What’s Happening In Amherst?

You can help us make our events calendar more useful by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.

IN PERSON SINGLE DAY EVENTS

FRIDAY JANUARY 27: QUARTERLY ART GALLERY OPENING. General Store and Local Art Gallery in the Mill District, 91 Cowls Road,  5-7 p.m. All artists, art lovers, and community members are invited to the Mill District Local Art Gallery for this Quarterly Artist Reception. Please join us in welcoming the most recent artists to join the Local Art Gallery community.

MONDAY JANUARY 30: OPENING RECEPTION—PORTRAITS IN RED: MISSING &MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN & GIRLS. Paintings by Nayana LaFond. Augusta Savage Gallery, New Africa House, UMass, 180 Infirmary Way, 5-7 p.m. See exhibit description below in multi-day events.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31. REOPENING OF THE MEAD ART MUSEUM AT AMHERST COLLEGE. Hours 9 a.m to 5 p.m, Tuesday through Sunday. The museum has extended hours on Thursday remaining open until 10 p.m. Tuesday marks the first time that the Mead will be fully open in almost three years. More information

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 1. AMHERST’S BLACK HISTORY MONTH KICKOFF. 6 P.M. Steps of Town Hall. The Amherst Human Rights Commission invites the public to help kick off Black History Month with a flag raising and a reading of the town’s Black History Month Proclamation on the steps of Town Hall, Wednesday, February 1, at 6:00 p.m. More celebrations and acknowledgements are planned for throughout the month of February.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2: AMHERST PELHAM EDUCATION ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY FORUM. Amherst Regional Middle School, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Hear from educators about the work they do, why they are fighting for a fair and sustainable contract and how you can help them. Childcare and refreshments provided.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2: OPENING RECEPTION FOR SHOWING the UNSEEN. Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street 1D. 5-7 p.m. Champagne reception. The exhibit celebrates its 21^st anniversary as a cooperative gallery with a group show of members’ artwork exploring imagery that brings to light the unseen, overlooked, or obscured —and that has never been previously displayed at the gallery. Free and open to the public. Masking and social distancing required. More information

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4: TALK BY THOMAS E. JOHNSON JR. COMMON PLACE: THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND AMERICAN VALUES. Munson Memorial Library, 1046 South East Street. 11 a.m. More information

MONDAY FEBRUARY 6: GRIEF CIRCLE: IN RESPONSE TO THE KILLLING OF TYRE NICHOLS Bangs Community Center. 2-4 p.m. For those of us who would find comfort in being with others to share our grief – and rage. The Grief Circle is open to anyone and will be hosted by members of the Town’s DEI and CRESS Departments and include trained facilitators. Please join us for community, sharing, and refreshments.  

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 8: ARTIST’S TALK – PORTRAITS IN RED: MISSING & MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN & GIRLS. Paintings by Nayana LaFond. Augusta Savage Gallery, New Africa House, UMass, 180 Infirmary Way. 8 p.m.  Portraits in Red: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls began on May 5, 2020 with one painting, “Lauraina in RED,” created for the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. Nayana LaFond put out an open call, saying she would paint a couple more portraits if people sent information on subjects. She received more than 25 the first day with stories and photos, and decided to dedicate herself to painting all she receives. Each portrait is of someone who is missing, was murdered, survived, their family member or friend, or an activist/hero fighting for the cause. Through her work LaFond hopes to make sure the missing and dead are never forgotten, to raise awareness about this serious issue, and to provide help with healing to the families she works with. LaFond continues to receive new images and stories and has an ongoing queue of 20-30. More information

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 11: AMHERST CLIMATE JUSTICE ALLIANCE KICKOFF: Jones Library Woodbury Room. 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The Amherst Climate Justice Alliance (ACJA) is a newly formed coalition with the mission to support accelerated, effective climate action by the Town of Amherst, identify priority strategies and actions for the Town to take, help foster a community-wide, unified commitment to significantly lowering our  public and private carbon footprints, and prioritize racial and economic justice.    Current members of the ACJA include Amherst Sunrise, Climate Action Now, Extinction Rebellion, First Church Congregational, Jewish Community of Amherst, Local Energy Advocates, Mothers Out Front, Progressive Coalition of Amherst, Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst Green Sanctuary Committee, UMass Sunrise, and Zero Waste Amherst. The KickOff Event is an opportunity to meet and network with local groups and individuals – young and old – concerned about climate action and justice on a local and global level. Contact us at amherstsunrisemovement@_gwb_

