Recurring Events
Thursday Jazz Café
Groove to an eclectic mix of jazz ensembles every Thursday, 6 – 9 p.m., at VMFA’s Best Café. The Jazz Café is presented to the public by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, in conjunction with the Richmond Jazz Society, free of charge! Light fare and beverages available for sale. Artists subject to change.
Friday Art & Wine
Now you have more reasons to hang out at VMFA on Friday nights! Head to the museum and enjoy discounted beverages and free half-hour gallery tours at 7 and 7:30 pm. On the first Friday of each month, check out our First Fridays entertainment, too.
First Fridays: Performing Arts
The First Fridays series features an eclectic mix of multicultural performing arts showcased in different spaces within the museum. Take advantage of extended hours on Friday evenings (open until 9 pm) to also stroll through the galleries, explore the VMFA Shop, or enjoy dinner and drinks in Amuse Restaurant or Friday Art & Wine at Best Café.
Second Fridays: Wine Tasting
Taste different wines from around the world as Tony Karabaich, Amuse Restaurant Service Manager, pours his choices of interesting wines-reds, whites, sparkling, and more. Refine your palate and learn about different wines and winemaking regions from a variety of wine experts, who will be available for discussion and questions. Also enjoy discounted beverages and guided tours as part of Friday Art & Wine.
Third Fridays: Tango After Work
Join in the fun and exotic beauty of the tango with Richmond’s tango community, while enjoying the food and social atmosphere in Best Café. You can also take advantage of half-price beverages as part of Friday Art & Wine.
Fourth Fridays: Meet Up with Art
Connect with newcomers to Richmond and those new to the arts scene as you make new social and professional contacts. You’ll enjoy delicious café cuisine as well as discounted beverages and guided art tours as part of Friday Art & Wine.
Walk-In Highlights Tours
Mon – Wed: 1 p.m., 3 p.m.
Thurs – Fri: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m.
Sat – Sun: 11 a.m., 2 p.m.
SEPTEMBER
September 4
Jazz Café: Forte Jazz Trio
6-9 p.m. | Best Café
Smooth and jazzy standards and original music with Brian Pinner on saxophone, Pete Jaymes Ford on piano, and Darryl Rawlings on drums.
September 5
First Friday: Adult Storytelling with Slash Coleman
6-8 p.m. | Atrium
Often compared to author David Sedaris, Coleman is also the Psychology Today personal perspectives blogger and an advice columnist at howdoidate.com. Come enjoy an evening with Slash as he performs stories from his bestselling memoir “The Bohemian Love Diaries”. Infused with southern charm, these irresistibly weird and wonderful stories chronicle the author’s upbringing in Richmond during the 70’s and 80’s in a warped but warmhearted household of eccentric artists. Slash lives in New York City where he performs and writes new material for the stage, film, and television.
September 7
Beyond the Walls & Open Studio Sunday
Noon – 4 p.m. | Ribbon cutting at 12:15, Memorial Foundation for Children Teaching Gallery in the MWV Art Education Center, Free
Join us for the opening of Beyond the Walls, an interactive exhibition for visitors of all ages to explore daily life in imperial China through activities that include writing Chinese characters on a touch screen, designing personal virtual seals and more! Explore the new exhibition and come by the studios to participate in art activities inspired by Chinese artwork from the VMFA collection and a lantern-making workshop hosted by 1708 Gallery. Bring the lanterns you create to the Community Lantern Parade to kick off InLight Richmond on November 21 in and around Monroe Park.
September 9
3 in 30: Official War Artists: Recruited to Record
11 – 11:30 a.m., or Sep 11, 6:30 – 7 pm | Meet at Visitor Services Desk
Free
During World War I, participating governments often commissioned artists to create pictorial records of the war for propaganda or commemorative purposes. This talk will consider the privileges and challenges of the official War Artist role by exploring three prints on display in the exhibition THE GREAT WAR: Printmakers of World War I that evoke firsthand experiences of the global conflict.
September 10 – October 1
War in Art
Wednesdays, 1 – 2:30 p.m. | Conference Suite & Galleries
$90 (VMFA members $75)
War has been the subject of countless works of art over the millennia. Drawing upon works from VMFA’s permanent collection as well as the VMFA exhibition The Great War: Printmakers of WWI, this course surveys the ways in which artists have contributed to the memory of military conflict — from ancient epics to World War I. There is a special focus on those who pulled double-duty as both artist and soldier, such as Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood.
September 11
Jazz Café: Royce Campbell Trio
6-9 p.m. | Best Café
Jazz standards in a mainstream jazz style with national recording artist Royce Campbell on guitar, Bob Bowen on bass, and Kevin Gaines on drums.
3 in 30: Official War Artists: Recruited to Record
6:30 – 7 p.m. | Meet at Visitor Services Desk
Free
During World War I, participating governments often commissioned artists to create pictorial records of the war for propaganda or commemorative purposes. This talk will consider the privileges and challenges of the official War Artist role by exploring three prints on display in the exhibition THE GREAT WAR: Printmakers of World War I that evoke firsthand experiences of the global conflict.
September 11 & 18
Arts of South Africa: A Cauldron of the 20th Century
Thursdays, 6:30 – 8 p.m. | Conference Suite & Galleries
$45 (VMFA members $35)
This two-part class surveys the historic arts of southern Africa. The first session focuses on the dazzling art of the Zulu and Ndebele peoples. In the second session, students examine artistic responses to South Africa’s intense social and political conflicts during the 20th century, the key role of Zulu leaders in opposing apartheid, and developments during the 20 years — the Mandela years — since the first free elections in 1994.
September 12
Teen Drawing Club: Understanding Value
5 – 6:30 p.m. | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8)
Explore the galleries and boost drawing skills associated with different art movements, styles, and cultures. Led by artist Cheryl Dillard and designed for teenagers enrolled in middle or high school, monthly sessions include demos, art talks, and independent instruction to accommodate both beginning and accomplished artists. In this session, focus on the use of tints and shades to create depth and dramatic contrast.
September 13
Celebrate Latin American Art: Colombia!
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | VMFA Atrium & Sculpture Garden
Free
Enjoy learning the traditions of Colombian culture by making your own active volcano (inspired by Colombia’s 15 volcanoes), designing and weaving a traditional arhuaca artisan bag, and sculpting a zoomorphic gold figure inspired by VMFA’s Pre-Columbian collection. Children and adults alike can join in the Fight Against Cancer by participating in Nueva Vida’s annual Zumbathon at the event. You’ll also be able to pick up some Cumbia and salsa dance tips.
September 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, October 1
Young @ Art: I Am an Artist
Ages 2 ½–5, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Tuesdays or Wednesdays, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
Explore the meaning of artistic expression while creating imaginative masterpieces inspired by artwork in the galleries. Innovative art lessons inspire your child’s imagination and creativity. Join “Ms. Lori” for hands-on activities—with new art projects introduced weekly—along with exciting gallery tours, entertaining stories, exploratory puzzles, and movement games.
