What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: Pixbay.com
by Art and Maura Keene
You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.
SINGLE DAY EVENTS
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17: TOWN SPRING FESTIVAL/LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION. Amherst Regional Middle School, 170 Chestnut Street. Join the Human Rights Commission and the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as we welcome in the year of the Dragon. Learn about the origins and traditions of Spring Festival. Enjoy a Dragon dance and other traditional Spring Festival dances and songs. There will be activities for all and lunch will be provided by our favorite local restaurants. Registration is not required, but it is appreciated. To register Click Here!
Schedule of Events
10:30 a.m. The origin and traditions of Spring Festival, Dr. Lily Soh
11:15 a.m. Dragon dance and other traditional Spring Festival dances and songs performed by East Culture, Inc.
12:00 a.m. Reading of the 2024 Spring Festival Proclamation read by Amherst Town Council
12:15 p.m. Lunch provided by our favorite local restaurants
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 18: CLARICONNECT: PLAY WITH THE PROS. 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Bezanson Hall, UMass. UMass Clarinet Day. Free for all! This year CLARIconNecT is about chamber music. All clarinetists are welcome to participate in the rehearsals and performances of clarinet chamber groups and clarinet choir with DECODA guest artists Alicia Lee, Bixby Kennedy, Paul Cho, and Romie de Guise-Langlois. Register by February 1 to perform. See https://www.deguise-langlois.com/clariconnect-2023?fbclid=IwAR244KiYOyC8KeMIRlb-J29Up-yX2LkivWPkuoGz4baxJYobbEVljrLjYIs
TUESAY FEBRUARY 20: LAND BACK AND LIBERATED ZONES: BUILDING POWER AND REWORKING RELATIONS THROUGH COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS. 5 to 6:45 p.m. Old Chapel, UMass. Join us for a presentation and conversation around land decommodification with
- Kali Akuno, Co-Director of Cooperation Jackson and author of Jackson Rising Redux: Lessons on Building the Future in the Present and
- Ethan Miller, Co-Coordinator of Land in Common and author of Reimagining Livelihoods: Life Beyond Economy, Society, and Environment
Caught between a pincer of accelerating capital accumulation on the one hand and systems collapse on the other, an increasing number of communities and movements are responding through land-based organizing. Networks are forming through regional connections and through overlapping political aims around alternative food production, commonning, land back, rematriation, abolition, and eco-socialism. In this conversation, Akuno and Miller introduce their work and then discuss intersecting strategies towards building resilience and power through interdependence with each other, and non-human others. Registration required https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftAHw-i6Gs1pQqXfWSvSCCRG74sGLy1fDHAiM2a5tey38iaQ/viewform
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21: FACULTY CONCERT: JONATHAN HULTING-COHEN, SAXOPHONE & JIAYAN SUN, PIANO. 7:30 p.m. Bezanson Hall, UMass. Music by Jules Demersseman, Ingrid Arauco, Pablo de Sarasate, David Loeb, & the Sonata in A Major by Cesar Franck, arranged for saxophone and piano. Free
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21: JUDY BROOKS CONVERSATION SERIES WITH MEMBERS OF THE BLACK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF AMHERST. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Register for the League of Women Voters of Amherst monthly Judy Brooks conversation series at https://www.lwvamherst.org
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21: PALESTINE/ISRAEL TALK SERIES: HOW DID WE GET HERE? NATIONALISM, COLONIALISM, AND CATASTROPHE’S AFTERMATH. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Lyceum 201, Amherst College. Dr. Ahmad Samih Khalidi, Center for Security Policy, Geneva and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Palestine Studies. Presented by the Amherst College Departments of History, ASLC, and Anthropology/Sociology.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22: SCREENING OF “CHUCHI AND ADALIZ”. 4:30 to 6 p.m., Pruyne Auditorium, Amherst College. “Chuchi and Adaliz” — pilot of the web series created and written by Amherst Alum Ashley Soto — is the highlight of this special screening. “Chuchi and Adaliz” premiered at SXSW in 2023 and is a five episode, single camera digital series that follows childhood besties who, despite having a shared racial and ethnic identity as AfroPuerto Ricans, couldn’t be more different than each other as adults. Soto will take questions after the screening, and all are welcome to attend and enjoy pizza with the Amherst Film and Media Studies program.