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 11: THIRD ANNUAL AMHERST FIRE AND ICE FESTIVAL Amherst Town Common. 2-5 p.m. Live ICE sculpting of a magical menagerie of ice sculptures, hot cocoa and ‘smore kits over fire pits, tie dye crafting under a tent with the Amherst Recreation team… MATICA Circus FIRE performance at 5 PM. Sponsored by the Amherst BID

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 21: NORTHAMPTON JAZZ WORKSHOP MARDIS GRAS WORKSHOP. The Drake. 44 N. Pleasant Street. 7:30 p.m. Free. (donations accepted). Samirah Evans (vocals), Haneef Nelson (trumpet) and the Green Street Trio. More information. Full Feburary Schedule at the Drake.

FRIDAY MARCH 3: WMUA BATTLE OF THE BANDS. The Drake. 44 North Pleasant Street. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tix: $7 advance, $10 at the door. WMUA 91.1 FM presents the Battle of the Bands at The Drake, where local artists will compete for campus fame and bragging rights, not to mention cold hard cash. Bands interested in competing can email wmuaevents@umass.edu with their video submission of one song of their choice. Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis. Follow @thedrakeamherst and @WMUA on Instagram to stay tuned on the lineup. More information. Full Feburary and March Schedule at the Drake.

ONLINE SINGLE DAY EVENTS
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2: AMHERST NEIGHBORS’ VIRTUAL FORUM ON REPARATIONS. Zoom. 4-5:30 p.m. Amherst Neighbors is hosting a virtual reparations program (with Q&A) with African Heritage Reparation Assembly – Amherst MA members Dr. Amilcar Shabazz and Michele Miller, and longtime reparations activist and Amherst resident Kathleen Anderson. The program is free and all are welcome to join. To Register: https://www.amherstneighbors.org/content.aspx… More information

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 11. VIRTUAL CELEBRATION OF THE 84TH BIRTHDAY OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AMHERST. 3:30 p.m. on Zoom Register at lwvamherst.org. State Rep. Mindy Domb, will be the  guest speaker.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS JUDY BROOKS CONVERSATION SERIES WITH PROFESSOR WHITNEY BATTLE BAPTISTE. 7-8:15 p.m on Zoom. “Balancing Data and Democracy: the Restorative Work of W.E.B. DuBois and the Importance of This Moment.”  The speaker, Whitney Battle-Baptiste, is Professor of Anthropology at UMass and Director of the W.E.B. DuBois Center at UMass. This quote from  W.E.B. DuBois explains the title and relevance of  the event:  “You and I can never be satisfied with sitting down before a great human problem and saying nothing can be done.  We must do something.  That is the reason we are on earth”  Join the League conversation and be inspired.   
Register for Zoom link here. More information

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16: ART FORUM ONLINE. Zoom. 7:30 p.m.  Members of Gallery A3 will discuss their work from the new exhibit SHOWING the UNSEEN – celelbrating 21 years of work at Gallery A3. and welcome questions and comments from the audience. Register for this free, online event at the gallery website www.gallerya3.com. 

IN PERSON ONGOING OR MULTI-DAY EVENTS

SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE DRAKE. 44 North Pleasant Street. Free event. Performers arrive by 5:30 p.m. Stage time: 6 p.m – 10 p.m. All ages. Younger performers will be slotted earler. All performers and styles of performances welcome, including but not limited to: music (of all kinds) – acoustic, folk, rock, hip hop, jazz, classical, etc…comedy, spoken word / readings, poetry,
dance, performance art. House rules and more information.

