Four Waves of Feminism Mural Unveiling at Local Art Gallery
The recently completed Four Waves of Feminism mural it will be on permaent display at the Mill District in North Amherst. Photo: Marisol Pierce Bonifaz
Source: Amherst Young Feminist Party
Amherst Young Feminist Party (YFP) invites the public to join a celebratory reception featuring the unveiling of their Four Waves of Feminism mural on Sunday, February 2, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. The event will begin with a dramatic unveiling of the mural in its permanent position on the fence southeast of the pink wall in The Mill District. Refreshments will be provided by Carefree Cakery, 3 Amigos, Provisions, Herrell’s Ice Cream, Futura Coffee and the Mill District General Store.
The mural was painted by Ada Paessel, a senior at Amherst Regional High School.
According to the YFP, the mural design exemplifies the importance of social movements. In every decade, our nation has seen a social movement for equal rights championing change and reform, and winning large and small victories. In terms of gender equality, women’s freedom is long overdue. The current youth generation demands better and our demands are repesented in the form of bold blue brushstrokes. In a time of unprecedented attacks on bodily autonomy, right to contraception, access to gender affirming care, and the basic right to live freely, we must all demand gender equality. Every voice matters in this fight, and we seek to bring out the hope and inspiration to keep fighting for the success of the social movement for gender equality that will prevail.
The concept for the mural was a collaboration between Paessel, the Amherst Young Feminist Party Outreach Director, and Mill District founder Cinda Jones. Paessel wove her four waves concepts with Jones’ (never created) 1986 feminist mural design. Amherst Young Feminist Party began its partnership with the Mill District a year ago, in the winter of 2024. They were connected to Cinda Jones, the President of WD Cowls, through Shannon Borrell, Mill District Local Art Gallery Manager and helped blend Jones’ never created mural design with Paessel’s vision. This project has been graciously funded and supported by The Mill District.
The Amherst Young Feminist Party is the local chapter of a national, youth-led, intersectional organization fighting to enshrine legal gender equality into our constitution and ensure bodily autonomy for all. Founded in May of 2020, the chapter has grown to a base of 50+ activists ranging from the ages of 13 to 26, with more than 20 active members.
Email: youngfeministpartyamherst@gmail.com
Instagram: @youngfeministparty_amherst