of the hearing all the same Christmas music on repeat? So are we! Drop by JAM on First Friday 12/1 for a holiday party celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and decorate a music inspired holiday cookie. Jayden will be playing some hip-hop classics as well as recent hits. A 100% Michael Bublé free experience guaranteed! In the JAM/WRIF’s winter solstice tradition, “Light River Junction” projections by local media artists will illuminate the cold winter night!

Sundog Poetry AMP Night
2023-11-16 19:00 - 21:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Sundog Poetry presents AMP NIGHT – a periodic event series that explores the interplay of art, music and poetry. At this special Fall AMP Night in the Upper Valley we welcome former Vermont Poet Laureate Sydney Lea with special guests Djeli, Nana¡, Diana Whitney, Barbara Murphy, and Jolivette ‘the poet warrior’.

Fulla Flava Jamaican Jerk Lunch Pop Up
2023-11-11 13:00 - 16:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Fulla Flava Jamaican Jerk food for purchase(as tasted at Farm to Film Festival and the Revolution Block Party) plus good music, good people, and good vibes!
https://www.instagram.com/fullaflavajamaicanjerk/

Zine Workshop With Center for Cartoon Studies Fellow, S. Mirk
2023-11-11 11:00 - 13:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
A zine can be any multi-page booklet made for passion, not profit. Learn how to make your zine with Center for Cartoon Studies Fellow S. Mirk. ALL AGES + FREE! Please RSVP below so we can be prepared with supplies.

More about S. Mirk: Mirkwork.com

Lampshade Poets
2023-11-09 19:00 - 20:30 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
In 2012 David Celone couldn’t find a poetry reading group in the Upper Valley area, so he started his own, offering readings both at his then Long River Studios Gallery in Lyme, NH, and WRJ, where Lampscapes owner Ken Blaisdell opened his store to the event. The poets eventually named themselves the Lampshade Poets. As Lampscapes filled with furniture and artwork, the readings moved to the Coolidge Hotel and Janni Moselsky-Hansen’s Café Renée until Covid closure. Two of the original poets, Janet Watton and Pam Ahlen, will resume the readings on November 9th at 7 P.M., open to all Lampshaders as well as any poet who is interested in reading an original piece or two and willing to be videoed for JAM’s community access

TWIST 2.0 Comics & Zine Fair
2023-11-03 16:00 - 20:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
TWIST is back, baby! Come browse comics, zines, poetry chapbooks, and other self-published work by talented local artists and Center for Cartoon Studies students alike on First Friday of November at JAM. Find the perfect holiday gifts for the weirdos you love!
Interested in tabling? Apply HERE September 1 – October 1.

HALLOWEEN-O-THON 2023: Screening and Awards
2023-10-28 17:00 - 19:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States

Tenant and Fair Housing Know-Your-Rights Workshop
2023-10-26 17:30 - 18:30 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Join us for an introduction to the fundamentals of tenant rights & responsibilities, as well as fair housing protections. Presented by CVOEO’s Housing Advocacy team in collaboration with The Upper Valley Tenants Union and JAM, this workshop is designed for tenants. We will briefly cover the housing landscape in Vermont, basic tenant skills, landlord obligations, who is protected under state and federal Fair Housing Law, what housing discrimination can look and sound like, and what we can do to prevent housing discrimination. Our workshop will focus on introducing relevant information and tools participants can put directly into practice. We encourage participants to bring questions to the workshop for discussion.
This workshop is an introduction to these topics; for a deeper dive on tenants’ rights and responsibilities as well as finding housing and financially preparing to rent, CVOEO offers free live and self-paced online workshops: https://www.cvoeo.org/learn/renters-workshops. The Fair Housing Project also offers more expansive workshops on Fair Housing upon request.
For more information about your fair housing and tenant rights and responsibilities, visit www.cvoeo.org/fhp and www.cvoeo.org/vermonttenants.
This workshop will be recorded by JAM to broadcast and share with the greater community.
RSVP REQUIRED

AmeUp Coffee & Creative Networking: Creative Lives with Maureen Burford
2023-10-25 08:00 - 09:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Join Creative Lives Director Maureen Burford to explore the practical function of the chakra system as a means to actualize potential and support children on their path.
A Framework for Wise Education® is an innovative methodology that addresses pressing concerns for parents, teachers, and children. It is based on Ellen Tadd’s observations about the human energy (chakra) system and its fundamental role in human development. Her Framework distills these findings into practical tools that help a child’s chakra system function well. This, in turn, supports all aspects of healthy child development.
Drink coffee, join in the discussion, and meet fellow creatives.
Presented in partnership with AmeUP, a creative network founded by Elizabeth Wilcox and Marion Abrams in the belief that there is a place where business, creativity, and community overlap. ​If you are an entrepreneurial creative or a creative entrepreneur looking to meet and connect with peers for inspiration and professional camaraderie, join our meet-ups and subscribe to our updates.

