Posts Tagged ‘University of Richmond Downtown’
Spend Your Labor Day With Us!
Posted by Christina in Uncategorized on September 2nd, 2010
September is an odd month in the First Fridays season. It’s not yet fall, the heat is usually still hanging around, there could be a chance of a Hurricane or at least a savage storm, and of course the Art Walk always falls on Labor Day Weekend, which encourages folks to head out of town for that last summer splash. Seems like we’ve got too many things working against us to have a successful event. But that’s just not the case (well, as long as Hurricane Earl doesn’t come ashore.)
In fact, the September 3 First Fridays Art Walk has some amazing events scheduled, making staying in town, or visiting Richmond for a long weekend, a pretty awesome plan for the holiday.
First, the good news is that only a handful of First Fridays venues will be closed due to the holiday (Score!) Our website has all the details of what exhibitions are on view, what activities are being planned, what dining specials will be served, and which sites are taking a break this month. www.FirstFridaysRichmond.com
Citizen Artist Panel Talk at the University of Richmond Downtown Campus (626 E. Broad St) is at the top of the list of things to experience this month. This intriguing sounding event will bring together local artists like Noah Scalin, Tanja Softic, and Daniel Custodio to discuss how social change can be effected through creativity. It will be interesting to hear from the six artists working in a variety of media on how to impact Richmond for the better. The event is at 5:30 and free, but seats need to be reserved at http://downtown.richmond.edu/citizenartist.html
“Giving back” is possibly the theme for September’s Art Walk. Our newest venue, UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing), is 
presenting a 30-year retrospective of works by Dr. W. Baxter Perkinson, Jr. for the Grand Opening of their new Gallery space. Perkinson is kind of a local legend for his philanthropic and creative talents, having painted nearly 15,000 watercolors for charity, and this will be the first time works spanning his career will be on display. Check out this latest addition to Jackson Ward between 5pm-10pm, and be sure not to miss their tranquil garden and Donor Memorial Wall that’s an oasis in the City. UNOS is at the corner of 4th and Jackson Streets and offers free parking.
While you’re in Jackson Ward, head to Gallery 5 for an assortment of musical offerings. From 7pm-11pm, you can enjoy a variety of live music from local and international performers and the exhibition Self Titled that includes original artwork from independently produced records and CDs. Inside the gallery is the socially conscious Lucent Space, which will host the University of Richmond’s Community Gamelan (orchestra) Gamelan Raga Kusuma. On view throughout the month will be photography as well as field recordings and video from the group’s travel to Bali and Java this summer, while the ensemble will perform Friday night. It’s exciting to have this ensemble back to First Fridays, so if you haven’t experienced Indonesian music before, this is a not-to-be-missed event!
While we may be longing for summer fun, fall fashions make the (eventual) cooler weather worth the change. It also means sales! Quirk is celebrating their 5th Anniversary, (Happy Birthday!!) and we’re getting the presents! Don’t miss Quirk’s Super Sale during First Fridays or throughout the week to see what goodies are in the Shop. Katie and her team score amazing finds during their buying trips, bringing back gorgeous jewelry, neat household items, funky back to school supplies, and all around cool stuff to make Richmond, well cooler. Quirk also is packed this month with new exhibitions by, Vadis Turner, Daniel Calder, and Cindy Myron.
And is there a better way to appreciate cooler weather than to enjoy a glass of wine in a luxurious courtyard? I think not. You can do just that at the lovely and historic Linden Row Inn. Opening this week is the latest installation by curator Amie Oliver for 1708 Gallery’s satellite exhibition program. Ironisence features works by numerous artist members, inspired by the words, irony and sincerity, as coined by art critic Jerry Salz. So grab a drink and look around. The satellite shows have been superb and brought the space alive like never before. Linden Row is located at the corner of 1st and Franklin Streets.
Happy Holiday Everyone. I hope there’s no laboring in your weekend!
Awesome Art & Warmer Weather = An Amazing First Fridays
Posted by Christina in Uncategorized on March 29th, 2010
First Fridays Art Walk / Richmond, VA
April 2, 2010
The next First Fridays Art Walk will continue to bring Downtown alive as the April 2, 2010 event will feature a wealth of activities, including an award winning public art installation by renowned architect Peter Culley, anticipated anniversary celebrations at 1708 Gallery and Gallery 5, plus numerous exhibitions, lots of live music, artist demonstrations and vendors, and always, the unexpected. And the forecasted warmer weather will certainly make the event a popular one. Along with free entertainment, visitors to First Fridays will find unique shopping opportunities, highly ranked restaurants, and some of Richmond’s best hotels in the surrounding area. Downtown is Richmond’s top cultural destination for a night on the town or an exciting creative weekend getaway.
