What’s Happening in Amherst?

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

FRIDAY APRIL 5: FISHY FUN AT THE FORT RIVER. 3 p.m., at the kiosk in front of the playground at Groff Park. Come on a guided walk along the Fort River with UMass scientist Brian Yellen to learn about the amazing creatures that live in the river, and what community groups are doing to preserve this natural treasure. The river, and the streams that feed it, go through most of Amherst, including Amethyst Brook Conservation Area, Fort River School, Crocker Farm School, and the new conservation area, Hickory Ridge. Free.

FRIDAY APRIL 5: CINDY KALLET & GREY LARSEN IN CONCERT AT CHERRY HILL COHOUSING. 7p.m. 120 Pulpit Hill Rd N. Amherst Tix: $15-25 Sliding Scale. No advance reservations. Doors open 6:30 This is a smoke and fragrance-free venue. Facility is wheelchair accessible. More Information
Facebook listing

FRIDAY APRIL 5: FIVE COLLEGE JAZZ FESTIVAL. 6:30 p.m., Bezanson Hall, UMASS. Featuring Mt. Holyoke College Big Band and Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Smith College Big Band, UMass Vocal Jazz, Jazz Lab, Chapel Jazz Ensembles and Graduate Jazz Quartet, and Amherst College comp “Pinnacles.” Free

FRIDAY APRIL 5: TWENTY YEARS AT MOUNT TOBY BY PETER GRIMA. 12:30-1:30 p.m., Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Well known as a botanical hotspot, fabled for ferns and orchids, Mount Toby’s full spectrum of diversity continues to surprise and intrigue even seasoned botanists. Presented by the Amherst Historical Society.

FRIDAY APRIL 5 AND SATURDAY APRIL 6: JUNIPER LITERARY FESTIVAL 2024. Celebrating 60 years of the UMass MFA for poets and writers. All events free and open to the public. See event schedule https://www.umass.edu/english/events/juniper-literary-festival-2024 .

SATURDAY APRIL 6: MISSOULA CHILDREN’S THEATRE PRESENTS “JACK IN THE BEANSTALK”. 2 performances at Amherst Regional Middle School auditorium. See https://amherstacts.org/childrens-theater/ . Missoula Children’s Theatre comes to town to produce a play in one week. Auditions for children kindergarten through grade 12 are April 1-6 at Amherst Regional Middle School. Auditions are very entertaining and non-threatening. In general, there are spaces available for 60 cast members. In recent years everyone who auditioned was cast, but there have been years when over 100 children have auditioned for only 60 spaces. We anticipate that we may have a larger audition pool again this year, so please be aware—some auditioners may not be cast. If your child is cast, you can expect a full and very fun week, capped off with two performances in the ARMS Auditorium on Saturday.

SATURDAY APRIL 6: EMPTY BOWLS 2024. 12-4 p.m. Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. Get your tickets now and join us at the Center anytime from 12:00-4:00 PM on Saturday April 6th for a delightful meal and table service by fabulous local celebrities! You’ll find gorgeous handmade bowls from local potters and delicious soup made by local restaurants and our very own kitchen! Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free soup options are available. Meals will be served with warm bread, salad, and a light dessert. Tickets $50 each.

SATURDAY APRIL 6: BOARD GAMES FOR TEENS. 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Jones Library. Do you enjoy board games like Risk, Settlers of Catan, Wingspan, and chess? Join us on Saturday afternoon for a new teen program where we explore various strategy board games. No experience is necessary and all materials provided. This program is for ages 12 to 18, and parents and caregivers of participants are welcome to join the fun! Email us to register and find out more.

SATURDAY APRIL 6: UMASS HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ FESTIVAL. 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bezanson and Tillis Halls, UMass. Performances by high school vocal and instrumental jazz bands from around the region, plus UMass combos and Jazz Ensemble 1. Two high school ensembles play at 7:30 p.m. in Tillis Hall prior to the 8 p.m. Mingus Dynasty concert. Free.

