What’s Happening In Amherst?

by Art and Maura Keene

There are lots of interesting events happening in our town. 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.

SINGLE DAY EVENTS

FRIDAY MARCH 31: UMASS SYMPOSIUM – AMERICA’S FASCIST THREAT AND HOW TO FIGHT IT. The symposium will feature all-day panels and discussions on Friday, March 31, at Gordon Hall, 418 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst. To attend the Friday symposium, registration will be required ( https://peri.umass.edu/ as of 2/20).  This PERI symposium is organized by Betsy Hartmann (Hampshire College) and Jerry Epstein (UMass Amherst).

FRIDAY MARCH 31: AMHERST INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE BENEFIT FOREARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN TURKEY AND SYRIA. Unitarian Society, 121 North Pleasant Street, 7:30-10 p.m. (rescheduled from March 3 due to inclement weather). Live music with Panharmonium. Folk dancing is for all. Enjoy harmonies and rhythms from Turkey, the Balkans, eastern Europe and Middle East. Beginners welcome. No partner required. Bring a mask, proof of vax/boosters, and indoor shoes. Donations will support Direct Relief.

SATURDAY April 1: BOOK LAUNCH—COMMON PLACE (a book about libraries) BY LOCAL AUTHOR THOMAS JOHNSON. Munson Memorial Library in South Amherst, 11-12:30 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Jones Library and branches and Levellers Press. Common PLACE: The Public Library, Civil Society and Early American Values tells the stories behind early libraries in America — where they are lo¬cated, who created them and why. Vignettes of sixteen public libraries located in New England include those both historic and typical, albeit with a focus on smaller localities where their presence can be more significant. 

SATURDAY APRIL 1: 15th ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS FUNDRAISER. The 15th Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday April 1 from Noon – 4 p.m. at the Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road in North Amherst. The public is invited to join the center’s celebrity waitstaff for soup made by local restaurants, served in gorgeous handmade bowls made by local potters. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free soup options are available. Meals will be served with warm bread, salad, and a light dessert. Fundraiser proceeds support our food and nutrition programs which serve almost 7,500 food-insecure residents of Hampshire and Franklin Counties. Buy tickets here.
More information.

rescheduled for SUNDAY APRIL 2, VOTE YES COMMUNITY PLAY DATE AT KENDRICK PARK. 10 a.m. to noon. Spring is in the air and we’re ready to celebrate with you! Bring the kiddos – or just yourselves! – to our Vote Yes Community Play Date at Kendrick Park. We have fun games planned for those who want to play, a social media selfie station, and our volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about the upcoming elementary school building project. No registration is necessary but please help spread the word by sharing our Facebook event with local friends and families! 

MONDAY APRIL 3: SECOND ANNUAL SENIOR CENTER OPEN HOUSE. Bangs Community Center, 3-5 p.m. Showcasing the programs, services, and partner agencies. Special guests will include Highland Valley Elder Services, Amherst Chamber of Commerce, Applewood, Christopher Heights, Jones Library, CRESS, Amherst Fire Department, Amherst Police Department, Amherst Council on Aging, and more. Light refreshments will be served.

TUESDAY APRIL 4: FELIPE SALLES’ THE NEW IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE. 7:30 p.m. Bowker Auditorium, UMass. Felipe Salles, director & composer (Professor of Jazz & African American Music at UMass) with his Interconnections Ensemble. Salles’ multi-media work for his Interconnections Ensemble features music overlaid with video interviews with “Dreamers” – young adults who were brought to the U.S. as children and have been part of the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Presented as part of “Immigration, Citizenship and Belonging: Two Days of Discussion, Debate and Celebration,”  https://sites.google.com/umass.edu/belonging/home?authuser=0 hosted by UMass Amherst and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The concert is sponsored in part by the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. The concert is free.