April 2nd is notable as the second installment in a three month-long effort known as, “First Fridays East.
” This exciting spring project is a new collaboration between Curated Culture and some of Downtown’s top cultural venues located just east of the heart of First Fridays, between 6th and 9th Streets, including Library of Virginia, Richmond CenterStage, St Paul’s Episcopal Church, and UR Downtown. Each venue will feature a variety of free activities and entertainment between 5:00pm-8:00pm on April 2 and again on May 7.
Visitors to “First Fridays East” will be treated to powerful exhibitions, artist talks and demonstrations at the Library of Virginia and at St. Paul’s, while a diversity of great live music will be featured at Richmond CenterStage and UR Downtown.
CenterStage will present a night of local jazz with the Richmond Youth Jazz Guild Small Ensemble, Richmond Jazz Composers Alliance Quintet, and the Richmond Youth Jazz Guild Large Ensemble, and UR will host the University’s Bossa Nova and Samba Ensemble (featuring Kevin Harding on guitar) as well as The Octaves, UR’s all-male a capella group. As with First Fridays, “First Fridays East” will feature something for everyone!
Free parking is available at St Paul’s Episcopal Church beginning at 5:00pm. Free parking is also available at the Library of Virginia parking deck from 5:00-8:00pm.
Highlights of the upcoming April 2 First Fridays Art Walk:
- “Light House 1: Jackson Ward, RVA” – lighted public art installation to be reinstalled at Visual Art Studio parking lot (208 W Broad St). Created for the original 2008 InLight Richmond event organized by 1708 Gallery, “Light House” was the award winning piece, and is a representation of a Jackson Ward house, but is seen only by the glowing presence of the interior and exterior at night. It is produced by an extensive team of artists led by Peter Culley, head of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts expansion project, and this reinstallation is part of the celebrations leading up to the VMFA’s grand opening. http://www.spatialaffairsbureau.com/
- “First Fridays East” – Start off your First Fridays evening with special events in the eastern area of Downtown between 5:00pm-8:00pm at the Library of Virginia (artist demos & exhibition), Richmond CenterStage (live local jazz throughout the night), St Paul’s Episcopal Church (exhibitions & tours of the historic Tiffany windows), UR Downtown (live Bossa Nova & Samba music.)
- Richmond CenterStage will also be hosting a Food Drive for the Central Virginia Food Bank, so bring plenty of cans goods to help those in need in our community.
- 1708 Gallery celebrates the 20th Anniversary of their popular Annual Art Auction. “Home is Where the Art Is” will feature a diverse range of artworks by 70 artists. This is always a not-to-be-missed event in the creative community since it’s a great opportunity to acquire sought after artists while supporting Richmond’s oldest nonprofit galleries. Honorary Chair of this year’s anniversary celebration is Alex Nyerges, Director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
- Gallery 5 kicks off a month-long celebration of its 5th Anniversary with a special photography exhibition featuring work by a dozen photographers celebrating the gallery’s last 5 uniquely creative years. Live music, theatre, and poetry to accompany the exhibition.
- Richmond Public Library (Main Branch) celebrates National Poetry Month with the 2010 Brodie Herndon Poetry lecture at 7:00pm, featuring Kathleen Graber, author of the book Correspondence and winner of the 2005 Saturnalia Books Poetry Prize.
- Quirk Gallery artist vendors – a variety of artists and crafts vendors can always been found at the parking lot located next to the wildly popular shop, Quirk.
- Reggae group, Unity Sound, will perform at Metro Sound & Music for a free CD release show.
