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By STEVE PFARRER

Scott Norris says he’s been a huge fan of books, of reading, of words themselves, for many years. He’s also fascinated by calligraphy and different kinds of text, as well as letterpress printers and early printing methods — oh, and 18th-century...

By STEVE PFARRER

A bit over 10 years ago, Ilan Stavans, the longtime Amherst College professor and writer, made his first venture into the business world: starting a publishing company dedicated to international writing.Restless Books, whose tagline is “an...

By STEVE PFARRER

Seymour Chwast turned 92 this summer. But in his heart, he might still be about 8 or 9 years old, based on the work he continues to create.A legendary graphic designer who, beginning in the 1950s, helped revolutionize the look of commercial art,...

By STEVE PFARRER

Summer’s long past, and so are the watermelons. But Watermelon Wednesdays, the long-running summertime acoustic music series at the West Whately Chapel, isn’t ready to pull the plug on its concerts.On Dec. 6, they’re sponsoring what they call...

By STEVE PFARRER

Still hunting for holiday gifts? Want to check out some new art? You can do both by visiting area galleries this month, which offer a variety of exhibits. Here’s a look at some of the shows.Michelson Galleries, Northampton — The Eric Carle Museum...

By STEVE PFARRER

The Original Bucky Lew: Basketball’s First Black Professionalby Chris BoucherWings ePress, Inc.Harry “Bucky” Lew might not have the name recognition of Jackie Robinson. But the two men had something in common: Both broke an unstated color barrier in...

By STEVE PFARRER

As Jay Sefton recalls, it was “a real honor” to be chosen to play Jesus Christ is his Catholic school’s annual production of a Passion Play, the historic theatrical presentation of Christ’s trial, suffering and death.It was 1985, and Sefton, who grew...

By STEVE PFARRER

The Northampton Playwrights Lab’s theater series, following a five-year hiatus, returns next weekend (Nov. 30-Dec. 3) with six productions, in a forum designed to introduce audiences to innovative work being created by several area playwrights.The...

By STEVE PFARRER

As Jay Sefton recalls, it was “a real honor” to be chosen to play Jesus Christ is his Catholic school’s annual production of a Passion Play, the historic theatrical presentation of Christ’s trial, suffering and death.It was 1985, and Sefton, who grew...

By STEVE PFARRER

It’s been a long run — but the finish line is now in view.The Northampton Community Arts Trust building, largely or partly shuttered for most of this year, is poised to reopen, as work to make the final improvements in the 25,000-square-foot building...

By STEVE PFARRER

When staff at the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, in the midst of doing renovations in the basement, came across a tattered but still readable playbill from a concert apparently staged at the property in 1873 — then known simply as the Florence...

By STEVE PFARRER

It’s a modest space, a basement area that’s right next door to one of Northampton’s busiest art centers, the A.P.E. Gallery, and just another door down from an even larger arts space, R. Michelson Galleries.But Rhynia, a new arts and event space in...

By STEVE PFARRER

When “supergroups” first formed in the 1960s after rock stars from different bands teamed up with one another — Cream, Blind Faith, and CSNY were among the first — some became known more for their battles of superstar egos and didn’t stay together...

By STEVE PFARRER

There’s no shortage of theater in the Valley. But how often can you catch two solo productions by women on the same weekend?On Nov. 17, “All Things Equal: The Life & Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” a solo show starring Michelle Azar as the late...

By STEVE PFARRER

L’AllegriaBy Giuseppe UngarettiTranslated by Wally SwistShanti Arts Publishing Valley poet Wally Swist has been little short of prolific in the last several years, publishing a number of new collections and also penning two volumes of essays,...

By STEVE PFARRER

They’ve shared stages with multiple musical performers and other singers, from the Chicago Children’s Choir to students in the celebrated SciTech Band of Springfield to incarcerated men at the Hampshire County House of Corrections.Now the Young@Heart...

By STEVE PFARRER

Paintings that date to the early 1800s. Native American crafts and textiles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Depression-era photographs and ones taken just a few years ago. A quilt that offers interesting commentary on a pop culture topic...

By STEVE PFARRER

In the last few years, a number of music and performing venues in the Valley have embraced the nonprofit model to support the arts, from The Drake in Amherst to the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity in Florence to The Parlor Room in Northampton.Now...

By STEVE PFARRER

Though she was too young to understand many details at the time, Mollye Maxner remembers the Vietnam War had a profound effect on her family. Her father, Steve Maxner, served as a combat medic in the war and endured emotional turmoil from his...

By STEVE PFARRER

Like solo piano? Specifically solo piano from classically trained musicians who have infused their music with lots of other elements, from hip hop to jam band grooves to pop?If that’s the case, next Thursday, Nov. 9, you’ll have a tough choice to...