The Library of Virginia and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts are pleased to announce the winner of the annual Art in Literature: The Mary Lynn Kotz Award. The judges selected Mary Gabriel’s Ninth Street Women: Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler – Five Painters and the Movement That Changed Modern Art. Gabriel will be recognized on Friday, October 18, 2019, at the VMFA and on Saturday, October 19, 2019, at the Library of Virginia’s annual Virginia Literary Awards Celebration.

This event will feature a presentation by the award recipient, Mary Gabriel, followed by a book signing and reception.

The Navratri Celebration is an annual festival in India that celebrates the female deities of Hinduism. VMFA welcomes those who attend, strangers interested in learning, and the leaders of the event. This dance, performed in a circle, involves a small dowel which participants use to connect with one another as well as create rhythmic sound to the beat of the music.

Conversation and storytelling have informed and empowered women of color for generations. These same forms of communication are at the heart of a thought-provoking and inspiring leadership forum featuring panel discussions, reflections, and talks.

The exciting lineup of leaders in the arts, education and policy, and business includes Kristen Cavallo, CEO, The Martin Agency; Linda Hines, CEO, Virginia Premier; Melody Barnes, Co-Director, University of Virginia’s Democracy Initiative; and many others. In addition, Valerie Cassel Oliver, VMFA’s Sydney and Francis Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, will have a conversation with Mary Margaret Pettway. Pettway is a third-generation quilter, a member of the Gee’s Bend Quilters Collective, and the Chair of the Board of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation. As curator and artist, they will speak to various aspects of art, culture, and business. VMFA’s forum follows American Evolution 2019 Women’s Achieve Summit, October 14-15, at the Richmond Convention Center.

VMFA’s day-long forum, Ascend & Lead: A Women’s Empowerment Forum, takes place October 19. The cost is $20 ($15 VMFA members) and includes a box lunch.

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Schedule

Please note that the schedule is subject to change.

9:30 am
Doors Open

MORNING SESSION

10 am–noon

10–10:05 am
Opening Remarks
Paula Saylor-Robinson, Director of Audience Development and Community Engagement, VMFA

10:05–10:15 am
VMFA’s 3-D Vision: Our Visitors, Art, and the People We Employ
Dr. Michael Taylor, Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Art and Education, VMFA, and Caprice Bragg, Vice President for Board Relations and Strategic Planning, VMFA

10:15–10:40 am
Quilting: From Pieces to a Whole
Mary Margaret Pettway, Chair of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation in conversation with Valerie Cassel Oliver, Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, VMFA

10:40–10:50 am
The Struggle Is Real
Dr. Sesha Joi Moon, Senior Human Capital Strategist, US Patent & Trademark Office

10:50–11:10 am
For Such a Time as This: Museum Leaders for the 21st Century
Jan Hatchette, Deputy Director for Communications, VMFA; Marquette Folley, Content Director, Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service; and Adele Johnson, Executive Director, Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia

11:10–11:20 am
Stories Beyond Black and White
The Honorable Nancy Rodrigues, Deputy Director, 2019 Commemoration American Evolution

11:20–11:40 am
In the Black: The Business of Media
Karla Redditte, WWBT NBC12 News Anchor/Reporter; Kelli Lemon, Social Entrepreneur/Consultant, and Jean Boone, Publisher of Richmond Free Press

11:40 am–noon
Session Wrap-up
Lunch Information, Museum Wayfinding, and Reflections
Paula Saylor-Robinson, Director of Audience Development and Community Engagement, VMFA

LUNCH
Noon–1 pm

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AFTERNOON SESSION

1-3:30 pm

1:05-1:10 pm
Welcome Back
Clovia Lawrence, Media Personality and Community Advocate, Project Give Back Foundation

1:10-1:20 pm
Profile: Evergreen; Ever Dream
Ting Xu, Founder and Chairman of the Board, Evergreen Enterprises

1:20-1:40 pm
It All Starts with Education
The Honorable Atif Qarni, Secretary of Education, Commonwealth of Virginia; Dr. Betty Crutcher, Educator and Consultant; and Celeste Fetta, Director of Education, VMFA

