What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: istock
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 (more or less)
SATURDAY MAY 10: BIRDING AND BREAKFAST. 7 to 10 a.m. Kestrel Land Trust, Meet at Sweet Alice Conservation Area on Bay Road. Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with good company, and nourishing food with at Kestrel Land Trust headquarters, 37 Bay Road. Guided by expert birders, explore the forest edges and pond area at the base of the Mount Holyoke Range at Sweet Alice Conservation Area while looking for warblers and other feathered visitors from 7 to 9 a.m. Afterwards, enjoy a great breakfast at Kestrel’s headquarters with hot quiches, homemade pastry, and fresh fruit provided by River Valley Co-op and The Organic Gourmet. Enjoy nutritious food and birding conversation on our deck with a view of Plum Brook. Registration required. Sliding scale $25 and up.
SATURDAY MAY 10: 13TH ANNUAL AMHERST SUSTAINABILITY FESTIVAL. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Town Common. Coinciding with the regularly scheduled Amherst Farmer’s Market, this free and family friendly event brings together local farmers, environmental vendors, live entertainment, hands-on demonstrations, and much more. Festival highlights include:Environmental Vendors; Meet and learn from a variety of businesses and organizations dedicated to sustainability and environmental protection including renewable energy vendors, energy efficiency product suppliers, advocacy groups, and sustainable crafts and artisans.Live Entertainment: Enjoy a lineup of local musicians and artists providing dynamic performances throughout the event. Demonstration Area: Participate in hands-on learning experiences with experts in various fields. Activities Around the Common: Attendees can also check out performances by Henry the Juggler, an electric vehicle display with test drives, sustainable crafts, and the Amherst Fire Department’s first hybrid fire truck.
SATURDAY MAY 10: POETRY WALK. 10 a.m., Emily Dickinson Museum, On May 10, In honor of the 139th anniversary of the poet’s death, join the Emily Dickinson Museum for the annual Poetry Walk through downtown Amherst, the town she called “paradise.” This year’s Walk celebrates the opening of the newly reconstructed carriage house with stops that explore its significance to Amherst’s cultural landscape and to the poet herself. Take the walk at your own pace, but be sure to head to Dickinson’s grave in West Cemetery in time for the 12 pm final poems and a lemonade toast to our favorite poet! The Walk takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. Participants begin at the Homestead at any time between 10am and 11am to pick up their Poetry Walk map and daisies to lay at the grave. The Walk stations close at 11:45am so that all participants can make it to the final stop at noon in West Cemetery. Free, but advance registration required. Registration for the walk does not include admission to the museum. For museum tickets click here.
SATURDAY MAY 10: CELEBRATE THE JONES LIBRARY PRIOR TO ITS CLOSING. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jones Library, 43 Amity Street. Stop by the Jones Library atrium on Saturday, May 10th to celebrate the Jones Library building as it is now and how it will be! Volunteers will be in the Atrium on Saturday, May 10th from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. with information about project plans, a scavenger hunt of building details, photos, and fun. The library will close on Wednesday, May 14 to prepare for the expansion project.
SATURDAY MAY 10: CHRYSTIA CABRAL “SPELLING” PORTRAIT OF MY HEART TOUR. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. With Feminine Aggression. When Chrystia Cabral first conceived of “Portrait of My Heart,” the title track and spiritual core of her fourth full-length as SPELLLING, it was an eight-minute, multi-part epic, with a lengthy intro section inspired by The Cure. Tickets $22 in advance, $25 at the door. See full calendar here.
SUNDAY MAY 11: CREATE A MOSAIC STEPPING STONE WITH JUDY VAZQUEZ. 1 to 4 p.m., Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. This Mother’s Day create something that will be enjoyed for years to come. Join Judy Vazquez at The Local Art Gallery on Sunday, May 11 from 1-4pm to make a Mosaic Stepping Stone. Have fun experiencing the freedom and joy of mosaics as you create a piece of art for your outdoor or indoor sacred space. Through various techniques participants will learn the direct technique of applying various styles, colors and tesserae (stones, ceramics, beads, words, glass and tiles) and how to grout to assure a long life for your art. Each participant will use precut tesserae on cement to make a piece unique to your individual creativity and vision. Choices for the base are either a 6 or 10-inch circle. Instruction will be provided via demos, hands on creating, and one on one guidance. Judy will help you with the development of design ideas in a safe, supportive environment. Learn how a mosaic piece can evolve – there are no mistakes, only opportunities in this medium! Participants will leave the class with a finished piece for outside or indoor beauty. $35, all materials included. Ages 6+ with adult accompaniment. Be sure to wear clothing that may get grout or glue on it. All can be washed out. Register here.