September 16 – November 4
The Arts of China
Tuesdays, 1 – 2:30 p.m. | Conference Suite & Galleries
$180 (VMFA members $160)
Discover the rich artistic heritage of China — from ancient tomb sculptures to masterpieces of the imperial court. This eight-session course explores the history of art in China as a prelude to the upcoming exhibition Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures from the Palace Museum, Beijing, which features nearly 200 artworks and artifacts from the emperor’s palace. The course places special attention on the political, social, and other factors that led to the artistic and cultural renaissance during China’s Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties (1644-1911), giving students the opportunity to learn about the hidden world behind the walls of the Forbidden City. Cost includes admission to Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures from the Palace Museum, Beijing.
September 17 & 24 & October 1
Teen Evenings in the Studio: Figures & Proportion
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. (3 sessions) | Meet in the Pauley Center Lobby
$65 (VMFA members $59)
Enhance your skills in figure drawing and visual interpretation; depict proper proportions, foreshortening, and depth in detailed illustrations. Focus on your favorite style, medium, or technique in these innovative classes, reserved for students enrolled in middle or high school. This experience will help you to develop works for a college portfolio, grow creatively, and explore self-expression.
September 18
Tots of Art: “A” is for Animals
Ages 14-30 months, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Thursday, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
See animals in art throughout the museum! Explore paintings and sculptures, mimic sounds, and go wild over art materials.Captivate your toddler and stimulate his or her budding curiosity! Tots of Art fosters growing mobility and introduces children to new sensory and fine motor experiences that only the VMFA campus and studio can provide. In this exciting program, children and caregivers play and bond through singing and movement activities, exploratory art lessons, and stroller tours. To determine if this class is developmentally suited for your child, please contact Lori Valente Coffey at (804) 340.1343.
Book Club: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
5:30 – 7 p.m. | Conference Room 1
$8 (VMFA members $5)
Set in 19th century China, this novel tells the tale of a girl named Lily, who is paired with a laotong (“old same”) named Snow Flower. A girl’s relationship with her laotong is even more important than her relationship with her husband, and they are expected to be best friends for life. Often forced to communicate in a secret language written on fans, the two girls grow very close, despite their differences and the challenges that face them as they grow up together. When a misunderstanding arises and danger descends upon them, their loyalty to each other is tested. Will their friendship survive? Join VMFA staff for this look at Chinese art and culture.
Jazz Café: Jim Branch
6-9 p.m. | Best Café
Vocal blues and jazz favorites from Jim Branch, one of Richmond’s jazz pioneers with Dr. Weldon Hill on piano, Joe Sarver on bass, and Dave and Mike Hoggard on drums and percussion.
September 20
Teen Saturdays in the Studio: Online Art Show
1 – 4 p.m. | Art Education Center
$25 (VMFA members $22)
Create an art show, and publish it online the same day. Whether you already have a website or aren’t sure where to start, you’ll benefit from the professional insight and guidance gained here.
September 25 – October 16
Architectural Literacy
Thursdays, 1 – 2 p.m. | Conference Suite & Galleries
$75 (VMFA members $60)
For architects, interior designers, contractors, old-house buffs, remodelers, realtors, and anybody who wants to know more about traditional architecture, this course covers design and construction details as well as ancient precedents for familiar architectural motifs. Using both famous and ordinary examples, with many from Richmond, this class explores why classical buildings — ancient and modern — look the way they do.
September 25
Artsy Infants: It All Makes Sense
Ages 3-13 months, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Thursday, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
Our five senses help us discover the world. In the galleries and studios, babies use their senses while playing with instruments, texture samples, and more! It’s never too soon to introduce your infant to art! Led by Lori Valente Coffey, this unique studio program fosters sensory stimulation during the early stages of growth and development. Enjoy inspirational stroller tours, playtime learning, and experimenting with art supplies (safe for babies). To determine if this class is developmentally suited for your child, please contact Lori Valente Coffey at (804) 340.1343.
After School Art Club: Inside/Out
Ages 5 – 8, enrollment limit: 18
4:15 – 6 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 (VMFA members $18) per class
Explore the collection and observe the architectural and landscape elements found on the museum grounds. While looking outside, make sketches and then turn drawings into watercolor paintings in the studio.Let your imagination soar in the studio as you make original works of art inspired by objects in the museum. Sign up for one or more of these fun and creative workshops led by Lori Valente Coffey. Special Offer: Register for five classes in After-School Art Club and get the sixth class free! Available only by phone at 804.340.1405.
Jazz Café: Neal Bowens Project
6-9 p.m. | Best Café
Smooth jazz and neo soul with Neal Bowens on alto sax, Thurman Hargrove on keyboards, Scotty Chambers on bass, Romar Freeman on guitar, and Glen Jones on drums.
September 25, October 2, 9
Foundations in Art
Ages 9–12, enrollment limit: 12
Thursdays, 4:15–6 p.m. (3 sessions) | Art Education Center
$65 (VMFA members $59) per class
In the galleries, discover artists who use everything from horses to tigers as inspiration. Then practice drawing animals and learn to create forms and the illusion of texture. Imagine, create, and grow as an emerging young artist while making original artworks inspired by gallery observations and innovative materials. Through technical guidance and encouragement, students build their confidence, talents, and love of art.
September 26
How…do you apply for a VMFA Fellowship?
1 – 2 p.m. | Founder’s Conference Room
Established in 1940, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Visual Arts’ Fellowship Program is a vital source of funding for professional artists, and art and art history students in Virginia. With the application deadline approaching on Friday, November 7 (5 p.m.), this program informs those interested in a Fellowship about how to apply.
September 27
Kids Discover . . . : Ancient Artifacts
Ages 6–9, enrollment limit: 16
1–4 p.m. | Art Education Center
$25 (VMFA members $22) per class
Imagine living in Egypt 5,000 years ago. What items would you have used in everyday life? Apply basic sculpting methods to replicate objects used by the ancient Egyptians.
OCTOBER
October 2
Tots of Art: “B” is for Boat
Ages 14-30 months, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Thursday, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
Ahoy toddlers! Imagine you are on a boat in one of VMFA’s seascapes and sail through the galleries, feeling the wind and hearing the waves. Explore paints and colors from the sea in the studio.Captivate your toddler and stimulate his or her budding curiosity! Tots of Art fosters growing mobility and introduces children to new sensory and fine motor experiences that only the VMFA campus and studio can provide. In this exciting program, children and caregivers play and bond through singing and movement activities, exploratory art lessons, and stroller tours. To determine if this class is developmentally suited for your child, please contact Lori Valente Coffey at (804) 340.1343.
After School Art Club: Paint Party
Ages 5 – 8, enrollment limit: 18
4:15 – 6 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 (VMFA members $18) per class
Learn about fundamental drawing techniques. Practice sketching and shading techniques and experiment with different drawing media.Let your imagination soar in the studio as you make original works of art inspired by objects in the museum. Sign up for one or more of these fun and creative workshops led by Lori Valente Coffey. Special Offer: Register for five classes in After-School Art Club and get the sixth class free! Available only by phone at 804.340.1405.
