The LAVA Center

09/10/2024

Friday, Sep 13, 2024 @ 5:30pm—8:00pm

09/10/2024

Writers Read featuring Michael Favala Goldman, Rebecca Hart Olander, and Michael Shandler

Wednesday, 9/11, 7pm
The LAVA Center
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.

$5 suggested donation ($1 Card to Culture)

Award-winning poet Michael Favala Goldman is also a jazz clarinetist and translator of seventeen books of Danish literature. He lives in Northampton, MA, where he has been running bi-monthly poetry critique groups since 2018. https://michaelfavalagoldman.com/

Rebecca Hart Olander’s poetry and collaborative visual and written work has appeared in print, online, and in multiple anthologies. A winner of the Women’s National Book Association Poetry Award, her books include Dressing the Wounds (dancing girl press, 2019) and Uncertain Acrobats (CavanKerry Press, 2021), named an Eric Hoffer Book Award Category Finalist and a Must-Read selection by the Massachusetts Center for the Book. Rebecca is a writing teacher and the editor/director of Perugia Press.

Author, life coach, and organization development consultant, Michael Shandler’s boyhood in a dysfunctional family during the apartheid era in South Africa provided powerful grist for his transformational personal journey as told in his award-winning memoir, Karma and Kismet — A Spiritual Quest Across Continents, Cultures, and Consciousness.

https://www.facebook.com/events/752657172918842/

09/09/2024

Open Writing w/ Kemah from the Recover Project

Tuesday, 9/10, 11am-1pm
The LAVA Center
324 Main St, Greenfield

The Recover Project and LAVA invite all to drop in to The LAVA Center during September Tuesday open hours from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. to write; the tagline “Every Person, Every. Family, Every Community” adopted by National Recovery Month provides a prompt. Kemah Wilson, a co-coordinator of “The Art of Recovery,” will be on hand as a facilitator.

Part of the Recover Project’s annual art show, “The Art of Recovery,” on display in September and October as part of National Recovery Month. Click here for details on the exhibit—> https://thelavacenter.org/exhibits/recover-project/

This programming is made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, with funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1954035011709338/

09/09/2024

🌋 This week at LAVA: 🎤 Writers Read + 🗳️ Every Vote Counts reception + 🎭 Improv games workshop + 💃🏻 Belly dance showcase - https://mailchi.mp/24a0d030821c/the-lava-center-17396750

09/07/2024

Display your artwork on our gallery wall!

We're now booking exhibits for 2025.

Our exhibit wall is open to artists of all types and abilities, and we especially encourage new and burgeoning artists to show with us! We give preference to local and emerging artists.

Click here for more details and to submit a request—> https://thelavacenter.org/gallery-space/

09/05/2024

Michael Nix: "Memory Hoard" multimedia presentation [summer@LAVA]

Saturday, 9/7, noon
The LAVA Center
324 Main St, Greenfield

Musician Michael Nix presents “Memory Hoard,” a multimedia presentation incorporating video, recordings, photos and readings from 1983 to 2023. “Memory Hoard” explores Nix’s wide range of creative work as a composer, guitarist, banjoist and writer.

Michael Nix performs on classical guitar, Banjar, banjo and mandolin, throughout the United States and Asia; has recorded for the PBS series, “American Experience,” several independent documentaries and numerous CD projects; and his compositions are performed internationally. His music has been heard on “Weekend Edition” and other NPR programs. His new solo Banjar album of compositions and commissions, Aperçu was released on PARMA Recordings Big Round Records.

A banjo innovator, Nix designed the Banjar; a modern seven nylon string banjo combining elements of the five-string banjo and classical guitar; bringing the classic finger-style banjo of the late 1800’s into the twenty-first century. His instrumentals, songs and compositions draw from classic finger style banjo and guitar, infused with folk, jazz and world music traditions.

