a community arts space, arts incubator, and black box theater in downtown Greenfield
The LAVA Center is a community arts space, arts incubator, and black box theater in downtown Greenfield, MA. Our mission is to create opportunities and build community in and through the arts and humanities. We are a space where all artists, including marginalized communities and individuals, can have their voices heard. The LAVA Center is located at 324 Main St., between TD Bank and the Pushkin Gallery.
01/19/2025
LAVA's 5th Birthday Party is coming up! š„³
šļø Friday, Jan 31-Sunday, Feb 2 - events all weekend long, including:
FRIDAY, JAN. 31, 6ā8pm:
Live music with Vimana
Vimana is an experimental rock trio with Brian Rodriguez on bass, Bruce Todd on drums and Leo Hwang on guitar. Vimana creates a fusion of blues and funk in all original compositions that have a sound that is contemporary but reflects in our influences from the 1960s and 1970s and weaves together cultural roots from Korea, to Portugal, to America. http://www.leohwang.com/vimana.html
during the reception for "History of LAVA: Memorabilia and Photography" exhibit. Also art making table 5-7pm!
šļø Friday, Jan 31-Sunday, Feb 2 - events all weekend long, including:
FRIDAY, JAN. 31, 5ā8pm:
Exhibit launch and reception: āHistory of LAVA: Memorabilia and Photographyā
On Friday night, we will launch our exhibit for the month of February, a display of memorabilia and photos depicting the growth of the arts at The LAVA Center over the past five years. Staff has compiled an exhibit of programming and growing at the center. Come hear the band, see the exhibit, have a bite to eat, make some art and share stories of your experiences with the staff and volunteers. Weāre excited to see you.
& during the reception:
5ā7pm: Art making table for kids and grownups with Jovonna Van Pelt
6ā8pm: Live music with Vimana
Friday, Jan 31 through Sunday, Feb 2 - all weekend long
324 Main St, Greenfield
Celebrate 5 years of community arts, theater, literature, storytelling, comedy, music, film, photography, history, humanities and more in downtown Greenfield.
All events are FREE to attend ā donations are gladly welcome to help support future LAVA programming!
friday jan 31, 5ā8pm: Exhibit launch and reception: āHistory of LAVA: Memorabilia and Photographyā
friday jan 31, 5ā7pm: Art making table for kids and grownups with Jovonna Van Pelt
friday jan 31, 6ā8pm: Live music with Vimana
saturday feb 1, 12pm: Live music with the Farley String Band
saturday feb 1, 2pm: Book launch and reception: āValley and Beyond: A Writers Read Anthologyā
saturday feb 1, 4:30ā6:30pm: Improv Comedy Workshop with Henry Balzarini
saturday feb 1, 7pm (signups at 6:30): Open Stage @ LAVA, hosted by Kemah Wilson
sunday feb 2, 1pm: First Sunday Word (formerly Third Tuesday Word)
Itās been an exciting year at LAVA, thanks to your support and participation. Some highlights:
Monthly events:
ā¢ Writers Read, Beautiful Disasters Storytelling Open Mic & Potluck, Third Tuesday Word (look for it in 2025 as First Sundays!), Open Stage
Workshops:
ā¢ Henry Balzariniās improv; Alex DeMeloās storytelling; Jan Maherās Directing and Acting for Writers, Actors, and Directors; Michael and Carrie Klineās Listening for a Change
Showcases:
ā¢ Authors: Orice Jenkins, Ben Gagnon, and Mary Clare Powell
ā¢ Screenings: including Faces of Medicine, Farm, Inc. 2, and Sita Sings the Blues
ā¢ Summer@LAVA: 5 Saturdays featuring live music of local favorites
Community collaborations:
ā¢ Twice as Smart joined us for Reading Frederick Douglass Together
ā¢ The Recover Project in observation of Recovery Month, featured work from their Art Guild and music and spoken word/poetry from their participants
ā¢ Christine Benvenuto brought us a 25-Hour Theater Festival, a half dozen playwrights plus 14 actors = 6 never-before-seen plays in just 1 spin of the earth on its axis
ā¢ Our 5th Annual Community Art Show is on display through December 21
Humanities projects:
ā¢ Faces of Medicine exhibit, documenting Black women physicians
ā¢ indiVISIBLE, documenting the stories of migrant and immigrant farmers, now touring schools, churches, and community centers
ā¢ ALR Keatonās interactive election-focused exhibit, Every Vote Matters letting us all say what weād really like to vote for
ā¢ JJ Whiteās contextualized art installation lifts up Greta Thunbergās voice demanding to know, "How Dare You?"
