Writers Read: Poet Seat Contest 2024 Youth Winners Madison McCarthy, Summit Wicks-Lim, and Henry Maxey

The LAVA Center 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, United States

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 a discussion facilitated by Lindy Whiton, designer of Writers Read. These discussions have been eye opening, touching, and inspiring. Audiences have left the venue ready to write. We are so excited to start the year off with youth winners of the Poet Seat Contest 2024, Madison McCarthy, Summit Wicks-Lim, and Henry Maxey. Madison McCarthy is a writer who enjoys poetry, fantasy, and the endless cycle of worldbuilding! She enjoys centering her work around the crafted worlds, and at least some mention of flowers. Writing has always fascinated her since she was little, and she’s happy to share it with the world! Summit Wicks-Lim is 13 years old and in 8th grade at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Public Charter School. She enjoys reading, debate, dancing, playing violin, throwing pottery, and writing poetry. Summit is beyond excited to have the opportunity to participate in this reading! Henry Maxey is a 10th grade student at Frontier Regional and an avid reader and writer from Conway. He loves to spend…

$1 – $5
Event Series Story Circles

Story Circles

The LAVA Center 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, United States

A monthly conversation circle sharing our stories. Some months may begin with a theme or prompt, such as “How I Came to Greenfield” and others may be simply “What Would You Like To Share?” We will begin with the model of using a talking stone or stick or other object: the person speaking holds the object for as long as they want to speak, then passes it on. Others do not interrupt, cross-talk, or ask questions, but simply listen. At the end of the hour, there’s a simple debrief that again does not involve cross talk but each person offering a closing thought. The structure may be adjusted over time depending on the interests of the participants.

Free
Event Series LAVA Film Night

LAVA Film Night

The LAVA Center 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, United States

Join LAVA for film screenings every 2nd Thursday! We’ll share films made by local filmmakers, films with a social or environmental focus brought to you by local organizations, films we just think you should see! There will be time after each screening for a talkback session. Check back as we add more films! February 13: staff choice March 15: Greening Greenfield film series, details TBA April 10: Greening Greenfield film series, details TBA May 8: Greening Greenfield film series, details TBA $1-5 suggested donation

$1 – $5
Event Series Open Stage @ LAVA

Open Stage @ LAVA

The LAVA Center 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, United States

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. Now on 3rd Thursdays! Signup starts at 6:30, show starts at 7. 5 minute limit for each act. You can plug into our sound system if you’d like audio to backup your act- plugin using 1/8″ mic jack input, bring adapter if needed. Questions? Contact LAVA here. $1-5 suggested donation

$1 – $5

A Saturday Dose of Fun (improv games for grownups with Henry Balzarini)

The LAVA Center 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, United States

Warning: This workshop may cause multiple moments of mirth, foster greater comfort in new situations, inspire creativity, lift your mood, release stress, make you more spontaneous, ease you into connecting enjoyably with other people and even make you laugh out loud. Using improv games, we will become a fast thinking, in the moment, loose goose brigade. You’ve been warned. Here’s a little more about the content of the workshop from Henry: Although I’ll be using improv based exercises, they’ll be mostly warmup and group game activities. Not really improv scene or narrative building work. We will end with one or two short form improv performance type games, however. Focus will be on loosening up and having fun. If you are looking for serious improv study this won’t be it, but might be a good way to ease into it. That all said, the main objective is fun on a Saturday afternoon. Every 2nd and 4th Saturday! $5–10 suggested donation per session. No improv experience necessary. Intended for adults. Limit of 15 please, so sign up now: email [email protected]. about your host: I’m Henry Balzarini and a native of Boston. In the 1980’s I lived in New York City where I…

$5 – $10

Jazz Jam @ LAVA

The LAVA Center 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, United States

Join David Greenberg and Arlene Robbins (performing as “Two for Jazz”) and other local musicians for a jazz jam session at The LAVA Center, Thursday, Feb. 27, 4–6 p.m. Come to listen or come to play — all levels of musicianship are welcome! $1-5 suggested donation. For more information, email David at david.greenberg3gmail.com.

$1 – $5

Beautiful Disasters: A Storytelling Open Mic

The LAVA Center 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, United States

Nisse Greenberg and Trouble Mandeson are back hosting your favorite storytelling open mic and potluck in Greenfield! Come to the LAVA Center to tell a story or share a snack or just imbibe them both. 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. This program is sponsored in part by a grant from the Greenfield Cultural Council.

Free

A Saturday Dose of Fun (improv games for grownups with Henry Balzarini)

The LAVA Center 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, United States

Warning: This workshop may cause multiple moments of mirth, foster greater comfort in new situations, inspire creativity, lift your mood, release stress, make you more spontaneous, ease you into connecting enjoyably with other people and even make you laugh out loud. Using improv games, we will become a fast thinking, in the moment, loose goose brigade. You’ve been warned. Here’s a little more about the content of the workshop from Henry: Although I’ll be using improv based exercises, they’ll be mostly warmup and group game activities. Not really improv scene or narrative building work. We will end with one or two short form improv performance type games, however. Focus will be on loosening up and having fun. If you are looking for serious improv study this won’t be it, but might be a good way to ease into it. That all said, the main objective is fun on a Saturday afternoon. Every 2nd and 4th Saturday! $5–10 suggested donation per session. No improv experience necessary. Intended for adults. Limit of 15 please, so sign up now: email [email protected]. about your host: I’m Henry Balzarini and a native of Boston. In the 1980’s I lived in New York City where I…

$5 – $10

New England Dreamscapes: new paintings on slate by Sarah Adam

The LAVA Center 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, United States

New landscape paintings on slate by Sarah Adam, on view at The LAVA Center in March through April. Sarah is a visual artist specializing in painted landscapes on mixed media, utilizing acrylic paint on repurposed materials, including found slate stone and reclaimed wood. She is also an accomplished illustrator, creating whimsical worlds for all audiences with delightful children’s books and playful greeting cards.

Event Series Story Circles

Story Circles

The LAVA Center 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, United States

A monthly conversation circle sharing our stories. Some months may begin with a theme or prompt, such as “How I Came to Greenfield” and others may be simply “What Would You Like To Share?” We will begin with the model of using a talking stone or stick or other object: the person speaking holds the object for as long as they want to speak, then passes it on. Others do not interrupt, cross-talk, or ask questions, but simply listen. At the end of the hour, there’s a simple debrief that again does not involve cross talk but each person offering a closing thought. The structure may be adjusted over time depending on the interests of the participants.

Free
Event Series LAVA Film Night

LAVA Film Night

The LAVA Center 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, United States

Join LAVA for film screenings every 2nd Thursday! We’ll share films made by local filmmakers, films with a social or environmental focus brought to you by local organizations, films we just think you should see! There will be time after each screening for a talkback session. Check back as we add more films! February 13: staff choice March 15: Greening Greenfield film series, details TBA April 10: Greening Greenfield film series, details TBA May 8: Greening Greenfield film series, details TBA $1-5 suggested donation

$1 – $5
Event Series Open Stage @ LAVA

Open Stage @ LAVA

The LAVA Center 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, United States

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. Now on 3rd Thursdays! Signup starts at 6:30, show starts at 7. 5 minute limit for each act. You can plug into our sound system if you’d like audio to backup your act- plugin using 1/8″ mic jack input, bring adapter if needed. Questions? Contact LAVA here. $1-5 suggested donation

$1 – $5