The Art Scene

Tiptoe through the tulips with Richmond's Midnight Ukulele Society. See how the Junior Appalachian Musicians are being taught traditional mountain music. Visit with fiberglass artist and entertainer Mark Cline.

Celebrate the jazzy sounds of regional treasure Desiree Roots. Then our own Roscoe Burnems teaches Art 180 teens to find their voice through poetry. We visit with Richmond glass artist Kiara Pellisier.

Discover the beauty behind the oldest classical dance forms from India. Then go on stage with a collaborative theater program where youth express their authentic selves. Community members and artists meet face-to-face at The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative (PAI) in Charlottesville.

Peek behind the curtain of the Actors Renaissance season at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia. Then see Richmond Ballet's Minds in Motion dance class for fourth graders in action, and meet emerging visual artist Veronica Jackson.

The debut of Kehinde Wiley's "Rumors of War" was in Times Square NYC, ahead of the anticipation of the sculpture's permanent home at the VMFA in Richmond. We talk with collaborators and contributors to the artist and his work, and sit down with Alex Nyerges and Valerie Cassel Oliver about what "Rumors of War" means to our region.

Fewer than 1/3 of ballet artistic directors in the nation are women, and Stoner Winslett of Richmond Ballet is one of them. The City Singers Youth Choir (K-12) sing different styles of music from around the world. Lora Beldon teaches an artistic workshop at the Appomattox Governor's School in Petersburg, where her art students learn that it's not easy to be a child in a military family.

The Virginia Opera will perform their first opera of their "Screen to Stage" initiative this season. Sung in Spanish, "il Postino" is conducted by Virginia Opera's new artistic director, their youngest ever, Adam Turner. Learn about the history of Taiko Japanese drumming in traditional Asian cultures. The Pottery School on the Pamunkey Indian reservation has been in existence since 1932.

The Richmond Philharmonic might be Richmond's best kept secret. Musical Director Peter Wilson conducts an all-volunteer orchestra who come together to delight audiences with their talent. At the Sacred Heart Center in Richmond, Casa Lápiz is an art program for middle school students that teaches English as a second language. See Kehinde Wiley's "Rumors of War" sculpture at the VMFA.

For those who love local theater, he's a very familiar face. An actor on the Richmond stage and screen for the last 20 years, Scott Wichmann (Mr. Showtime) shines in both comedic and dramatic roles. Celebrating 25 years, The Artisans Studio Tour is on November 9-11, 2019 in the Charlottesville area. We find out more about its history and their plans for this year's event. InLight Richmond is a free public exhibition of light-based art and performance managed by 1708 Gallery in Richmond.

Frank Walker is a nationally known African American fine artist who lives in Charlottesville, VA. His distinct creations are representative of the struggle of African Americans in America. His own personal experience as an Army Veteran during the Vietnam war spurred him to teach others the truth about the African American military experience through his art.