1:40–2:05 pm
Enacting Change
Dr. Lauranett Lee, Visiting Lecturer, Jepson School of Leadership Studies, University of Richmond; Melody Barnes, Co-Director, The Democracy Initiative, The University of Virginia; Dr. Jennifer Lawless, Commonwealth Professor of Politics, University of Virginia; and Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, Executive Director, ACLU of Virginia

2:05-2:15 pm
Profile: Rising Tide of Women in Politics
The Honorable Jennifer McClellan, Virginia State Senator

2:15–2:25 pm
Now Upon a Time: Empowering Future Leaders
Kristen Cavallo, Chief Executive Officer, The Martin Agency

2:25-2:50 pm
Challenging Stereotypes, Setting a New Standard
Michelle Collins-Robinson, Founder, MMCR Consult; Finis Solomon Cook, Executive Technical Lead, IBM Cloud Platform, Financial Services Markets; Dr. Linda Hines, Chief Executive Office, VA Premier Health Plan; Gail Letts, President, Letts Consult; and Adrienne Whitaker, Director of Business Development, SOAR365

2:50–3 pm
Profile: Indigenous Peoples and What It Means to Be First
Lynette Allston, Chief and Chair of the Tribal Council of the Nottoway Tribe of Virginia

3–3:15 pm
Closing Remarks
Paula Saylor-Robinson, Director of Audience Development and Community Engagement, VMFA featuring an inspirational story and reading by Dr. Yewande Austin, Founder/President, Global Institute for Diversity and Change

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Image: Five women hired by VMFA since 2015 for top-level leadership positions; Credit L: Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Presented by JS Affair, this special evening of live jazz takes place in VMFA’s Cheek Theater. Doors open at 2 pm. Tickets are available through brownpapertickets.com. VMFA members can purchase their discount tickets at jsaffair.com. For information, phone 804.510.9999 or 804.353.9180.

General Tickets Member Tickets

Free & Open to the Public

“And today we say yes to something that looks like us. We say yes to inclusivity. We say yes to broader notions of what it means to be an American.”

—Kehinde Wiley

Be one of the first in Richmond to see Kehinde Wiley’s Rumors of War at its unveiling at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

The event begins at 3:30 pm in VMFA’s Mary Morton Parsons Plaza, facing Arthur Ashe Boulevard. The program will include a performance by Richmond Public Schools All City Marching Band and remarks by:

• Kehinde Wiley
• The Honorable Ralph Northam, Governor of Virginia
• The Honorable Levar Stoney, Mayor of the City of Richmond
• Alex Nyerges, VMFA’s Director and CEO
• Dr. Monroe Harris, VMFA’s President of the Board of Trustees
• Valerie Cassel Oliver, VMFA’s Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
• Sean Kelly, Sean Kelly Gallery

From 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, the celebration continues with an indoor reception featuring live music and refreshments in the Cochrane Atrium.

Learn More About the Sculpture

Street Closures
Southbound lanes of N. Arthur Ashe Blvd, between Ellwood Ave and Monument Ave will be closed between 2 pm and 6 pm on the day of the event.

Shuttle Service
FREE parking and FREE shuttles are available from Rueger Playground at 3000 Grant St. Shuttles will run regularly between 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm. All shuttles will stop at the corner of N. Arthur Ashe Blvd and Grove Ave.

Parking
Guests attending this event are advised to use remote parking at Rueger Playground (3000 Grant St) and ride the free shuttles, which will drop off at the corner of N. Arthur Ashe Blvd and Grove Ave.

No parking will be allowed on either side of N.Arthur Ashe Blvd, between Floyd Ave and Kensington Ave, between noon and 6 pm on the day of the event.

Parking will also be restricted on Grove Ave between N. Arthur Ashe Blvd and Sheppard St beginning at 12:00 pm.

School Groups
School groups planning to attend the unveiling should contact VMFA’s Tour Services at 804.340.1419 or at tourservices@vmfa.museum to let us know your expected arrival time, the number of students in your group, and if you are traveling by bus.