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22: BLUE NOTE RECORDS 85TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WITH THE BLUE NOTE QUINTET. 7:30, Bowker Auditorium, UMass. The combo Blue Note has assembled to play their traveling birthday party features five absolutely stellar current-day exponents of America’s greatest music form. There’s no way we’d miss an opportunity to host this quintet. We can’t wait to see what happens when they hit our stage. And we know you’re going to want to be here to see it, too. Led by pianist Gerald Clayton, a six-time Grammy nominee, the band features vibraphonist Joel Ross, saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, drummer Kendrick Scott, and bassist Matt Brewer. We don’t have enough time or space to list the artists these guys have performed with, because it’s pretty much everyone. We will tell you that their recorded output as leaders and sidemen has been remarkable. Tickets https://fac.umass.edu/Online/mapSelect.asp?doWork::WSmap::loadMap=Load&createBO::WSmap=1&BOparam::WSmap::loadMap::performance_ids=FCB2BF2B-50C4-4606-8A72-C1AE9FCD7AC7 $35, $30, Youth and students $10.
THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22-24: REPERTOIRE: AN EVENING OF DANCES PAST AND PRESENT. 7:30 p.m. Totman Performance Lab, UMass. Original works by our dance faculty, including Molly Fletcher Lynch-Clark’s What Still Lingers (premiered 2023, Tom Vacanti’s Arena (premiered 2014), plus a new work by Vacanti to Stravinsky’s Symphony in 3 Movements. $10, free for students.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23: AMHERST AREA GOSPEL CHOIR AT THE SURVIVAL CENTER. 12 to 1 p.m. Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. We are thrilled to have the Amherst Area Gospel Choir return for their annual ASC performance. All are welcome. The program is supported in part by a grant from the Amherst Cultural Council. The lunch menu will feature Black achievements in the culinary arts.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23: ON THE SAME PAGE WITH PAUL HARDING. 5 to 6:30 p.m., Johnson Chapel, Amherst College. Join us for a conversation with National Book Award winner Justin Torres and finalist Paul Harding, moderated by Amherst College Assistant Professor of English Amelia Worsley, with introductions and remarks from Amherst College President Michael Elliott and National Book Foundation Director of Programs and Partnerships, Natalie Green.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23: STILL WE RISE: BLACK CELEBRATION SERIES. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. White Lion Brewery, 24 North Pleasant Street. Black history lecture and slide show presentation. Open Mic. Vocal, poetry, instrumental performances. Prizes for outstanding performances. Presented by the Black Business Association of Amherst Area in collaboration with the White Lion Brewery and Sankofa Gumbo. Free and open to the public. For more info: BBAAmherst@gmail.com.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23: WEB DUBOIS 155TH BIRTHDAY INVITATIONAL POETRY SLAM. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Carney Auditorium, Furcolo Hall, UMass. This invitational poetry slam is a celebration of Black poetry, Black History Month, and the birthday of W.E.B. DuBois (February, 23rd 1868). A poetry slam is a competitive event where spoken word artists perform poems in front of a live audience and are judged by 5 audience members using scores that range on the scale of 1-10. This program centers Black creative expression for community members across UMass and beyond. This is a space where marginalized voices are uplifted and student experiences will be legitimized. Award-winning spoken word artist Jahman Hill will be the emcee and featured poet of the evening. Refreshments will be available. FREE AND OPEN TO ALL.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23 THROUGH SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25: 9TH ANNUAL AMHERST COLLEGE LITFEST. a literary festival celebrating fiction, nonfiction, poetry and spoken-word performance, along with the College’s extraordinary literary life. Guest speakers include award-winning authors Natasha Trethewey, Paul Harding, Ed Yong, Blair Kamin ’79 P’15, Lisa Biggs ’93, and other distinguished editors and authors. Check https://www.amherst.edu/about/literary-amherst/litfest for schedule and speaker information.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25: PRESENTATION ON HOME CAREGIVING AT THE END OF LIFE. Noon. Grace Episcopal Church, 14 Boltwood Ave. Karen Miller, Clinical Nurse Manager at Cooley Dickinson Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) and Hospice, will be hosting a presentation on the importance of home caregiving at the end of life. She will discuss options for emotional, physical, and spiritual support that can help families manage challenges and provide comfort. More information: Contact: Terrie Korpita (Parish Administrator), 413-256-6754, tkorpita@gracechurchamherst.org