SUNDAY MAY 11: AUTHOR TALK: LOUIS B. MAYER AND IRVING THALBERG: THE WHOLE EQUATION, WITH KENNETH TURAN. 2 p.m., Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West Street and on Zoom. Join former Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan for a conversation about his new book, Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg: The Whole Equation. One was a tough junkman’s son, the other a cosseted mama’s boy, but they dreamed the same mighty dream: that the right movies could make a profit and change both the culture and individual lives. Sharing a religion and an evangelical zeal for film, Louis B. Mayer (1884–1957) and Irving Thalberg (1899–1936) were unlikely partners in one of the most significant collaborations in movie history. Over the course of their decade-long relationship, as key players at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and major players in Hollywood, they joined forces in redefining and mastering the template for the film industry.
SUNDAY MAY 11: YING STRING QUARTET. 4 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. The Ying Quartet occupies a position of unique prominence in the classical music world, combining brilliantly communicative performances with a fearlessly imaginative view of chamber music in today’s world. The Quartet has established itself as an ensemble of the highest musical qualifications. Their performances regularly take place in many of the world’s most important concert halls, from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House; at the same time, the Quartet’s belief that concert music can also be a meaningful part of everyday life has also drawn the foursome to perform in settings as diverse as the workplace, schools, juvenile prisons, and the White House. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door, $5 for students. See full calendar here.
MONDAY MAY 12: LAST DAY TO ORDER WEST AFRICAN TAKE-OUT DINNER TO SUPPORT THE ARHS SENE-GAMBIAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM. West African take-out meals are back! The Amherst Regional High School Sene-Gambian Scholars Program is once again partnering with South Congregational Church to offer savory West African meals (in take-out containers), available for pick-up at the church (1066 South East Street, Amherst) on Saturday, May 17, 5-6 p.m. The choices once again are vegan domoda, a savory peanut stew, with a generous portion of mixed vegetables, served over jasmine rice (this dish is gluten-free); and chicken yassa, chicken legs with a sauce of onions, olives, mustard, and spices, served with jasmine rice and a side of roasted vegetables. Donations are also welcome. Meals are $16 each and may be ordered online at https://tinyurl.com/SGSmeals. The deadline to order is Monday, May 12. Proceeds will support scholarships for students whose families cannot afford the full cost of the Sene-Gambian Scholars exchange trip to Senegal and The Gambia, as well as the Amherst Survival Center and the Food Bank of Western Mass. If you have questions about the event, email pennimanb@arps.org or text 413-687-0910.
WEDNESDAY MAY 14: THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE: YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM. 5 to 7 p.m., Bangs Community Center Room 101 and online. For grades 6-12. The Amherst Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is excited to hold workshops led by Citizens for Juvenile Justice. Free. Refreshments provided. Register here.
WEDNESDAY MAY 14: MUSIC FROM UKRAINE AND FOR UKRAINE. 7 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Experience an unforgettable evening of music that transcends borders and honors resilience with powerful works by a remarkable group of Ukrainian composers whose voices reflect the country’s rich cultural legacy, artistic innovation, and enduring spirit. Free admission with suggested donation. All proceeds from this concert will go directly to support the Kharkiv University of the Arts, a vital cultural institution rebuilding and preserving Ukraine’s artistic future in the face of war and displacement. See full calendar here.
THURSDAY MAY 15: ACUPUNCTURE: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Join an informal talk and Q & A with Jonathan Klate, Ph.D., Licensed Acupuncturist. Traditional acupuncture may be the oldest continually practiced medical system in the world. First systematized in China several thousand years ago, it continues to flourish around the world today, and is now endorsed by the National Institutes of Health and available in major hospitals and medical centers. Sponsored by Amherst Neighbors. Zoom link here. No registration required.
FRIDAY MAY 16: RECEPTION FOR LOCAL ARTIST CELEST SZE. 6 to 7:30 p.m., Town Hall Art Gallery, 4 Boltwood Avenue. During May and June, the Amherst Town Hall Art Gallery at 4 Boltwood Avenue in Amherst will show paintings by Celeste Sze. The public is invited to meet the artist at a free reception in the gallery on Friday, May 16th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Celeste is a local painter with a painting and art history degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Her current theme is the spirits of the plains, inspired by time spent with her fiancé and his family in South Dakota. They are native and live in a multi-generational household. She says about her art, “The energy of the plains inspires me, and I can feel the spirit of the native people and their connections to horses and the land. This is what my current show is about. I feel very free and at peace when I’m out west. I’d like my audience to experience this feeling.” The Gallery is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.
