The LAVA Center hosts film screening, launches new interactive workshop
The LAVA Center will host a screening of “The McMurdo Nutcracker,” Antarctica’s first full-length ballet, on Friday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. Co-director and choreographer Ash Goverman will host the event, opening with a discussion about the creative process before showing the 45-minute production. Created in 2022 alongside collaborators Isa Braun, Clarissa Sprague and Jaden Pan while working as dishwashers at McMurdo Station, the custom-made story ballet features an amateur cast of 51 research station contract workers. Entry is available for a suggested $1 to $5 donation. Because this event falls on a second Friday, masks are required and will be provided for all attendees to ensure community accessibility. For further information, visit thelavacenter.org.
Also, the center is launching RE-ART, an interactive workshop series focused on creating art from reclaimed, repurposed and reused materials. The series kicks off with a self-directed “Exploratorium” on Saturday, Aug. 15, from noon to 2 p.m., where participants of all skill levels can experiment with various found objects alongside an instructional “Inspiration Station” video display. Following this introductory session, the center will host five alternate-Saturday, artist-led workshops from noon to 2 p.m., including cardboard packaging art with Alyson Arnold on Aug. 29, multimedia collage with Daniel Hales on Sept. 12, yarn and paper art with Dylan Bertucco on Sept. 26, plastic bag basket weaving with Ash Goverman on Oct. 10 and magazine paper art with Allen Fowler on Oct. 24. While the launch event requires no signup, advance registration is strongly encouraged for the artist-led workshops via the online signup form at bit.ly/4fEmdQa. All sessions are free to attend. The series will culminate in a community art show this fall. For additional details, email info@thelavacenter.org.
Hannah Harvester hosts free open studio event
Hannah Harvester Fine Art will host a free open studio event on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 1 to 6 p.m. at 46 Delabarre Ave. in Conway. The Conway painter and printmaker invites the public to her riverside studio to view a collection of her latest work, which features local oil and soft pastel landscapes as well as a series of Cape Cod paintings. Original artwork tailored for various budgets will be available for purchase, ranging from large framed paintings to small block prints. Attendees can enjoy complimentary snacks while viewing the collection in a picturesque setting. For more information, visit hannahharvester.com.
Greenfield Library hosts free art, framing workshops
The Greenfield Public Library is hosting four free Makerspace programs as part of its Summer Roundhouse Series, designed for teens and adults ages 13 and older with no prior experience required. The lineup begins with “Basics of Landscape Painting for Beginners” in collaboration with the Greenfield Plein Air Club on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., focusing on canvas and acrylic techniques. Next, the library will host “Watercolor Animal Studies and Pet Portraits” on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., where participants are encouraged to bring a photo of their own pet to paint. On Thursday, Aug. 27, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., the Thursday Still Life Club will meet to practice observational skills using watercolor, pencil, pastel, or charcoal to depict local summer produce. The series wraps up with a Roundhouse Drop-In Finishing Clinic on Monday, Aug. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m., where local artists Danielle and Francesca will assist participants with framing and entering their completed arts and crafts into this fall’s Franklin County Fair, with the option to leave projects at the library for fairground delivery. All materials are supplied for these events, which are made possible by grants from the Greenfield Local Cultural Council and the Franklin County Fair, alongside sponsorship from the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library. While walk-ins are welcome, advanced registration is highly encouraged through greenfieldpl.libcal.com.
Historic Deerfield offers free admission
Historic Deerfield will offer free admission on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as part of the Highland Street Foundation’s August Adventures program. Visitors can tour the museum’s historic houses and the Flynt Center, participate in hands-on arts and crafts activities, and enjoy other family-friendly offerings at the museum, 80 Old Main St. in Deerfield.
Playwrights sought for new play on Shays’ Rebellion
The Majestic Theater in West Springfield has announced that it is the recipient of a fiscal year 2026 grant award of $15,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts. This funding will support a new play about Shays’ Rebellion in commemoration of Freedom 250 Network, the public-private partnership leading the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Shays’ Rebellion (1786-1787) was an armed uprising of farmers in western Massachusetts, centered around towns including Springfield, Northampton and Great Barrington. Led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays, the rebellion was sparked by high taxes, mounting debt, and aggressive court actions that resulted in farmers losing their land and being imprisoned for unpaid debts.
The Majestic Theater is inviting submissions from playwrights interested in developing an original full-length play about Shays’ Rebellion. Rooted in historical research and community engagement, the commissioned play will explore the rebellion through the voices and lived experiences of those who shaped it, creating a work that is both historically grounded and theatrically compelling. For more information about submissions, visit majestictheater.com/call-to-playwrights.
Ladama returns to Watermelon Wednesdays
Ladama returns to Watermelon Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at Whately Town Hall. The Latin alternative band features musician-activists from Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, along with American bassist Pat Swoboda. Their music blends South American and Caribbean sounds with soul, R&B and pop. Tickets are available at bit.ly/4xx4KjR.