Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE!
Learn about our Big Read selection here.
See additional events hosted by All Hamptons Read here.
See the Goshen Free Library’s project here.
We are grateful to the NEA Big Read, Arts Midwest, and our partner library system, Montague Public Libraries, for the opportunity to present our three seasons of programming in the three Connecticut River Valley counties from November 2024 to May 2025. Special thanks also to the Springfield Public Forum, The Care Center, All Hamptons Read, and the Great Falls Discovery Center for their support, and to the artists who provided the inspiring array of programming listed below. To all the people who joined us for events, thank you for sharing your enthusiasm and participating in such thoughtful and enriching conversations.
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NOVEMBER 2024
NOVEMBER 3, 2024, 10 am – noon
Clarkdale Fruit Farm, Deerfield, MA
WHAT: NEA BIG READ Book Giveaway
DESCRIPTION: FREE copies of Ross Gay’s Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, our 2024/25 NEA Big Read selection. Learn more about the Big Read here.
WHERE: Clarkdale Fruit Farm, 303 Upper Road, Deerfield, MA
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NOVEMBER 10, 2024, 1-2:30 pm, followed by cider and conversation
Clarkdale Fruit Farm, Deerfield, MA
WHAT: Autumn Orchard Saunter & BIG READ Book Giveaway at
DESCRIPTION: An Autumn Orchard Saunter: Poetry, Presence and and the Power of Place
Enjoy an afternoon saunter through the orchard with writer, educator and songstress Erica Wheeler, kicking off the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association’s National Endowment for the Arts Big Read of Ross Gay’s poetry, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude. This guided experience will include stopping for reflection and conversation about our connections to place. Receive writing prompts and suggestions to capture the moment. Leave feeling more connected to yourself, your place and your community. All are welcome to soak up the creative inspiration! FREE copies of the book available to participants.
WHERE: Clarkdale Fruit Farm, 303 Upper Road, Deerfield, MA
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MARCH 2025
MARCH 1 – MAY 26, 2025
Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls, MA
WHAT: “Cameron Schmitz: Where We Are, Together”
An exhibition of paintings by Greenfield artist, Cameron Schmitz, will be on exhibit in the Great Hall during March through May, 2025. 
DESCRIPTION: While writers use words, Cameron Schmitz uses color and mark-making as her language of expression. She states, “Dashes of paint and gestural strokes tell a story— orchestrated by movement, intuition, and the shifting of time.
As Ross Gay’s poetry holds both joy and sadness at once, Cameron Schmitz is compelled by the emergence of ambiguity, “embracing how a painting can make space for both an understanding of life, and the valuable admission of not knowing. The practice of painting, like the human experience itself, is at times messy, intense, and bewildering. The ability to stay engaged with these uncomfortable moments eventually reward us with a discovery of meaning and the pleasure of astonishment.”
WHERE: Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA
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MARCH 23, 2025, Saturday 1-3:30 pm (pre-registration required)
Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls, MA
WHAT: Haiku Tiny Books with Denise Fontaine-Princince
DESCRIPTION: In this hands-on workshop, Denise Fontaine-Pincince will teach adult participants how to create a ‘Tiny Book’ to showcase a haiku of their choice. Attendees are invited to bring up to five favorite poems to choose from. All book-making materials—leather, denim, papers, paste, paints, and so much more—will be provided. A letter and sample selection of modern day, English language haiku will be emailed to participants prior to the workshop. Sample ‘tiny books’ can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiwT0FXUtMc
WHERE: Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA
Register by calling Carnegie Library at 413-863-3214
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MARCH 29, 2025, Saturday 3-5 pm (brief artist talk at 4:15)
Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls, MA
WHAT: “Cameron Schmitz: Where We Are, Together” Reception
DESCRIPTION: View the exhibit, enjoy refreshments, and meet Cameron Schmitz (brief talk at 4:15)
WHERE: Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA
APRIL 2025
APRIL 5, Saturday, 1-3 pm (No pre-registration required)
Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls, MA
WHAT: Haiku Postcards, family workshop led by poet/artist Denise Fontaine Pincince
DESCRIPTION: In this hands-on workshop for families, Denise Fontaine-Pincince will teach children accompanied by an adult (age 8 and up), and adult participants how to create a haiga (art with haiku) postcard. Poems and all materials will be provided. Sample ‘haiga postcards’ can be viewed here. No pre-registration required.