Teacher Workshop: The Great War That Didn’t End All Wars
4:30–7 p.m. | Conference Room 1 and Galleries
$20 (VMFA members $18)
“The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells” wrote poet Wilfred Owen about the sounds he heard during World War I. This workshop, which includes profiles of selected writers, including Owen, who served during this bloody conflict, incorporates primary source images, documents, poetry, and maps that reveal how profoundly this war changed the world. Participants will also explore the VMFA exhibition The Great War: Printmakers of World War I, on view through November 11, 2014.
October 3
Friday Family Art Night: Fused Glass Designs
5 – 7 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 per child/adult pair (VMFA members $18)
Recommended for children ages 5 – 12 | Discover objects made of glass in the galleries. Then return to the studio to create your own colorful design, with adults working closely with children to cut and arrange actual pieces of glass. Note: After the instructor carefully fires the glass, artwork will be ready for pick-up by Fri., Oct. 17.
October 5
Open Studio Sunday
1 – 4 p.m., free | Art Education Center
All ages, children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult Make Open Studio Sundays part of your family routine! Come by the studios anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. to enjoy “make-it, take-it” art activities inspired by objects from the VMFA collection. A new art project offered every month, with assistance from VMFA volunteers.
October 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29
Young @ Art: Doodle Bug Basics
Ages 2 ½–5, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Tuesdays or Wednesdays, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
Learn about the parts of art — lines, shapes, colors, and textures — and learn how to make what you imagine! Innovative art lessons inspire your child’s imagination and creativity. Join “Ms. Lori” for hands-on activities—with new art projects introduced weekly—along with exciting gallery tours, entertaining stories, exploratory puzzles, and movement games!
October 7 & 9
3 in 30: From China to Rome: The Silk Road
11 – 11:30 a.m., or Oct 9, 6:30 – 7 p.m. | Meet at Visitor Services Desk
Free
The Silk Road was a network of trade routes that connected China in the East and Rome in the West. Explore objects from rich caravan cities in this journey from East to West; and discuss some of the key stops and goods that were traded along the Silk Road.
October 8 – November 12
The Middle Ages in France
Wednesdays, 2 – 3 p.m. | Pauley Center Parlor
$90 (VMFA members $75)
In spite of endemic warfare and social unrest that the ruling powers were never able to address, France grew to be recognized as the undisputed center of arts and culture in Europe and the world during the Middle Ages. This course explores the rise of the Romanesque and the Gothic artistic movements and looks at how the visual arts reflected and shaped a culture that was by turns gracious and sophisticated, violent and barbarous. Students learn about the grand cathedrals with their extraordinary sculptures and glass, beautiful manuscripts painted for kings and queens, and the precious decorative arts that wielded sacred and secular power.
October 9
Tots of Art: “C” is for Color
Ages 14-30 months, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Thursday, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
See what happens when colors are mixed and blended. While experimenting with paint and modeling clay, your budding artist will get messy with colors! Captivate your toddler and stimulate his or her budding curiosity! Tots of Art fosters growing mobility and introduces children to new sensory and fine motor experiences that only the VMFA campus and studio can provide. In this exciting program, children and caregivers play and bond through singing and movement activities, exploratory art lessons, and stroller tours. To determine if this class is developmentally suited for your child, please contact Lori Valente Coffey at (804) 340.1343.
After School Art Club: Paint Party
Ages 5 – 8, enrollment limit: 18
4:15 – 6 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 (VMFA members $18) per class
After viewing impressionist painting techniques in the galleries, practice creating these splashes of color, globs of paints, quick brushstrokes, and vibrant colors in the studio.Let your imagination soar in the studio as you make original works of art inspired by objects in the museum. Sign up for one or more of these fun and creative workshops led by Lori Valente Coffey. Special Offer: Register for five classes in After-School Art Club and get the sixth class free! Available only by phone at 804.340.1405.
The VMFA Commission: A Conversation with artist Esther Mahlangu
6 – 7 p.m. | Leslie Cheek Theater
$8 (VMFA members, $5)
In early September, renowned South African artist, Esther Mahlangu, will commence the creation of two large paintings for the VMFA collection. Commissioned by the museum, these nine by fifteen foot works will be painted in Mahlangu’s distinctive Ndebele style will provide a dramatic visual gateway to the collection of African art displayed in the VMFA Dominion Resources Gallery. In this conversation, museum curator Richard Woodward will engage in dialogue about the commission with the artist. Grace Masango, a member of the artist’s team for this project will also participate in the dialogue and serve as translator.
October 10
Teen Drawing Club: Interpretation & Design
5 – 6:30 p.m. | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8)
Explore the galleries and boost drawing skills associated with different art movements, styles, and cultures. Led by artist Cheryl Dillard and designed for teenagers enrolled in middle or high school, monthly sessions include demos, art talks, and independent instruction to accommodate both beginning and accomplished artists. In this session, focus on creative explorations and symbols inspired by Ryan McGinness: Studio Visit.
October 11
Kids Discover . . . : Art Without Limits
Ages 6–9, enrollment limit: 16
1–4 p.m. | Art Education Center
$25 (VMFA members $22) per class
Experiment with nontraditional applications in drawing and painting. Activities include gesture drawings, abstract renderings, and a variety of other ways to use your creativity!
October 15, 22, 29
Teen Evenings in the Studio: Selfie Studio
Wednesdays, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. (3 sessions) | Meet in the Pauley Center Lobby
$65 (VMFA members $59)
Expand your creativity while shrinking your art . . . literally! Combine portraiture with Shrinky Dinks® art, photography, and graphic design — a mixed-media studio class all about you. Focus on your favorite style, medium, or technique in these innovative classes, reserved for students enrolled in middle or high school. This experience will help you to develop works for a college portfolio, grow creatively, and explore self-expression.
October 16
Artsy Infants: Music Makers
Ages 3-13 months, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Thursday, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
Watch what happens when your baby experiments with new sounds. Stroll through the galleries to see musical instruments in art, and then return to the studio and enjoy the experience of creating a musically inspired work of your own. It’s never too soon to introduce your infant to art! Led by Lori Valente Coffey, this unique studio program fosters sensory stimulation during the early stages of growth and development. Enjoy inspirational stroller tours, playtime learning, and experimenting with art supplies (safe for babies). To determine if this class is developmentally suited for your child, please contact Lori Valente Coffey at (804) 340.1343.
After School Art Club: 2D or Not 2D?
Ages 5 – 8, enrollment limit: 18
4:15 – 6 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 (VMFA members $18) per class
Investigate different textures and materials in 2D and 3D works of abstract art. With everyday materials, build your own abstract form and then apply various textures for added dimension. Let your imagination soar in the studio as you make original works of art inspired by objects in the museum. Sign up for one or more of these fun and creative workshops led by Lori Valente Coffey. Special Offer: Register for five classes in After-School Art Club and get the sixth class free! Available only by phone at 804.340.1405.
October 16, 23, 30
Foundations in Art
Ages 9–12, enrollment limit: 12
Thursdays, 4:15–6 p.m. (3 sessions) | Art Education Center
$65 (VMFA members $59) per class
Learn techniques for making 3D mosaics by creating a flowerpot. Then create “grout blobs,” using sand and cement, for use as stepping stones. Imagine, create, and grow as an emerging young artist while making original artworks inspired by gallery observations and innovative materials. Through technical guidance and encouragement, students build their confidence, talents, and love of art.