THURSDAY APRIL 6: THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT. UNICEF’S CHARITY BAND NIGHT FOR YEMEN. The Drake. 44 North Pleasant Street. Doors open at 7 p.m. The Umass branch of Unicef has put together an evening of local bands, raffle prizes, and concessions to raise money for the ongoing Yemen crisis.We are calling this event “The Butterfly Effect” to illustrate how one small event in Western Mass can raise the money to help hundreds of kids who are suffering across the world. Yemen remains one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, with around 23.4 million people in need of assistance, including almost 13 million children. After eight years of conflict, the national socioeconomic systems of Yemen remain on the edge of total collapse, while conflict, large-scale displacement and recurring climate shocks have left families vulnerable to communicable diseases outbreaks. By late 2022, more than 17.8 million people, including 9.2 million children, lacked access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services. The country continues to experience regular outbreaks of cholera, measles, diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases. We are hosting this event to raise much needed funds to send over to our most vulnerable populations of the world: children. Please join us to show your support! Tix: $7 advance / $10 day of. Full calendar of events

THURSDAY APRIL 6: BOOK LAUNCH PARTY: JAViER CORRALES. 4:30 p.m. Amherst Books, 8 Main Street. Join Amherst College professor Javier Corrales in celebrating the publication of his latest book, Autocracy Rising: How Venezuela Transitioned to Authoritarianism.   Corrales is Dwight W. Morrow 1895 Professor of Political Science at Amherst College.   He is author of Fixing Democracy: Why Constitutional Change Often Fails to Enhance Democracy in Latin America, & The Politics of LGBTQ Rights Expansion in Latin America & the Caribbean, among other books.

THURSDAY APRIL 6: POETRY READING – LEAH LAKSHMI PIEPZNA-SAMARASINHA & CYRÉE JARELLE JOHNSON. 6 p.m. Main Lecture Hall, Franklin Patterson Hall, Hampshire College. Reading and talk on “Disability Justice in This Moment in Time”.   Piepzna-Samarasinha is a nonbinary femme disability writer.   They are author of numerous books including The Future Is Disabled: Prophecies, Love Notes & Mourning Songs, & Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice.   Poet Johnson Cyr�e Jarelle Johnson is a Hampshire alum.   He is the author of Slingshot which won the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry.   Johnson was awarded a Ruth Lilly & Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship from the Poetry Foundation & served as the inaugural poet-in-residence at the Brooklyn Public Library.   For more information go to the HampEngage site for this event.|

THURSDAY APRIL 6: BOOK TALKJ WITH ANGEL CHEN. 7 p.m. Stonewall Center, 162-175 Campus Center, UMass. Angel Chen will talk about their book Ace: What Asexuality Reveals & Desire, Society, & the Meaning of Sex.   Chen is a journalist & writer in New York City.   Her reporting & criticism have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Atlantic, Guardian, Paris Review, & elsewhere.   For more information on the event, go to the UMass events page. 

FRIDAY APRIL 7: HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE SPRING STUDENT DANCE CONCERT. Hampshire College Main Dance Studio. Doors open at 7 p.m. Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. The event will feature student choreography that highlights dance as an expansive, inclusive, and incisive art form.Tickets are available for free or for donations of $3, $8, and $15. Make ticket reservations.

SATURDAY APRIL 8: HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE SPRING STUDENT DANCE CONCERT. Hampshire College Main Dance Studio. Doors open at 7 p.m. Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. The event will feature student choreography that highlights dance as an expansive, inclusive, and incisive art form.Tickets are available for free or for donations of $3, $8, and $15. Make ticket reservations.

SATURDAY APRIL 8: SECOND ANNUAL GREAT MILL DISTRICT EGG HUNT. Three Sessions at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. in front of the Mill District General Store at 91 Cowls Road. To complement the egg hunt, organizers have arranged photo-ops with Lavender, The Funny Bunny, and an opportunity to meet live rabbits. Youngsters will also have the chance to find one special Golden Eggs each round, with a $25 General Store gift card inside.   Participation is limited to the first 40 kids registered in each of the three sessions. Register at the Mill District General Store Facebook event page with a link to Eventbrite: https://www.generalstorelocalgallery.com/events.

SATURDAY APRIL 8: JAZZ AT AMHERST PRESENTS SWING DANCE! 9 p.m. at the Amherst College Power House. Join us for the return of Swing Dance in the Powerhouse! Jazz @ Amherst presents Project Gemini and Libra performing an evening of swing music and invites you to join the dance floor. Sponsored by Jazz @ Amherst and Student Activities. FREE, and open to the public.

