Event Schedule

Performances & Presentations

Please note scheduled times below

DJ Mikemetic & the Afro Beta Drummers
11 am–3 pm | Sculpture Garden, Pauley Center Patio
Experience the Afro-futuristic sounds of DJ Mikemetic and the Afro Beta Drummers as they engage in a creative musical arts presentation.

Culture4MyKids
11:15–11:45 am | Atrium, Level 1
1:30–2 pm | Cheek Theater, Level L
Calabash Lessons are filled with music, dance, songs, stories, and fun. Join us and become a part of the village while taking part in an interactive opportunity to make folktales come to life.

Cheick Hamala Diabate
11:30 am–noon & 12:30–1 pm | Cheek Theater, Level L
Cheick Hamala Diabaté is recognized as one of the world’s masters of the ngoni (a Malian traditional instrument) and a West African historian in the Griot tradition. A steward of the 800-year-old tradition of the Griot, or storytellers of West Africa, Cheick Hamala shares the oral history, music, and song of his culture as it was passed on to him from birth.

Demonstrations

Please note scheduled times below

Quilting Demonstration with Sisters of the Yam African American Quilters Guild
11 am–3 pm | Atrium, Level 1
Watch quilting demonstrations by Richmond-based group, Sisters of the Yam African American Quilters Guild. The guild was established in 2001, on the principle of healing through fabric and keeping the art of quilting alive.

Mudcloth Demonstrations with Virginia Friends of Mali
11 am–3 pm | Conference Room 1, Level L
Virginia Friends of Mali is excited to share examples of stories and music of ancient and modern day Mali, a country of many peoples in West Africa. Hear stories about children in Mali, and stories told to children in Mali! Also, learn about Segou, Richmond’s Malian sister city.

Storytelling with the Virginia Friends of Mali
11:30 am–noon, 1–1:30pm, 2–2:30pm | Library, Level 1
Virginia Friends of Mali is excited to share examples of stories and music of ancient and modern day Mali, a country of many peoples in West Africa. Hear stories about children in Mali, and stories told to children in Mali! Learn more about Mali through visits by Richmonders to Segou, our Malian sister city.

Woodcut Print Demonstrations with Dennis Winston
11 am–12:30 pm, 1:30–3 pm | Marble Hall, Level 2
Join Dennis R. Winston, a Virginia artist and educator, as he demonstrates his woodcut printing process and inspiration. Winston has received honors both locally and nationally as an artist and as an educator. His work can be found in many private and public collections.

Clay Vessel Demonstrations with Carren Clarke
11 am–3 pm | Marble Hall, Level 2
Join local artist, Carren Clarke, as she demonstrates her artistic processes of creating clay vessels, which are inspired by her travels.

Art Activities

Ongoing, 11 am–3 pm

Mask and Mythos: Construct a Headdress Inspired by Sculpted Masks of Mali
Marble Hall, Level 2

Rulers and Riches from the Malian Empire: Create Your Own Crowns and Adornments
WestRock Art Education Center, Studio 2

Ancient Trade and Transportation: Create a Camel Magnet
WestRock Art Education Center, Studio 1

Mali Metalwork: Design a Necklace Inspired by Ancient Jewelry from the Niger River
Marble Hall, Level 2

Bògòlanfini: Make a Paper Gift Bag Inspired by Mudcloth and Textiles of Mali
Conference Room 1, Level L

Community Activities

Ongoing, 11 am–3 pm

Selfie Station | Marble Hall, Level 2
Grab a prop and take a selfie! #VMFAFamilyDay

Play & Construct – Movement, Music, and Festivals! | WestRock Art Education Center, Early Childhood Classroom, Level 1
Explore & play in our Early Childhood Classroom. Discover, learn, and build structures inspired by architecture in Mali.

Architecture & Construction: Explore Mudbricks| Sculpture Garden
Play with paper brick building blocks to build your own Mudbrick-inspired structure. Learn about famous architecture from Mali.

Community Sculpture Decorating | Sculpture Garden
Work with artist Lily Lamberta and Milk River Arts to construct a community sculpture inspired by masks from Mali.

Play & Relax!| Sculpture Garden
Pick up a hula-hoop, play a game of mancala or relax on a picnic blanket in our Sculpture Garden.

Gallery Hunt | Start Space, WestRock Art Education Center, Level 1
Pick up a gallery map in the Start Space and explore our Interactive Gallery exhibition and the galleries.

Community Voting Survey & Prize Table | Atrium, Level 1
Stop by to vote for your favorite activity during today’s Family Day and receive a fun prize to take home.

VMFA’s Best Café & Food Vendors | Atrium, Level 1 & Sculpture Garden
Stop by the Best Café to pick up a delicious dish or go to the Sculpture Garden to pick up a tasty treat from King of Pops and Goatocado.

Generously sponsored by:

Contemporary artist Sammy Baloji discusses his work from the Mémoire series with Ashley Duhrkoop, Curatorial Associate for African Art and Mellon Grant Project Administrator. Their talk will explore connections between Baloji’s photomontages and paintings by Tshibumba Kanda-Matulu in VMFA’s permanent collection.

This class explores the special exhibition Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment. A tour of the exhibition with the curator is included.

The Mystical Arts of Tibet, featuring the Tibetan Monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery
Thu May 2 – Sun, May 5
Entrance to the special exhibition Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment

From May 2 – May 5, Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery in southern India will construct a sand mandala and perform music and chant ceremonies. The mandala will be swept away in a closing ceremony on August 3.

The Mystical Arts of Tibet is a world tour that has been in practice for over 25 years and is endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The goal of the tour is to share Tibet’s rich, authentic and sacred performing and visual arts with audiences all over the world.