WHERE: Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA
APRIL 6, Sunday 2-3:30 pm
WHAT: Artist talk by Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude cover artist, Arista Alanis. 
DESCRIPTION: Meet Arista Alanis and hear how her painting “on down the road” became the image used for Ross Gay’s Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude book cover. Traversing the realms of figurative landscape and abstraction, her overall creative process is intricately intertwined with her travels and daily walks. Alanis draws inspiration from particular spots, a moment shared with a dear friend, or an experience from the shapes and colors in a specific location. Her gestural paintings embark on a layered journey through time, employing oil paint as her medium to intuitively convey emotions and sensations. Poetic evocations of Nature and space emerge by discovering brush strokes, slashes of colors, splatters, paint drips, repetitive shapes, and patterns to incite rhythm and movement.
Describing her artwork, Alanis states that it “is not about specific places but about significant moments that ignite a feeling of being alive in the space.” All ages welcome, but geared for adults and teens.
WHERE: Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA
APRIL 10, Thursday 6:30-8 pm (Pre-registration required)
Wistariahurst Museum, Holyoke, MA
WHAT: Where We Live: A Sense of Place Story and Writing Workshop with Erica Wheeler
DESCRIPTION: This 90-minute workshop invites writers of all levels to craft vivid, sensory-rich stories, poems, or songs inspired by personal experiences with place. Through guided prompts and conversation, you’ll uncover fresh perspectives and creative sparks to enrich your writing and deepen your connection to yourself and where you live.
Co-sponsored by PVMA and Montague Public Libraries’ NEA Big Read and Wistariahurst Museum. Workshop participants will be invited to share their writings at a culminating concert with Erica Wheeler and writer’s showcase event celebrating local voices and stories on April 27, from 3-5 pm at the Great Falls Discovery Center.
WHERE: Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA
More details and registration link here.
KEYNOTE EVENT
Ross Gay Reads, Frost Heaves Rock
APRIL 14, Monday 7 pm
Valley-wide FREE VIRTUAL visit with Ross Gay & watch party(s)
WHAT: A Conversation with Ross Gay on Zoom (with Watch Party and After Party in Turners Falls – see below)
DESCRIPTION: Hosted by the Springfield Public Forum and co-sponsored by PVMA and Montague Public Libraries’ NEA Big Read, The Care Center, and All Hamptons Read. Join us for this keynote event, moderated by Matt Donovan, Director of The Boutelle-Day Poetry Center, Smith College, in conversation with Ross Gay, author of our NEA Big Read of Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude.
WHERE: VIRTUAL (registration link below). See below also for a community Watch Party at the Great Falls Discovery Center and After Party at the Rendezvous with The Frostheaves and Daniel Hales in Turners Falls, MA. Let us know if you’d like to plan your own party in other parts of the valley and we’ll help spread the word.
Register for the zoom event here.
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APRIL 14, Monday 7 pm
Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls, MA
WHAT: Community Watch Party—A Conversation with Ross Gay
DESCRIPTION: Join together with friends and neighbors during what promises to be an engaging zoom conversation with Ross Gay–on the big screen at the Great Hall. See below for After Party event at the nearby Rendezvous!
WHERE: Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA
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APRIL 14, Monday 8:30 pm
The Rendezvous, Turners Falls, MA
WHAT: After Party with The Frost Heaves and Hales, in celebration of poetry and our NEA Big Read.
