Artsline || April 17, 2023
“I’m writing my story so that others might see fragments of themselves.” ~ Lena Waithe
So many stories this week! From book talks to history lessons, from theatre to visual arts to dance – all of RVA seems to be taking a deep dive into the stories of our region and the stories of our lives. As April ends, explore your own piece of the story in our arts and culture community!
To list your events on Artsline, go to vpm.org/artsline.
1. CONFESSIONS OF A SOUTHERN CHURCH
History, Culture
Thursday, April 27, Noon
Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 North Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Richmond, 23220
$10 adult | $5 student | Free for age 5 & under
When a young man enamored with Confederate iconography murdered worshipers at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston in 2015, the rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond called his congregation to examine its own racial history and former identity as the “Church of the Confederacy.” St. Paul’s, in downtown Richmond, had been the home to wealthy and influential Virginians, and during the Civil War had hosted Confederate leaders, including Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis. The people of St. Paul’s reveled in the notoriety and built its postwar identity around its Confederate connections. The Virginia Museum of History & Culture brings historian, museum curator, and member of St. Paul’s, Christopher Graham to discuss his book Faith, Race, and the Lost Cause: Confessions of a Southern Church. Purchase tickets online.
2. SPITTING IMAGE II
Dance, Photography
Thursday – Saturday, April 27-29, 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 29, 5PM
Firehouse Theatre, 1609 West Broad Street, Richmond, 23220
$15 - $25
To continue Starr Foster Dance’s mission to collaborate with and support other artists, SFD will present SPITTING IMAGE II, a collaboration with seven photographers to inspire the creation of new dance works. Presented at the Firehouse Theatre, this special event features new dance works by SFD's award winning Artistic Director, Starrene Foster, and an exhibition of the selected photography. Purchase tickets online.
3. ASHLAND TRAIN DAY
Music, Visual Art, Culture
Saturday, April 29
Town of Ashland, 112 North Railroad Avenue, Ashland, 23005
Ashland Train Day--the annual celebration of Ashland's love for trains--is a street festival and rail-fan extravaganza in the heart of historic Downtown Ashland. Now in its 19th year, Ashland Train Day is a free event for the whole family. Come visit along the tracks for music, games, kiddie train rides, history, model trains, touch-a-truck, bouncy house, arts and crafts, local food, and storytelling! The event appeals to train lovers young and old. No registration required for this free event.
4. AN AFTERNOON OF HISTORY: ROSA BOWSER, RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY & THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM OF VIRGINIA
History
Saturday, April 29, Noon
Black History Museum of Virginia, 122 West Leigh Street, Richmond, 23220
The Richmond Public Library (RPL) and the Black History Museum and Cultural Center (BHMVA) have shared history at 00 Clay Street. This location was the first site of the BHMVA and former location of the Rosa Bowser Branch of the Richmond Public Library. For this program, historian Elvatrice Belsches will give a presentation about Rosa Bowser. In addition, there will be two curated tours of the Forging Freedom, Justice and Equality exhibit and RPL staff will host oral history recording sessions as part of our Stories & Memories project. Register online for this free event.
5. LIVE PAINTING WITH TSVETI SOWERS
Visual Art
Saturday, April 29, 11 AM
Quirk Hotel Courtyard (weather permitting), 201 West Broad Street, Richmond, 23220
One of Quirk Gallery’s current exhibiting artists, Tsveti Sowers, will be painting live in the hotel courtyard! She’ll answer any questions about her work and current solo show in the Main Gallery. Come stop by to see her beautiful show, Flowers by Tsveti Sowers, open now through May 6th. No registration required for this free event.
6. AN EVENING WITH ADRIANA TRIGIANI
Literary Art
Thursday, April 27, 7 PM
The Tuckahoe Woman's Club, 4215 Dover Road, Richmond, 23221
$40-$125
The Tuckahoe Woman's Club celebrates the publication of the paperback of The Good Left Undone by New York Times Bestselling Author Adriana Trigiani! Presented by Fountain Bookstore. Purchase tickets online.
7. 4TH FRIDAY ART SHOWS AND OPENING RECEPTION
Visual Art
Friday, April 28, 6 PM reception
Exhibits through May 20
Art Works, 320 Hull Street, Richmond, 23224
In April, Art Works proudly partners with the Henrico Center for the Arts as the students presents their annual exhibit. The April All Media Show will also open. Tim Gowan is presenting a curator exhibit and Elizabeth Caffery will open her mixed media show, Island of Dreams. Come for the opening reception – meet the artists and enjoy live music, refreshments and libations sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists. Parking is free. No registration required for this free event.
8. RENT
Theatre
Thursday – Saturday, April 27-30, 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 29, 2 PM matinee
Sunday, April 30, 3 PM matinee
Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Avenue, Richmond, 23220
$15 - $25
VCUarts Theatre presents Jonathan Larson's iconic award-winning musical that shaped a generation of audiences and taught us all to measure our life in love. Set in the East Village of New York City in 1989, Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages. Purchase tickets online.
9. DON'T BLOW ON THE SOUP
Visual Art
Friday, April 28, 7 PM reception
Material Room, 3119 West Marshall Street, Richmond, 23230
Material Room opens Don’t blow on the soup, an exhibit from Lizay Jo Eilers that elaborates on the ethos of the All-American ‘Girl Next Door,’ which is heavily rooted in the failure of our society to see her hybridity as she is already indoctrinated inside our system: a kind of erotic ghost that paradoxically works to undercut mainstream forces. Eilers lives and works in Chicago. She uses painting, collage, sculpture and found objects to work through the double stake of popular culture's representation of women, and its tendency to simultaneously resist and reinforce dominant ideals and values. No registration required for this free event.
10. SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHDAY: A CELEBRATION OF THE BARD
History, Theatre, Literature
Saturday, April 29, Noon
Agecroft Hall & Gardens, 4305 Sulgrave Road, Richmond, 23221
Outdoor activities free
Agecroft Hall indoor tours: $8-$12 (children are free)
To celebrate Shakespeare’s 459th birthday, Agecroft Hall is having a birthday party! In honor of this occasion they will offer a full day of entertainment: dances, games, songs, and other merry activities! Wander through their Shakespeare Garden and join the living history staff for Tudor era crafts. Bring a picnic and enjoy the gardens and grounds. This event takes place on the grounds of Agecroft Hall and the outdoor activities are FREE to the public. House tours of Agecroft Hall will be available for the regular rate. Purchase tickets online.
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.
Agecroft Hall & Gardens and VCUarts are sponsors of VPM.