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25: SUNDAY CONCERT: NOAH FERRIS CELLO. 3 p.m. Amherst Woman’s Club, 35 Triangle Street. Cellist Noah Ferris, age 17, studies with Astrid Schween at Juilliard Pre-College. A student at Amherst Regional High School, Noah has been a finalist in several competitions, is a founding member of the Aster Trio, and has participated in numerous summer festivals across New England. Please join the Amherst Woman’s Club for a delightful afternoon of cello music by Dvorak, Debussy, and Tchaikovsky. Yu Mei Wei accompanies on piano. All proceeds of the event will be used to grant scholarships to high school seniors and grants to local community service agencies such as the Boys and Girls Club, the Amherst Senior Center, Safe Passage and the Amherst Survival Center. Register at: https://www.amherstwomansclub.org/event-5578638/Registration
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28: WHAT CAN REPARATIONS MEAN FOR A COMMUNITY AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF PHILANTHROPY? 12 to 2 p.m. White Lion Brewery, 24 North Pleasant Street. The Community Foundation will host a special EVOLVE Philanthropy session to honor Black History Month. Join us for a conversation recognizing the rich history of African-American contributions to the area, and the possibilities for a brighter, more just future. Central to any such conversation in Amherst is the topic of reparations for residents of African descent. We plan to explore the need to address the significant historical racial disparities, the current climate in town related to racial justice, and the role of philanthropy. With Dr. Stefan Bradley, Kimberly Dumpson, and Michele Miller. Lunch will be served. Save your seat. https://cfwm.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/ticket?event_date_id=5620&edt_id=1759 Free.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28: AMHERST WOMAN’S CLUB BOOK GROUP: “LAB GIRL” BY HOPE JAHREN. 6 p.m., Amherst Woman’s Club, 35 Triangle Street. Geobiologist Hope Jahren has spent her life studying trees, flowers, seeds, and soil. “Lab Girl” is her revelatory treatise on plant life—but it is also a celebration of the lifelong curiosity, humility, and passion that drive every scientist. Register at https://www.amherstwomansclub.org/event-5578642/Registration
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28: PALESTINE/ISRAEL TALK SERIES: WHY DO WE CARE? HISTORICAL RESONANCES, DOMESTIC FRACTURES, GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Lyceum 201, Amherst College. Dr. Ahmad Samih Khalidi, Center for Security Policy, Geneva and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Palestine Studies. Presented by the Amherst College Departments of History, ASLC, and Anthropology/Sociology.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 29: NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING RE-IMAGINED. (Rescheduled from January 16). 6 p.m. Crocker Farm School, 280 West Street. Join the Conversation Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 6:00 pm. “We can’t heal or create greater racial equity if we don’t know each other. Racial healing involves building trusting relationships that help us work together to address the impact and damage caused by racism. Changing the systems that separate us starts with challenging our individual impulses to separate. On this National Day of Racial Healing – and yearround – find a way to connect across racial and ethnic differences with people who we share our community with.” We can start by joining the conversation.Registration is not required, but it is appreciated. Please Click here to register.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 29: UMASS WHITE LION DANCERS AT THE SURVIVAL CENTER. 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. A performance by the UMass White Lion Dancers. All are welcome! Appetizers from local restaurants will be served. This program is supported in part by the Amherst Cultural Council.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 29: REPARATIONS IN AMHERST. 