ā¢ "In It Together": reprising 8 short plays from 6 years of Climate Change Theater at LAVA
Festivals:
ā¢ On the Boards: readings of 12 new plays by 12 playwrights
ā¢ LAVAās 4th Annual Film Festival featuring more than 40 films and filmmakers
In 2025, we celebrate our 5th birthday as we anticipate an even bigger year ahead. Keep an eye out for our 5th Birthday Party, coinciding with Greenfieldās 103rd Annual Winter Carnival; A Balm in Gilead: Songs of Resilience, Hope, and Healing, a special collaboration featuring MĆŗsica Franklin, Twice as Smart, a county-wide community popup choir, and an inspiring and informative talk by Arthur C. Jones, founder of The Spirituals Project of Denver, CO (spring); Rising Riverās Edge, a new oral history video-documentary looking at the impact of climate change on farmers and consumers in our area (July); and all our usual regular and special opportunities to be involved in the creative and caring community arts & humanities incubator that is LAVA.
LAVA depends on your support and generosity to do this work. Please consider a one-time or sustaining tax-deductible donation.
There are other ways you can help out or get involved! We're looking to build our roster of volunteers for next year. If you're interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities, please email [email protected] with your name, contact info, and preferred method of contact.
12/23/2024
We are on our annual winter break!
We are closed for public events through most of January.
Stay tuned for an announcement of our grand reopening!
Saturday, 12/21
gallery hours: 11am-2pm
conversation: 12pm
The LAVA Center
324 Main St, Greenfield
To close up the Community Art Show 2024 we are having a āconversation with the artistsā between 12 and 2 on December 21st. Allen Fowler, one of the painters in the show will facilitate the discussion. Allen is a visual artist and a poet who lives in Franklin County. He will lead a conversation with the artists who participated in this yearās show about texture, the showās theme. They will discuss their work, what the theme ātextureā held for them and what their process might look like. Audience members will be welcomed. This is the fifth year of LAVAās Community Art Show and exemplifies our commitment to encourage all artists to explore their work.
JJ White: "World on Fire" exhibit closing reception
Friday, 12/20, 5-8pm
The LAVA Center
324 Main St, Greenfield
JJ White, local artist and agent provocateur, will be hosting the closing reception for his interactive exhibit, "World On Fire." Taking his cue from Greta Thunberg's famous "How Dare You?" speech at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit, White created a series of 2- and 3- dimensional installations that have adorned the walls of the LAVA Center's Humanities Gallery since October.
This programming is made possible in part by grants from Mass Humanities, with funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and from the Markham-Nathan Fund for Social Justice.
La Wanza Lett-Brewington book launch: "Reflections & Tears: Voices of My People"
Thursday, 12/19, 6-8pm
The LAVA Center
324 Main St, Greenfield
Join local writer La Wanza Lett-Brewington for a book launch, reading, and performance for her new book of poetry, "Reflections & Tears: Voices of My People."
This book gives voice to reflect on joys, triumphs, suffering, and endurance in a time when many feel that they are not heard. The poetry is meant to be captivating and empowering.
The book embodies the unity of heart, mind, body and spirit.
La Wanza is a prolific presenter, playwright, storyteller, and poet. Her gift is in teaching about the beauty of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary in our everyday lives.
She is a national speaker, executive coach, and transformation leader. She is also recognized for her innovative work on the integration of creativity with leadership development, diversity, and social justice.
This is a free event. Books will be available for sale and signed by the author.
Saturday, Dec. 14
2pm (masks required) & 5pm (masks optional)
The LAVA Center
324 Main St, Greenfield
The LAVA Center presents a mixed-media program of short videos and play readings selected from the past six years of plays presented by LAVA on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Masks are required at the 2 p.m. performance and optional at the 5 p.m. performance.
$5-20 suggested donation ($1-2 Card to Culture)
In addition to videos from LAVAās 2020 online short play festival, which will open the program, six plays will be re-staged by directors Tracy Grammer and Jan Maher.
The production will combine video and live readings, ranging from human protagonists to frogs, polar bears, and Steller sea lions, to natural elements of the ocean and icebergs ā representing a fraction of the 140 short climate-themed plays LAVA has brought to Greenfield-area audiences.
The playwrights whose work will be shared are as diverse as the play topics and characters, hailing from Ireland, Rhode Island, Canada, New York City, Jordan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
A talk-back following the presentation will focus on sharing news updates, action suggestions and personal priorities for taking action on climate change in the year ahead.
This program is made possible by funding from Greening Greenfield and Mass Humanities.
12/11/2024
Writers Read @ LAVA featuring the LAVA Team: Jan Maher, Vanessa Query, Jovonna Van Pelt
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 7pm
324 Main St, Greenfield
Writers Read is a monthly opportunity for an audience to come and listen to local writers in an intimate environment. Each second Wednesday of the month, three writers read from their work followed by time for the audience to join with the writers for a talkback. These discussions have been eye opening, touching, and inspiring. Audiences have left the venue ready to write.
This series is facilitated by Lindy Whiton, a member of LAVA, and pulls from several different communities of writers throughout the local area. We are extremely lucky to draw from an abundance of talent.