October 17
Mary Lynn Kotz Award for Art in Literature
6 – 7 p.m. | Pauley Center Parlor
$8 (VMFA members $5)
The Mary Lynn Kotz Award for Art in Literature recognizes an outstanding book that is written primarily in response to a work (or works) of art while also showing the highest literary merit, in and of itself, as a creative or scholarly work. Join us for a lecture by this year’s award winner, followed by a wine and cheese reception and a book signing. The award is co-sponsored by the Library of Virginia and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
October 23
Artsy Infants: Color Me Glad
Ages 3-13 months, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Thursday, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
Learn why bright colors are better than pretty pastels for your baby’s eyes. Play with colored instruments, view vibrant paintings in the galleries, and create a colorful work of art. You’ll be amazed at your baby’s wide-eyed responses! It’s never too soon to introduce your infant to art! Led by Lori Valente Coffey, this unique studio program fosters sensory stimulation during the early stages of growth and development. Enjoy inspirational stroller tours, playtime learning, and experimenting with art supplies (safe for babies). To determine if this class is developmentally suited for your child, please contact Lori Valente Coffey at (804) 340.1343.
After School Art Club: Greek Creations
Ages 5 – 8, enrollment limit: 18
4:15 – 6 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 (VMFA members $18) per class
Use an ancient Greek amphora, created centuries ago, for inspiration to create your own original vase with air-dry clay and paint. Let your imagination soar in the studio as you make original works of art inspired by objects in the museum. Sign up for one or more of these fun and creative workshops led by Lori Valente Coffey. Special Offer: Register for five classes in After-School Art Club and get the sixth class free! Available only by phone at 804.340.1405
October 25
Teen Saturdays in the Studio: Chinese Prints & Plants
1 – 4 p.m. | Art Education Center
$25 (VMFA members $22)
Learn how to design a lino block inspired by stunning Chinese plant symbols and characters and create a series of prints.
October 25-26
Trunk Show: Tanya Tyree: Virginia Raku Clay Artist
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | VMFA Shop
Inspired by many contemporary artists such as Chagall, Matisse, Picasso, and Klimt as well as African, Asian, and Islamic art forms, Tanya Tyree incises her raku-fired clay sculptures, vessels, decorative objects, wall art, and jewelry with abstract drawings that reveal their own mystery, sweet spirit, and mood. Tyree, who is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, conceptualizes and hand builds her pieces from flat slabs of clay, using copper and colored glazes to produce unexpected hues and tones in each work.
October 30
After School Art Club: Woven Wonders
Ages 5 – 8, enrollment limit: 18
4:15 – 6 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 (VMFA members $18) per class
Learn about stories depicted in VMFA’s European tapestries and experience the history and technique of this textured art form by weaving an original work of art. Let your imagination soar in the studio as you make original works of art inspired by objects in the museum. Sign up for one or more of these fun and creative workshops led by Lori Valente Coffey. Special Offer: Register for five classes in After-School Art Club and get the sixth class free! Available only by phone at 804.340.1405.
Teacher Workshop: China: Silk, Dragons—and the Great Wall
4:30 –7 p.m. | Main Building Conference Room 1 and Forbidden City Exhibition
$38 (VMFA members $18)
This workshop focuses on connections with Chinese culture for the elementary classroom. Participants will investigate the Great Wall, silk and the life cycle of the silk worm, the symbolism of dragons in Chinese culture, visit the special exhibition Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures from Palace Museum, Beijing, and create painted silk wall decorations.
An Imperial Imagination
6:30 – 7:30 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
$8 (VMFA members $5)
Join Dr. Nancy Berliner, Wu Tung Curator of Chinese Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, for a talk that explores the Forbidden City’s Qianlong Garden. Designed inside and out by the Qianlong Emperor, the garden contains 26 buildings and pavilions, and is a thrilling manifestation of this emperor’s visual imagination. One of the world’s greatest art connoisseurs, the 18th century Qianlong Emperor collected a myriad of ancient masterpieces but also relished his privileged opportunity to work with the finest artists and artisans to design and create all manner of inspired objects. With a deep knowledge of Chinese artistic traditions and a hungry interest in European aesthetics and styles, he and his workers produced extraordinary porcelains, trompe-l’oeil murals, and fantastical garden estates, the likes of which had never before been seen in China.
NOVEMBER
November 1
Kids Discover . . . : Inspired by China
Ages 6–9, enrollment limit: 16
1–4 p.m.
$25 (VMFA members $22) per class
After exploring hidden treasures from China, paint your own unique designs on silk, patterns on ceramics, and scenes on scrolls.
November 2
Open Studio Sunday
1 – 4 p.m., free | Art Education Center
All ages, children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult
Make Open Studio Sundays part of your family routine! Come by the studios anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. to enjoy “make-it, take-it” art activities inspired by objects from the VMFA collection. A new art project offered every month, with assistance from VMFA volunteers.
November 3-8
Trunk Show: Frankie Slaughter, Virginia Textile & Jewelry Artist
Museum hours | VMFA Shop
An internationally known mixed-media artist who divides her time between Richmond, VA, and Hong Kong, Frankie Slaughter bridges East and West with her one-of-a-kind textile jackets and jewelry. Approaching each design as a creative journey with no preconceived destination, Slaughter allows her keen eye and artistry to guide her as she combines layers of texture, color, and pattern, as if creating a painting or collage, and weaves ancient traditions with new experiences.
November 4 & 6
3 in 30: China and Silver: Content and Form
11 – 11:30 a.m., or Nov 6, 6:30 – 7 p.m. | Meet at Visitor Services Desk
Free
Discover the details that uncover the Chinese roots of select works from the Gans Collection of English Silver.
November 5
Fine Arts and Flowers Gala Preview
7 – 10 p.m.
$125 per person
At the Gala Preview, see the 78 floral/art displays located throughout the museum galleries before anyone else! Held in the Marble Hall, which will be transformed into a Chinese garden, the Birds in a Garden Paradise Gala will feature select wines, food, and live music and complement VMFA’s extraordinary Forbidden City exhibition. Cocktail or traditional Chinese attire suggested.
November 6
Lecture by Ian Prosser
10 a.m. | Leslie Cheek Theater
$35 per person (group discounts available, call Group Sales at 804.340.1575)
Learn from internationally acclaimed floral designer for Presidents Clinton and Bush, Ian Prosser, as he creates lush arrangements and entertains the audience with intriguing stories of his experiences.
Fine Arts and Flowers: Edible Flowers
3 p.m.
$35 per person
This popular repeat event overlooking the Sculpture Garden features tastings of savories and sweets creatively incorporating edible flowers. Prepared and presented by Amuse’s chef Greg Haley, these tastings are accompanied by wine and floral teas.
November 6-7
Trunk Show: Judith Ligon: Virginia Polymer Clay Jewelry Artist
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | VMFA Shop
This gifted, juried artist has been creating polymer clay jewelry for a decade, and it shows. Each of her pieces is a handmade one-of-a-kind creation. Judith’s dedication to detail and wonderful appetite for color combine to create patterns that will dazzle any botanical enthusiast. When asked about her inspiration, she recently replied, “Nature has always been my muse, with its multitude of patterns, shapes and colors.” Her delicate, yet playful, designs capture attention and are sure to mesmerize.
