Currents Uncut

Find out how this theatre withstood fire, weather damage, segregation, and hard economic times, but eventually closed for 60 years deteriorating from the inside out. Hear the gripping history of the theatre from Geoffrey Kershner, Executive Director of the Academy of the Arts, and how it has been fully renovated to be a jewel in the crown of downtown Lynchburg.

Shayy Winn shares candid stories about being on American Idol as a high school student with a newly diagnosed vision impairment. This uncut interview at her Chesterfield County Virginia home includes a few bloopers and a lot of laughs. Shayy made it to the top 40 in season 17 of American Idol and her main audition brought Lionel Richie to tears.

Learn how the riveting exhibition “Great Force” came to fruition from Amber Esseiva, Assistant Curator of the Institute For Contemporary Art at VCU in Richmond. She describes how through various mediums of art this exhibition addresses the historical barriers that have been in place due to racism against blacks and the persistence of the color line in the United States.

Frank Arrigo, a former Life Sciences employee, tells us what life is like after the Kepone Chemical Crisis in Hopewell. He talks about the severe symptoms he endured while working at Life Sciences as a welder, and for years after the plant was closed down and still today.

Watch the full interview with Vietnam veteran, Walter Allmon. Walter shares his experience serving in the Vietnam War, the effect it had on his family and his mental health. Find out how he discovered the path to feeling safe in the world again.

Watch the full interview with Tamekia Studivant a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. She shares her story of life after the military and the challenges she faced adjusting to civilian life. In this interview Tamekia talks about how she reached a mental breaking point and wanted to take her own life but she finally found hope, peace and connection with help from the Richmond Vet Center.