What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: istock
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 (more or less)
SATURDAY MARCH 1: SONG AND STORY SWAP WITH THE HILL TOWN HAM HOCKS. 7 to 9 p.m., First Church, 165 Main Street. The Pioneer Valley Folklore Society’s Monthly Song and Story Swap will feature the folk trio Hill Town Ham Hocks. The Song & Story Swap is open to members of the public of all ages. Admission is free, with a suggested minimum donation to the artist of $7.50. Free parking is available behind the church. At song and story swaps, people of all experience levels gather to share stories and songs that are traditional, newly written, or of personal experiences. Participants can tell, sing, or lead everyone in singing, or request a song or story. Listeners are welcome. Attendees will be invited to contribute a song or story on the topic of “Death and Loss” during an opening round of sharing. The Hill Town Ham Hocks are a modern folk trio with an old time roots flair, hailing from Shelburne Falls. With Colleen Stanton on fiddle, Stevie Jick on guitar, and Hannah French on fiddle and banjo, the trio engages their audience with close harmonies and spirited instrumental work.
SATURDAY MARCH1: AN EVENING WITH HOLLY BOWLING. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Cast aside any and all expectations. Whether behind the piano on a windswept, mountainous cliff, at a hallowed venue such as Carnegie Hall, or playing shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the most legendary musicians in history, solo pianist Holly Bowling subverts convention with virtuosic playing, emotional immersion, and a thirst for invention. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door. See full calendar here.
SUNDAY MARCH 2: BASQUIAT AT AMHERST CINEMA. 1:30 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. In his first leading role, Jeffrey Wright stars as Jean-Michel Basquiat, one of the great American artists of the 20th century. Co-starring David Bowie, Dennis Hopper, Benicio del Toro, and many more, painter Julian Schnabel’s stunning directorial debut charts Basquiat’s dizzying rise and fall. New 4K restoration.
SUNDAY MARCH 2: AMHERST COLLEGE LITFEST PHOSPHORESCENCE SPECIAL EDITION. 2 p.m., Kirby Theater, Amherst College. Paisley Rekdal and Brandon Som in Conversation with Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. Introductions: Jane Wald, the Jane and Robert Keiter Family Executive Director of the Emily Dickinson Museum. In partnership with the National Book Foundation and Emily Dickinson Museum. Register here
TUESDAY MARCH 4: A LIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
Town Hall, 4:30-5:30 p.m. This event is part of a nationwide mobilization of people who want to demonstrate against the policies and actions being taken by the President. Event will be cancelled if there is heavy rain or snow. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters Amherst and 19 other organizations. More information
TUESDAY MARCH 4: OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE DRAKE WITH MC TANK HOOD. 6 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Doors open at 5:30 for sign-ups. Tank Hood plays mostly acoustic originals and American roots music. He enjoys adding some modern/bent variations to standard folk structures. His influences include Doc Watson, Woody Guthrie, the Carter family, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, Dave Alvin, Jerry Garcia, and Keith Jarrett, among others. Free. See full calendar here.
TUESDAY MARCH 4: 44TH ANNUAL JAZZ SHOWCASE. 7:30 p.m., Bowker Auditorium, UMass. The UMass Amherst Department of Music & Dance and the Jazz & African American Music Studies Program will honor the music of Quincy Jones and Benny Golson, two giants of the genre who died within two months of each other in late 2024. Eleven different student ensembles, from guitar duo to big band, will fill Bowker Auditorium with works that have become jazz standards, and lasting musical contributions to album, film and tv productions over the past 70 years. Tickets are $15, $5 for students and seniors.