Fine Arts and Flowers Luncheon
Noon – 1 p.m.
$35 per person
After the floral designer lectures, enjoy three-course luncheons with a select menu, wine, and vegetarian or gluten-free options while Council members informally model jewelry and accessories from the VMFA Shop.
November 6-8
Art Education Association’s 2014 Annual Conference
The Virginia Art Education Association’s 2014 Annual Conference will take place Nov. 6 – 8. The conference’s Friday evening event will be held on Nov.7 at VMFA and will include visits for participants to Forbidden City as well as a reception in the Marble Hall.
November 6-9
Fine Arts and Flowers Docent Tours
$10 per person
Docent-led tours offer selected highlights of the exhibition with a discussion of the art and floral arrangement at each preselected stop.
November 6 & 13
Art Crimes
Thursdays, 1 – 2:30 p.m. | Pauley Center Conference Room
$45 (VMFA members $35)
Art crime is currently the third-highest grossing criminal enterprise worldwide. This multibillion dollar global industry has a destructive impact on world cultures as well as the world of legitimate art collecting. In this two-part seminar, participants learn about the four major types of art crime – theft, forgery, fakes, and looting – famous examples of each, and international efforts for repatriation.
November 7
Lecture by Laura Dowling
10 a.m. | Leslie Cheek Theater
$35 per person (group discounts available, call Group Sales at 804.340.1575)
Current head floral designer for the White House, Laura Dowling, teaches about her magnificent open French style, while demonstrating her style of floral arrangement.
James River Short Films/Video Competition
6:30 p.m. | Leslie Cheek Theater
$8 (VMFA and JRFS members $5)
Cutting edge, conventional, digital, experimental, animation, fiction, non-fiction–view the best, most current short videos/films (30 minutes or less) in this juried competition from the James River Film Society. Finalists selected from entries sent from all over North America. Filmmaker/screenwriter Megan Holley will judge and award about $2000 in cash prizes. Many filmmakers will be present for comments and Q&A. jamesriverfilm.org
November 8
Flowers in Fashion
Noon | Marble Hall
$40 per person
VCU students model designs by their Merchandising and Fashion Design counterparts, while participants enjoy a select, three-course menu, including vegetarian or gluten-free options, and wine. This event also includes door prizes!
Flower Arranging 101
10 a.m. & 2 p.m. | Art Education Center
$30 per person
Local designer and humorist David Pippen demonstrates the ins and outs of successful design for simpler venues. Participants create an arrangement that they can take home.
November 9
Golden Ginger Brunch
Noon | Claiborne Robertson Room
$35 per person
Overlooking the Sculpture Garden, this brunch features delicious breakfast and luncheon choices and a Golden Ginger Sparkler as guests arrive. A PowerPoint presentation, “The Museum is Green,” will show VMFA’s efforts to create, maintain, and improve VMFA’s green spaces in an urban location.
November 11, 12, 18, 19
Young @ Art: I Am an Artist
Ages 2 ½–5, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Tuesdays or Wednesdays, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
Delve into the world of value! Create shimmering, light-filled, and contrasting works of your own. Innovative art lessons inspire your child’s imagination and creativity. Join “Ms. Lori” for hands-on activities—with new art projects introduced weekly—along with exciting gallery tours, entertaining stories, exploratory puzzles, and movement games!
November 13
Tots of Art: “E” is for Elephant
Ages 14-30 months, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Thursday, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
Explore art from South Asia. Sing and stomp like elephants! Back in the studio, mix paints to create your own shade to match the elephants.Captivate your toddler and stimulate his or her budding curiosity! Tots of Art fosters growing mobility and introduces children to new sensory and fine motor experiences that only the VMFA campus and studio can provide. In this exciting program, children and caregivers play and bond through singing and movement activities, exploratory art lessons, and stroller tours. To determine if this class is developmentally suited for your child, please contact Lori Valente Coffey at (804) 340.1343.
After School Art Club: Face to Face
Ages 5 – 8, enrollment limit: 18
Thursday, 4:15 – 6 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 (VMFA members $18) per class
After exploring the connection between Picasso’s cubist portraits and African figurative sculptures, look in a mirror and create an artwork in your own image! Let your imagination soar in the studio as you make original works of art inspired by objects in the museum. Sign up for one or more of these fun and creative workshops led by Lori Valente Coffey. Special Offer: Register for five classes in After-School Art Club and get the sixth class free! Available only by phone at 804.340.1405.
Teacher Workshop: The Forbidden City and the Son of Heaven
4:30–7 pm |Conference Room 1 and Galleries
$38 (VMFA members $18)
The Forbidden City, the great walled enclave within the city of Beijing, was the residence of the Chinese imperial family and the center of Chinese government for more than 500 years. The palace complex, which served 24 Ming and Qing emperors, embodies the central components of Chinese culture though its location, structure, organization, decoration, and artifacts. This workshop, designed for upper level history, humanities, and English classes, examines the flow of Chinese history through the symbols, objects, and information on view in the special exhibition Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures from Palace Museum, Beijing. Participants will visit the exhibition and receive related resources, timelines, and project ideas.
Paul Mellon Lecture: Degas/Cassatt: The Art of Collaboration
With Kimberly Jones, Associate Curator of French Paintings at the National Gallery of Art
6:30 p.m. | Leslie Cheek Theater
Free and open to the public; advance tickets required
Like the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the National Gallery has been the beneficiary of a large number of French artworks from Paul Mellon. These include paintings and sculpture by Edgar Degas and paintings by Degas’ close friend, Mary Cassatt. This lecture examines the extent to which Mary Cassatt influenced the work of her contemporary Edgar Degas. Edgar Degas’s influence upon Mary Cassatt has long been acknowledged, but her role in shaping his artistic production and in preparing the way for his warm reception in America is fully examined for the first time. These two major figures of the impressionist movement shared a keen observer’s eye, as well as an openness to experimentation. Despite differences of gender and nationality, they built a deep friendship based on mutual respect and admiration for each other’s talents.
November 14
Twelve Views of Virginia Gallery talk
With artist Miwako Nishizawa
3 p.m., Meet at the Visitor Services Desk
Free, no reservations required
Join Japanese artist Miwako Nishizawa as she discusses her Twelve Views of Virginia print project on display in the VMFA galleries. This multi-year project was commissioned by collectors Rene and Carolyn Balcer and includes images of many notable sites around the State of Virginia including Monticello in Charlottesville, Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Natural Bridge, and Colonial Williamsburg.
Teen Drawing Club: Attention to Detail
5 – 6:30 p.m. | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8)
Explore the galleries and boost drawing skills associated with different art movements, styles, and cultures. Led by artist Cheryl Dillard and designed for teenagers enrolled in middle or high school, monthly sessions include demos, art talks, and independent instruction to accommodate both beginning and accomplished artists. In this session, focus on depicting detailed designs, textures, and patterns while drawing objects from observation.