SATURDAY MAY 17: GARDEN CLUB OF AMHERST SPRING PLANT SALE. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Amherst Town Common. Each May since 1951, The Garden Club of Amherst has held a plant sale on the Amherst Common. At this event, members sell plants from their own gardens and share knowledge (free/priceless!) with the community. Buy plants, get gardening advice and meet fellow gardeners. All proceeds are redirected to the local community, including the Amherst School Garden program which leads garden-based learning in the town’s elementary schools.
SATURDAY MAY 17: FRENTE CUMBIERO WITH MICA FARIAS GOMEZ. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. There is no single sound of Cumbia, but Columbia’s capital Bogota and Frente Cumbiero’s bandleader Galeano have a lot answers. Since their 2010 debut the world has looked to Frente for the best swinging, forward thinking cumbia and tropical music. Mica Farias Gomez is a singer/composer/dancer and Double Edge theater performer. Recently resettled in Ashfield, her music explores pan-Latin folk pathways, layering hip-hop, electronics over candombe, murga, chacarera, flamenco, and other traditional forms. Tickets $22 in advance, $25 at the door. See full calendar here.
SUNDAY MAY 18: CARS AND COFFEE RETURNS TO THE MILL DISTRICT. 8 to 11:30 a.m., Mill District, Cowls Road. Cars and Coffee is back—and it’s bigger than ever! This FREE community event invites car lovers of all ages to enjoy an exciting morning filled with cool cars, coffee, and family fun. Spectators get a free drip coffee token and information on entering our raffle for a $50 gift certificate to the Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery. There will also be an on-site playground and coloring activities to keep the kids entertained. Trophies awarded for the top cars in several categories. Pre-register your vehicle here.
THURSDAY MAY 22: JUDY BROOKS CONVERSATION: A BETTER CHANCE. 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. The League of Women Voters of Amhertst hosts a conversation with A Better Chance (ABC) in Amherst. ABC is a national residential high school program that prepares academically talented African American, Latino, Asian, and Indigenous American students from educationally underserved school districts for college and future leadership roles. Since the Amherst program began, over 120 scholars have graduated from ARHS. The event will be on Zoom; register here.
SATURDAY MAY 24: SALSA IN THE PARK. 6 to 9:30 p.m., Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. Free salsa lesson and Latin dance social. Come enjoy awesome dancing and music outside as well as delicious food from the Thai Chili food truck! Sponsored by Amherst Recreation. Funded by the Amherst Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.
WEDNESDAY MAY 28: BENNY BENACK III AND THE NORTHAMPTON JAZZ WORKSHOP. 7:30 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Benny Bennack III has appeared as a trumpet soloist in more commercial circles alongside Josh Groban, Ben Folds, fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi, Ann Hampton Callaway, and more. He’s been featured at Birdland, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Mezzrow, and other leading New York venues. Tickets $12 in advance and $15 at the door. $5 for students. Jam session after the featured set. See full calendar here.
SUNDAY JUNE 1: FORT RIVER TIME CAPSULE UNEARTHING. 2 p.m., Fort River School, 70 South East Street. Alumni, current and former parents and guardians, and current as well as former staff of Fort River Elementary School i, will gather on Sunday June 1 at 2 p.m. to dig up a time capsule that students buried in 1994 for the school’s then 20th-year celebration. The program will include opening remarks by former principal Russ Vernon-Jones, as well as a historical perspective about time capsules from Amherst Historical Society’s president Georgia Barnhill. We also plan a singalong that current and past students, their parents and guardians, and attendees will join in, with a few songs from the 1970s and 1990s, including Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle.” Rain date is Sunday, June 8.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 4: SURVIVAL CENTER BENEFIT WITH DONNIE GALLAGHER AND FRIENDS. 7 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Acclaimed area musicians will take to the stage at the Drake to benefit the work of the Amherst Survival Center. The ASC is one of many agencies and organizations affected by significant budget cuts in Washington. Organizer and singer-songwriter “Donnie Gallagher and Friends” will provide three sets of popular music. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door. See full calendar here.
TUESDAY JUNE 10: POLITICS & POLICY: A SPRING LECTURE SERIES AT UMASS DOWNTOWN. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., 108 N. Pleasant Street. Dr. Jane Fountain, director of the School of Public Policy and digital governance expert speaks at the free session that is open to the public. Come engage with leading scholars and local community members as we explore the policies shaping the future.