TUESDAY MARCH 4: FOUR WINTERS AND POST-FILM DISCUSSION WITH DIRECTOR JULIA MINTZ. 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Larry Hott will moderate the discussion following the screening of her film FOUR WINTERS: A Story of Jewish Partisan Resistance and Bravery in WW2. Torn from their families by the ravages of Hitler’s armies, men and women, many barely in their teens, escaped into the forests, banding together in partisan brigades; engaging in treacherous acts of sabotage, blowing up trains, burning electric stations, and attacking armed enemy headquarters. Against extraordinary odds, over 25,000 Jewish partisans courageously fought back against the Nazis and their collaborators from deep within the forests of WWII’s Belarus, Ukraine and Eastern Europe. The last surviving partisans relive their journey in FOUR WINTERS, sharing their stories of resistance. Director Julia Mintz shines a spotlight on their transformation from young innocents raised in closely knit Jewish communities and families, to becoming fierce partisan soldiers with enduring hope, grit, magnificent courage and deep humanity. Tickets.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 5: LIBERATORY VISIONING PROJECT. 5 to 6:30p.m.,Cafeteria, Amherst Regional Middle School, 170 Chestnut Street, and on Zoom. The third of the dialogue sessions aimed at creating a more inclusive and welcoming community for all residents. This process is designed to bring members of the town together to develop a shared vision through dialogue sessions and a community survey. The town will be leading this project in partnership with Dr. Barbara J. Love, who is a local author, speaker, and consultant on liberation and transformation as well as Professor Emerita of Social Justice Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Zoom link.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 5: BASQUIAT AT AMHERST CINEMA. 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. In his first leading role, Jeffrey Wright stars as Jean-Michel Basquiat, one of the great American artists of the 20th century. Co-starring David Bowie, Dennis Hopper, Benicio del Toro, and many more, painter Julian Schnabel’s stunning directorial debut charts Basquiat’s dizzying rise and fall. New 4K restoration.
THURSDAY MARCH 6: THE RISE AND FALL OF STUDENT DEBT: A PANEL DISCUSSION. Noon on Zoom. Rising tuition and skyrocketing student debt have fundamentally reshaped higher education in recent decades, with toxic effects on all of society, both in the U.S. and globally. Join filmmaker and Debt Collective co-founder Astra Taylor and South African academics and organizers Leigh-Ann Naidoo and Kelly Gillespie (moderator) for a conversation on student debt, the crisis of global capitalism, and global movements fighting to end debt and transform higher education. The conversation follows the screening of You Are Not a Loan, directed by Taylor and starring Naidoo, among other leading U.S. and international activists and academics. Part of the UMass Department of History Feinberg Family Distinguished Lecture Series. Register for the link here.
THURSDAY MARCH 6: ZERO WASTE. 4 p.m. on Zoom. Darcy DuMont will present the history and progress of a Zero Waste bylaw proposal to significantly reduce our trash. Please join us for this program as we learn about effective strategies to protect our environment. Darcy DuMont is a retired teacher and lawyer who has been active in town politics creating legislation for climate action. She is a co-founder of Zero Waste Amherst. Sponsored by Amherst Neighbors. No registration necessary. Zoom link here.
SUNDAY MARCH 9: INTRODUCTION TO WYCINANKI WITH LAURA GERYK. 1 to 3:30 p.m., Mill District Local Art Gallery and General Store, 91 Cowls Road. Come try wycinanki (pronounced vee-chee-nan-key)—a beautiful traditional Polish folk craft! A great activity for all levels. This workshop will explore the Lowicz-stle of wycinanki, where laers of colored paper are cut, layered, and glued to create vibrant images. Returning students will enjoy a new template. Participants will complete one piece in class. $30. All materials provided. Ages 8+ with adult accompaniment. Tickets.
SUNDAY MARCH 9: “FAIRY TALES AND MAGIC IN OPERA.” 3:30 p.m., Tillis Hall, Fine Arts Center, UMass. A full UMass symphony orchestra under the direction of Gonzolo Hidalgo Ardila will perform with scenes from some of the most famous magical operas, including “The Magic Flute” and “Don Giovanni” by Mozart, “Hansel and Gretel” by Humperdinck, “Rusalka” by Dvorak, “Turandot by Puccini and versions of Cinderella by Rossini and Massenet. The opera program is under the direction of Majorie Melnick and Nathan Troupe. Tickets $15, $5 for seniors and youth.