Kawase Hasui and the Power of Landscape with guest curator Dr. Ken Brown, Professor of Asian Art History at California State University, Long Beach
6 p.m. | Leslie Cheek Theater
7 p.m. | Hasui Catalogue Signing
$8 (VMFA members $5)
Why is Hasui so popular? This lecture will answer that question as it explores how this artist’s works fulfill fundamental aspects of human interest in landscape. Brown will also explore how Hasui’s dynamic balance of light and darkness, clarity and uncertainty, prospect and refuge connect to our brain’s desire for “moderate complexity” in the physical world.
November 15 & 22
Teen Stylin’ Forbidden Fashion Runway Exhibitions
Designed for students with a passion for clothing design, studio arts, installation art, and/or sculpture, Teen Stylin’ provides aspiring designers with the guidance and assistance to create their own one-of-a-kind, wearable works of art. In celebration of Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures from Palace Museum, Beijing, this year’s Teen Stylin’ theme is Forbidden. During orientation, each student designer will have the opportunity to choose an inspiration piece from selected works of art in the VMFA permanent collection. Student designers will be challenged to use creative construction and alternative material to reveal perceived or known truths in a wearable work of art. These creations will be featured during the Teen Stylin’ Fashion Runway Exhibitions. Visitors attending the runway exhibitions will also enjoy the premiere showing of Briget Ganske’s Teen Stylin’ documentary. Screenings will take place in the Leslie Cheek Theater 30-minutes prior to the event.
November 15, 6-9 p.m. Metro Richmond Area Students, Event I
Atrium
$8 (VMFA members $5)
November 22, 6-9 p.m. Metro Richmond Area Students, Event II
Atrium
$8 (VMFA members $5)
November 22, 2-4 p.m. Statewide and Satellite Students Event
Leslie Cheek Theater
$8 (VMFA members $5)
November 16
Hanako’s Teahouse with artist Hanako Miwa
2 p.m. | Marble Hall
Free, no reservations required
The Japanese tea ceremony is a way of communication and a way to appreciate arts while enjoying tea. Hanako Miwa will perform tea ceremonies with her special tea objects and her portable Teahouse.
November 20
Artsy Infants: Parents and Paintings
Ages 3-13 months, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Thursday, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
Explore interactions between parents and children in artworks from VMFA’s collection. Sing, play, and create with your child and notice how they respond to your different actions. It’s never too soon to introduce your infant to art! Led by Lori Valente Coffey, this unique studio program fosters sensory stimulation during the early stages of growth and development. Enjoy inspirational stroller tours, playtime learning, and experimenting with art supplies (safe for babies). To determine if this class is developmentally suited for your child, please contact Lori Valente Coffey at (804) 340.1343.
After School Art Club: Beyond Boundaries
Ages 5 – 8, enrollment limit: 18
4:15 – 6 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 (VMFA members $18) per class
After exploring the connection between Picasso’s cubist portraits and African figurative sculptures, look in a mirror and create an artwork in your own image! Let your imagination soar in the studio as you make original works of art inspired by objects in the museum. Sign up for one or more of these fun and creative workshops led by Lori Valente Coffey. Special Offer: Register for five classes in After-School Art Club and get the sixth class free! Available only by phone at 804.340.1405.
November 21
Friday Family Art Night: Silk Painting
5 – 7 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 per child/adult pair (VMFA members $18)
Recommended for children ages 5 – 12 |You and your child will enjoy quality time together learning new art techniques and collaborating on creative projects using specialized materials. Classes begin promptly at 5 p.m. in the MWV Art Education Center. Explore traditional and modern approaches to the ancient Chinese art of silk painting.
November 22
Teen Saturdays in the Studio: Acrylic Medium
1 – 4 p.m. | Art Education Center
$25 (VMFA members $22)
Experiment with acrylic media and find out which types work best in your art!
November 29-30
Trunk Show: Oxide Pottery
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Justin Rice and Chatham Monk, both from Lynchburg, Va., with degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Art, use their backgrounds in drawing, printmaking, and decorative patterns to collaborate on this stunning line of porcelain scraffito work. Without the use of templates or stencils, the pair hand-carve images into a black under glaze to expose the white clay body, yielding beautiful, one-of-a-kind porcelain pieces with slight variations in shape and glazes. This work is dishwasher- and microwave-safe and lead-free.
DECEMBER
December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17
Young @ Art: The Emperor’s Palace
Ages 2 ½–5, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Tuesdays or Wednesdays, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
Diverse objects from imperial China will inspire your own extravagant creations. Innovative art lessons inspire your child’s imagination and creativity. Join “Ms. Lori” for hands-on activities—with new art projects introduced weekly—along with exciting gallery tours, entertaining stories, exploratory puzzles, and movement games
December 3, 10, 17
Intro to Filmmaking
Wednesdays, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. (3 sessions) | Meet in the Pauley Center Lobby
$65 (VMFA members $59)
Write, record, and edit an original movie clip inspired by the museum’s collections and grounds. Focus on your favorite style, medium, or technique in these innovative classes, reserved for students enrolled in middle or high school. This experience will help you to develop works for a college portfolio, grow creatively, and explore self-expression.
December 4
Tots of Art: “F” is for Faces
Ages 14-30 months, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Thursday, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
How many faces can you find in VMFA? Be inspired by the many different facial features and expressions in the galleries, and then make portraits of your own.Captivate your toddler and stimulate his or her budding curiosity! Tots of Art fosters growing mobility and introduces children to new sensory and fine motor experiences that only the VMFA campus and studio can provide. In this exciting program, children and caregivers play and bond through singing and movement activities, exploratory art lessons, and stroller tours. To determine if this class is developmentally suited for your child, please contact Lori Valente Coffey at (804) 340.1343.
After School Art Club: Ancient America
Ages 5 – 8, enrollment limit: 18
4:15 – 6 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 (VMFA members $18) per class
Discuss the art and culture of the first peoples of America. Create your own functional artifacts based on objects found in the Ancient American Art Gallery. Let your imagination soar in the studio as you make original works of art inspired by objects in the museum. Sign up for one or more of these fun and creative workshops led by Lori Valente Coffey. Special Offer: Register for five classes in After-School Art Club and get the sixth class free! Available only by phone at 804.340.1405.
Public Lecture: How to Read Chinese Paintings
With Maxwell K. Hearn, Douglas Dillon Chairman, Department of Asian Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art
6:30 p.m. | Leslie Cheek Theater
$8 (VMFA members $5)
The Chinese way of appreciating a painting is often expressed by the words du hua, “to read a painting.” How does one do that? Because art is a visual language, words alone cannot adequately convey its expressive dimension. Spanning 1,000 years of Chinese art from the 8th-17th century, the lecture will examine multiple layers of meaning—style, technique, symbolism, past traditions, and the artist’s personal circumstances—in the treatment of landscapes, flowers, birds, figures, religious subjects, and calligraphies in order to illuminate the main goal of every Chinese artist: to capture not only the outer appearance of a subject but also its inner essence.