MONDAY APRIL 10: ACCIDENTAL WEDDING COMEDY SHOW. Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk 2-3 p.m. A hilarious encounter with a wouldn’t-be groom, an irate match maker and a tall tale like they write tall tales about. A highly interactive, roll-in-the-aisle comedy you won’t want to miss. This original comedy will be performed by Steve Henderson. Program is supported by the Amherst Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

TUESDAY APRIL 11: GOSPEL CHOIR CONCERT. Grace Episcopal Church, 7:30 p.m. To benefit Amherst A Better Chance (ABC). Featuring Amherst Area Gospel Choir, Amherst Regional High School Chorale, Hampshire Young People’s Chorus, UMass Gospel Choir. Please join us for light refreshments prior to the concert in the room adjacent to the Grace Church sanctuary. Greet and congratulate our 2023 Local Hero Award recipient Talib Sadiq, and visit with the ABC scholars and resident directors Nancita Alejandro and Tom Blessed. Requested donation $20.

TUESDAY APRIL 11: DINE TO DONATE FUNRAISER FOR ARHS PGO. The ARHS PGO is pleased to announce that Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant in Amherst is sponsoring Dine to Donate on Tuesday, April 11. Dine at Garcia’s (or order takeout) and present this flyer, and they will donate 20% of the proceeds to the ARHS PGO. The PGO uses this money to fund community-building and enhancement activities in the school all year long. Support your students and our teachers and staff, and enjoy a night off from cooking!

WEDNESDAY APRIL 12: UMASS DISTINGUISHED FACULTY LECTURE -YOUNG MIN MOON – THE AFTEREFFECTS OF WAR IN CONTEMPORARY KOREAN ART. 4-6 P.M. Old Chapel, UMass. Reception to follow. Over the past century, the Korean Peninsula has seen a succession of violent ruptures, and it remains a flashpoint for the world’s superpowers. The peninsula is still gripped by Cold War geopolitics, long after the fall of the Communist bloc. In the aftermath of the Korean War, South Korea was built on androcentric nation building, anti-communism, and a relentless drive for industrialization. In the period of compressed development from the poverty-stricken 1950s to the global success of today, countless lives have been lost to the state apparatus—lives whose memories must be contextualized in the history and politics of the Cold War. More information

WEDNESDAY APRIL 12: UMASS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN CONCERT. 7:30 p.m. Tillis Performance Hall, UMass. Morihiko Nakahara, conductor. Featuring our Concerto Competition winners: Brian Carr, saxophone; Luca Kevorkian, violin & Zhen Tu, piano. Repertoire to include – Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Mvt. I (Zhen Tu, piano), Creston: Saxophone Concerto, Mvt. I (Brian Carr, saxophone) and Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Mvt. I (Luca Kevorkian), plus Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Mussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition. Tickets: $10 Adults, $5 Seniors/Students, UMass Amherst Students Free Call the Box Office at 413-545-2511 or Buy Tickets online

WEDNESDAY APRIL 12: FIRST CLASS, DANCING OUTSIDE THE LINES. 3-4:15 p.m. Improvisational dance class taught by Joan Green. Meets at the Barn Studio, 20 Dickinson St., Amherst. Class will continue until through June 7 (9 sessions). Fees: Semester $188, Single session $22. This class is for adults with any amount of experience or beginners who want to put dance in their lives in a joyful, musical, edgy, non-competitive way. Come try the first class and see if this is for you! If you plan on attending, please send me an email to joangreen@gmail.com or call for more information 617-955-4947. Joan Greenis a choreographer, dancer, visual artist who recently moved from Cambridge to Shutesbury. She has taught Dancing Outside the Lines in Cambridge for many years and for three terms in Amherst. She is passionate about improvisation and building community through dance. She was the co-founder and co-director of the Cambridge Performance Project (children), Back Porch Dance Company and Back Pocket Dancers. Her training has included modern dance, ballet, African dance, Contact Improv, Release technique and theater improvisation. She has taught dance to folks of all ages, including elders. 

THURSDAY APRIL 13: DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN AMHERST. 4-5:30 p.m. Amherst Neighbors and the League of Women Voters Amherst is pleased to host Adrienne Terrizzi and Cathy Schoen for a special discussion of the issues surrounding the new elementary school project in Amherst and its impact on our community. Adrienne led the Amherst League of Women Voters working group in comparing our local policy positions on Education and Schools and Energy, comparing those with the new school building project and the ways it will impact our residents. Cathy, as a Town Council member, has led the Elementary School Committee on behalf of the Council. 

LWVA recently voted to support both a yes vote and attempts on the part of the Town Council to mitigate the effect on taxpayers by utilizing funds from the Town’s Cash Reserves.  Adrienne and the working group ensured that the Elementary School proposal is in accord with our League policies and positions. Free and open to all. Register here.