Jan Maherās novels Heaven, Indiana, Earth As It Is, and short fiction collection The Persistence of Memory and Other Stories have each won Kirkus āBest Ofā designations. Her stories and poems have been published regionally in Meat for Tea: The Valley Review; Compass Roads: Poems about the Pioneer Valley; Spoken Word in the Woods: An Anthology celebrating The Word Stage 10th Year ā at The North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival ā celebrating 25 years, and Valley and Beyond: A Writers Read Anthology. She is a co-coordinator at The LAVA Center, where she has read for Writers Read and Paul Richmondās Third Tuesday. Two of her plays have been presented at LAVA as staged readings: Most Dangerous Women, and As We Were: Nine Days in October. She is currently working on a third novel set in the fictional town of Heaven, Indiana.
Vanessa Query is a director, writer, performer, and organizer. She has written and directed several short films and has performed and produced all types of theater, such as sketch comedy, circus sideshow, devised theater, and multimedia performance art. Her work has been performed and screened across the United States and in Ireland and India. She lives in Greenfield and is Manager and Co-coordinator of The LAVA Center.
Jovonna Van Pelt has stories to share: funny stories, difficult stories, personal revelations, and casual observations of life. She has been a featured reader for Straw Dog Writers Guild, Poets at Large, Gateway City Arts, Great Falls Word Festival, and a multiple finalist in the Poetās Seat competition. Joās poetry collection Unrelated Questions (Human Error Publishing, 2019) will be followed by a second volume of poetry and a book of Christmas short stories in 2025. She lives happily with her rescue cat in Greenfield, MA.
Saturday, 12/7, 5:30pm
The LAVA Center
324 Main St, Greenfield
A vibrant belly dance show featuring talented dancers from across the region. Attendees can expect a captivating evening of short performances showcasing a variety of styles from the Middle East, North Africa, Hellas (Greece), and Turkey (MEHNAT). Hosted and produced by Franklin County Locals Eshta Amar and Aralia Pearl.
Doors open at 5. $10 suggested donation, no one will be turned away for inability to pay. Cash and Venmo accepted. Tips welcomed.
Beautiful Disasters Storytelling Open Mic & Potluck!
Thursday, 12/5, 6pm food, 7pm stories
The LAVA Center
324 Main St, Greenfield
Trouble Mandeson and Nisse Greenberg bring you Beautiful Disasters ā this month āFashion Disasters!ā Share a story about when you peed your pants, or when you wore the wrong thing to the funeral! Share the story about losing your grandfatherās watch, or telling your partner they looked fat in that shirt. Share with us the time you beautifully disastered your way through life. Potluck starts at 6pm, and stories begin at 7pm. December 5th, pay what you can.
This program is sponsored in part by a grant from the Greenfield Cultural Council.
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Artist at work! The father half of father-daughter duo Daryl and Jessica Beck- who will display new work on our walls through August- hanging some art.
Their opening reception is this Saturday, Aug 3, 11am-2pm - Daryl Beck and Jessica Beck art exhibit reception - and their closing reception will be Friday, Aug 30, 5-8pm.
Art Show by Tom Swetland, now up on our walls! Reception today (Saturday) 3-6pm and on display through June.
Nese Uysalās beautiful exhibit, āMy Inner Joy,ā is on display through the end of the month!
Gallery/cafe hours are Mondays 11-2, Tuesday 11-2, Thursdays 5-8, Fridays 5-8, and Saturdays 11-2.
More details on our website (link in profile).
Nese Uysal's beautiful exhibit, "My Inner Joy," is on display through the end of the month!
Gallery/cafe hours are Mondays 11-2, Tuesday 11-2, Thursdays 5-8, Fridays 5-8, and Saturdays 11-2.
More details hereā> https://thelavacenter.org/exhibits/nese-uysal-my-inner-joy/
@hardiganscardigans sound check! Playing tonight with @ezraprior1 - come on down!
Arts nonprofit organization Local Access to Valley Arts is thrilled to announce the opening of its new performing arts and community space in downtown Greenfield, MA!
The LAVA Center is a new arts incubator, black box theater and community space in downtown Greenfield, MA. The LAVA Center is located at 324 Main St., in between TD Bank and the Pushkin Gallery.
With a focus on creating opportunities in and through primarily the performing and literary arts, the LAVA Center will host a wide variety of arts events, classes, and workshops as well as be a space to display and sell art made by local artisans.
The LAVA Center is also available to rent for meetings and workshops, and provides an affordable option for groups needing space for rehearsals, classes, and small performances.
There are plenty of opportunities for artists and their work to be nourished, such as providing space to show and develop works in progress.
The LAVA Center focuses on the communal and collaborative aspect of the arts by:
providing assistance for organizations needing grant funding to pursue arts projects;
ensuring the high visibility of center activities through a comprehensive public relations program;
actively āmatch-makingā, enabling likely partner organizations to find each other for collaborative work;
maintaining a communications center for the dissemination and distribution of notices, requests, news, etc for local artists and arts organizations.
Public events will include art gallery displays, intimate theatrical and musical performances, film screenings, pop-up markets for local artisans to sell their wares, informal gatherings for writers and other artists, networking opportunities and meetups for artists of all types and arts-based programming for Greenfieldās youth.