This is a free event, funded by the Crossroads Cultural District and Mass Cultural Council (MCC). Donations are appreciated.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1041368754083292/

09/04/2024

“Memory Hoard” A multimedia presentation by Michael Nix

Saturday, 9/7/24, noon - 2 pm
The LAVA Center
324 Main St, Greenfield

Musician Michael Nix presents “Memory Hoard”, a multimedia presentation incorporating video, recordings, photos, and readings from 1983 to 2023. "Memory Hoard" explores Nix's wide range of creative work as a composer, guitarist, banjoist, and writer.

This is a free event, funded by the Crossroads Cultural District and Mass Cultural Council (MCC). Donations are appreciated.

Recent health challenges having forced changes to my daily instrumental practice and performance rituals. I am able to spend time revisiting my composition catalog, the span of my career dating back to the early 1980s. Rather than cancel a concert at the LAVA Center for the Arts, our local arts incubator, I came upon the idea of curating my own creative retrospective concert.

This project is personal in nature.

Using a multimedia format comprised of video, recordings, photographs, and live reading of poetry, Memory Hoard explores the multifaceted relationship I have had with music composition, performance, the written word, video production, classical music, folk music, world music, and a wide cast of characters who became my friends, confidants, and colleagues throughout the years. It surfs the creative influences that led me to design two seven string classical banjos, and the development of my New Classic Banjo project, which supports compositions commissions, and the recording of newly composed music for the banjo.

Memory Hoard is not only the title of the retrospective, but simultaneously the title of a poem, taking a central place in the retrospective. The poem explores the nature of my memories, family, and good friend Rick Fiske, as a springboard for my personal relationship to creativity, and my sometimes schizophrenic professional life In the 1980s and 90s, with one foot in the Bluegrass and folk music world, the other in the classical composition and performance world.

One reaches the time in life where parents and many friends have been laid to, and the priorities of life shift. One earns the right to take journeys - high school, and college friends batch posting images of exotic travels as a reminder to all of us who celebrate their accomplishments and the wonder of their lives. This year my journey was inward, the results viewed on a theater projection screen.

The event will be video taped and available for viewing for those unable to attend.

Photo: Rick Byam 1989

09/04/2024

Orice Jenkins book launch: The Early County Massacre: Goolsby vs. the State of Georgia

Friday, 9/6, 6pm
The LAVA Center
324 Main St, Greenfield

The LAVA Center is excited to host Orice Jenkins’ local launch for his new book, The Early County Massacre: Goolsby vs. the State of Georgia on Friday, Sept. 6, 6 p.m. at 324 Main St., Greenfield.

Jenkins takes a fresh look at an event known as the Grandison Goolsby War in Early County, Georgia, that erupted in late December 1915. On December 28 of that year, Ulysses Goolsby, a young African American man, made his way to the wedding reception for Leila Mae Smith and Major John Powell with three friends. On his way, he was accosted by Henry Villepigue, overseer on a large plantation, who was unhappy about the road being occupied by African American youth. Villepigue whipped young Goolsby at gunpoint. Two days later, Ulysses’ father, Grandison Goolsby, defended himself with firepower from a lynch mob. This kicked off the “Grandison Goolsby War.”

Over a century later, Orice Jenkins has brought the events of late December 1915 back to life in his new book, The Early County Massacre. In it, Jenkins explores the relationships between the victims and survivors, looking especially at the sacrifices of Grandison and Mary Goolsby.

Jenkins is a poet, musician, historian and educator, most notably as the Executive Director of Música Franklin.

Join us at the LAVA Center on Friday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. to listen to Jenkins introduce his timely and important new book, which will be available for sale.

This programming is made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, with funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

https://www.facebook.com/events/512163758030024/

09/03/2024

Beautiful Disasters: Storytelling Open Mic + Potluck

Thursday, 9/5, 6pm potluck, 7pm stories

The LAVA Center: 324 Main St, Greenfield

Beautiful Disasters is a monthly storytelling open mic and potluck where Trouble Mandeson and Nisse Greenberg host a night of story and food sharing. Every 1st Thursday at The LAVA Center. Doors open and food is served at 6pm. Show will start at 7pm. All stories are meant to be true, personal stories from your own life. Show is pay-what-you-want.