SAVE THE DATE! FIRST FRIDAYS EAST / April 2 / 5pm-8pm
Posted by Christina in Special Events at First Fridays on March 18th, 2010
Library of Virginia | 5–8 pm
• Craft demonstrations by Richmond-area artists—from multimedia collage to glass design—with finished works available for purchase (Lobby)
• The Land We Live In, The Land We Left: Virginia’s People explores the lives of immigrants from a variety of homelands who settled in every part of the state (Exhibition Gallery & Lobby)
http://www.lva.virginia.gov/ or call 804.692.3524 for more information
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church | Parish Hall | 5–8 pm
• Opening Reception: Simple Gifts, Photography by Bruce Yoder
• Church open for tours, featuring an altarpiece mosaic replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper by Tiffany and 25 stained-glass windows, 10 of them by Tiffany
http://www.stpauls-episcopal.org/firstfridays
University of Richmond, Downtown | 5–8 pm
• Artwork inspired by Surface Tension: Pattern, Texture and Rhythm in Art from the Collection (organized by University of Richmond Museums)
• Light refreshments and live music by the University’s Bossa, Nova and Samba Ensemble, and The Octaves, UR’s all-male a capella group
http://downtown.richmond.edu/events/firstfridays.html
Rhythm Hall at Richmond CenterStage | 5–8 pm
• Join us for an evening of music with performances by the Richmond Youth Jazz Guild Small Ensemble, the Richmond Jazz Composers Alliance Quintet, and the Richmond Youth Jazz Guild Large Ensemble. Light hors d’oeuvres and cash bar available.
http://www.richmondcenterstage.com/
SPRING FEATURE OF FIRST FRIDAYS ART WALK
Richmond’s popular arts and cultural program First Fridays Art Walk makes a special expansion east this spring to connect with the Library of Virginia, Richmond CenterStage, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and University of Richmond Downtown.
On March 5, April 2, and May 7, 2010, from 5 to 8 pm, the “First Fridays East” locations will offer refreshments, live music, and diverse exhibitions.
All free and open to the public. Click on venue links for locations and more info.
Free underground parking is available at the Library of Virginia from 5 to 8 pm and in the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church garage after 5 pm (no closing time).
Join Us on March 5th for First Fridays East!
Posted by Christina in Special Events at First Fridays on March 2nd, 2010
FIRST FRIDAYS
east
We’re excited to make a special expansion east this spring to connect with eastern cultural anchors – the Library of Virginia, Richmond CenterStage, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and University of Richmond Downtown
FIRST FRIDAYS east EVENTS
On March 5, April 2, and May 7, 2010, from 5-8 pm,
“First Fridays East” locations will offer refreshments, live music, diverse exhibitions, and an art auction. Richmond CenterStage tops off the night with free performances (now sold out) at 8pm at their dynamic new facilities.
All events are free and open to the public. Click on venue links for more info.
Free Parking is available between 5:30-8pm at the Library of Virginia underground parking garage and at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Parking Garage at the corner of 8th and Grace Streets. Visitors to St. Paul’s parking deck can enter anytime between 5:30-8:30 and can exit anytime later that evening.
Library of Virginia | Corner of 8th & Broad | 5–8pm
- Artist Demonstrations and Live Music
- Samples of Virginia’s finest foods and beverages in the Virginia Shop, featuring the international award winning wines of Barboursville Winery, chosen as the signature red wines of the Inauguration Conservation Gala that honored President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
- The Land We Live In, The Land We Left: Virginia’s People (Exhibition Gallery & Lobby) explores the lives of immigrants from a variety of homelands who settled in every part of the state.
- http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church | Corner of 8th & Grace | 5–8pm
- Annual Lenten Lunch Silent Art Auction featuring artwork, handcrafts, books, prints and photography, jewelry, and more (proceeds support charity)
- Lenten Lunch desserts & coffee reception and tours of the historic church
- http://www.stpauls-episcopal.org/index.php/who/news_announcements/new_first_fridays_east_spring_feature/
UR Downtown | Corner of 7th & Broad | 5–8pm
- Artwork inspired by Surface Tension: Pattern, Texture and Rhythm in Art from the Collection (organized by University of Richmond Museums)
- Light refreshments and live bluegrass and roots music from Shake & Howdy (University of Richmond professor Dr. Barry Lawson and bandmate Dave Kuo)
- http://news.richmond.edu/releases/article/www/933/ur-downtown-to-participate-in-first-fridays-east.html
Richmond CenterStage | Corner of 7th & Grace | 5–8pm
- A free performance of Richmond Shakespeare’s Othello at the Gottwald Playhouse (co-produced by African-American Repertory Theatre). Tickets available through the Richmond CenterStage box office, Monday–Friday, 11 am–5 pm. Must be picked up in person. Limit 2 tickets per person. THIS PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT!
- http://www.richmondcenterstage.com/