September 23, 2020
By Dr. John Edwin Mason Author’s Note: This blog post draws heavily on an essay, also called “The Sounds They Saw: Kamoinge and Jazz,” that I wrote for the exhibition catalogue Working Together: Louis Draper and the Kamoinge Workshop. I’m grateful to the photographer Herb Robinson, a member of Kamoinge, for selecting the music that…
April 13, 2020
Whether you’re someone who’s staying home to practice social distancing or someone deemed essential and thereby in need of escape at the end of the work day, movies may be the perfect way to spend your free time right now. Many of us are streaming more than ever before or doing so for the first…
April 7, 2020
If you’re looking for a good book to curl up with while staying home and staying safe, consider one of the following titles recommended by the VMFA Library. Featuring past selections of the VMFA Book Club and previous winners of the Art in Literature: Mary Lynn Kotz Award, this list presents a wide range of…
June 7, 2019
At the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment asks a thought-provoking question: are we really awake and fully aware, or do the clamor and fragmentation of our lives lull us into a kind of waking sleep? The exhibition invites you to pause from the busyness of daily life and…
August 7, 2018
Inspired by Broadway’s Hamilton: An American Musical, VMFA created an original song and video about the exhibition Napoleon: Power and Splendor, now in its final weeks. France’s Napoleon Bonaparte was no Alexander Hamilton, but the two men had much in common. Both men emigrated from small islands in search of opportunity. Both joined the military…
July 23, 2018
At VMFA’s Amuse Restaurant, in celebration of the current exhibition Napoleon: Power and Splendor, Chef de Cuisine Greg Haley’s thoughtful and refined Napoleon-inspired menu ranges from the casual Le Burger to a sumptuous Lobster Thermidor. This week, on the heels of Bastille Day and France’s World Cup victory, Chef Haley added a more down-to-earth, traditional…
July 11, 2018
Though you may not have the opportunity to visit Paris, all it takes is a little imagination and some careful planning to craft a French-inspired staycation that will transport you from the River City to the City of Lights. Here’s your itinerary for a trés French day in RVA. Can Can Brasserie Photos © Can…
February 20, 2018
Juana Straus is an artist. But rather than oil or acrylic, her mediums are sugar and flour. And instead of paintbrushes, her creative tools include whisks and spatulas. Straus is the pastry chef at VMFA’s Amuse Restaurant, where she has worked since it opened in 2010. Her artistry was recently recognized with a nomination for…
April 2, 2015
Espolon Blanc, St. Germain, apricot, orange blossom water, lime, hibiscus, apple wood-smoked sugar rim. Just reading these ingredients suggests beauty and creativity and artistry just brushstrokes away from hanging on a museum wall. However, to see Tyler Harvey, bartender extraordinaire at Amuse, actually mixing the Marguerite (the moniker they’ve given this masterpiece), pouring and splashing, swirling and shaking, you’re…
February 6, 2015
VMFA is showcasing African American artists in honor of Black History Month. “The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is dedicated to representing African American artists throughout the entire year,” Director Alex Nyerges says. “We are honored to join in the nation’s celebration of African American history and the cultural arts.” VMFA is not only celebrating…