Trouble and Nisse are back for the start of school to host another storytelling open mic and potluck! Come to Beautiful Disasters to share a story, or a dish, or just listen and eat. This month we want stories of school disasters—of showing up with the wrong outfit on picture day, or arguing with a teacher about religion, or getting high in class, or pooping your pants, or bullying or getting bullied. We want the stories about your mom making you wear those pants, or of trying to convince people that that music was cool, or asking someone out on the first day of class only to realize you have a pimple the size of Texas growing on your nose. We want all the embarrassing, hilarious, confusing, and surprising stories! Because life is a beautiful disaster. Potluck starts at 6pm, and stories begin at 7pm. September 5th, pay what you can.

This program is sponsored in part by a grant from the Greenfield Cultural Council.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1013453739719833/

09/03/2024

Sorry, we are closed today (Tuesday) for gallery hours!

09/02/2024

🌋 This week at LAVA: 🎤 Storytelling open mic & potluck + 📚 Orice Jenkins book launch + 🎶 Michael Nix presentation + 🎭Alex DeMelo theater workshop - https://mailchi.mp/744f4a15cba9/the-lava-center-17396090

09/02/2024

We are closed today (Monday).

We will resume normal hours tomorrow (Tuesday, 11-2). See you then!

08/30/2024

Two Day Clown Workshop at The LAVA Center!

Next Saturday & Sunday, Sept 7 & 8, 2:30-5:30pm

Email [email protected] for more information or to register.

08/29/2024

Live Music with the Farley String Band [summer@LAVA]

Saturday, 8/31, noon
The LAVA Center
324 Main St, Greenfield

Farley String Band will entertain with rousing old-time fiddle tunes, jigs, reels, airs, and beautiful slow waltzes.

All together they play an impressive assortment of instruments including hammer dulcimer, accordion, bodhran, bones and MORE!

The Farley String Band consists of nine local musicians playing traditional folk and fiddle tunes with many of those tunes originally coming from Ireland and Scotland. The principal instruments are violin, guitar, banjo, hammered dulcimer, accordion, mandolin, recorder and bodhran. Some of the members play multiple instruments including harmonica, penny whistle and bones.

The group began about seven years ago when Harry Sharbaugh and Wes Green got together regularly to play old time music, Wes on banjo and Harry on hammered dulcimer. Later, Harry’s wife Sue joined in with her accordion, as did their friend, Steve Winters on guitar. The group began performing publicly after Shirley Tripp (violin) and Alfred Barten (mandolin, tenor banjo) joined the group. Since then other members have been added.

Members include:
Harry Sharbaugh (hammered dulcimer, recorder, harmonica)
Sue Sharbaugh (accordion)
Wes Green (clawhammer banjo)
Steve Winters (guitar)
Shirley Tripp (violin)
Lisa Cornish (violin)
Alfred Barten (mandolin, tenor banjo)
Doug Selwyn (flute)
Robert Lord (Bodhran, pennywhistle, harmonica, bones)

This is a free concert, funded by the Crossroads Cultural District and Mass Cultural Council (MCC). Donations are appreciated.

08/28/2024

Art Party! w/ Daryl & Jessica Beck
+ closing reception

during Greenfield Arts Walk
Friday, 8/30, 5-8pm

Current LAVA artists Daryl Beck and Jessica Beck invite you to a closing reception for their exhibit, “Sequence” and bring-your-own-art art party!

We’ll have extra space set up this evening to showcase your artwork.*

This event is during downtown Greenfield’s Arts Walk, so come on down and check out other galleries and events too!

*Space is somewhat limited, so please, only bring in what you can carry. Also, due to our gallery being in a mixed-use space, our insurance does not cover artwork, so by bringing your artwork into our space, you are releasing LAVA from any liability.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1148227459806206/

08/28/2024

Call for Submissions!
5th Annual Community Art Show

Dates:
Sep 20 - submissions due
Sep 30 - artists notified
Nov 2 - opening reception

Theme: TEXTURE
$5 fee if accepted
3 piece submission limit
no free-standing sculpture (must be hung on walls)

To submit, email [email protected] with your name, jpg/png for your piece, and the title.