SUNDAY JUNE 8: 43RD ANNUAL LAKE WYOLA ROAD RACE AND WALK. 9:30 a.m., Lake Wyola Association Building, 6 Shore Drive, Shutesbury. Enjoy a challenging 4.8 mile walk or run around scenic Lake Wyola on paved and dirt roads. This is an iconic community event with lots of refreshments, prizes and a raffle. For the less ambitious, there is a 1.6 mile fun run at 10:10 a.m. The race serves as a primary fundraiser for the nonprofit Lake Wyola Association. And you can take a swim at the nearby state beach afterward. Information and registration at https://secure.getmeregistered.com/LakeWyolaRoadRace. Indy staffers Art and Maura Keene are the race directors.
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.
EVERY TUESDAY: RACIAL JUSTICE VIGIL 4:00 p.m. -4:30 p.m., downtown Amherst in front of the Bank of America.
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 IN APRIL: DROP-IN VACCINE CLINIC. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Amherst Public Health Department, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Free flu and COVID shots while supplies last. Individuals over 65 are eligible for a COVID booster this spring. Protect yourself and others. Stay healthy! For more information, email publichealth@amherstma.gov or call 413-259-3077.
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 : AMHERST ARTISANS’ MARKET. 3 to 7 p.m., front lawn of the Amherst History Museum, 67 Amity Street. The Amherst Artisans’ Market features local artists, crafters and food vendors.
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.
EVERY FRIDAY: HANDS OFF OUR STUDENTS STANDOUT. 4 pm – 5:30 p.m., Kendrick Park, Amherst. https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/778646/
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.
EVERY SATURDAY THROUGH NOVEMBER 23: AMHERST FARMERS’ MARKET. 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Town Common. Established in 1972, the Amherst Farmers’ Market is widely recognized 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 the food, music, events, and community offerings.
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..
THIRD SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH MAY THROUGH OCTOBER: CARS AND COFFEE AT THE MILL DISTRICT. 8 to 11:30 a.m., Mill District, Cowls Road. Cars and Coffee is back—and it’s bigger than ever! This FREE community event invites car lovers of all ages to enjoy an exciting morning filled with cool cars, coffee, and family fun. Spectators get a free drip coffee token and information on entering our raffle for a $50 gift certificate to the Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery. There will also be an on-site playground and coloring activities to keep the kids entertained. Trophies awarded for the top cars in several categories. Pre-register your vehicle here.
NOW THOURGH SATURDAY MAY 31: CONFLUENCE – PAINTINGS BY PAULA HITE AT GALLERY A3. Repeating bands of vibrant color dance and weave through Paula Hite’s recent abstract acrylic paintings on paper in her solo exhibit, CONFLUENCE, at Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street 1D in Amherst. The exhibit opens on Thursday May 1 and will run through Saturday, May 31. There will be an opening reception at the gallery on Thursday May 1 from 5-7 p.m. and a free, online art forum on Thursday May 15 at 7:30 p.m. Register here. More information
NOW THROUGH THURSDAY JUNE 26: FEMME LOCALE: SEEN—SCENE—CENE EXHIBITION. Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Seen—Scene—Cene is a group juried exhibition of artwork by trans women, cis women, intersex, genderqueer, genderfluid, and non-binary people within 39 miles of Amherst, on view in the Front Window gallery of the Mill District Local Art Gallery from Sunday, May 4 through Thursday, June 26. It is curated by Christine Texiera and Alexia Cota.
NOW THROUGH JUNE 30: PAINTINGS BY LOCAL ARTIST CELESTE SZE. Town Hall Art Gallery, 4 Boltwood Avenue. 8 a.m. – 4 :30 p.m. M-F. Focusing on themes of Native American and the American West.
NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7: PORTRAITS IN RED: MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BY NAYANA LAFOND. D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield Museums. In her powerful series of portraits, artist and activist Nayana Lafond sheds light on the crisis affecting Indigenous peoples, particularly women, who are eleven times more likely to go missing than the national average. Each portrait depicts a missing or murdered Indigenous person, a family member, or an advocate, rendered in shades of gray and marked by a vivid red handprint—the only color visible to spirits—to raise awareness, inspire action, and honor the lives and stories of those impacted by this crisis. Lafond, a citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, graduated from Amherst High School and lives in Western Massachusetts. After studying at the Massachusetts College of Art, she became a full-time painter and has served as a curator and community arts organizer for over twenty years. Visit her website.
WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS JUNE THROUGH NOVEMBER: AMHERST MOBILE MARKET. Wednesdays 3 to 6 p.m. in North Amherst, Thursdays 3 to 6 p.m. at Colonial Village, and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at East Hadley Road. The Amherst Mobile Market not only makes affordable produce available within walking distance of residents who struggle to access healthy food, but also puts decision-making in the hands of low-income, BIPOC community members and builds the capacity of those community members to take on leadership roles.