December 4, 11, 18
Foundations in Art: Chinese Arts
Ages 9–12, enrollment limit: 12
Thursdays, 4:15–6 p.m. (3 sessions) | Art Education Center
$65 (VMFA members $59) per class
After discovering ancient Chinese traditions such as shadow puppetry and woodblock printing, explore the culture and ways of thinking that influence these art forms. Imagine, create, and grow as an emerging young artist while making original artworks inspired by gallery observations and innovative materials. Through technical guidance and encouragement, students build their confidence, talents, and love of art.
December 5 or 19
Friday Family Art Night: Gingerbread Houses
5 – 7 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 per child/adult pair (VMFA members $18)
Recommended for children ages 5 – 12 | Construct an architectural — yet delectable — structure out of gingerbread, royal icing, and lots of colorful candies! Note: This class is not recommended for anyone with food allergies. For questions, email youthstudio@vmfa.museum.
December 6-7
Virginia Glass Blowing Artist: Minh Martin of Romeo Glass
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | VMFA Shop
Born in Viet Nam, Minh Martin studied geophysics at Yale University and then apprenticed with the Great Bri’oni, a self-taught leader in the California ArtGlass Movement, in Santa Barbara. In addition to using traditional tools and techniques to create his elegant pieces of glass, his signature is the integration of precious metals such as silver and titanium. “I work in blown glass seeking both beauty and functionality. I believe that the objects we surround ourselves with should engage our affection and elevate our collective identity.” Martin’s current work includes glass stemware, such as wineglasses and goblets; glass vessels, such as bowls, vases, and urns; and cameo pieces in a variety of beautiful, yet functional, designs.
December 7
Open Studio Sunday
1 – 4 p.m., free| Art Education Center
All ages, children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult
Make Open Studio Sundays part of your family routine! Come by the studios anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. to enjoy “make-it, take-it” art activities inspired by objects from the VMFA collection. A new art project offered every month, with assistance from VMFA volunteers.
December 11
Tots of Art: “F” is for Faces
Ages 14-30 months, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Thursday, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
Gaze at the gorgeous gardens found in impressionist paintings and use gobs of paint to create flowers of your own! Captivate your toddler and stimulate his or her budding curiosity! Tots of Art fosters growing mobility and introduces children to new sensory and fine motor experiences that only the VMFA campus and studio can provide. In this exciting program, children and caregivers play and bond through singing and movement activities, exploratory art lessons, and stroller tours. To determine if this class is developmentally suited for your child, please contact Lori Valente Coffey at (804) 340.1343.
After School Art Club: Imperial Treasures
Ages 5 – 8, enrollment limit: 18
4:15 – 6 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 (VMFA members $18) per class
Investigate the art and culture of China in Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures from the Palace Museum, Beijing to inspire your own artistic creations.Let your imagination soar in the studio as you make original works of art inspired by objects in the museum. Sign up for one or more of these fun and creative workshops led by Lori Valente Coffey. Special Offer: Register for five classes in After-School Art Club and get the sixth class free! Available only by phone at 804.340.1405.
Teacher Workshop: Discover the Forbidden City in Chinese!
4:30–7 p.m. | Conference Room 1 and Galleries
$38 (VMFA members $18)
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to enjoy a Chinese-language (Mandarin) tour of the Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures from Palace Museum, Beijing with Li Jian, VMFA’s curator of East Asian Art and the curator of this ground-breaking special exhibition. Participants will also enjoy a PowerPoint overview and discussion of aspects of the Forbidden City, and work in small groups to share lesson ideas. (This workshop will be limited to 20 to assure a quality experience in the special exhibition galleries.)
December 11 & 12
Trunk Show: Jason McLeod: Virginia Jewelry Artist
Noon – 8 p.m. | VMFA Shop
Working in 14k & 18k gold, sterling silver, platinum, high quality gemstones and other natural materials, Jason McLeod creates every piece of his jewelry as limited editions, series or “one of a kind” pieces for the wearer to cherish. This talented self-taught studio jeweler and goldsmith graduated from VCU with a B.A. and began designing jewelry in 2004. Jason’s notable “Time Traveler” series fulfills his imagination about an instrument for traveling in time from the past and to the future. The designs on each piece incorporate celestial coding and maps. The moving components on Jason’s jewelry represent the stitching together of our reality, the navigation of multiple dimensions, and perhaps the circuitry necessary for such a time traveling instrument.
December 12
Teen Drawing Club: Colorful Undertones
5 – 6:30 p.m. | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8)
Explore the galleries and boost drawing skills associated with different art movements, styles, and cultures. Led by artist Cheryl Dillard and designed for teenagers enrolled in middle or high school, monthly sessions include demos, art talks, and independent instruction to accommodate both beginning and accomplished artists. In this session, focus on overlapping and blending colors to show realism and emotion.
December 13
Kids Discover . . . : Meet & Shrink Masterpieces
Ages 6–9, enrollment limit: 16
1–4 p.m. | Art Education Center
$25 (VMFA members $22) per class
Recreate mini versions of your favorite masterpieces! Draw images on Shrinky Dink® sheets and watch what happens when the instructor heats the material. Then turn works into decorative magnets to share with friends and family.
December 13-14
Gabriel Ofiesh: Virginia Jewelry Artist Trunk Show
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | VMFA Shop
Designing jewelry for 40 years, this graduate of the University of Virginia and resident of Charlottesville uses 18k gold, sterling silver, and precious and semi-precious stones in nontraditional ways, resulting in very intriguing contemporary designs and a national following. In addition to his signature “orbit” and “square” rings, Gabriel Ofiesh’s collection includes necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, all featuring his sophisticated and modern design. Gabriel’s trunk show will make your holiday gift selections easy and fun!
December 18
Artsy Infants: Movin’ and Groovin’
Ages 3-13 months, accompanied by an adult, enrollment limit: 12 children
Thursday, 11 a.m. – noon | Art Education Center
$10 (VMFA members $8) per child/adult pair
Focus on the importance of “tummy time” and movement in art. Twist, swish, and groove through the galleries in this interactive infant class. It’s never too soon to introduce your infant to art! Led by Lori Valente Coffey, this unique studio program fosters sensory stimulation during the early stages of growth and development. Enjoy inspirational stroller tours, playtime learning, and experimenting with art supplies (safe for babies). To determine if this class is developmentally suited for your child, please contact Lori Valente Coffey at (804) 340.1343.
After School Art Club: Posters and Prints
Ages 5 – 8, enrollment limit: 18
4:15 – 6 p.m. | Art Education Center
$20 (VMFA members $18) per class
Did you know that posters used to be made by hand using fine art printing techniques? Check out some of these posters in the Lewis Decorative Arts Gallery and try these printing techniques in the studio. Let your imagination soar in the studio as you make original works of art inspired by objects in the museum. Sign up for one or more of these fun and creative workshops led by Lori Valente Coffey. Special Offer: Register for five classes in After-School Art Club and get the sixth class free! Available only by phone at 804.340.1405.
December 20
Teen Saturdays in the Studio: Animation in a Day
1 – 4 p.m. | Art Education Center
$25 (VMFA members $22)
Ready . . . set . . . ACTION! Watch illustrations come to life as you draw, assemble, and compose an original stop-motion animation.
