Artsline: Virtual Edition || August 10, 2020
“Doing art... anything creative, is just a spiritual thing to do. I almost feel like every comic strip I do is sort of a little prayer. And I really feel like the only thing real is love.” ~ Patrick McDonnell
There’s so much great art in our region to experience, but there are also great ways to explore your own artistic soul! This week several organizations and businesses are making space for creative community by showing folks how to DO art. And as always, local artists bring more - more music, more dance, more exhibits. Check out these stellar ways to safely experience our creative region!
1. ACTIVATE
Dance
August 12, 9am
Maymont Historic Estate Entrance, 1700 Hampton Street, Richmond, VA
KARAR Dance Company presents ACTIVATE, a half-day outdoor workshop experience to refresh and ignite the body through somatic and investigative practices, held outdoors on the grounds of Maymont. Dancers age 14 & up are welcome, but you must REGISTER to participate and social distancing practices are required.
2. BEETHOVEN 2020 SUMMER SERIES ONLINE CONCERT
Music
August 13, 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 Erin Lano on orn and Maria Yefimova on piano. Among other selections, they will be playing Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Opus 53 ("Waldstein") Allegro con brio, and Horn Sonata in F Major, Opus 17, Allegro Moderato, Poco Adagio, quasi Andante, Rondo: Allegro moderato.
3. ART MAKING AS A RADICAL ACT OF GENEROSITY
Visual Arts
August 14, 9am
Online
Michael Pierce adapts an assignment from Sarah Urist Green’s new book, You are an Artist: Art Assignments to Spark Creativity, and will facilitate an online creative experience for you to find your inner artist and connect with your soul. Presented by The Innerwork Center, you must REGISTER to participate.
4. THE SUFFRAGE FLAG
Theatre
August 15, 12pm
Online
The Whistle Stop Theatre Company presents the free digital premiere of The Suffrage Flag in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment. Join them on Facebook Live for this streaming event featuring virtual staged readings from historical figures important to the Suffrage Movement, such as Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Alice Paul.
5. COCKTAILS AND CHOREO
Dance
August 12, 7pm
$10
Kanawha Plaza, East Canal Street, Richmond, VA 23219
UnlockingRVA presents their signature hip hop dance class where you learn a full dance routine to Chris Brown's 'Go Crazy' taught by Studio 4 Dance Agency! At the end of the class you will walk away with one of Belle Isle Moonshine new canned cocktails. This is an outdoor space with plenty of room to social distance. Mask are encouraged and they will have bottled water on site. All ages welcome, but you must REGISTER and you must be 21+ years old to consume alcohol.
6. FIDOS AFTER 5 WITH PAUL URBAN & FRIENDS
Landscape Art/Music
August 13, 5:00pm
$14/adults, $11/seniors, $8/youth
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, 1800 Lakeside Ave, Richmond, Virginia
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens partners with the Richmond SPCA to allow guests to bring their dogs for a summer night of music and fun. Dogs must be leashed and have a current rabies vaccination. Guests are invited to bring their own chairs and blankets. Outside food is not allowed in the Garden, but LGBG provides an option to purchase food online from The Tea House to eat outside in the Garden. TICKETS are available online only and are limited (no walk-ups). Go HERE for social distancing protocols and safety information.
7. CURATORS AT WORK: THESE THINGS CAN BE DONE
Film/History
August 14, 12pm
Online
In August 2020, the U.S. celebrates the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. These Things Can Be Done, a new documentary that explores the often-overlooked narrative of women’s suffrage in Virginia, premieres on VPM on August 13. Watch the premiere, then join the historians featured in the film the following day in a live panel discussion, hosted by the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. They will share their insights on this pivotal moment in Virginia’s history and take your questions as part of this virtual discussion. To participate in the virtual panel discussion, join the livestream HERE or on the VMHC Facebook page.
8. VIRTUAL SUMMER CONCERT 7: COLLIDEOSCOPE
Music
August 16, 4pm
Online
The Garth Newel Music Center presents the YouTube Winning Premiere of Collideoscope for piano quartet, by 2020 Composition Competition winner Jordan Kuspa and performed by the Garth Newel Piano Quartet.
9. FRIDAY FOR THE ARTS
Visual Art
August 14, 6pm
Petersburg Area Art League, 7 East Old Street, Petersburg, VA
Artist Patricia Munford is PAAL's August 2020 exhibitor opening for August's Friday for the Arts, Petersburg’s premiere art walk. Friday for the Arts is presented by the Petersburg Area Art League.
10. ARTISAN/MAKER EVENING MARKET & MUSIC
Visual Art/Music
August 14, 6pm
Farmers Market, 230 E Bank St, Petersburg, VA
7Moons Market offers their artisan maker market every second Friday of the month, during Friday for the Arts in Petersburg. This month, they bring live music from Another Mother. This market is brought to you by Old Towne Studio 7 and River Street Market!
11. CENTER OF THE YARNIVERSE SIT & STITCH
Textile Arts
Wednesdays, 7pm, and Fridays, 10am
Online
The Center of the Yarniverse in Ashland offers Wednesday evening and Friday morning virtual Sit & Stitch groups. They welcome all yarnies - knitters, crocheters, and spinners. Join them on Zoom for a great time to stitch together!
12. RANGER CHAT: MUSIC FROM THE HOME FRONT: "THE VACANT CHAIR"
Music/History
August 12, 1pm
Online
The music of the 19th century, a lot like what we know today, could be rollicking and jovial. You could sing along with it; dance to it. There were, though, soulful songs that reflected a person’s pain, grief or heartache. Often, these songs were derived from true, sometimes tragic events. None told such a heart wrenching tale of grief than “The Vacant Chair”. Join Richmond Battlefield Park and Civil War Trails in a Facebook Live chat as they explore the history of this song of great sadness and hear the music and words.
13. BOOKS & BREWS
Literary Arts
Sundays, 4pm
Intermission Beer Company, 10089 Brook Road, Unit A, Glen Allen, VA
Come ready to talk about BOOKS at Intermission Beer Company’s Virtual Books & Brews Meetup. Any books-whatever you are reading, want to read, or have read. It's a ton of fun, rich discussion, and BEER! You will likely add to your "must read" list. Please view social-distance guidelines for participating HERE.
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.
