LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Arts Hub

Bemya Nymh is a singer and improvisational looper based in Montpelier, VT. They weave sweet and tender harmonies between sampled sounds of the forest & alluring beats. Their live improvisations are often vulnerable and mischievous, like a gnome, crooning gibberish, sunbathing on a toadstool.Find them Online:
https://bemya.art/

Behind the Camera
Craig Harrison Creative

The portraits in this exhibit are a small fraction of the photographs taken during Catamount Arts LGBTQIA+ centered events in 2023 and 2024. From the very beginning, it quickly became clear to me that those attending these events were yearning to be seen, to be appreciated, and to be celebrated. The stiffness of posed photographs in a normal setting was gone. In its place was the joy that comes from self expression without fear or pretense.

It makes the job of a photographer easy. Get the lighting right, keep things in focus, and don’t take your finger off the shutter. There was magic happening right in front of my lens. All I had to do was keep up.

The results are some of the most expressive, honest portraits I’ve ever taken.

During three events, I shot over 3000 frames and photographed literally hundreds of people from all walks of life. Every one of my models had a story about what brought them to a drag show in Vermont’s rural Northeast Kingdom. In this exhibit, we look at just a few.

Find Craig Online:
https://www.harrisoncreative.com/

Josh Simonds is a professional psychic medium, author, and teacher who has helped individuals find connection, clarity, and love since 2017. He is the author of The Beginner’s Guide to Runes and When We Die We Come Up For Air, among other works. Josh co-owns Deep Earth Arts, a spiritual and creative hub in Littleton, New Hampshire, and Deep Earth Press, a boutique publishing company. As a seasoned Tarot reader and spiritual guide, Josh has traveled across the United States offering transformative readings and group spirit galleries. He also hosts The Die Laugh Love Podcast, where he brings his heartfelt and lighthearted approach to connecting with the spirit world. Josh resides in northern New England with his husband, son, and a lively household of pets. Learn more about his work at joshsimonds.com.Ring in the New Year with ‘Spirits of the New Year’:
Join professional psychic medium Josh Simonds at First Night North in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, for an unforgettable evening of connection and insight. Experience ‘Spirits of the New Year,’ a special spirit gallery event where Josh will bridge the gap between this world and the next, sharing messages from loved ones, guiding spirits, and ancestors.

Find them Online:
https://joshsimonds.com

Soul expression, emotional exchange, connection, rhythm and harmony. These represent but a few of the characteristics of Koa’s music. They are an all-original, self-taught guitarist, singer/songwriter from St. Johnsbury, VT. They strive to keep their sound fresh and evolving, and draw inspiration from their life experiences, imagination, and a myriad of different genres to create their unique sound. Connection with their audience is a critical component and consideration during the songwriting process. Koa lives to create and connect with others through their creations.

American Cabaret Belly Dance is distinctive to New England and incorporates props and audience interaction. Join Magdalene & Friends as they wow you with a nod to this iconic style using finger cymbals, floorwork, and veil work during a special second show in the Cabaret Room of Catamount Arts!

Find them Online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086286254304
Instagram: @magdalenemoves

“We Are Joy” – The rainbow is the symbol most commonly associated with Pride, and since starting this project I have learned that every color has a meaning. I wanted to represent the rainbow as a colorful aura, radiating joy and exuberant energy. In the center is a white bearded iris, an inspiration that came from Iris, the Greek goddess of rainbows. I enjoy the wordplay of “bearded iris” as encompassing both masculine and feminine, just as white encompasses all colors. The style of this composition is a nod to the paintings of Hilma af Klint, a visionary painter.”

“We Belong” – “The landscape is grounded in the scenery of NH, with white birch being the state tree. birches shed their bark as they grow and expand, so I think of them as a tree that is in a constant state of renewal and transition. They are also monoecious, bearing flowers of both sexes, and are usually found growing in community with other birches.”

“We Will Not Be Banned” – “We are living through a time when the banning of books and increasingly restricted access to gender and life-affirming health care are intended to silence LGBTQ+ voices. Words and ideas have power, they nourish the roots of revolutionary action. This painting speaks to the fierce resilience and the unstoppable dissemination of ideas and seeds of change. The world needs a diversity of voices and perspectives, and this mural celebrates the brave and tenacious folks who are showing up and speaking out in ways large and small, despite the adversity they face.”