JANUARY 2015
January 2
Film and Lecture: Giuseppe Castiglione in China: Imperial Painter, Humble Servant (2014; 26 min) Cross-cultural dialogues in the 17th century and today
6:30 – 9 p.m. | Leslie Cheek Theater
$8 (VMFA members $5)
How did a young Jesuit missionary born in Italy end up in 1700s Imperial China as artist to three emperors? The story of Giuseppe Castiglione is one of passion, conviction, and creativity; and his journey has left a long-lasting impact in China and beyond. Father Jerry Martinson, executive producer of the film, has encountered similar challenges in his 48 years in Taiwan and China. Father Martinson relates his personal experiences in a cross-cultural dialogue with insights into the inner-workings of China in the 18th century and now. Several of Castiglione’s works are included in VMFA’s Forbidden City special exhibition.
January 3
ChinaFest! Year of the Wood Sheep
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Celebrate the longevity, the New Year, and treasures from the Forbidden City while exploring Chinese culture to the ninth degree. Explore the significance of the number nine while participating in and enjoying: a 9-dragon Lego reproduction screen in honor of the 9,999 dragons said to be found in the Forbidden City, nine imperial treasure-making activities; nine Chinese children’s animated films; martial arts demonstrations; four hours of yoga workshops; nine traditional Chinese dances; and nine artist demonstrations. Have your face painted as your favorite zodiac animal and pop on over to the photo booth.
January 4
Open Studio Sunday
1 – 4 p.m., free| Art Education Center
All ages, children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult
Make Open Studio Sundays part of your family routine! Come by the studios anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. to enjoy “make-it, take-it” art activities inspired by objects from the VMFA collection. A new art project offered every month, with assistance from VMFA volunteers.
January 15
Teacher Workshop: Japanese Printmaking: Water, Shadow, and Landscape
4:30 –7 pm | Conference Room 1 and Galleries
$20 (VMFA members $18)
This workshop, led by Mary Holland—VMFA Studio School Director, artist, and expert printmaker—complements the special exhibitions Water and Shadow: Kawase Hasui and Japanese Landscape Prints and Miwako Nishizawa: Twelve Views of Virginia, on view at VMFA from November 15, 2014, to March 29, 2015. The workshop combines a hands-on printmaking experience with aesthetic and technical considerations of woodblock prints. Hasui (1883–1957) was one of Japan’s woodblock print masters. Nishizawa is a contemporary California-based Japanese-American artist who combined traditional Virginia landscape views (including Hollywood Cemetery, Jamestown, and Monticello) with the Japanese landscape tradition to create the works in her exhibition.
January 29
Teacher Workshop: Paper: Tactile, Textured, Versatile—and Revolutionary
4:30 –7 p.m. | Conference Room 1 and Galleries
$20 (VMFA members $18)
It is indeed a digital age, but an appreciation for paper—its finish, weight, strength, color, ability to accept or reject media, etc.—is integral to understanding the art-making process. This workshop begins with an exploration of works on paper and works made of paper in the VMFA collection. Participants will also create two- and three-dimensional works of art using a variety of paper samples and media.
FEBRUARY 2015
February 4
Open Studio Sunday
1 – 4 p.m., free| Art Education Center
All ages, children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult
Make Open Studio Sundays part of your family routine! Come by the studios anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. to enjoy “make-it, take-it” art activities inspired by objects from the VMFA collection. A new art project offered every month, with assistance from VMFA volunteers.
February 19
Teacher Workshop: African American Dreams: Poets, Painters, Singers, and Other Visionaries
4:30 – 7 p.m. | Main Building Conference Room 2 and Galleries
$20 (VMFA members $18)
Delve into word and image in this consideration of the African American experience as represented by works in the VMFA American Art galleries. Paintings and sculptures take on deeper meaning when coupled with primary sources, poems, essays, speeches, and song lyrics. Authors to be explored include Phyllis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois—and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
February 21
Teacher Workshop: STEAMin’ at VMFA!
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
FEE: TBD
How can art energize STEM, the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math? Art is the perfect catalyst for producing energized reactions from your students. Art, which is both hands-on and cerebral, offers fascinating possibilities for inter-disciplinary learning. Learn how to use paintings, prints, vases, sculptures—and hands-on processes—to create group projects in your classroom. This workshop includes a resource packet with a CD of images, background information about works of art in the VMFA collection, resources for image analysis, lesson plans, and templates for hands-on activities.
MARCH 2015
March 1
Open Studio Sunday
1 – 4 p.m., free| Art Education Center
All ages, children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult
Make Open Studio Sundays part of your family routine! Come by the studios anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. to enjoy “make-it, take-it” art activities inspired by objects from the VMFA collection. A new art project offered every month, with assistance from VMFA volunteers.
March 3
Gallery Talk: 3 in 30 Japanese Art Sampler
11 a.m.
Mary Holland, The Thomas C. Gordon Jr., Director of the Studio School
March 5
Gallery Talk: 3 in 30 Japanese Art Sampler
6:30 p.m.
Mary Holland, The Thomas C. Gordon Jr., Director of the Studio School
March 12
Teacher Workshop: George Catlin and the American West
4:30 – 7 p.m. |Conference Room 1 and Galleries
$20 (VMFA members$18)
George Catlin’s renderings of Indians were so powerful that they were said to hold great ‘medicine,’ a term denoting vast spiritual vitality. From his earliest known Indian portrait in 1827 until his death in 1872, Catlin was respected as an artist who possessed an anthropologist’s eye for cultural study supported by finely observed details. His works portraying traditional dances, rituals and ceremonies exist today as the sole record of many aspects of Indian life. This workshop offers hands-on activities for examining art with a critical eye, treating pictures as windows into the past that have the power to yield unique insights.
March 14
Teacher Workshop: The Art of Place! Geography Connections at VMFA
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
FEE: TBD
How does art illuminate geography? Let us count the ways! Ancient art, for example, was made at a particular time and place—from available materials. Were the materials local or did they come from far away? What types of land and water had to be crossed? Where were the stones, marbles, and other minerals obtained? How did the movement of human populations change the earth itself—and how do artifacts inform our answers? What do landscape paintings tell us about changes in landforms? Participants will investigate geographic topics and solve geography quests in VMFA galleries in this interactive workshop.
March 28
The Japanese Landscape through Prints: A Forum
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | VMFA Cheek Theater
$10 (VMFA members $8)
International speakers discuss the vibrancy and history of the Japanese Landscape through prints, including the legacy of Kawase Hasui.
About the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
VMFA’s permanent collection encompasses more than 33,000 works of art spanning 5,000 years of world history. Its collections of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, English silver, Fabergé, and the art of South Asia are among the finest in the nation. With acclaimed holdings in American, British Sporting, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist, and Modern and Contemporary art – and additional strengths in African, Ancient, East Asian, and European – VMFA ranks as one of the top comprehensive art museums in the United States. Programs include educational activities and studio classes for all ages, plus lively after-hours events. VMFA’s Statewide Partnership program includes traveling exhibitions, artist and teacher workshops, and lectures across the Commonwealth. VMFA, a certified Virginia Green attraction, is open 365 days a year and general admission is always free. For additional information, telephone 804-340-1400 or visit www.vmfa.museum.
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