Artsline: Virtual Edition || July 13, 2020
"As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life." ~John Lubbock
The sun is out and making art of Virginia’s flowers, trees, and gardens! Several outdoor spaces have opened in our Commonwealth, so make sure you get out to see the beauty in our region.
We continue to be inspired by our arts and culture community’s commitment to bring online and socially-distanced arts and culture events in ways that excite us and keep us safe. See below for a curated list of both!
1. M&T BANK: WIND, WAVES AND LIGHT - ART IN MOTION
Visual Art/Landscaping
July 16 - October 11
Adults $14, Children (3-12) $8
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, VA
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens reopens with M&T Bank: Wind, Waves and Light — Art in Motion, featuring 13 large-scale, stainless steel sculptures that move and change with the wind. This exhibition stimulates discussion and reflection on how humans are inspired and connected through movement, the shifting elements of the natural world through the seasons and the patterns of migration, pollination and growth. An artist and engineer, George Sherwood creates kinetic sculptures that evoke shimmering leaves, flocks of birds, schools of fish, and waves of light and water. Timed tickets go on sale July 12. Please visit HERE for tickets and protocols for visiting.
2. VIRGINIA'S 1ST ANNUAL FREEDOM RALLY
Festival
July 18, 1pm
Browns Island, Richmond, VA
Racial Divides presents a rally to raise awareness about the silent and violent injustices Black communities faces daily, and to show that Virginia stands together against racism, hate, and discrimination. Local church choirs, vocalists, and spoken-word activists will provide an experience of Black culture that is sure to be powerful and moving. Bring masks, lawn chairs, tents, and fans to keep yourselves socially distanced and comfortable.
3. PLUNKY AND ONENESS
Music
July 17, 7pm
Online
The 2020 Festival of Arts from Richmond Recreation and Parks has gone VIRTUAL! Join them on Facebook Live for the kick off with RVA's own Plunky and Oneness!
4. LEARN THE SAVOY SHIM SHAM
Dance
Mondays thru August 3, 7pm
Pay what you can
Online
RVA Swing’s July Jazz Series offers a four-week online course on the Al & Leon's Shim Sham, also known as the Savoy Shim Sham, a popular post-war dance routine at famous Savoy Ballroom. In addition to teaching the choreography, instructor Alyssa Kelly delves into the personal stylings of both Al Minns and Leon James. Advance registration required. Proceeds from this class will be donated to one or more BIPOC-led organizations.
5. IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME: ART INSPIRED BY GREECE
Visual Art
July 17, 6pm
Crossroads Art Center, 2016 Staples Mill Rd, Richmond, VA
Join Crossroads Art Center for our July Open House + Artist Reception for a special Greek themed toga party. Free and open to the public. Explore our new exhibitions and discover your next favorite artist - plus enjoy delicious food from The Big Fat Grapevine Food Truck.
6. AN EVENING OF MYTHS, FAIRY TALES AND TRADITIONAL FOLKTALES
Theatre
July 13, 7pm
$15
Chamberlayne Actors Theatre, 319 N Wilkinson Road, Henrico, VA
Join Darci Tucker LIVE for a fun, mask-wearing, socially distanced evening of stories! Join her at Chamberlayne Actors Theatre for a fun, mask-wearing, socially distanced evening of myths, fairy tales and traditional folktales. Purchase tickets online HERE, or pay cash at the door.
7. READER MEET WRITER: LENARD MOORE & JAKI SHELTON GREEN
Literary
July 16, 7pm
Online
The Fountain Bookstore hosts poets Lenard Moore and Jaki Shelton Green online to discuss the Carolina African-American Writers’ Collective, which shaped the modern literary landscape of the Carolinas for the last twenty-five years. They will be joined by contributors from their book, All the Songs We Sing, who will read selections from poems, stories, and essays included in this collection. Registration requiredfor this free event.
8. SHOCKOE SESSIONS LIVE WITH ELIZABETH WISE!
Music
July 14, 7:30pm
Online
Join In Your Ear Studios for another awesome Shockoe Sessions Live with the equally awesome Elizabeth Wise! Elizabeth is an accomplished slide guitar player, blues singer, world traveler, and a Shockoe Sessions veteran! Check out the above clip of her 2018 performance at Shockoe Sessions.
9. RANGER CHAT: THE MALVERN HOUSE AT MALVERN HILL
History
July 19, 1pm
Online
Richmond Battlefield Park leads a Facebook Live conversation about The Malvern House at Malvern Hill. This famous house, for which the prominent land form is named, has a fascinating history beyond the 1862 battle. A Richmond Battlefield Park Ranger will explore the history of the house and its recent preservation.
10. BEETHOVEN 2020 SUMMER SERIES ONLINE CONCERT
Music
July 16, 6:30pm
$12/stream
Online
The Richmond Symphony is hosting an online weekly concert series this summer in collaboration with the University of Richmond Department of Music and VCU | School of the Arts | Department of Music. This year's theme is Beethoven, honoring his 250th birthday, and will be made up of six one-hour duets, featuring a single instrument paired with piano. These intimate performances will be live-streamed on a private, secure channel. Tickets for the online concert experience are $12 each or $60 for a subscription to all six! This week features Susy Yim on Violin and Magda Adamek on the Piano. They will be playing Violin Sonata in A Major, Opus 47 ("Kreutzer"), Bagatelle in F Major, Opus 33, No. 3, and Bagatelle in B Minor, Opus 126, No. 4
11. BEGINNER BALLROOM/SWING/LATIN DANCE CLASS
Dance
Wednesdays thru August 12, 7pm
$5/class
The Dance Space, 6004-A West Broad Street, Richmond, VA
The Dance Space offers beginner Ballroom/Swing/Latin dance lessons on Wednesdays thru August 12 for $5/class. Dance partners or prior dance experience is NOT REQUIRED for this class. This is NOT a series, start/stop anytime. Singles and couples welcome! Classes are drop-in, no registration required. Go HERE for social distancing protocols.
If you are an arts or cultural organization with social-distance-safe events such as online classes, virtual exhibitions or concerts, or even book readings, submit your events to Artsline here. If you are an artist or an arts or cultural organization in need of resources and tools during the COVID-19 pandemic, check out the list of local and national resources from Richmond CultureWorks.
