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For the past three years, a community art project has been created and installed on the chain link fence on Main Street in St. Johnsbury. The intention of this project is to collaboratively make something that will create visual interest on the fence in time for New Year’s Eve, to create it collaboratively, with many folks from around the community participating, and that it use and repurpose some existing materials.

For 2024/2025, this project is being supported by Rural Edge, Discover St. Johnsbury, St. Johnsbury Community Hub, NVRH Prevention Services, Community Restorative Justice, and Catamount Arts.

This year, we are repurposing vinyl promotional banners, vintage First Night pins, discarded fabric, vintage buttons, and unused paint to create a project we’re calling “Join Together”.

We are using the repurposed materials to spell out the words “Join Together”. The letters will be filled in with the vintage First Night pins, decorated by community members using fabric and vintage buttons. The use of the pins and buttons are to signify the act of fastening, of bringing multiple entities together.

Community members are invited to come to the Welcome Center during St. J Sparkles on Friday and Saturday to decorate pins, and help fill in the letters. The finished signs will be installed on the fence before New Year’s Eve.

Donations of vintage or unwanted buttons are appreciated! They can be dropped off at Catamount Arts Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 8pm, or placed in the blue bin by the front door.

Fabric of Community – First Night North 2024

The “Fabric of Community” project is a collaborative project with Catamount Arts, the St. J Community HUB, and Chrysalis Creative where community members will make fabric garlands out of recycled fabric — donated by other community members! The fabric strips will have intentions or well wishes for the new year written on them.

There will be many opportunities for community members to write their intentions on fabric strips ahead of time, or on the evening of NYE. The team is working with multiple schools, the St. J HUB, and also St. J Sparkles to get strips filled out ahead of time, and we’ll plan to have some fabric at the Family Fun Fair, at karaoke, and at the ticketing tables on NYE so folks can add theirs on the night of First Night.

Winter Garden – First Night North 2023

In December 2022, pedestrians and motorists on Main Street in St. Johnsbury enjoyed a beautiful installation on New Year’s Eve. Area school children and community members of all ages painted large flowers on upcycled vinyl banners donated by Catamount Arts. The banners were hung on the fence, owned by Rural Edge, running along Main Street.

The project, titled Winter Garden, was developed in partnership among First Night North, the St. Johnsbury Hub, St. J Sparkles, and Discover St. Johnsbury, aimed to engage people by having the colorful mural of flowers. The flowers were also outlined with glow-in-the-dark paint to illuminate the mural after dark.

From First Night North 2022

 

Over 300 Treat Community to Light Remedy for New Year

In December 2021, Pedestrians and motorists on Main Street in St. Johnsbury enjoyed a bright and beautiful installation on New Year’s Eve. Hundreds of area school children decorated fabric lanterns with themes of good intentions, hopes, and wishes for a happy new year. The lanterns were hung on the fence, owned by Rural Edge, running along Main Street.

The project, titled Light Remedy, was developed in partnership among First Night North, NEK Collaborative’s St. J Hub, St. J Sparkles, and the St. Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce, aimed to engage people in helping to alleviate symptoms of isolation and depression associated with low light at this time of year. Light Remedy was generously funded by a Northeast Kingdom Fund grant courtesy of the Vermont Community Foundation.

 

Use the links below to navigate the First Night site.