Farm to Film Fest 2023
2023-10-21 10:00 - 22:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
It matters how farmers farm and eaters eat. Our current food system is not supporting people or the planet – but there is tremendous hope for change. By developing a deeper understanding of regenerative agriculture and the indigenous practices it is rooted in, we can all do our part to support transformational change. Join us for a day of food, films, live music, workshops, thoughtful discussion, dancing and more!
Farm to Film Fest 2023 is a collaboration between JAM – Junction Arts & Media, Vital Communities, and King Arther Baking Company, made possible in part through support from Vermont Humanities and media sponsor Vermont Public that aims to build awareness of the importance of agriculture as a climate solution and of the harms the current exploitive, racist, and unsustainable food system creates. Our mission is to promote Upper Valley farms that are taking direct climate action and to share hopeful solutions for climate crisis.
View Farm To Film Festival 2023 schedule.

"Get Your Hands Dirty" Family Fun Pop Up
2023-10-21 10:00 - 12:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Learn about soil health with flour and water, plant seeds, and create your own DIY time lapse set up to record your plant growing from seed to sprout at home. Help create a collaborative animation by coloring in a Climate Farmer Stories Portrait. This hands on pop up is a collaboration with the Upper Valley Farm to School Network and is fun and educational for all ages. Be ready to get your hand dirty!
At 11:30am Tommy Crawford will join us to perform songs from “VT Farm Stories,” an original indie folk musical in-progress inspired by VT farmers’ stories.
And if you’re having fun, make a day of it with locally sourced lunch, films, live music, square dancing, dinner and more at the Farm to Film Fest!

Story JAM: Bi-Monthly Storytelling Circle
2023-10-19 18:00 - 19:30 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
In a society increasingly divided and isolated, storytelling can bring us together.

Story Jam is a bi-monthly story circle where community members can meet to get to know each other through personal stories. All members of the Upper Valley community are invited to join the circle and share an unrehearsed 5-minute true story from their own life. No competition, no judgment, no lecturing, no ranting… Just share a story about something that happened to you and listen to other people’s stories. Whether you are a new or seasoned storyteller; whether you are shy or extroverted – all are welcome! The moderators will keep track of time to make sure everyone has a chance to speak.

For more info, reach us at storyjam@uvjam.org

Passion in a Pandemic: Making Opera at Hanover High School - Broadcast Premiere Screening
2023-10-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Briggs Opera House, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
New documentary by Norwich, VT filmmaker Nora Jacobson, Passion in a Pandemic will have its PBS premiere through NETA and New Hampshire PBS in the fall of 2023, with the launch of a study guide funded by the New Hampshire Humanities to accompany the film.

Join us for the broadcast PREMIERE screening, live music performance, filmmaker & participants Q&A, and celebration at Briggs Opera House!
Film Synopsis: Former opera singer Jennifer Chambers and celebrated Italian conductor Filippo Ciabatti teach opera to public high school students in the midst of the Covid pandemic. The young singers open up to the camera about their dreams and challenges, as they learn and perform arias from four celebrated operas, Don Giovanni, Cosi van tutte, Magic Flute and Lakme.
Enjoy a live performance before the film screening and stay for Q&A after!
Free and open to the public

Climate Farmer Stories Exhibit at JAM
2023-10-09 09:00 - 2023-10-24 17:00 | JAM – Junction Arts & Media, 5 S Main St, White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
For the month of October JAM will display “Climate Farmer Stories,” a new multimedia exhibit that shares the stories and portraits of 13 Upper Valley farmers who are using agricultural methods that mitigate and adapt to climate change and help build a food supply that can withstand the impact of climate disruption. The exhibit is one part of Vital Communities’ Climate Farmer Stories project, a three-year effort to increase farmer income while changing the perception about farming and climate change. Funded by the US Department of Agriculture, the project brings together Upper Valley farmers, artists, and nonprofit staff to change the story of farming and climate change, while increasing the marketing skills and resources for participating farmers. “Addressing climate change through food requires us to get back to the roots of farming,” said Nancy LaRowe, Vital Communities’ Director of Food & Farm and Economy. “Climate farmers can help mitigate climate change by returning to farming practices that strive to support natural systems, as opposed to scaling up with more ‘efficient’ technologies that are denigrating natural ecosystems. This is the hopeful story that needs to be shared as we see and experience the impacts of the climate crisis. People can choose how to spend their food dollars, and buying local food from climate conscious farmers is an investment in community resilience and climate action.”