SATURDAY APRIL 6: MINGUS DYNASTY. 8 p.m., Tillis Performance Hall, UMass. Formed in 1979, shortly after Charles Mingus’ death and originally composed of players who had played with Mingus, the ensemble has been carrying the legacy of its eponym for more than four decades. Philip Harper, trumpet; Mark Gross, saxophone; Conrad Herwig, trombone; Helen Sung. Piano, Barry Stephenson, bass; and Donald Edwards, drums. $35, $30, Students and youth $10. Tickets.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY APRIL 6 AND 7: “PIECES OF US:” WORKS BY PELHAM STUDENT ARTISTS.  10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, Local Art Gallery and General Store in the Mill District, 91 Cowls Road. We are so proud that the work of student artists from Pelham Elementary is going to be featured at Local Art Gallery. This collection of artworks by Pelham Elementary students, aged 5 to 12 explores identity themes. Each piece reflects discussions on diversity and individuality with students choosing to represent a single aspect of themselves through various mediums. Exhibit on view until April 27.

SUNDAY APRIL 7: PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT AND DISCUSSION BY PEGGY GILLESPE. 1 to 4 p.m., First Church Amherst, 165 Main Street. Gillespie and others will talk about her book Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families which forms the basis of a weeklong photo exhibit.

SUNDAY APRIL 7: NATHAN LAUBE ORGAN RECITAL. 3 p.m., Amherst South Church, 1066 South East Street. An organ recital on South Church’s Casavant organ by internationally recognized organist Nathan Laube. Free will donation $20 suggested. Reservations required. Call (413) 253-2977 or email office@amherstsouthchurch.org.

MONDAY APRIL 8: TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING AT UMASS. The College of Natural Sciences and the astronomy department will distribute solar shades beginning at 11 a.m. April 8 at two locations on campus while supplies last—UMass Amherst Sunwheel and Metawampe Lawn. UMass astronomers will speak about the phenomenon at both campus viewing locations. The peak of the eclipse will be at 3:28 p.m., and the event will conclude at 4:30 p.m.

MONDAY APRIL 8: TALK BY AMY BASS: “LISTEN TO ATHLETES FOR A CHANGE: WHY SPORTS MATTER. 4 to 5:30, 601 Herter Hall, UMass. In 2018, when NBA star Lebron James criticized President Trump on ESPN, Fox News host Laura Ingraham told him to “shut up and dribble.” The collisions amongst politics, culture, and sport mandate that we unpack sport, make meaning out of sport, and understand that when athletes take to the court, the pitch, and the field, they bring with them who they are and what they believe in.  While “stick to sport” may be a mantra trotted out by critics who think athletes should only operate within the parameters of the games they play, sticking to sport — and all that actually comes with it — can tell us everything we need to know about the world we live in. Free and open to the public.

CANCELLED MONDAY APRIL 8: SENIOR SERVICES OPEN HOUSE. 4 to 6 p.m., Bangs Community Center. The Amherst Council on Aging and the Senior Center invite you to their Third Annual Open House. The event will showcase Senior Center programs and services, collaborations with fellow town departments, and new initiatives while having a great time! Learn more about our vast array of offerings and connect with Center staff. Our special musical guest for the event will be singer/songwriter Eli Elkus. Light refreshments will be served. Leave your mark on the event by participating in our community paint mural. 

MONDAY APRIL 8: WIND ENSEMBLE AND SYMPHONY BAND. 7:30 p.m. Tillis Hall, Fine Arts Center, UMass. Matthew Westgate and Lindsay Bronnenkant, conductors. Music by Nicole Piunno, Zdenek Lukas, Vittorio Giannini, Malcolm Arnold and more. $15/$5. UMass students free. Tickets