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IMAGE Rumors of War (detail), 2019, Kehinde Wiley (American, born 1977), bronze with stone pedestal, overall: 27’ 4 7/8” H x 25’ 5 7/8” L x 15’ 9 5/8” W. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Purchased with funds provided by Virginia Sargeant Reynolds in memory of her husband, Richard S. Reynolds, Jr., by exchange, Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Endowment, Pamela K. and William A. Royall, Jr., Angel and Tom Papa, Katherine and Steven Markel, and additional private donors, 2019.39

Join VMFA in a celebration of the Lunar New Year and ChinaFest: Year of the Metal Rat! Explore Chinese art and culture through art-making activities, demonstrations, and performances. Create your own lion dance-inspired mask and create a Tao Tie-inspired paper vessel. Watch the dynamic Lion Dance, beautiful performances by Yu Dance Arts, and so much more!

Performances & Presentations

Yu Dance Arts

11:05–11:30 am | Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L
1:35–2 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L
3–3:15 pm | Atrium, Level 1

Directed by Yu Xiao, Yu Dance Arts is a Richmond-based youth dance troupe that creates and performs intercultural dances combining Chinese traditional dance with Western modern aesthetics.

Wushu Club at VCU

Noon–12:20 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L
2:10–2:30 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L

Wushu Club at VCU is a sports club that centers around Wushu, a modern Chinese performance martial arts that combines aspects of gymnastics, martial arts, and choreography. The club works to share the Chinese culture of Wushu to others.

Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu

11:30 am–noon| Atrium, Level 1
1:40–2:10 pm | Atrium, Level 1

Watch and practice graceful warrior moves with Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu. This art was made popular in the 1950s by Grand Master Yip Man, whose best-known student is movie legend Bruce Lee!

Lion Dance at VCU

10:30–11 am | Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L
Noon–12:30 pm | Atrium, Level 1
2:35–3:05 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L

Enjoy the dynamic performances of RYSE Lion Dance at VCU. This traditional troupe practices the Fut San style of lion dance, which originated in ancient southern China.

Demonstrations & Workshops

Chinese New Year Traditions & Storytelling with Students from the University of Richmond

10:30–11 am and 12:45–1:15 pm | Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library, Level 1

Join students from the University of Richmond to learn about Chinese New Year traditions and the origin of the zodiacs. Relax and read a book, or participate in storytelling led by students from the University of Richmond.

Year of the Rat Masks with George Mason University Confucius Institute

10:30 am–3:30 pm | Marble Hall, Level 2

Create a mask to celebrate the Year of the Rat, with instructors from the George Mason University Confucius Institute.

Calligraphy with the College of William & Mary Confucius Institute

Noon–4 pm | Conference Room 1, Level L

Join the Confucius Institute at the College of William & Mary, as they practice the beautiful art of writing Chinese characters.

Language Workshops with Collegiate School

Noon–2 pm| Cochrane Court, Level 2

Collegiate Upper School students are excited to facilitate an exciting language-learning activity! Stop by and learn basic Chinese characters and get a taste of Chinese culture. Activities will include matching Chinese words to their English translations, writing Chinese characters, traditional Chinese games, and more. All ages are welcome and no previous language experience is required.

Art Activities

Ongoing

Make an Ancient Metal Mirror
Studio 1, WestRock Art Education Center, Level 1

Zodiac Sumi-e Painting
Studio 2, WestRock Art Education Center, Level 1

Create a Lion Dance-inspired Mask or Puppet
Marble Hall, Level 2

Construct a Torn Tissue Paper Lantern with 1708 Gallery
Marble Hall, Level 2

Make a Tangram Rat
Marble Hall, Level 2

Build a Tao Tie-Inspired Paper Vessel
Marble Hall, Level 2

Community Activities

Ongoing

Community Dragon
Atrium, Level 1
Work alongside the community to build a collaborative paper dragon! Write a wish on a paper ring and add it to the body of the dragon.