MONDAY MARCH 10: TIBETAN FLAG RAISING. 9 a.m., Town Hall steps, 4 Boltwood Avenue. Amherst Town Council proclaims March 10, 2025 as Tibetan National Uprising Day, and March 12, 2025 as Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day in recognition of the local Tibetan American community’s fight for justice for the people of Tibet on this 66th Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day. The Tibetan flag will fly at Town Hall until March 17.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 12: LIBERATORY VISIONING PROJECT. 5 to 6:30p.m., Town Room of Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Avenue, and on Zoom. The third of the dialogue sessions aimed at creating a more inclusive and welcoming community for all residents. This process is designed to bring members of the town together to develop a shared vision through dialogue sessions and a community survey. The town will be leading this project in partnership with Dr. Barbara J. Love, who is a local author, speaker, and consultant on liberation and transformation as well as Professor Emerita of Social Justice Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Zoom link.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 12: SEAN MASON QUARTET. 7:30 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. When Sean Mason speaks about music, you can hear the notes falling into place. The cadence of his ideas unfolds with deliberate tempo, each exploring and resolving tension like an inspired chord progression. On his debut album, The Southern Suite, he emerges as a guiding luminary, shining his introspective command as both a pianist and composer through the historic lens of jazz to create a work that distills the essence of the genre for our time, even as it points the way forward. Tickets $30 in advance, $35 at the door. See full calendar here.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 12: SCREENING OF “THE COST OF INHERITANCE”: 7 to 9 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Join us for Amherst Cinema’s COMMUNITY NIGHT screening of The Cost of Inheritance, an America Reframed documentary. A panel discussion will follow, moderated by Kaliis Smith, co-host of NEPM’s The Fabulous 413. The discussion will focus on local organizing efforts around racial reckoning and repair, and the importance of the arts, public media, and philanthropy in storytelling for social change. Part of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts Evolve Philanthropy Donor Engagement.
THURSDAY MARCH 13: SINGS LIKE HELL WITH PETER CASE AND SID GRIFFIN. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Get ready for an unforgettable night of folk music as Peter Case and Sid Griffin hit the road for their “Sings Like Hell” tour inspired by Case’s iconic 1993 album. The tour showcases two legends of Americana and roots music. Tickets $30 in advance, $35 at the door. See full calendar here.
FRIDAY MARCH 14: HISTORY BITES “THE MILLS OF FACTORY HOLLOW. 12:30 p.m., The Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Did you ever wonder why the outflow from Puffer’s Pond is called Mill River, and it flows through Factory Hollow? Brian Harvey talks about exploring the mill sites of North Amherst. Free and open to the public.
FRIDAY MARCH 14: HOT TO GO: THE CHAPPELL ROAN PARTY. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Party Iconic presents “Hot to Go”, a Chappell Roan themed dance party. Your favorite party’s favorite party. Saddle up Popstars. Come dressed to express. This night is all about embracing your truest self. Tickets $20 in advance (limited $17 early bird tickets), $25 at the door. 18+ event. See full calendar here.
MONDAY MARCH 24: AUDITIONS FOR “HERCULES” WITH MISSOULA CHILDREN’S THEATRE. 4:15 p.m., Amherst Regional Middle School, 170 Chestnut Street. Presenting the latest great audition opportunity for kids from the Amherst Community Theater. Once again, we’ll be bringing in Missoula Children’s Theatre’s one-week musical theater experience for kids in grades K-12. Our past experiences with this group have been really terrific–the kids who were involved had a great time, and it was a wonderfully immersive way to have a theater experience. Many of the children who have been involved in these Missoula productions have gone on to pursue larger theater experiences in the schools and throughout the Valley—and beyond! 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, March 29th! Open large group audition… no signup or prior registration is necessary… just come and be ready to begin at 4:15pm sharp on Monday March 24th at Amherst Middle School (ARMS) cafeteria. Those auditioning should arrive at 4:00pm and plan to stay the full two hours. Rehearsals are every evening, Monday through Friday.
FRIDAY MARCH 28: HISTORY BITES “THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1936.“ 12:30 p.m., Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Josh Shanley will give a talk on the Great Flood of 1936. Free and open to the public.
SATURDAY MARCH 29: CHILDREN’S THEATER PRESENTS “HERCULES.” 2 performances: 1:30 and 4 p.m., Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium, 170 Chestnut Street. A fresh look at an age-old favorite comes to Amherst Community Theater from March 24-29, 2025 when the Missoula Children’s Theatre and more than 50 local students present HERCULES. This musical adaptation of HERCULES is part of the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s unique international touring project and is presented locally by Amherst Community Theater. For information and tickets, see here.