TUESDAY APRIL 9: READING BY AMY BASS: ONE GOAL: A COACH, A TEAM, AND THE GAME THAT BROUGHT A DIVIDED TOWN TOGETHER. 7 p.m., Woodbury Room, Jones Library. When thousands of Somali refugees resettled in Lewiston, Maine, a struggling, overwhelmingly white town, longtime residents grew uneasy. Then the mayor wrote a letter asking Somalis to stop coming, which became a national story. While scandal threatened to subsume the town, its high school’s soccer coach integrated Somali kids onto his team, and their passion began to heal old wounds

TUESDAY APRIL 9: UMASS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. 7:30 p.m. Tillis Hall, Fine Arts Center, UMass. Gonzalo Hidalgo Ardila, conductor. Featuring winners of the Concerto Competition: Ingrid Husemoller, violin; Kathy Liu, piano; Austin McCann, cello. Music by Brahms, Dvorak, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninoff. $15/$5/ UMass students free. Tickets.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 10: INTERVIEW WITH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATE SUSAN GILSON. 7:30 to 9 p.m., Library of Amherst Regional High School, 21 Mattoon Street. Special joint meeting of the Union 26 and Regional School Committees. There will be no public comment period. Virtual link.

THURSDAY APRIL 11: CLIMATE JUSTICE: HOW TO ESCAPE THE FALSE CHOICE BETWEEN HOPE AND DOOM AND STAY HUMAN AND ENGAGED. 4 to 5:30 p.m., Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Sponsored by Amherst Neighbors. Join us at the Bangs Community Center for an in-person program with Russ Vernon-Jones on climate justice. Register here.

THURSDAY APRIL 11: GET TO KNOW LOCAL MAMMALS. 7 to 8 p.m., Woodbury Room, Jones Library. Join Mass Mammals for a conversation about their Citizen Science Project. Two undergraduate researchers from Amherst College will share a bit about black bears in Massachusetts, have a conversation about their project, and invite you to learn how you can be a more engaged and involved community scientist! The Massachusetts Mammals Citizen Science Team is a research group focused on tracking mammal populations across the state through community data submissions. Free and open to the public.

THURSDAY APRIL 11: JIJI (GUITAR CONCERT).  7:30 p.m., Bowker Auditorium, UMass. Through her impeccable musicianship, compelling stage presence, and commitment to commissioning and performing new musical works, JIJI has solidified her reputation as a top twenty-first century guitarist. | Tickets $30-$20; Five College Students and Youth 17 & Under $10.

SATURDAY APRIL 13: WALKING TOUR OF DOWNTOWN AMHERST WITH ARCHITECT STEVEN SCHREIBER. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Rain date April 14. Amherst Historical Society, Simeon Strong House, 67 Amity Street.  Registration required. $10 for Amherst History Society members, $15 general public.

SATURDAY APRIL 13: PUBLIC SHADE TREE PLANTING. 9 a.m. to noon. South Amherst Common near the Munson Library. Join the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee for their first planting of the season. Bring a shovel if you have one, but we have plenty. Meet at the South Amherst Common—look for the yellow town truck. Join us and do something that will last for the next generation. You’ll be glad you did.

SATURDAY APRIL 13: TREE PLANTING AT MUNSON LIBRARY. 9 a.m. to noon. Munson Library. The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee will be planting a tree outside of the Munson Memorial Library in honor of retired librarian, Sue Hugus, on Saturday, April 13 from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon. They will be providing snacks, reading a story, and welcome you to share tree-related poems! The library will be providing a take and make craft for kids (first come, first served). We look forward to seeing you there!

SUNDAY APRIL 14: INTRO TO ORIGAMI FOR ADULTS PART 1 WITH JANET POIRRIER. 12 to 3:30 p.m., Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Come experience the creative and calming, technically wondrous art used by mathematicians, scientists, and artisans around the world. Learn and ancient art, take home something beautiful. Ages 16 and up $18.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14: BENEFIT CONCERT FEATURING STEPHEN PORTER, PIANIST AND KRISTA RIVER, MEZZO-SOPRANO. 3:00 p.m. Grace Episcopal Church on the Common. Porter is an internationally recognized pianist; Artist Resident of the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris; and Research Artist at Texas A&M University. Ms. River, Mezzo-soprano, is a winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition, and received a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording. The program will include works by Handel, Grieg, Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn and Benjamin Britten. Free. Donation of $20 per person suggested to support The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