Community Voting Survey & Prize Table
Atrium, Level 1
Stop by to vote for your favorite art activity of the day and receive a fun prize to take home.

Play & Construct!
Marble Hall, Level 2
Use oversized tangram shapes to create patterns and designs or experiment with Chinese instruments. Use blocks to construct Chinese architectural monuments.

Strike a Pose Photo Station
Marble Hall, Level 2
Grab a prop and take a selfie! #VMFAFamilyDay

Films
Early Childhood Classroom, WestRock Art Education Center, Level 1
Enjoy family-friendly Chinese films as you relax in our Early Childhood Classroom!

Paper Lantern Wishes
Start Space, WestRock Art Education Center, Level 1
Write a wish on a paper lantern!

Gallery Hunt & Audio Tours
Start Space, WestRock Art Education Center, Level 1
Pick up a gallery map in our Start Space and explore the VMFA Galleries. Make sure to stop by the Interactive Gallery exhibition, Rhythm of Art, which explores the relationship of art and music, on view through February 18.

Explore More at VMFA!

Special Exhibition: Edward Hopper and the American Hotel
Level L
This ticketed exhibition is on view in our Level L special exhibition space through February 23. Tickets can be purchased at the Visitor Services desk on Level 1.

VMFA’s Best Café
Atrium, Level 1
Stop by VMFA’s Best Café to pick up a tasty treat or delicious dish! Food will be served until 3:30 pm in the Best Café.

VMFA Shop
Atrium, Level 1
Explore beautifully crafted items in our VMFA shop.

Become a Member at VMFA
Not a member? Join during Family Day and receive a $20 discount on Family Membership, or enter your name for a chance to win a $15 gift card to the Best Café!

SAVE THE DATE!

Join us for our upcoming Family Day events listed below.

Celebrate African and African American Art: Egypt
Sat, June 6, 2020
11 am-3 pm

Celebrate the Art of Latin America: The Andes
Sat, Sep 12, 2020
11 am-3 pm

Generously Sponsored by:

*ALL PACKAGES ARE CURRENTLY SOLD OUT*

VMFA Invites You to Check In!

You Must Be Age 21+ to Make a Reservation.

Overnight stays are available on select nights. Limited availability.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has designed an art experience unlike any other. By simulating the setting in Edward Hopper’s painting Western Motel, VMFA has created an immersive space for overnight guests with an exclusive view inside the exhibition Edward Hopper and the American Hotel.

Explore the exciting options listed below, which may include dinner at VMFA’s Amuse restaurant, a guided tour led by the curator, your own copy of the exhibition catalogue, a round of miniature golf at Richmond’s newly opened Hotel Greene, and more.

Select one of the following packages and make your reservation today!

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There is no member discount for this event.

Please refer to the Hopper Hotel Experience policies before purchasing tickets; each event is limited to two guests 21 years of age and over.

Summaries:

Package A

$150
Available Friday evenings, Nov 1–Feb 21

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Arrive in the early evening to check-in for the Hopper Hotel Experience. A package will be waiting for you at the Visitor Services Desk. Experience the exhibition, visit Best Café, and enjoy Friday night programming at VMFA. Around 9 pm, check-in to the painting Western Motel with a view of the exhibition galleries. Guests depart no later than 8 am the following morning.

Package A includes:

• $25 Gift Card to Best Café or Amuse
• Two VIP exhibition tickets
• Miniature golf for two at Hotel Greene

Package B

$250
Available Friday evenings, Nov 1–Feb 21

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Arrive in the early evening to check-in for the Hopper Hotel Experience. A package will be waiting for you at the Visitor Services Desk. Visit the exhibition, have dinner in Amuse restaurant, and enjoy Friday night programming at VMFA. Around 9 pm, check-in to the painting Western Motel with a view of the exhibition galleries. Guests depart no later than 8 am the following morning, followed by brunch and miniature golf at Hotel Greene.