THURSDAY APRIL: 13: AUTHOR TALK – COLSON WHITEHEAD. 5:30 p.m. Campus Center Auditorium, UMass. Troy lecture, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellow, Colson Whitehead. Free and open to the public.  More information.

FRIDAY APRIL 14: BOOK LAUNCH PARTY CELEBRATING THE PUBLICATION OF ZAPATISTA STORIES FOR DREAMING ANOTHER WORLD BY SUBCOMANDANTE MARCOS. 4 p.m. Amherst Books, 8 Main Street. More information. Join members of the Colectivo Relámpago/Lightning Collective in celebrating the publication of Zapatista Stories .   Members of the Lightning Collective, which is a translators’ collective of Zapatista solidarity activists based here in Amherst, include Antonia Carcelé Estrada, who got her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from UMass in 2019.   She currently teaches oral & postcolonial literature at USFQ in Quito, Ecuador; Margaret Cerullo, who teaches sociology, feminist studies, & Latin American Studies at Hampshire College; Marina Kaplan, who is professor emerita of Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies at Smith College; & Zack Zucker, who is an ER nurse out of Turner’s Falls.

FRIDAY APRIL 14: CONCERT- UMASS SYMPHONY BAND AND WIND ENSEMBLE. 7:30 p.m. Tillis Performance Hall, UMass. Matthew Westgate & Lindsay Bronnenkant, conductors. Madeline Wight, & Richard Sargent, graduate conductors. The Wind Ensemble performs Ingolf Dahl’s Sinfonietta, Ryan George’s Firefly, and Omar Thomas’ Come Sunday featuring saxophone soloist, UMass jazz professor Felipe Salles. The Symphony Band performs the Leonard Bernstein Suite from Mass and works by Shapiro, Vaughan Williams, and more. Tix: $10 Adults, $5 Seniors/Students, UMass Amherst Students Free. Call Box Office at 413-545-2511 or Buy Tickets Online

SATURDAY APRIL 15: 40th ANNUAL NEW ENGLAND SAXOPHONE SYMPOSIUM AND COMPETITION. Saxophone Symposium and Competition, which will take place throughout the day on Saturday, April 15 in the Music Wing of the Randolph W. Bromery Center for the Arts. All symposium events are free – For registration and other general information, visit the department’s events calendar. Organized by UMass Saxophone Studio professors Jonathan Hulting-Cohen and Felipe Salles, the Symposium features concerts and interactive clinics by faculty and guests, including former UMass faculty member Lynn Klock, who founded the event in the mid-1980s. The day-long symposium will commence on Saturday, April 15 at 8:30 a.m. with a free breakfast sponsored by D’Addario Woodwinds. The day’s events will also include the finals of the annual Gerry’s Music High School Competition, where winners will receive $300 in Gerry’s gift cards plus a special performance opportunity during the afternoon.  The symposium also features the popular Symposium Saxophone Ensemble, which gives sax players of all skill levels the chance to rehearse and perform with participants from all over New England, plus a 2 p.m. classical sax concert featuring Lynn Klock and the Zach Robarge Quartet, and a 7:30 p.m. jazz concert by Braxton Cook and members of the UMass Jazz Faculty Combo. 

SUNDAY APRIL 16: A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF JOHN OLVER. 1 p.m. John W. Olver Design Center at UMass, 551 North Pleasant Street. There will be a memorial service on April 16 for former U.S. Representative John Olver who died on February 23 at age 86. Parking for the service is available in lot 62 or nearby lots. Carpooling is encouraged. Olver had a long career in state and national politics. He served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 2nd Hampshire District from January 1969-January 1973, the Massachusetts Senate from the Franklin and Hampshire District from January 1973- June 1991, and U.S. House of Representatives for the Massachusetts 1st District from June 1991- January 2013. He chose not to run again in 2012 when most of his district had been eliminated after the 2010 census. Prior to serving in Congress, Olver was a chemistry professor at UMass.