4-5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Presented by Amherst Neighbors. The African Heritage Reparation Assembly (AHRA) submitted its final report <https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/68980/AHRA-FINAL-REPORT> to the Amherst Town Council in September 2023, following an extensive consultative process with Amherst residents. The report laid out recommendations including a funding plan, eligibility criteria, and truth and reconciliation initiatives. Please join members of the AHRA, Dr. Amilcar Shabazz and Michele Miller, and local and state reparations activist Kathleen Anderson for a discussion about the recommendations and what’s next for the reparative justice movement locally and beyond. There will be a brief presentation, followed by a robust question and answer session. Questions can be submitted in advance or asked during the program. Free. Register at https://amherstneighbors.org/content.aspx?page_id=4008&club_id=428578&item_id=2206909
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 29: PUBLIC HEARING OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 7 p.m. over Zoom. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) has designated the Town of Amherst a Mini-Entitlement Community that is eligible to apply for up to $925,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. CDBG funds support housing, community development projects, and social service activities benefiting low-and moderate-income citizens. In accordance with State regulations, Amherst’s CDBG Advisory Committee will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 7pm to receive comments and suggestions from local residents regarding:
- Town’s final recommended activities for the 2024 application
- Town of Amherst North Pleasant Street multi-use path project
- Valley CDC Micro-enterprise Assistance Program
- Amherst Survival Center Food Pantry
- Family Outreach of Amherst Community Housing Support Program
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Kids to Campus Youth Mentoring
- Amherst Mobile Market: Healthy Food Access Project
- Center for New Americans: ESOL Classes
- Target Areas
- Expansion of Town Center Target Area
- Community Development Strategy
To Join: https://amherstma.zoom.us/j/84541527692
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 29: BLACK ARTS MATTER VISUAL SHOWCASE OPENING. Mead Art Museum, Amherst College. The Black Art Matters Festival affirms and celebrates Black student artists and creators. Zoe Akoto (Class of 2021) started the Black Art Matters Festival in 2018 in a student dormitory when she noticed that the creative work of Black students was rarely seen on campus. Comprised of a visual arts showcase and a performance showcase, the Festival highlights an expansive range of creative practices including all visual media as well as spoken word, dance, and music.
FRIDAY MARCH 1: MUSIC AT AMHERST PRESENTS TERRi LYNNE CARRINGTON AND SOCIAL SCIENCE. 7:30 p.m. Buckley Recital Hall, Amherst College Galvanized by seismic changes in the ever-evolving social and political landscape, Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science confront a wide spectrum of social justice issues. The band’s stunning double-disc debut, Waiting Game, immediately takes its place in the stirring lineage of politically conscious and activist music, expressing an unflinching, inclusive and compassionate view of humanity’s breaks and bonds through an expansive program melding jazz, R&B, indie rock, contemporary improvisation and hip-hop.
BEGINNING THURSDAY MARCH 1: THE EVERGREENS REOPENS. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Emily Dickinson Museum, 280 Main Street. The moment we’ve all been waiting for: The Evergreens will open for the first time since 2019! The lives of the Dickinson families at the Homestead and The Evergreens were closely linked, both in their daily conduct and in the private lives that unfolded in the houses. These connections had a profound impact on Emily Dickinson’s poetry and, later, on the posthumous publication of her verse and the preservation of her legacy. Visitors are recommended to purchase tickets in advance at https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/visit/
SATURDAY MARCH 2: AMHERST DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS. 10:30 a.m. on Zoom. The ADTC will hold our annual Amherst Democratic Caucus to elect delegates to the 2024 Massachusetts Democratic Party State Convention. The caucus will be to elect delegates to the MassDems convention this spring. On Saturday, June 1, delegates will gather at the DCU Center in Worcester for a nominating convention for the US Senate seat currently held by Elizabeth Warren. Expect speeches from top Massachusetts Democrats. This is a great event to meet elected Massachusetts Democrats and the grassroots organizers working to make Massachusetts more progressive.