SATURDAY APRIL 5: EMPTY BOWLS FOR THE AMHERST SURVIVAL CENTER. 12 to 4 p.m., Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. Join us for a heartwarming meal that makes a difference. Savor a delicious hearty soup while chatting with local celebrity hosts and enjoying live music, pick out a gorgeous handmade bowl from a selection of hundreds donated by local artists, and soak in the warmth of community spirit! With soups from your favorite local restaurants—plus bread, salad, and dessert—there’s a warm bowl of goodness for everyone, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Every ticket and every donation helps fill empty bowls for the 11,500+ people who rely on our Food and Nutrition Programs each year. Tickets $50 with a handcrafted bowl, $30 for meal only, $10 for children.
TUESDAY APRIL 8: PHYLLIS BENNIS IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHEL MOUSHABECK. 7 p.m., Room 106 Thompson Hall, UMass. Presented by the Students and Faculty for Justice in Palestine. A crucial new book is arriving at the perfect time. Understanding Palestine and Israel by renowned activist and political analyst Phyllis Bennis, with a foreword by noted Palestinian analyst Omar Baddar, cuts through the noise and delivers clear, accessible answers to the most pressing questions about the situation—questions that many have never had the opportunity to ask. The book covers events right up through Israel’s genocidal war and the 2024 US elections. You’re invited to this discussion between Phyllis Bennis and Michel Moushabeck, Palestinian American founder of Interlink Publishing. Books will be available for purchase at the event that will conclude with a book signing. Tickets. Free.
SATURDAY APRIL 26: 14TH ANNUAL UMASS DINING DINE AND DASH 5K. 11 a.m. at the Southwest horseshoe, UMass. Promote health and wellness at UMass Amherst while raising funds for the Amherst Survival Center. Over the past 13 years, UMass Dining has raised over $50,000 for the Amherst Survival Center. The schedule for the April 26 event includes check-in at the Southwest Horseshoe starting at 9 a.m., followed by a free fun run for children 8 years old and younger at 10 a.m. The race itself begins at 11 a.m. followed by an awards ceremony at 11:30 a.m., and lunch in the Berkshire Dining Commons at noon. The race fee is $15 for all Five-College students, $25 for UMass Amherst faculty and staff, and $30 for the general public. Children 8 years old and under are free to participate. The race fee includes registration, and a complimentary meal at the university’s award-winning dining facilities in the Berkshire Dining Commons. Online registration ends April 24.
SUNDAY APRIL 27: 15TH ANNUAL DAFFODIL 5K/10K WALK/RUN FOR BIG BROTHERS/BIG SISTERS OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. 10 a.m., 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.
ONGOING AND MULTI-DAY EVENTS
EVERY MONDAY EXCEPT HOLIDAYS: AUTOHARP WORKSHOPS. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Senior Center, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Join Marie Hartwell-Walker and autoharp players throughout the country who participate on Zoom. Participants on Zoom also welcome.
TUESDAYS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY: AMHERST NEIGHBORS LUNCH IN TOWN. 12 to 1 p.m., Community Room, Amherst Police Station, 111 Main Street. The Lunch in Town series continues in January and February. A mixture of regulars and newcomers show up every week. Come join with a bagged lunch. There will be no gathering on January 28. Canceled if the town closes for weather.
FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: COUNCIL ON AGING SENIOR LUNCH. Noon. Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk.
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.
SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH: ARTIST SOCIAL AND CRITIQUE. 6 to 8 p.m., Local Art Gallery, Mill District, 91 Cowls Road. All local artists, both beginners and established, are invited to attend our Artist Social and Critique that meets every 2nd Thursday of the month in The Local Art Gallery from 6-8pm. Help us create a safe space for a supportive and constructive artistic feedback while expanding your connections to other artists. Artist social time from 6 to 6:30 p.m., Artist critique from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Share digital images by emailing to gallery@cowls.com in advance. For information, contact Shannon Borrell at gallery@cowls.com or 413-835-0966.