SATURDAY APRIL 22: PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKEBACK DAY. Parking lot of Wildwood School, 71 Strong Street (with other drop off points throughout Franklin and Hampshire Counties). 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with local police departments and the Hampshire and Franklin Sheriff’s offices and the DEA will be offering an opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted and unneeded drugs, keeping them safely away from potential misuse. More information

SUNDAY APRIL 23: UMASS DANCE MARATHON. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Campus Center Auditorium, UMass. This is the largest student-run philanthropy at UMass Amherst that raises over 100,000 dollars for Baystate childrens hospital. Our event will be filled with a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, and a lot of (bad) dancing. All of your donations and support help provide essential care to the kids of Baystate Children’s Hospital located in Springfield, Massachusetts, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. More information

WEDNESDAY APRIL 26: ECAC EDUCATION SERIES – ELECTRIC VEHICLES 101. 5:30 p.m. on Zoom.
Link here. The Amherst Energy and Climate Action Committee (ECAC) invites you to join us for a webinar on electric vehicles presented by the Drive Green Team from the Green Energy Consumers Alliance. Interested in making the switch? Bring your questions! The public is welcome to join the full ECAC meeting, starting at 4:30 pm on April 26. Or join us for the presentation only, starting at 5:30 pm.

ONGOING AND MULTI-DAY EVENTS
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

SUNDAY MARCH 26 -SUNDAY APRIL 23. FIFTH BIENNIAL BACH FESTIVAL AND SYMPOSIUM. Festival runs April 21-23 with prelude events beginning March 26. Concerts, workshops, master classes. Look here for full description and listing of 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.

FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: 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.

FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: COVID 19 VACCINE CLINIC. Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. 3:00-5:00 p.m. Free. The clinics offer Pfizer and Moderna Bivalent Boosters for ages 12 and up and Pfizer Bivalent Booster for ages 5 and up.  Registration is preferred, but walk-ins are accepted. To schedule an appointment, click here. 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+.

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. 

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.

THIRD SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER: CARS AND COFFEE AT THE MILL DISTRICT. Hosted by the Mill District General Store, 91 Cowls Road, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. It is free for collectors to display their cars and compete for trophies in four categories: best domestic, best foreign, best exotic, and best overall, based on votes of the public. Plus, there will be coffee from Futura Coffee Roasters which will soon be joining the Mill District. Cars and Coffee will be held rain or shine.

NOW Through FRIDAY MARCH 31: “THE DISTANCE IS GETTING CLOSER,” FROM ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE SERENA HIMMELFARB. Hampshire College Art Gallery, 893 West Street. In The Distance is Getting Closer, artist-in residence Serena Himmelfarb challenges the aims of traditional landscape painting, which sought to capture and harness the divine light of the wilderness, and instead seeks engagement with its multiple histories, complex infrastructure and divergent ecologies. Closing reception Thursday, March 30, 5-8 p.m.

NOW Through 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

NOW Through FRIDAY 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.

NOW Through 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.

NOW Through FRIDAY JUNE 2: A RECIPE FOR SAVING SEEDS. (Beginning TH MAR 12). 10 A.M. – 5:00 p.m. –
(MON-SUN). University of Massachusetts Amherst, Science and Engineering Library,740 N Pleasant St.
The exhibit consists of a series of ten seed-saving recipe cards. Each card provides easy, step-bystep instructions for saving seeds of specific flowers, herbs, and vegetables, with images and text. Reception: April 7, 1-3 p.m.

NOW Through SUNDAY JULY 2: GOD MADE MY FACE: A COLLECTIVE PORTRAIT OF JAMES BALDWIN. Meade Art Museum, 41 Quadrangle Street, Amherst College. Look here for days and hours. This exhibit presents works from iconic artists such as Richard Avedon, Marlene Dumas, and Kara Walker alongside archival materials in order to explore the life, work, and legacy of James Baldwin (1924–1987). More information

NOW Throughout -SUMMER 2023: ANCESTRAL BRIDGES EXHIBITION AT FROST LIBRARY TO CELEBRATE BLACK AND AFRO-INDIGENOUS FAMILIES WHO LIVED AND WORKED IN AMHERST Frost Library at Amherst College, 61 Quadrangle Drive, 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. This exhibition, the first partnership between the Ancestral Bridges Foundation  and Amherst College, seeks to center this long-neglected aspect of town history and to reveal the rich and complex lives of the Black and Afro-Indigenous community of Amherst. Our families’ old black-and-white photographs complement oral histories–some yet to be recorded – and other artifacts available locally and at the college. I hope these images and stories raise questions, prompt further research, and challenge us all to meet our collective responsibility to build a more just and equitable future. All are welcome. On view through the summer of 2023. Free.