Celebrate New Artworks in Forbes Library's Collection
Reception Saturday, February 4, 2023, 2-3:30 PM

Join us in spotlighting the new artworks by local and regional BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists which we have acquired in the last two years. In 2021, Forbes Library received a $10,000 anonymous donation with the express intent of supporting the library in its desire to diversify its permanent art collection. The Trustees of Forbes Library then matched the gift and appointed a committee to identify potential artists and recommend works of art to acquire for the permanent collection. Committee members identified 10 pieces to purchase. They include paintings, drawings, photographs, and digital art by Ryan Murray, Mike Curato, Grace Lin, Priya N. Green, Alex Callender, Anthony Melting Tallow, and Julius Lester.

We will also be unveiling an original and vibrant watercolor of Sojourner Truth by the great Richard Yarde. Carlie Tartakov will say a few words on behalf of the Committee at the event.

Many of the contemporary artists will attend the reception. We are grateful also to R. Michelson Galleries, Big Red Frame, Robert Floyd Photo Gallery, and everyone who contributed time and knowledge to our research.

We invite everyone to enjoy refreshments in the Reading Room and a self-guided tour of new artworks throughout the building.

Library Programs

Visit our online calendar to see a complete list of library events. Filter using the category "VIRTUAL" to find events that can be attended remotely.

Teen Gaming Lounge
Tuesday, January 31, 2023, 4 pm

Every Tuesday afternoon, teens ages 12+ are invited to play our brand-new Nintendo Switch in the YA Room! We'll have enough controllers for 8 players at a time. Challenge your friends to a Mario Kart race, try out new games, and meet fellow gamers!

This program is for teens only; we'll have a separate game time for players under the age of 12.

VIRTUAL Far Out Film Discussion
Wednesday, February 1, 2023, 8 pm

Far Out Film Discussion will have a zoom meeting to talk about the 2018 drama/comedy Dead Pigs written and directed by Cathy Yan.
Trailer for Dead Pigs

View the film on Kanopy. 

DVD copies of the film will be available in the arts and music department a week before the discussion.

To virtually attend this discussion, join us on Zoom!

VIRTUAL Teen Book Club
Thursday, February 2, 2023, 4:30 pm

Join us for a chat and pick next month's read! This meeting is for teens only and will take place via Zoom; email [email protected] for the meeting link.

This month, we will be discussing When The Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb.

Northampton Literary Society Writing Meet-Up
Thursday, February 2, 2023, 6 pm

Join us in the Forbes Library Watson Room on Thursday nights for some lite socializing, low-stakes sharing, and informal critique - as well as some time writing, of course! We warmly welcome writers of all genres and levels of experience.

Optional preregistration is through Eventbrite, where you’ll also find info on our open mics and other events.

Kids' Gaming Club
Fridays at 4 pm

Every Friday, kids ages 7-12 can join us in the Community Room to hang out with other young gamers and play the library's new Nintendo Switch!

SANE: Support and Accountability for Novel Editing
Saturday, February 4, 2023, 3:30 pm

A group for writers to find support in their writing goals, whatever those may be. Meetings include word sprints, idea collaboration, and general camaraderie. Bring your writing and join us!

Free Diapers

The Northampton Public Schools Early Childhood Center distributes free diapers to families in need. Please contact Mandy Gerry at [email protected] or call the Northampton Public Schools Early Childhood Center office at 413-587-1471 to learn more. Diapers are provided by the United Way Diaper Bank of Hampshire/Franklin County. 

New Virtual Author Talk Series!

Forbes Library is proud to offer a new series of virtual author talks featuring New York Times Best Selling and award winning authors. Each talk includes the opportunity to participate in author Q&A or pre-submit questions during registration.

?A complete list of events, as well as recordings of past events, is available on Forbes Library's virtual author talk series website.? These events will also appear on our events calendar.

Author Talks for this month include:
xkcd WEBCOMIC AND WHAT IF? SERIES CREATOR – Author Talk with Randall Munroe, New York Times bestselling author of What If? and How To and the hugely popular webcomic xkcd – January 31, 2023 at 2 PM.

BACK IN A SPELL – Author Talk with Lana Harper, New York Times bestselling author of Payback's a Witch and From Bad to Cursed – February 9, 2023 at 7 PM.

TASTES LIKE WAR – Author Talk with Grace M. Cho, 2021 National Book Award Finalist and TIME and NPR Best Book of the Year – February 16, 2023 at 1 PM.

In the Hosmer Gallery

Paintings and Digital Art by Sunny Allis, Ella N. Alkiewicz, and Jay Smith

February 1-28, 2023
Artists' Reception February 2, 5:30-7:30 pm

SUNNY ALLIS
The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning

Sunny (they/them) is a non-binary multidisciplinary artist. They studied directing and design for theater at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and received their MFA from California Institute of the Arts in Integrated Media. At Occidental College, the City of Santa Monica, and Kidspace Children’s Museum, among other organizations, they have created several interactive public art installations that take people through imaginary worlds and interactive environments.

In their paintings, Sunny explores consciousness through dynamic motion and playful transformation. They embrace the idea that everything around us is alive and communicating. Sunny uses symbols and abstract maps as a way of orienting oneself in landscapes of the unknown.
https://sunnyallis.com/

ELLA ALKIEWICZ
Labrador Inuk Ella Nathanael Alkiewicz (she/her) is a self-taught artist whose creative practices are intellectualized through a variety of forms, in paintings, digital prints, beaded Orange Shirt pins, and beaded necklaces. Her works are sold and shown, across galleries in Massachusetts: Amherst, Easthampton, Holyoke, Mashpee, South Deerfield, South Hadley, Springfield– and internationally: Istanbul, Toronto, and Varna, Bulgaria. Ella’s artwork serves as a platform for community education and engagement.

She is also a writer and educator with degrees from Salem State University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Lesley University’s low-residency MFA creative writing program. Ella served as an artist-in-residence at Art Workspace Easthampton (AWE) through Easthampton City Arts in early 2022. She lives on the Nonotuck lands with her family while a beneficiary of Nunatsiavut Government of Labrador, Canada.
https://www.ellaalkinuk.com/

JAY SMITH
Jay Smith (they/them) is an illustrator based in Northampton. They have no formal arts education and credit their grandmother Sylvia with teaching them to paint at an early age. Their artwork reconstructs traditional Jewish ritual imagery for a contemporary audience, and draws on historical themes to create protective spells for trans bodies and spirits.

In 2015, Jay was the recipient of the Arts and Healing Network Award for Arts and Social Change. Their work was also displayed in 2016 in partnership with the Amplifier Foundation and the Women’s March on Washington at the Center for Contemporary Art in Seattle. They currently reside in Florence, MA with their partner, Clare, and two fur babies Gene and Charlie.
https://www.mmmjaysmith.com/