Opening Ceremony
Thu, May 2 | noon–1 pm
Construction of Mandala | 1:00–6:00 pm

Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery in southern India will conduct an opening ceremony and blessing of the site through chanting, music, and mantra recitation as they prepare for the creation of the mandala. They then begin the painting by drawing an outline of the mandala on a wooden platform.

Construction of Mandala
Thu, May 2 | 1:00–6:00 pm
Fri, May 3 – Sun May 5 | 10:00 am–5:00 pm

The monks will construct a mandala during the opening weekend of the special exhibition by laying millions of grains of sand into place using a traditional metal funnel called chakpur.

Closing Ceremony
Sat, Aug 3 | 11:00 am–noon

At the opening of the Awaken exhibition, Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery in southern India constructed a sand mandala. The monks will dismantle the mandala, in a closing ceremony, sweeping up the colored sands to symbolize the impermanence of all that exists.

Take a mid-week break or start your weekend with a meditation session at VMFA. Join us this summer for hour-long meditation sessions guided by guest teachers from the local community. All are welcome, from beginner to advanced practitioners. This series is designed to complement our special exhibition, Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey towards Enlightenment.
All sessions are free and open to the public, tickets are required.

Please note, you may not be permitted to enter ten minutes after the session begins to prevent disruption.

Save the dates! All sessions run from 11 am–noon

Wed, May 22 – Philip and Kay Davidson

Philip Davidson, PhD, is a mindfulness teacher and coach. Over the past 7 years he has led mindfulness practice groups and introduced mindfulness in several local businesses and health care organizations. In his role as a member of the faculty at the Innerwork Center he co-facilitated its Spiritual Paths program three times and is currently co-facilitating a Mindfulness Teacher Training Program.

Kay Davidson, PhD, is a retired clinical psychologist and longtime mindfulness coach, mentor, and teacher and offers many classes, practice groups, workshops and retreats in the RVA area. Currently, she is co-facilitating the Innerwork Center Mindfulness Teacher Training program along with her husband Philip. She also serves on the Innerwork Center Faculty and is a past board member.

Wed, Jun 5 – John Taylor

John Taylor coordinates programming efforts in the National office of Initiatives of Change, an eighty-year-old, spiritually centered, peacemaking organization that is active in over 47 countries. John has practiced Reiki, Quantum Touch and other hands on healing modalities for over 30 years and is a graduate of the Innerwork Center’s six month Spiritual Paths program. His MBSR teacher training is through the University of California, San Diego.

Wed, Jun 19 – Jacquelyn Pogue

Jacquelyn Pogue is a retired psychotherapist, university teacher and organizational consultant. She has been a meditation teacher and leader of spiritual retreats for 40 years. Currently she is Founding Director of Richmond Action Dialogues, producer of documentary films, and public speaker.

Sat, Jun 29 – Marsha Olander*

Marsha has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development and began her study and practice of yoga and meditation in 1996. In addition, she has completed MBSR, Mindful School’s Curriculum Training, and the Yearlong Professional Development Program with Susan Kaiser Greenland, (author of ‘The Mindful Child’ and founder of ‘The Inner Kids Foundation’). Most recently Marsha spent four years teaching an ‘in school’, bi-weekly curriculum of Mindfulness Meditation and Social Emotional Learning to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.

*This session is designed for youth ages 8 – 10 years old. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Wed, July 10 – Susan Wilkes

Susan Brock Wilkes, PhD, is an organizational psychologist, university professor, and award- winning instructor. She has trained extensively in the evidence-based mindfulness programs that incorporate Buddhist philosophy with contemporary science. An independent consultant, Susan has presented nationally and for a variety of local nonprofit and faith-based organizations. Active in the community, she is currently on the board of Health Brigade, the local charitable clinic, and a co-founder of Impact100.

Sat, July 20 – Pat Buxton

Pat Buxton, B.A., M.A., MSW, has devoted her professional career to the mind body connection and the healing process through both her formal biopsychosocial training and own personal search of over 50 years through her meditative practice. The focus of her work, which is also her passion, is to guide her students to take their meditation practice off the cushion and into life. Three years ago Pat’s students founded Spring Brook Sangha which is a community devoted to the clarification of one’s purpose in this life.

Explore art and artists of the African American South with VMFA Curator Valerie Cassel Oliver. Her lecture includes an overview of works from the exhibition, Cosmologies from the Tree of Life: Art from the African American South, which features compelling new acquisitions from the Souls Grown Deep Foundation.

Guitarist and Vocalist, Jonathan Butler, live in the Cheek Theater. VMFA members can enjoy discounted tickets to this concert at either the 6 pm or 9 pm show. All seating will be assigned in the order reservations are received. Please plan to arrive 30 minutes early to pick up your will-call tickets with seating assignments in the Leslie Cheek Theater lobby. Full price tickets are currently available through brownpapertickets.com

$55 for VMFA members only. Discounted tickets available through May 10.  

Cash bar will be available in the theater lobby.

*Limit of 2 tickets per member

What do you do with messengers bearing unwelcome tidings? Throw them out the window, of course! Explore the turbulent 17th century through three of Hollar’s etchings

Discover the connections between the VMFA’s ancient art and the work in the exhibition, A Return to the Grand Tour: Micromosaics from the Collection of Elizabeth Locke with curators Dr. Susan J. Rawles, Associate Curator of American Painting and Decorative Art and Dr. Peter Schertz, Jack and Mary Ann Frable Curator of Ancient Art.

Mosaics are an ancient art form used to decorate buildings and using a variety of materials like colored stones, shells and pieces of ivory. Join professional artist Jenni Kirby for a demonstration of the minute and exact technique of a mosaic artist.