EVERY WEDNESDAY: WEEKLY WEDNESDAY MARKET. 10 to 11:30 a.m., Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Since its launch in May 2024, the Wednesday Market has served over 700 community members. The Market is open to all, and there’s no registration and no questions asked. Just come and enjoy. We distribute fresh produce, dairy, prepared food, and delicious treats.
EVERY WEDNESDAY: BEGINNER BIRDING. 9:00-9:30 a.m. Notch Visitor Center, 1500 West Street. For ages 12 and up. An easy, level, 1/4-mile guided hike to discover more about birds: their behaviors, needs, habitats and significance. Listen, observe, sketch, photo or journal. Free
LAST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH (EXCLUDING JULY AND JANUARY): 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.
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 : 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. Our 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 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: IRISH MUSIC SESSION. The Amherst Public House, 40 University Drive. 4-7 p.m. Fiddle, Flute, Tin Whistle, Guitar, Mandolin, Bouzouki and more. Jigs, Reels,Hornpipes, Polkas, Slides, and Waltz’ from around the Celtic world.
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 AND SUNDAYS: LIVE JAZZ AND GOOD EATS AT THE BLACK SHEEP. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Black Sheep Deli, 79 Main Street. Frist and third Saturdays: Masala Jazz, Second, Fourth and Fifth Saturdays: Simmer Music Presents, Sundays: the Catalytics. Tip Jar.
SECOND AND FOURTH SATURDAYS JANUARY THROUGH MARCH: WINTER FARMERS’ MARKET. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bangs Community Center., 70 Boltwood Walk. The Amherst Farmers’ Market is excited to announce the launch of its Winter Market at the Bangs Community Center, right in downtown Amherst. The Winter Market will run from 10 am to 2 pm every Saturday in December and on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of January, February, and March. This new venue offers a spacious and familiar environment for local farmers, artisans, and crafters to showcase their goods to the community.
NOW THROUGH TUESDAY FEBRUARY 25: RESISTANT RHYTHMS: THE GRAPHIC WORKS OF ALEXIS KUHR. Herter Gallery, UMass. The posthumous retrospective of the work of the former chair of the UMass art department, curated by her colleague Young Min Moon, will run Jan. 30-Feb. 25, with an opening reception scheduled for Jan. 30 and a curator’s talk set for Feb. 12.
NOW THROUGH SATURDAY MARCH 1 – NEW WORK BY DANIEL FELDMAN AT GALLERY A3. Depth be Depth, a new exhibit by Daniel Feldman will open at Gallery A3 on Thursday February 6 and continue through March 1. Feldman passed away unexpectedly on November 21, 2024. He had finished all the work for this exhibition before he died and was eagerly looking ahead to February to share it in his first exhibit at Gallery A3. Most of Feldman’s works from the past decade are composed as diptychs, or visual “segments,” as he referred to them. Each segment has a foundation in photographic images that he shot as raw material, and he used Photoshop as the medium to dramatically transform and layer that photographic information. He felt that his digital tools in many ways transcended the freedom that oil painting had given him over two decades before. Gallery Hours and More information
NOW THROUGH FRIDAY MARCH 7: UNFOLDING CONVENTION BY JASON WOLFE. Augusta Savage Gallery, UMass. Born in Queens in 1979, Wolfe currently lives and works in western Massachusetts. His exhibit of “bold, abstract paintings created by unfolding the conventional form into the unknown,” will run through March 7. Opening reception, Friday, February 7, 5 to 7 p.m. Information.
NOW THROUGH SATURDAY MARCH 13: ARCHITECTURES OF COLLECTIVITY. Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., John Olver Design Building Gallery, UMass.An exhibition designed and curated by Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Architecture Pari Riahi. The project and research are an investigation of the relationship between architecture and its environments, exploring and analyzing housing developments and public spaces in the Parisian suburbs, which house a large population and are at times portrayed as spaces of violence, disparity, and segregation. See also here.
NOW THROUGH SUNDAY MARCH 16: “TU DAU, WHEREFROM” BY XUAN PHAM. Hampshire College Art Gallery. Born in Ho Chi Minh City, interdisciplinary artist Xuan Pham emigrated to Omaha, Nebraska at the age of seven. Her artistic practice is shaped by a legacy of way and her experiences as an immigrant. Working with layers and grids, Pham traces the interconnections of trauma, migration, and race with Asian American and. Immigrant communities. Her art explores how the political and psychological dimensions of grief influence racial identity formation in the United States. Information.
