When my Mom would complain about my choice of study in college (art history), her disagreement shown clearly on her face all through those years and after. She always wanted me to be a nurse so I would always have the security of a job. It didn’t matter to her that I would certainly faint at the site of blood and that would be the absolutely last thing I would ever want to do. Her intentions were admirable and much appreciated now, as she just simply didn’t want me to work as hard as she had all her life, and of course, she knew right. Except for the selection of the occupation.

I would kid with her that it was her fault that I loved art. If she hadn’t taken my brother and me to the Museum (VMFA) or to DC (Smithsonian), I wouldn’t have fallen in love art; with the idea that I wanted to BE around art. Those trips up to Richmond were always special times for the three of us and the VMFA was the place that truly changed my life but when we went to the Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC, it was the icing on the cake. THIS is where I want to be. Any museum I would visit, I’d walk wide-eyed and captivated, in awe, offering my tiny reverence to the space and objects around me.

McGlothin Wing

Memories of these trips came back to me on Thursday as I walked into the newly renovated Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. I could hardly believe I was there, getting a first glimpse at what this space that has meant so much to me, was soon to be. I was awestruck again, hardly able to move from the magnificent new Wing that overwhelms you as you enter, but while it’s such a huge space, the light pouring into the museum is welcoming nonetheless. It’s the most amazing venue in Richmond. If there ever was a time for reverence, it was then (now). I found myself shocked that the artworks themselves held less meaning for me, but the more I climbed into the depths of the galleries, the works came back to me as I navigated through the halls, surprised that I found myself turned around inside one of my favorite spaces that I know so damn well. (I imagine those not familiar with the space will find themselves around easier than us Richmonders.) Needly to say, I’m counting down the days until the Members Day on April 29 to explore more of the Museum and share the experience with my husband!

As I mentioned to a few folks at the media event, if you experienced this space in DC, Philly, Chicago, NY, or in any major city around the world, you’d be inspired by the space of course, but subconsciously you’d expect this type of space to be there. It’s expected. Finding yourself in such an architectural masterpiece in Richmond is overwhelming. This is not to say that we don’t have amazing architecture! Richmond’s finest qualities are its exceptional and diverse architecture and history and it should be much more appreciated and celebrated than it is. But we don’t have anything as truly modern as what the Mathers’ architectural team has created in Richmond. It is on par with any such facility around the around the world. Richmond was already a top tier arts and cultural city, but now, it is on the map! I fell in love with Richmond again on Thursday, April 22. I needed that. Everyone does at some point, especially when you’ve been in the same spot for 20+ years (ugh)

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

Thursday’s epiphany was also made possible thanks to a visit later that evening to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Another one of Richmond’s prized treasures! I guess I did more that day than I’ve done  in months, or else it felt that way. I suppose obviously because these places are so beautiful to behold and it had been so long since I had experienced them, but I also saw wonderful people I know at each of these places, and the people that call Richmond home are what makes this place home to me. I was SO proud to be here. In those moments. Admiring all our community has to offer. (I’m proud that I’ve made personal commitments to renew our memberships at both of these cultural treasures and hope you might too.)

As much as I know and love RVA, the older I get the more closer to home I tend to stay. There was certainly a time, maybe an age, where there seemed like there was nothing to do other than hang by the River (which is a great thing!) but that was so long ago. Now there are TOO many things to do, which is absolutely the best problem for a City (Richmond) to have. I feel confident that the new VMFA will become a beacon of community gatherings and a symbol of community pride even more than it already was. The entire “Museums on the Boulevard” strip is the perfect connectivity for rebirth of such a wide swath of the City and that’s incredibly exciting. (insert beaming smile)

I can’t wait for others to experience the Virginia Museum, but for now, I’m going to cherish my quiet time wandering through the halls of the Museum offering reverence.

If you would like to see more images from the April 22, 2010 VMFA Media Day, go to our Facebook Photo Album at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=164607&id=123315588730&ref=mf