THURSDAY APRIL 18: ECONOMIST CECILIA CONRAD PRESENTS GAMBLE MEMORIAL LECTURE. 5 p.m., Bowker Auditorium, UMass. Economist Cecilia Conrad, the founder and chief executive officer of Lever for Change and senior advisor at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, will present the annual Philip Gamble Memorial Lecture, “Philanthropy, Wealth Redistribution, and Equity” at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Thursday, April 18, at 5 p.m. in Bowker Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.

THURSDAY APRIL 18: THE PEOPLE’S TONGUE WITH ILYA KAMINSKY, POET AND TRANSLATOR. 7 p.m. Stirn Auditorium, Amherst College and Livestreamed. Defining a healthy democracy through the prism of language. Point/Counterpoint series moderated by Ilan Stavans. Guest speaker books will be available for purchase at each event, courtesy of Amherst Books. A book signing will follow the in-person events. For more information, see here.

FRIDAY APRIL 19: A HOUSE RESTORED, BY LEE MCCOLGAN. 12:30-1:30., Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Author Lee McColgan’s account of his efforts at restoring an old house expertly examines our relationship to history through the homes we inhabit, beautifully articulating the philosophy of preserving the past to find purpose for the future. Presented by the Amherst Historical Society.

SATURDAY APRIL 20: AMHERST SUSTAINABILITY FESTIVAL. Town Common More information coming.

SATURDAY APRIL 20: THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES FIRST EPISODE SCREENING AND BOOK SIGNING. 6 to 8 p.m., Jones Library. The Jones Library Kids Department is excited to partner with High Five Books for The Spiderwick Chronicles first episode screening! We will be joined by local authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black for a Q& A and book signing following the screening, in the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library in Amherst on Saturday, April 20 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. All ages are invited to this FREE event! Each participant needs a ticket. Please register here.   

SATURDAY APRIL 20: 13^TH ANNUAL 5K DASH AND DINE. 11 a.m. Check-in begins at 9 at the top of the Southwest horseshoe at UMass. UMass Dining is excited to host the Thirteenth Annual 5K Dash & Dine on Saturday, April 20th, 2024! This event is open to both students and the community with the goal to raise funds for the Amherst Survival Center. We hope you join us for lunch immediately after the run/walk! Fun Run for children 8 and under. Register at https://runumass.com/ .

SUNDAY APRIL 21: MABEL LOOMIS TODD AND THE NEW ENGLAND TRANSCENDENTALISTS. 2-3:30 p.m., Munson Library, 1046 South East Street. Mabel Loomis Todd was a writer, a poet, an artist, a civic activist, a world traveler, and, as it turned out, an ardent environmentalist. But perhaps nothing influenced Mabel more than the real and perceived inspiration of the Thoreau family. Presented by the Amherst Historical Society.

TUESDAY APRIL 23: GOSPEL CONCERT TO BENEFIT AMHERST ABC PROGRAM. 7:30 p.m., Grace Episcopal Church. Benefit for Amherst A Better Chance program, featuring Amherst Area Gospel Choir, Amherst Regional High School Hurricane Singers, Hampshire Young People’s Chorus, UMass Gospel Choir. Greet the ABC scholars and resident directors Nancita Alejandro and Tem Blessed prior to the concert. Requested donation $20. RSVP or donate here.

TUESDAY APRIL 23: INTERVIEW WITH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATE JOANNE MENARD. 7:30 to 9 p.m., Library of Amherst Regional High School, 21 Mattoon Street. Special joint meeting of the Union 26 and Regional School Committees. There will be no public comment period. Virtual link.

