LAVA’s 5th Birthday Party!

LAVA turns 5!

Join us for a weekend of celebrating 5 years of community arts, theater, literature, storytelling, comedy, music, film, photography, history, humanities and more in downtown Greenfield. Our celebration coincides with Greenfield’s Winter Carnival, just as our grand opening did in 2020.

All events are FREE to attend — donations are gladly welcome to help support future LAVA programming!

Friday, Jan. 31

5–8pm: Exhibit launch and reception: “History of LAVA: Memorabilia and Photography”

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. We’re excited to see you.

5–7pm: Art making table for kids and grownups with Jovonna Van Pelt

6–8pm: 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

Saturday, Feb. 1

12pm: live music with the Farley String Band

The Farley String Band is nine local musicians playing traditional folk tunes, many originally coming from Ireland and Scotland. They 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 members are: Harry Sharbaugh, Sue Sharbaugh, Wes Green, Steve Winters, Shirley Tripp, Lisa Cornish, Alfred Barten, Doug Selwyn and Robert Lord.

2pm: Book launch and reception: “Valley and Beyond: A Writers Read Anthology”

Valley and Beyond: A Writers Read Anthology is ready to be sold. Compiled of local authors, the anthology represents many who have read at our monthly reading, Writers Read. Come hear pieces read from the anthology by their authors. We will celebrate the completion of the journal and the Writers Read community. This program honors audiences and recognizes them as an important piece of the process. Come check us out and experience the writers, the readers and the listeners.

The authors featured in the anthology are Janet Aalfs, Alice Barrett, Emily Brewster, Trish Crapo, Edite Cunha, Candace Curran, Gray Davidson Carroll, Daniel Hales, Joanne Hayes, Amie Hyson, Carrie Kline, Dinah Kudatsky, Amy Leprode, Janet MacFadyen, Jan Maher, Christian McEwen, Rich Michelson, Susie Patlove, David Ram, Thomas Ratte, Paul Richmond, Wil Roberts, Erika Higgins Ross, Margo Shea, Jessamyn Smyth, Jovonna Van Pelt, Lindy Whiton, Sherril Willis and Eirnin Worth.

4:30–6:30pm: Improv Comedy Workshop with Henry Balzarini

Join local improv enthusiast Henry Balzarini for a special free improv workshop for our birthday party! Using improv games, we will become a fast thinking, in the moment, loose goose brigade. The focus of this workshop will be to prepare a skit or improv game to perform for the public during LAVA’s Open Stage, happening at 7 p.m. that evening. All are welcome, from brand-newbies to seasoned veterans. Space is limited so signup is required; to sign up, email Henry at [email protected].

7pm (signups at 6:30): Open Stage @ LAVA, hosted by Kemah Wilson

Join us for a special birthday edition of the Open Stage, hosted by local artist Kemah Wilson! Our Open Stage is like an open mic, but MORE. Theater, dance, music, literature, spoken word, storytelling, magic, puppetry, circus and sideshow, comedy, improv — any form of art or entertainment that can be staged, in any stage of development.

Kemah Wilson (they/she) has been an active member of the LAVA gallery community since May 2022, when they participated in their first artist exhibit, “Words on Words.” Since then, Kemah has participated in three art shows at LAVA, two of which they curated. Kemah’s work has also been exhibited in Northampton and Ware, and is currently being shown in a community exhibit at Artspace through February. She recently completed her role as Artist Guild Coordinator for the Recover Project in Greenfield. Kemah is a prolific photographer, writer and multimedia visual artist.

Sunday, Feb. 2

1pm: First Sunday Word

Formerly Third Tuesday Word, Paul Richmond and Human Error Publishing’s long-running literary event. Doors open at 1, open mic starts at 1:30, features start at 2:30. $1-5 sliding scale. Books will be for sale.