DESCRIPTION: After watching our zoom event (see above) at the Discovery Center or at home, join us for a casual party at the Rendezvous. Poet, teacher, songwriter, and musician Daniel Hales and his band The Frost Heaves & Hales will lead the festivities. Music begins at 8:30 pm. The Rendezvous kitchen will be open for ordering food until 9 pm.
WHERE: The Rendezvous, 78 3rd Street, Turners Falls, MA
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APRIL 16, Wednesday 6:30-8 pm (Pre-registration required)
Coolidge Museum at Forbes Library, Northampton, MA
WHAT: Where We Live: A Sense of Place Story and Writing Workshop with Erica WheelerDESCRIPTION: This 90-minute workshop invites writers of all levels to craft vivid, sensory-rich stories, poems, or songs inspired by personal experiences with place. Through guided prompts and conversation, you’ll uncover fresh perspectives and creative sparks to enrich your writing and deepen your connection to yourself and where you live.
Co-sponsored by PVMA and Montague Public Libraries’ NEA Big Read and All Hamptons Read. Workshop participants will be invited to share their writings at a culminating concert with Erica Wheeler and writer’s showcase event celebrating local voices and stories on April 27, from 3-5 pm at the Great Falls Discovery Center.
WHERE: Coolidge Museum, Forbes Library, 20 West St., Northampton MA
More details and registration link here. Registrations open at 6:30pm Wednesday, March 19.
APRIL 17, Thursday 6:30-8 pm (Pre-registration required)
The Permaculture Place, Shelburne Falls, MA
WHAT: Where We Live: A Sense of Place Story and Writing Workshop with Erica WheelerDESCRIPTION: This 90-minute workshop invites writers of all levels to craft vivid, sensory-rich stories, poems, or songs inspired by personal experiences with place. Through guided prompts and conversation, you’ll uncover fresh perspectives and creative sparks to enrich your writing and deepen your connection to yourself and where you live.
Co-sponsored by PVMA and Montague Public Libraries’ NEA Big Read and The Permaculture Place. Workshop participants will be invited to share their writings at a culminating concert with Erica Wheeler and writer’s showcase event celebrating local voices and stories on April 27, from 3-5 pm at the Great Falls Discovery Center.
WHERE: The Permaculture Place, 49 Conway Street, Shelburne Falls, MA
More details and registration link here.
APRIL 27, Sunday 3-5 pm
Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls, MA
WHAT: Where We Live: Sense of Place Concert and Writers Showcase with Erica Wheeler
FREE COPIES OF “Catalog of Unabasehd Gratitue” to give away!
DESCRIPTION: Singer-songwriter Erica Wheeler will perform a concert of place-based songs and also invite participants from her NEA Big Read workshop series (see April 10, 16, and 17 events above) to share their writings with the audience. The event is free and open to all, refreshments provided. Erica helped us kick off our NEA Big Read with an inspiring Orchard Saunter last November.
Gifted with a beautiful voice, Erica Wheeler is an award-winning singer-songwriter and TEDx speaker. She has worked extensively with the National Park Service and other natural, cultural, and historic sites helping them create compelling visitor programs.
When she paints a landscape with song, she strikes a chord that resonates at a deep emotional level. —Baltimore Woods Nature Center, Marcellus, NY
MAY 2025
MAY 4, Sunday afternoon, 1-4 pm
WHAT: Indigo Dyeing and Shibori Workshop with Gail Callahan
DESCRIPTION: Learn about the art of Shibori and experience the magic of indigo dyeing during this hands-on workshop for adults and children ages six and up accompanied by an adult. This NEA Big Read workshop will celebrate the poem written by Naomi Shihab Nye, “Dear Sky.” Participants will each receive a white cotton square to dye, but are also invited to bring one small natural fiber item to dye if there is room in the dyepot, e.g. a cotton t-shirt or camisole. Instruction and demonstration begins at 1 pm.
WHERE: Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA
