Angie Wiggins graduated from JMU with a BFA degree, concentration in crafts. She began her artistic career as a weaver and fiber artist before turning her interests and creative efforts to paper- and felt-making. Handmade paper bowls become a canvas which Angie embellishes with all sorts of media, including glass, fabric, and organic materials. In addition to her handmade paper, Angie has added polymer clay and precious metal clay, making her art incredibly durable as well as decorative. We are so pleased to feature Angie and her joyfully colorful hand-crafted work!
Are you a third grade teacher who will soon be adding Egypt and China to the ancient civilizations you teach? This workshop provides resources and strategies for helping students understand the contributions of the ancient Egyptians and ancient Chinese to today’s world. Topics include the Egyptian inventions of papyrus, the calendar, and the clock; the Chinese inventions of silk, fireworks, the compass, and the kite; and a look at Chinese characters and Egyptian hieroglyphs. Hands-on activities and gallery adventures involve Silk Road geography connections using maps and works of art from the VMFA collection.
Diamonds, rubies and sapphires are just a few of the gemstones featured in the exhibition, The Rachel Lambert Mellon Collection of Jean Schlumberger, but there are others to discover. Join Mark Palmgren, Gemologist and Appraiser for Carrera’s Jewelers, as he discusses how a gemstone is identified and classified and eventually selected to be used in a piece of designer jewelry.
Join us for a vibrant afternoon of live music and dance with the world-renowned Rajasthani Gypsy Caravan. The group of folk musicians and dancers who will perform the traditional arts from the desert of Rajasthan, India.
Singing has always been part of the Tuskegee experience. Dr. Booker T. Washington, who founded the original Tuskegee Institute in 1881, insisted on communal singing at weekly chapel services and developed a choir to lead the way. Before too long the choir was sent out to promote the Institute, establishing a rich choral tradition, steeped in pride, that has continued for more than a century.
The Tuskegee University Golden Voices Choir’s performance at VMFA is made possible by Dr. Ronald A. Crutcher and Dr. Betty Neal Crutcher and SunTrust Bank.
We’re cleaning out our drawers and shelves! The VMFA Shop Spring Cleaning Sale beings Monday, Feb 20 and runs through Sat, Feb 25. Stop by the shop and save up to 50% off select earrings, necklaces, accessories, and more!
In-store only. All merchandise is final sale. No additional discounts apply.
As a part of the 27th annual African American Read-In, a national event, VMFA staff and members of the community share African and African American literature through readings and poetry related to work in the permanent collection.
The VMFA Library will also be open on this night for extended hours with works from the Louis Draper archives on display. Come see notebooks, cameras, and prints up close and discuss their significance with Courtney Yevich Tkacz, Museum Archivist, and Maggie Allbee, Reference Librarian.
Excerpt from Native Son by Richard Wright and Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Speaker
Dr. Shermaine Jones, Assistant Professor, VCU Department of English and VCU Students
Three Folk Musicians Romare Bearden
(American, 1911–1988)
Modern and Contemporary, Level 2
Reading
Excerpt from Rectangular Structure in My Paintings by Romare Bearden
Speakers
Rev. Tyrone Nelson,
Pastor of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church
Donald McEachin,
U.S. Congressman for 4th District
What is African American Read-In?
During the month of February, schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month by hosting an African American Read-In. Sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and NCTE, and endorsed by the International Literacy Association, the goal the Read-In is to document readers making a celebration of African American literacy.
Born in Richmond and now based in Brooklyn, photographer LeRoy Henderson has been documenting America’s culture of protest since the late 1960s. Join us as he discusses his life and work with Dr. Sarah Eckhardt, Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.
VMFA recently received V3 certification from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Veterans Services. This program helps employers implement nationally recognized best practices to recruit, hire, and retain veterans in the workforce.
To celebrate VMFA’s commitment to this program, the museum is hosting a job fair where veterans will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from 10 different employers.
Dominion Virginia Power
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Community College System
Virginia Department of Corrections
Virginia Department of Health
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Virginia Department of Social Services
Virginia Department of Transportation
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Virginia State Police
University of Virginia
All job seekers are invited to attend.
VMFA’s Parking Deck is open 8 am–10 pm; $5 daily (free with membership card). Free street parking is also available.
The GRTC bus routes to VMFA are 3, 4, and 16.
Make the job fair a family affair and visit the galleries. VMFA is a year-round Blue Star Museum, a national program that offers free admission to all active duty, National Guard, and Reserve military personnel and their immediate families. General admission to VMFA is free every day; and active-duty military personnel and their families enjoy free entry to ticketed exhibitions. Docent tours available.
Jewelry designer Karyn Shonk has drawn inspiration for this special collection the from Jean Schlumberger Collection! Her pieces are botanical in nature, with a Victorian-era style and design. Working in sterling silver and 14-karat gold mixed with vintage treasures, Karyn creates works of wearable art which are truly unique and very affordable.
Join us in the Shop to meet Karyn and discover her beautiful collection of vintage jewelry just in time for Valentine’s Day!
