71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 413-648-SHEA

Absence | Presence: A memorial and fundraiser in honor of Natalie Dansie Graves

Sunday, May 3, 2026, 4:30 pm until 6:30 pm
A memorial event for Nat Graves, a beloved member of the creative community of Western Mass, will be held on Sunday, May 3rd from 4:30-6:30pm

Donations may be made in Nat’s honor in support of 33 Hawley, a project of the Northampton Community Arts Trust.

Nat moved to Easthampton, MA in 2022 with their spouse, Taylor, where they immediately immersed themselves in many of the vibrant arts communities across the Valley. Nat was a doer and a maker, the kind of person who was just as comfortable building a set or filming a performance as they were stepping into the spotlight. Through uplifting other artists, offering encouragement, support, and organizational skills to many people and projects, Nat became inseparable from the artistic communities that they fostered. Nat was a founding participant in Stomping Grounds Dance Festival (Northampton, MA), A HAPPENING (Great Falls, MA), and Dances in the Orchard (Easthampton, MA), and they also served on the board of the Northampton Community Arts Trust.

Nat’s death leaves a huge hole in our hearts, our community, and our arts ecosystem. While there are no words to capture our grief, we will hold it collectively and keep making weird, wild, and wonderful art together.

Videos and installations of Nat’s artistic contributions will be viewable and interactive in the lobbies of the Shea Theater before a memorial service featuring music from Cloudbelly.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors and Underwriters

Australis Aquaculture • Artisan Beverage Cooperative • Benjamin Company • Berkshire Brewing Company • Cohn and Company Real Estate Agency • Community Credit • Common Capital • Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts • Connecticut River Internists • Dean's Beans • Easthampton Savings Bank • FirstLight GDF Suezna •Gagne Wealth Management Group • Gill Tavern • Gilmore and Farrell Insurance Company • Goff Media • Great Falls Harvest • Green River Festival • Greenfield Community College • Greenfield Cooperative Bank • Greenfield Savings Bank • Loot • Massachusetts Cultural Council • Montague Bookmill • Montague WebWorks • Northeast Solar • People's Pint • Rainmaker Consulting • The Rendezvous • Solar Store of Greenfield • Stobierski and Connor • Told Video • True North Transit • Turn It Up

Exciting News for A Happening V: The Bestiary

Cloudgaze and Eggtooth Productions are thrilled to announce that we have received generous grants from the Mass Cultural Council as well as the Community Foundation of Western MA to support our 2025 Immersive Arts Festival, “A Happening V: The Bestiary.”

This festival will transform the Shea Theater into an exploration of theme, hosting installations, music, theatrical performances, and movement pieces, featuring the collective contributions of over 50 local artists. Audiences will experience otherworldly environments and narratives inspired by Aesop's Fables, George Orwell's Animal Farm, newly imagined cautionary tales, and creature myths of all origins.

Thanks to the Mass Cultural Council for their vital support this year.We'd also like to thank the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts for their support in the form of a Flexible Funding grant. We couldn't do this work without you!