Artsline: Virtual Edition || May 2, 2022
“Art holds fast when all else is lost.” ~German proverb
It’s the beginning of the month and time for RVA First Fridays! With warmer days and cooler nights, May is the perfect time to explore art galleries and shops on Broad Street, along Main Street, and in Manchester. This month, a few parties are added to the list of First Fridays fun! And for those who are looking for music and theatre, there are plenty of choices. Get out and into the local art scene!
To list your events on Artsline, go to vpm.org/artsline.
1. STRAWBERRY STREET FESTIVAL
Festival
Saturday, May 7, 11am
Clark Springs Elementary, 1101 Dance St, Richmond, 23220
Strawberry Street Festival will be held at Fox Elementary's new home - Clark Springs Elementary! Enjoy strawberries, food trucks, bounce houses, music, carnival games, a video game truck, AND the dunk tank! Tours of Clark Springs available at 12:00, 1:00, and 2:00. No registration required.
2. ALTERNATIVES BLUEGRASS & BREWS
Music
Saturday, May 7, noon
Alley Event Space at AlterNatives, 3320 W. Cary Street, Richmond, 23221
The Bluegrass & Brews Festival honors the values of Mountain people with homegrown music, brews, and Southern Cuisine while raising awareness about the work of the Highland Support Project to protect, preserve, and restore mountain regions across the Americas. The festival is partnering with Richmond craft breweries, so folks can enjoy local brews while listening to local tunes. Admission to the festival is free and open to all, food and brews are available for purchase, and raffles and silent auctions will be offered to help raise money to provide assistance to these communities. No registration required.
3. DEFINING SPACE
Visual Art
Friday, May 6, 6pm reception
Anne’s Visual Art Studio, 208 West Broad Street, Richmond, 23220
Please join Anne’s Art Studio on RVA First Fridays Art Walk for the opening reception of Defining Space, new acrylic paintings by Mary Wilson Arzt that reflect the seasons as defined by the trees and the color in the world around us. No registration required.
4. RPAA'S 3RD ANNUAL PARKING LOT PARTY
Theatre, Music, Visual Arts
Saturday, May 7, 3pm
Dominion Energy Center, Broad Street Parking Lot, on Broad Street, between 6th & 7th Streets
$20 advance | $25 gate | $10 Non-drinking | Kids 5 & under free
Join The Richmond Performing Arts Alliance for their 3rd Annual Parking Lot Party – an afternoon and evening of bands, brews, and bites. Hosted by RPAA’s Associates Board, this family-friendly, festival style event will feature performances by local bands, beer, wine, food trucks, makers, and hands-on arts activities. Tickets include entry, beverage ticket and commemorative Koozie. Purchase tickets online.
5. FIRST FRIDAYS EXHIBIT AT THE RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY
Visual Arts
Reception Friday, May 6, 6:30pm
Main Branch, Richmond Public Library, 101 East Franklin Street, Richmond, 23219
The Richmond Public Library’s Main Branch offers five new exhibits for First Fridays RVA: A. M. Stimuli is a collection of extremely mood-motivated works of heart by Philadelphia artist H. Stokes; Richmond artists John Moon and William T. Grace collaborate with Moon’s abstract expressionist works in Transitions - Series I and Grace’s exhibition of vintage stamp collages in his exhibit World Stamps; and new works of pen-and-ink with ink wash, pencil and marker pointillism by Mechanicsville artist Cacy Herman. The library also continues Elizabeth Gorn’s photographs of India through collage in her exhibit Indian Memories Reimagined. No registration required.
6. ALADDIN JR.
Theatre
May 6-15
Fridays & Saturday, 7pm
Sundays, 3pm
Perkinson Center for the Arts & Education, 11810 Centre Street, Chester VA 23831
$8-$15
Aladdin and his three friends, Babkak, Omar, and Kassim, are down on their luck until Aladdin discovers a magic lamp and the Genie who has the power to grant three wishes. Wanting to earn the respect of the princess, Jasmine, Aladdin embarks on an adventure that will test his will and his moral character. Presented by Broken Leg Theater. Purchase tickets online.
7. J.S. BACH'S MASS IN B MINOR
Music
Friday, May 6, 7:30pm
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, 823 Cathedral Place, Richmond, 23220
See and hear J.S. Bach’s monumental Mass in B minor performed by Richmond’s own Cathedral Schola Cantorum with the Three Notch’d Road: The Virginia Baroque Ensemble performing on period instruments. Presented by the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Register online for this free event.
8. STOREFRONT FOR COMMUNITY DESIGN'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND BLOCK PARTY
Visual Art, Music
Friday, May 6, 5:30pm
Storefront for Community Design, 205 East Broad Street, Richmond 23219
Storefront for Community Design is throwing a party and you are invited to the Celebration! There will be food trucks, music (inside and out), other First Friday happenings, and of course—let there be cake! Drop by to view SFCD’s 10 Years, 10 Stories of Impact Exhibition, meet founding members and fellow designers, mingle with neighbors and community partners, and discover their vision for future programming. Register online for this free event.
9. THE RICHMOND BOOK FESTIVAL ***POSTPONED***
Literary Arts
Saturday, May 7
John B. Cary Elementary School, 3021 Maplewood Avenue, Richmond, 23221
***THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER***
John B. Cary Elementary will host the 2022 Richmond Book Festival, providing families with much needed information about literacy, as well as information on STEM/STEAM education, health and fitness, finance, parenting & more. No registration required for this free event.
10. OUR DIRECTOR: RICHMOND CONCERT BAND MOTHER’S DAY CONCERT
Music
Sunday, May 8, 6pm
Agecroft Hall & Gardens, 4305 Sulgrave Road, Richmond, VA 23221
Spend your Mother's Day at Agecroft Hall and Gardens! "Our Director" celebrates the career of Mark Poland, Richmond Concert Band Director. Bring your blankets or chairs, pack a picnic, and enjoy great music and food with family. No registration required for this free event.
11. FOREST FOR THE TREES & ALTERED VISION
Visual Art
Friday, May 6, 5pm reception
Exhibits run through June 24
Reynolds Gallery, 1514 West Main Street, Richmond, 23220
Reynolds Gallery is pleased to present two exhibitions of new works: Forest for the Trees by Gabrielle Teschner and Altered Visions by Joe Seipel. No registration required.
12. 1ST DRAFTS AND BAGELS: MEMORY, LIKE THE ROSES
Theatre, Literary Arts
Saturday, May 7, noon
Firehouse Theatre Project, 1609 W. Broad St, Richmond, 23220
$5 suggested donation
Join Firehouse Theatre Project for mimosas and bagels and participate in the creative process of making a new play. 1st Drafts and Bagels brings together playwrights, directors, performers, and you to hear and talk about new short plays (or pieces of longer plays). Saturday’s play is Memory, Like the Roses by John Porter, directed by Joel Bassin with readers Linda Beringer, Axle Burtness, Irene J. Kuykendall, Pauline Spencer. Synopsis: A young couple moves into the husband's childhood home after the death of his mother. Plans to redecorate and start their own family stir up some very vivid memories. No registration required. (John Porter is an employee at VPM.)
If you are an arts or cultural organization with lectures, exhibitions, performances, 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, check out the list of local and national resources from Richmond CultureWorks.
Richmond Performing Arts Alliance is a sponsor of VPM.