THURSDAY APRIL 25: THE PEOPLE’S TONGUE WITH RUTH OZEKI, WRITER, FILMMAKER, AND ZEN BUDDHIST PRIEST. 7 p.m., Stirn Auditorium, Amherst College and LiveStreamed. Defining a healthy democracy through the prism of language. Point/Counterpoint series moderated by Ilan Stavans. Guest speaker books will be available for purchase at each event, courtesy of Amherst Books. A book signing will follow the in-person events. For more information, see here.

THURSDAY APRIL 25: INTERVIEW WITH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATE E. XIOMARA HERMAN. 7:30 to 9 p.m., Library of Amherst Regional High School, 21 Mattoon Street. Special joint meeting of the Union 26 and Regional School Committees. There will be no public comment period. Virtual link.

FRIDAY APRIL 26: QUARTERLY ART OPENING. 5 to 7 p.m., Local Art Gallery and General Store in the Mill District, 91 Cowls Road. Join us at this free reception to celebrate all the exhibiting artists and welcome the following to the Gallery: Aaron Wood, Nicole Williams, Rachel Palmer, Took Storm, Doug Dale, Shannon Hartford, Sara Deponte, Judy Vazquez, Laura Geryk, and Michelle Vigeant.

SATURDAY APRIL 27: NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Amherst Police Station, 111 Main Street. Put medications in the Medreturn Drop Box.

SATURDAY APRIL 27: UMASS CONCERT BAND. 7:30 p.m., Tillis Hall, Fine Arts Center, UMass. Timothy T. Anderson, conductor. Miles Anglin, Kaitlyn Burns, and Richard Sargent, graduate conductors. Ian Hale, marimba soloist. Featuring the premiere of Jeff Holmes’ Other Roads, written in honor of the career of Professor Thom Hannum. Also including Rossini’s William Tell Orchestra and a trumpet trio feature on Leroy Anderson’s Bugler’s Holiday. $15/ $5/ UMass students free. Tickets.

THURSDAY MAY 2: RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE NORTH AMHERST LIBRARY. 3:30 p.m. Come join us for the ribbon cutting ceremony for the remodeled and expanded North Amherst Library.

SUNDAY MAY 5: 14^TH ANNUAL DAFFODIL RUN FOR BIG BROTHERS/BIG SISTERS. 10 a.m., Amherst Town Common. This community event has become the first marker of spring for the town of Amherst and draws hundreds ofcommunity members to the area to participate and cheer on their family and friends. Look forward to 5K Run/Walk & 10K Run post-race party with delicious food, and family-friendly fun. The Daffodil Run helps sustain the power of youth mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters by connecting adult mentors with young people in our community. Once matched they go on to build a meaningful, positive relationship that empowers the potential inherent in each child. Register at https://racewire.com/register.php?id=14021 .

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.

SATURDAYS, APRIL 20 UNTIL NOVEMBER: AMHERST FARMERS’ MARKET. 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Amherst Town Common. Widely known as one of the best places for local food, fun, and community. Offering farm to table produce and selections from your local growers and valley producers. Come out for food, music, events, and community offerings in downtown Amherst.

NOW THROUGH APRIL 27: “PIECES OF US:” WORKS BY PELHAM STUDENT ARTISTS. Local Art Gallery and General Store in the Mill District, 91 Cowls Road. We are so proud that the work of student artists from Pelham Elementary is going to be featured at Local Art Gallery. This collection of artworks by Pelham Elementary students, aged 5 to 12 explores identity themes. Each piece reflects discussions on diversity and individuality with students choosing to represent a single aspect of themselves through various mediums.There will also be an Open House weekend April 6-7 during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. both days.

NOW THROUGH SATURDAY MARCH 30: PAIRINGS BY MARTHA BRAUN AND ROCHELLE SHICOFF.
In PAIRINGS, Martha Braun applies her experience as a painter to the discipline of printmaking. Rochell Shicoff presents a series using encaustic, paint, pastel, and photomontage. At Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street. There will be a free Online Art Forum (register here) on Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.  Gallery hours are Thursday-Sunday, 2-7 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 FRIDAY 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.