LAST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: CRAFT AND CONVERSE. Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Are you tired of creating in solitude? Looking to connect with other artistic individuals? Grab your sketchbook, knitting bag, or water color gear and join our monthly coworking group! Craft and converse, hosted by Easthampton artist Kaia Zimmerman, is held the last Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. This welcoming, intentional space is designed for community members to come together for a casual, social evening while pursuing their own creative projects. Drop-ins welcome, but registration encouraged for any weather-related changes in schedule. Bring your own arts or crafts project (BYOA) to work on. Ages 16+. (Next event is December 28)

LAST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH : LAST FRIDAYS AT THE DRAKE POETRY SERIES HOSTED BY LYRICAL FAITH. 44 North Pleasant Street. Join us every last Friday of the month* for Last Fridays at The Drake hosted by Lyrical Faith for an unforgettable open mic and poetry night experience featuring award-winning spoken word artists from across the country. Come through for music, drinks, and artistic expression where poets take center stage to share new work, old work, or any work that helps them get free. Doors and bar open at 5PM. Early arrival is encouraged to get a slot on the sign-up sheet. The cover charge is $5 with a college ID or $10 general admission. More Information. Full Events Calendar at the Drake.

EVERY WEDNESDAY BEGINNING NOVEMBER 30: CAN’T REMEMBER CAFE. Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Are you or a loved one experiencing memory loss? At the Amherst Senior Center, we understand memory changes and have developed a new program based on the popular Memory Café format. The Can’t Remember (CR) Café offers fun, relaxation, and of course, snacks. This program is perfect for caregivers, people with mild memory loss, or anyone in the community who enjoys good conversation and strong coffee. Each Can’t Remember Café opens with a coffee and conversation hour, followed by a group activity. Join us on Wednesday, November 30th for a performance by our special musical guests, “Healing Hearts with Harmony” at 11:00am. Come for the coffee, stay for the connections! Email seniorcenter@amherstma.gov or call 413-259-3060 with questions. 

EVERY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY: FREE COVID VACCINE CLINICS. The Health Department has resumed its vaccine clinics at the Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk from 12-2 p.m. on Thursdays. All residents, ages 12 and up who have not had a vaccine or booster in the past two months are eligible for and urged to get the new bivalent vaccines, which offer protection against the omicron variant of Covid-19. Registration for appointments is at https://www.amherstcovid19.org/vaccine . Walk-ins are also welcome.

UMass is offering bivalent Covid vaccines for ages 12 and older in Room 101 at the Campus Center on Thursdays from 12-4 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and for those 12 and younger on Thursdays from 4-5:30 p.m. Appointments https://umass.my.site.com/covidtesting/s/vaccination  are recommended but not essential. To find other sites offering the bivalent vaccine, go to https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/ .

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19- WEDNESDAY APRIL 3: FEINBERG LECTURE SERIES ON US IMPERIALISM – CONFRONTING EMPIRE. Events are online or hybrid. This free public lecture series brings together scholars, journalists, educators, writers, community organizers, and survivors of state violence to examine global histories of U.S. imperialism and anti-imperialist resistance.The series traces the history of U.S. imperialism from the conquest of North America to the creation of an overseas empire in the late 19th century and to the present day. It also offers a critical historical analysis of the various traditions and movements that have opposed U.S. empire, including Black radicalism, Marxism, revolutionary feminism, armed struggle, international solidarity, pacifism, and liberal, electoral, and diplomatic activism. 
Register here.
Full listing of series events and more information

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30 -SUNDAY MAY 14: 60 YEARS OF COLLECTING -AN ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION CELEBRATING THE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART PERMANENT COLLECTION. Bottom Floor of the UMass Fine Arts Center. Look here for gallery hours and additional information. Free. The exhibit can be viewed on line here.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3-TUESDAY, JANUARY 31: “SPARE”: PHOTOGRAPHS BY SARA KARZ REID AND SCULPTURE BY JON BANDER. Burnett Gallery, 2d Floor of the Jones Library.  Hours: MWFSaturday 9:00-5:15, TTH 9:00-8:15, Sunday 1:00-5:15. More information

JANUARY 19-22 AND 26-29: AMHERST COMMUNITY THEATER PRESENTS DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID. Bowker Auditorium, UMass. This timeless fable will delight and dazzle audience members of all ages with its irresistible songs, stunning sets and costumes, and full live orchestra! Nine performances: for tickets, click here or visit amherstacts.org and go to “Audience Information.” Questions? Email producer@amherstacts.org.

JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 11. WINTERFEST. Winterfest returns to Amherst beginning Saturday, January 28 at Cherry Hill Golf Course and ending with the Fire and Ice Festival on the Town Common February 11. A complete schedule of events can be found here.  The events are organized by the Amherst Recreation Department.  For additional information, contact Director Ray Harp at the Recreation Department harpr@amherstma.gov.

JANUARY 30 – MAY 12: PORTRAITS IN RED: MISSING & MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN & GIRLS. Paintings by Nayana LaFond. Augusta Savage Gallery, New Africa House, UMass, 180 Infirmary Way. Portraits in Red: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls began on May 5, 2020 with one painting, “Lauraina in RED,” created for the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. Nayana LaFond put out an open call, saying she would paint a couple more portraits if people sent information on subjects. She received more than 25 the first day with stories and photos, and decided to dedicate herself to painting all she receives. Each portrait is of someone who is missing, was murdered, survived, their family member or friend, or an activist/hero fighting for the cause. Through her work LaFond hopes to make sure the missing and dead are never forgotten, to raise awareness about this serious issue, and to provide help with healing to the families she works with. LaFond continues to receive new images and stories and has an ongoing queue of 20-30. Opening Reception: Monday, January 30, 5-7 p.m. Artists talk: Tuesday, February 8, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24 – SUNDAY MARCH 26: CONFERENCE. BUILDING WORKER POWER. SOLIDARITY, COOPERATION AND CARE. UMass. In this time of economic crisis and ecological collapse, workers of all kinds are organizing to reject the alienation of racial capitalism. This conference explores the deep histories, current happenings, and future possibilities of collaborations between union organizing and worker-owned cooperatives. Keynote Speakers: Kali Akuno (Cooperation Jackson) and Chris Smalls (President, Amazon Labor Union). Over 30 workshops, exciting plenaries, networking and community building. More information

ONLINE ONGOING OR MULTI-DAY EVENTS

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19- WEDNESDAY APRIL 3: FEINBERG LECTURE SERIES ON US IMPERLIALSM Events are online or hybrid. This free public lecture series brings together scholars, journalists, educators, writers, community organizers, and survivors of state violence to examine global histories of U.S. imperialism and anti-imperialist resistance.The series traces the history of U.S. imperialism from the conquest of North America to the creation of an overseas empire in the late 19th century and to the present day. It also offers a critical historical analysis of the various traditions and movements that have opposed U.S. empire, including Black radicalism, Marxism, revolutionary feminism, armed struggle, international solidarity, pacifism, and liberal, electoral, and diplomatic activism.  The series kicks off Monday, September 19 for the Keynote Address, US Policy In the Global South by Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum, joined by journalists Vincent Bevins and Amy Goodman. 7 p.m. on Zoom.
Register here.
Full listing of series events and more information

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30 -SUNDAY MAY 14. 60 YEARS OF COLLECTING -AN ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION CELEBRATING THE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART PERMANENT COLLECTION. Bottom Floor of the UMass Fine Arts Center. Look here for gallery hours and additional information. Free. The exhibit can be viewed on line here.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1-TUESDAY, JANUARY 31: ELEVATOR OF EARTHLY DESTRUCTION: A SHORT FILM BY MELISSA MCCLUNG. Burnett Gallery Virtual Exhibit https://www.joneslibrary.org/virtualburnett.  Artist Statement
On March 21, 2021, Elon Musk tweeted, “I am accumulating resources to help make life multiplanetary & extend the light of consciousness to the stars.” In July 2021, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson each took separate trips to the edge of space in privately-built rockets. Instead of directing their vast resources towards sustaining life on Earth, billionaires are looking for an escape hatch. But will life among the stars really be as magical as it sounds?

In Elevator of Earthly Destruction, I repurpose archival footage from the American treasure trove, the Prelinger Archives, to explore Earth’s crises past, present and (retro)future. See more about Melissa at www.melissamcclung.com.