When you come to VMFA tomorrow you’ll see 3D printers at work in the Atrium. They’re printing the hundreds of tiny buildings that make up the Forbidden City in honor of the upcoming special exhibition, which opens Oct 18. This printing project is part of a crowdfunding campaign to support the museum’s exhibition program. Your tax-deductible donations support all of VMFA’s exhibitions—from traveling exhibitions like Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures from the Palace Museum, Beijing and Chihuly to those showcasing VMFA’s permanent collections.
Each giving level—this one is $50—is tied to an architectural element of the Forbidden City. In a series of six blog posts, we will provide the story behind each of these intriguing icons:
The Manchus overthrew the last Ming-dynasty emperor in 1644 and established the Qing dynasty. The Qing emperors were proud of their Manchu heritage and attached great importance to developing the skills of their ancestors’ nomadic culture. Imperial family members and nobles practiced their archery and equestrian skills at the Archery Pavilion and in the Outer Court. Military examinations under Emperor Qianlong also included events in mounted archery and archery on foot as well as lifting weights and swordsmanship.
Help VMFA Build the Forbidden City and come by the museum to watch the progress!