NOW THROUGH FRIDAY MAY 9: IS ANYTHING THE MATTER? DRAWINGS BY LAYLAH ALI AND HIGH FIVE/TAKE FIVE. UMass Museum of Contemporary Art. “Is anything the matter?” includes more than one hundred drawings by Ali dating from 1993 to 2020. Though the drawings range in format – including ink, colored pencil, soluble crayon, colored marker and mixed media works – each piece explores Ali’s ongoing interest in the amalgam of race, power, gendering, human frailty and murky politics. High Five / Take Five” is an interactive exhibition featuring five art works from the museum’s permanent collection. Each piece will be accompanied by a prompt that asks participants to engage their senses, look closely and respond to the artworks through drawing, listening and writing. Gallery Talk: Wednesday, February 19, 4 to 5 p.m. More information.
NOW THROUGH SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22: WINTERFEST Get Ready for Winter Fun! WinterFest Amherst 2025 is Coming! Mark your calendars! The magical Amherst WinterFest returns from February 15th to 22nd, 2025. This week-long celebration promises a variety of exciting events for people of all ages, making Amherst the place to be during the winter season.
WinterFest Highlights:
• Kick-off with the 2nd Annual WinterFest Games at Mill River Recreation Area.
• Grand Finale: Witness the dazzling spectacle of Fire and Ice and Luminaria on the Town Common.
• Enjoy a variety of FREE events happening daily throughout Amherst, both downtown and throughout town. A full listing of events can be found here.
NOW THROUGH WEDNESDAY APRIL 30: MULTIVERSE: AN EXHIBIT FEATURING MULTIPLE ARTISTS. Hampden Gallery, UMass. curated by D. Dominick Lombardi, from Feb. 17-April 30. “Multiverse” focuses on the recognition, conscious or subconscious, and interpretation of the concept of the multiverse in contemporary visual art. Showcasing digital art from Europe and the Americas juxtaposed with analog works by artists from the northeastern U.S., Lombardi gives visitors the opportunity to see and discuss previously unimagined possibilities. A reception and curator’s talk with Lombardi is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. on Friday April 4. Information.
NOW THROUGH SUNDAY MARCH 2: AMHERST COLLEGE LITFEST 2025. Amherst College will host the 10th annual LitFest, a literary festival celebrating fiction, nonfiction, poetry, spoken-word performance, and the College’s extraordinary literary life. Guest speakers include award-winning author Teju Cole; Pulitzer Prize winner Brandon Som; Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic; and a special panel on the making of American Fiction with writer and director Cord Jefferson, lead actor Jeffrey Wright ’87, and Percival Everett, author of Erasure, the novel upon which the film is based. Some events open to the public will be recorded for viewing following the festival. For the schedule, see here. Tickets.
NOW THROUGH SATURDAY APRIL 5: YOUTH ENTREPRENEURIAL WORKSHOP. 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. for five Saturdays, Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. For grades 6-12. The DEI Department, in association with the Black Business Association of Amherst Area, is excited to announce their first program: A Youth Entrepreneurial Workshop! Young people in grades 6-12 are encouraged to join us for this free five-week program where they will learn the skills needed to develop a business and actively create and sell their own products, getting hands on experience in the process. Materials and snacks will be provided. Sign up here and we will be in touch by mid-February with an additional details. If you have questions, you can email Philip Avila at avilap@amherstma.gov.
THURSDAY MARCH 27 THROUGH FRIDAY MAY 9: (OFF) BALANCE: ART IN THE ATE OF HUMAN IMPACT. UMass Museum of Contemporary Art. The Graduate Curatorial Exhibition, co-curated by Adeyemi Adebayo, M.F.A. studio arts candidate, Eva Barajas, M.A. art education candidate, and Bo Kim, M.F.A. studio arts candidate, invites viewers to explore the intricate ways we interact with, interpret and shape our environment and challenges audiences to reflect on themes of transformation, human intervention and the tension between destruction and conservation. Opening reception Wednesday, March 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. Information.