08/27/2024

Theater & Storytelling Workshop with Alex DeMelo

Wednesdays and Saturdays, 6-8:30pm
The LAVA Center
324 Main St, Greenfield

This workshop, led by Brazilian actor and director Alex DeMelo, will be a unique and enriching experience, centered around a celebration of diversity, resilience, and the power of storytelling.

This workshop is open to anyone from all walks of life: those who have experienced incarceration, homelessness; individuals with disabilities; the LGBTQIA+ community; immigrants and so on. Our stories, our experiences, our voices all matter immensely and we welcome all stories in a safe and supportive environment.

Through this workshop, DeMelo will offer a platform for participants to explore the art of storytelling and theater. Whether someone wishes to share their story or if they prefer to listen and observe, there is a place here. DeMelo says, “Together, we will weave tales, explore emotions, and uncover the transformative power of performance.”

The workshops will culminate in performances open to the public Saturday, October 19, 7pm and Saturday, October 26, 7pm.

Admission to this workshop is on a sliding scale, from $1–$10 per session, but if you cannot afford to donate, no worries!

To secure your spot or inquire further, contact Matthew Barlow at [email protected]. Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out on this empowering opportunity to connect, grow and shine on stage!

This programming is made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, with funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1258938495540939/

08/26/2024

On the Boards ’24 new play readings- online access

In-person performances are now concluded; you can, however, still donate to view the July plays online, on demand, for a limited time.

Today is the last day for plays by Silvia, P.H. Crosby, and Jean Minuchin.

This is the last week for 'Inheritance' by Nina Gross.

Click here for online access—> https://www.tixtree.com/o/lava

08/26/2024

🌋 This week at LAVA: 🖼️ Art Party! w/ Daryl & Jessica Back + 🎶 Live Music with the Farley String Band - https://mailchi.mp/d676fe6a8de9/the-lava-center-17395438

08/23/2024

Great Open Stage @ LAVA last night! Piano, poetry, singing, theater. Come on out every 4th Thursday at 7pm for an eclectic evening of entertainment! Jump on in to perform or just watch the magic unfold!

08/23/2024

Save the date!

✔️What: Molten at - a belly dance showcase. 🎙️Hosted by: yours truly and 💃
🗓️When: 9/14
⏰Time: 5pm, doors open at 4:30pm
🎟️Cost: $10 suggested (cash/Venmo at the door). No one will be turned away.

Xx

08/21/2024

Actors age 7 - 107 encouraged to sign up for an audition slot! Auditions are held in Amherst MA, September 20 - 22, 2024.

https://amherstacts.org/auditions/

08/19/2024

🌋 This week at LAVA: Third Tuesday Word + Theater & Storytelling Workshop + Open Stage + Improv Games Workshop - https://mailchi.mp/2257a59aff1c/the-lava-center-17395002

08/19/2024

Theater and Storytelling Workshop with Alex DeMelo

Wednesdays and Saturdays, August through October

Contact [email protected] or 413.474.0979‬‬‬ for more details!

The LAVA Center is excited to host a theater and storytelling workshop led by Brazilian actor and director Alex DeMelo. This workshop will be a unique and enriching experience, centered around a celebration of diversity, resilience, and the power of storytelling.

This workshop is open to anyone from all walks of life: those who have experienced incarceration, homelessness; individuals with disabilities; the LGBTQIA+ community; immigrants and so on. Our stories, our experiences, our voices all matter immensely and we welcome all stories in a safe and supportive environment.

Through this workshop, DeMelo will offer a platform for participants to explore the art of storytelling and theater. Whether someone wishes to share their story or if they prefer to listen and observe, there is a place here. DeMelo says, “Together, we will weave tales, explore emotions, and uncover the transformative power of performance.”

Admission to this workshop is on a sliding scale, from $1–$10 per session, but if you cannot afford to donate, no worries!

To secure your spot or inquire further, contact Matthew Barlow at [email protected]. Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out on this empowering opportunity to connect, grow and shine on stage!

This programming is made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, with funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

08/19/2024