Running for delegate is easy, and the only requirement is that you be a registered Democrat living in Amherst. We hope you’ll join us for our caucus and consider running for delegate. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkduCurjosGtPDiX9ADtzIV_NDw27FrpWO#/registration
WEDNESDAY MARCH 6: PALESTINE/ISRAEL TALK SERIES: WHERE ARE WE HEADING? HOPES AND DELUSIONS: THE ONE STATE REALITY AND THE GAZA AFTERMATH. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Lyceum 201, Amherst College. Dr. Ahmad Samih Khalidi, Center for Security Policy, Geneva and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Palestine Studies. Presented by the Amherst College Departments of History, ASLC, and Anthropology/Sociology.
THURSDAY MARCH 7: VIRTUAL INFORMATION MEETING WITH WAYFINDERS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT BELCHERTOWN ROAD AND EAST STREET SCHOOL. 6 p.m. WayFinders will present its current plans and timeline for developing 70 units of affordable rental housing at East Street School and 80 Belchertown Road. Give your feedback. More information to follow.
FRIDAY MARCH 8: OPENING RECEPTION FOR “WATER, NATURE, AND THE CITY”: AN EXHIBIT BY CHRISTINE MIRABAL. 4 to 6 p.m. Town Hall. Please join us for an evening of art and friendship. Come meet the artist – Christine Mirabal. Walk the galleries and enjoy some snacks. Sponsored by the Amherst Public Art Commission.
MONDAY MARCH 11: CONVERSATION WITH LABOR ACTIVIST CHRIS BROOKS (IUMass ’18), VISIONARY STRATEGIST WITH THE UAW. 6:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. Old Chapel, UMass, 144 Hicks Way.
Here’s more on Chris from the WSJ: “The group includes Chris Brooks, a 39-year-old labor activist recruited early this year to manage the new president’s transition team who then became a top aide. He helped overhaul the 88-year-old union, bringing a renewed militancy and empowering rank-and-file workers by pushing for frequent rallies and events where Fain heard them out. “
TUESDAY MARCH 12: CIVIC SUMMIT: SHOULD MASSACHUSETTS DROP THE MCAS GRADUATION REQUIREMENT? 5 to 7 p.m. UMass College of Education, 813 North Pleasant Street. Join us for a lively discussion at our in-person event, where we will examine whether Massachusetts should eliminate the MCAS graduation requirement for high school students. The Civic Summit will bring together experts, educators, and concerned citizens, and will be organized in the style of a deliberative poll: attendees will “vote” on the measure before and after learning more about it. The Center for Education Policy will use this information to help inform other voters in the commonwealth. Parking in lots 27 and 66. Refreshments. Free.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 13: MEETING. OF THE SCHOOL EQUITY AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. Amherst Regional High School Library. Meeting will be in person and is open to the public.
ONGOING AND MULTI-DAY EVENTS
TUESDAYS IN FEBRUARY: MY VOICE MY STORY. 4:30 on Amherst Media Channel 12. Amherst Media”s Black History Month Portrait Series returns with Tennis Professional, Art Carrington, who shares insight into the history of Black Tennis.
FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH. RAINBOW COFFEE HOUR. 10-11 a.m. Amherst Senior Center, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. The Rainbow Coffee Hour is a new LGBTIA+ social coffee group for ages 50 and above. Join us for this welcoming space to socialize. No format, no agenda, just community. The July coffee hour will be held on July 11, due to July 4 being the first Tuesday of the month.
FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH (EXCLUDING JULY): NORTHAMPTON JAZZ WORKSHOP. The Drake. 44 North Pleasant Street. 7:30 p.m. Free (donations accepted). Featuring the Green Street trio with a special guest. Featured set at 7:30 followed by an open jam session. Bring your axe. Full calendar of events here.
SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH (EXCLUDING JULY): 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.
FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: MOBILE FOOD PROGRAM. 1-2 p.m. The Boulders, 156 Brittany Manor Drive. Free produce. No registration necessary. Open to everyone. Brought by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and the Amherst Survival Center. The Food Bank truck will be in the parking lot near apartments 115-125.
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+.
EVERY WEDNESDAY : 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: STITCH CIRCLE. 4 to 6 p.m. Mill District Local Art Gallery and General Store, 91 Cowls Road. Grab your needles, venture to the General Store, and join us for our first Stitch Circle. Knitters, quilters, embroidery artists, and crocheters are all invited. Free.
FIRST AND THIRD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH: VETERAN’S COMMUNITY BREAKFAST FOR ALL -8 a.m – 9 a.m. Large Activity Room, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. At each breakfast (bagel/donut/coffee), a veteran or veteran ally, will tell his or her personal story regarding military service. Generation after generation reveals that those going to war to defend our country come back spiritually and morally wounded, regardless of the bodily consequences of combat. We want to bring veterans together for food and friendship to help coalesce a spirit of camaraderie to enable authentic, veteran-oriented communities to flourish. WELCOME: Veterans, Spouses, Caregivers, Amherst Community Members. Let’s Build a Thriving Veterans Community. There are 387 Veterans in town! Sponsored by CRESS. FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL THE CRESS OFFICE, (413) 259-3370 OR GENE HERMAN, VIETNAM VETERAN, (240) 472-7288 – CRESS VETERAN’S OUTREACH VOLUNTEER.
NOW THROUGH SATURDAY MARCH 2: THE DANCE OF DEMENTIA FIBER ART EXHIBIT. Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street 1D in Amherst annouces its new exhibition for February: Dances of Dementia an exhibit of fiber art by Cheryl Rezendes. The exhibit will run from Thursday February 1 through Saturday March 2. There will be an opening reception on Thursday February 1, from 5-7 p.m. and a free online art forum on Thursday February 15 at 7:30 p.m. (register here). Gallery hours are Thursday-Sunday, 2-7:00 p.m. More information
NOW THROUGH MARCH 2024: SELF-PORTRAITS BY FIRST GRADERS FROM WILDWOOD SCHOOL. Mead Art Museum, Amherst College. First graders from Wildwood School had a gallery opening at the Mead Art Museum at Amherst college on Thursday evening, December 14. Their self portraits are the culmination of a partnership with the Mead that included art educators visiting the Wildwood classrooms and a field trip.
NOW THROUGH FRIDAY MAY 10: AS WE MOVE FORWARD: ART EXHIBIT. Augusta Savage Gallery, New Africa House, 80 Infirmary Way, UMass. Curated by Juana Valdes and Nhadya Lawes. As We Move Forward honors the work and legacy of American sculptor and educator Augusta Savage (1892-1962), who paved the way for future generations of Black artists. Valdes and Lawes have chosen the works of seventeen Black, Latinx, and Afro- Indigenous women artists from Savage’s home state of Florida. The exhibition combines printmaking, photography, sculpture, architecture, ceramics, and other mixed media to create a space of celebration and growth for these emerging artists. Opening Reception: Tuesday, February 27, 5-7 p.m. Curators’ Talk: Thursday, April 4, 6 p.m.
NOW THROUGH JUNE 7: DAILY YOGA AT THE MUNSON LIBRARY. Free outdoor yoga is now inside at the Munson Library. The schedule is: Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays at 8 a.m., Mondays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m., Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 a.m. No pre-registration necessary. Bring your own mats, blocks, straps, and blankets. Donations welcome.
NOW THROUGH SUNDAY JUNE 9: SLOW WALK WITH TREES: ALICIA GRULLON PHOTO EXHIBIT. Mead Art Museum, Amherst College. The exhibition is a call to consider notions of land and labor as interconnected systems through various mediums. Grullón’s new photographs of trees and pictures of a single masked person are each paired with text. The compilation of texts reflects Grullón’s research of recent protests in a range of industries such as mining, shipping, and entertainment.