Package B includes:

• $50 gift card to Amuse, with reservation priority for evening of Hotel Experience
• Exhibition catalogue and two VIP exhibition tickets
• Brunch and miniature golf for two at Hotel Greene the following morning

Package C

$350
Available Wednesday evenings, Oct 30–Feb 19

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Arrive in the early evening to check-in for the Hopper Hotel Experience. A package will be waiting for you at the Visitor Services Desk. Begin with a guided tour of Edward Hopper and the American Hotel with the curator,* followed by dinner in Amuse restaurant. Depart VMFA for miniature golf at Hotel Greene that evening, or save your tee time for another day. Around 9 pm, check-in to the painting Western Motel with a view of the exhibition galleries. Guests depart no later than 8 am the following morning.

Package C includes:

• $75 gift card to Amuse, with reservation priority for evening of Hotel Experience
• Guided tour of Edward Hopper and the American Hotel with exhibition curator*
• Exhibition catalogue and two VIP exhibition tickets
• Miniature golf for two at Hotel Greene

Package D

$500
Available Saturday evenings, Nov 2–Feb 22

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Arrive by 4 pm to check-in for the Hopper Hotel Experience and receive your VMFA membership package at the Visitor Services Desk. Enjoy dinner in Amuse restaurant, followed by a private guided tour of Edward Hopper and the American Hotel with the curator.* Check-in to the painting Western Motel, with a view of the exhibition galleries, and request access to one additional VMFA collection area of your choice to tour on your own. Guests depart no later than 8:30 am the following morning to enjoy a reserved tee time for miniature golf and brunch at Hotel Greene.

Package D includes:

• Private guided tour of Edward Hopper and the American Hotel with exhibition curator*
• Dinner for two in Amuse
• After-hours access to one additional VMFA gallery of your choice
• Exhibition catalogue and two VIP exhibition tickets
• VMFA Dual Membership for one year
• Brunch and miniature golf for two at Hotel Greene the following morning

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*If the curator is unavailable, VMFA senior staff will provide the private guided tour.

VMFA will begin accepting applications to become a Volunteer Tour Guide (the position formerly known as “Docent”) beginning Monday, July 22, 2019 through Sunday, September 15, 2019. For this recruitment, Tour Guides will (initially) be trained to tour an upcoming special exhibition titled Egypt: Sunken Cities (on view May 2020-January 2021). Please read through the description of the volunteer role, requirements, timeline, etc. before filling out an application.

Two separate, on-site informational sessions will take place during the month of August 2019 (during the application process). Anyone interested in learning more about the VMFA Tour Guide Program and/or how to apply can join us for one of these on-site sessions (there is no requirement to attend).

What is a VMFA Tour Guide?

VMFA Tour Guides are trained volunteers dedicated to connecting with our visitors through facilitated, shared gallery experiences centered on the visual arts. Falling within our Interpretation Department, they are an integral part of the Education Division and are often referred to as “frontline staff” or ambassadors of the Museum. Our Tour Guides are trained on facilitation values based on a learner-driven experience, where guests are guided through the process of looking, exploring, and discussing art. VMFA Tour Guides must have excellent customer service skills and be able to engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds with an emphasis on a visitor-centered facilitation style. The facilitation style focuses on engagement through dialogue, an exchange of knowledge between guide and visitor, and helping participants explore critical, creative, and reflective thinking skills.

Learn More About Becoming a Tour Guide!

Claude Monet once advised a young artist to “paint . . . just as it looks to you,” yet he and his fellow Impressionists did more than simply observe and record the world around them—they carefully selected points of view, materials, and graphic tools such as cropping or unexpected perspectives. Dr. Jennifer Thompson will explore the ways in which the Impressionists draw our attention to the sensations of the moment and to their distinctive vision of the world.

Join us September 26 as we welcome Lonnie Holley to the Leslie Cheek Theater. Beginning at 6 we will view Lonnie’s recent Sundance film I Snuck Off the Slave Ship. Following the film, we will get to hear Lonnie talk about his art as well as enjoy a live performance of his music with his band. Doors will be closed during the film and reopen at 6:30 for the talk and performance.