From Feb. 13 - Mar. 14 with an Opening Reception on Feb. 13, 5-7pm. CANDID: Self-Taught Artists from the Pioneer Valley is an exhibit that will feature seven local artists who work in a wide range of media including photography, painting, drawing, assemblage, and sculpture. There are many artists who have taken the path of formalized education for their training, producing outstanding, impressive bodies of work. However, many who also have the tremendous talent and calling for visual art have taken the brave and often isolating pursuit of following their dreams and teaching themselves. In the absence of the classroom, with its rules for creating "good" art, where does an artist turn? Whether observing the work of master artists, or listening closely to their own inner instructions, the seven artists featured in this exhibit--through the beauty and power of their work--demonstrate that there are many ways to follow a dream. The exhibit includes Shahid Al-Bilali, M. J. Alhabeeb, Ras John Bullock, Shawn Farley, Michael O'Bannon, Shirley Whitaker, and Jeanine Young-Mason.

On February 27 at 7pm "The Chinatown Files" brings to the public, for the first time, a story that was classified as secret by the US government for over four decades. Exploring the roots and legacy of the Cold War on the Chinese American community during the 1950s and 1960s, it presents first hand accounts of seven men and women's experiences of being hunted down, jailed and targeted for deportation in America. During McCarthy era witch-hunts, the loyalties of over ten thousand American citizens of Chinese decent were questioned based on their ethnicity and alleged risk to national security. "The Chinatown Files" is a cautionary of paranoia and hysteria that serves as a dramatic and enduring reminder of the fragility of constitutional protections today. As reviewed in the LA Times by Kevin Thomas, "A compelling consciousness-raiser of trenchant artistry, Amy Chen's 'The Chinatown Files' is a superb documentary, a triumph of organization, research and clarity that reveals the horrific impact of the McCarthy era upon the Chinese American community." Admission is free.

For more information, call 545-5177. Augusta Savage Gallery is located in New Africa House near the University Health Services at UMass, Amherst. It is accessible to the physically challenged with an entrance at the rear of the building. Gallery Hours: Mon & Tues 1-7, Wed - Fri 1-5. These programs are funded in part by the University Arts Council.