Celebrate Women’s History Month with VMFA by exploring three of the many women artists included in the permanent collection. Join Adult Programs Coordinator Izzie Fuqua to discover three tenacious and creative artists as well as their individual inspirations and artistic processes.

New York jewelry designer Ayala Naphtali draws her inspiration from ancient alphanumeric systems, contemporary architecture, and her own cultural history. Intrigued by balance and proportion, the artist utilizes minimal forms and bold colors to create elegant works of wearable art.  In addition to receiving numerous awards, Ayala’s pieces have been exhibited both nationally and internationally and can be found in the collections of several major museums around the world.

Join us in the VMFA Shop to meet Ayala and fall in love with her beautiful jewelry! VMFA member discount applies on all purchases.

Inspired by organic shapes and textures and crafted through a unique process of hand dyeing and nuno felting, Katherine Benner’s handmade scarves, belts, shawls, and clothes convey the energy and beauty of the natural world while complementing any fashion style.

Join us in the VMFA Shop to meet Katherine and see her beautiful works for yourself. In addition to showcasing her new nuno felt and eco-printed scarves, the artist will demonstrate creative ways to tie, pin, and wrap her accessories to anyone’s liking! VMFA member discount applies to all purchases.

Since 1995, hat designers Ignatius Creegan and Rod Givens have blended their artistic flair and technical expertise to create one-of-a-kind, wearable works of art. Each hat is sewn from bundled wheat straw or synthetic braid and trimmed with a unique array of feathers, flowers, and handmade decorations, offering a fashionably modern take on the styles of the past. This award-winning duo has gained national recognition in top shows across the country and produced their hats for several TV shows and movies, including AMC’s Turn, Fox’s Sleepy Hollow, and Meg Ryan’s Ithaca.

Join us in the VMFA Shop for a spring trunk show you won’t want to miss! VMFA member discount applies on all purchases.

Join Karen Getty, VMFA Coordinator of Tour Services, as she explores the significance of “twoness,” or duality, in traditional African art. Find out why two is better than one!

Inspired by the book Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present by Deborah Willis, this history of African American photography focuses on the camera as a tool for social change. A community of photographers and artists, including Carrie Mae Weems, Lorna Simpson, Anthony Barboza, Hank Willis Thomas, and Lyle Ashton Harris, poetically reconcile legacies of pride with long-suppressed images.

Mr. Harris, Mr. Perry, and Prof. Thulin will introduce the film and be present for a discussion and Q&A afterwards.

 

 

Celebrate the Year of the Fire Monkey by bringing the whole family out to explore Chinese art and culture! Enjoy artist demonstrations and performances, including a Lion Dance and Galapagos Puppets’ rendition of the adventures of the Monkey King. Learn about traditional Chinese arts by creating your own Peking opera mask, a dragon puppet, a decorative scroll, and a New Year lantern. Get moving with a red ribbon dance instrument, and don’t forget to get your face painted before heading over to our “selfie” setup for a photo-op!

ChinaFest! Event Schedule
Feb 13, 2016 | 11 am–3 pm

---

PERFORMANCES

The Pride: Lion Dance at UVA performs Lion Dance
Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L  | 11:30–11:45 am and 2:15–2:30 pm

Performers collaborate inside a lion costume to mimic the movements and characteristics of the animal to the sounds of vigorous drumming.

Yu Dance Arts performs Colorful China
Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L | 11:50 am–12:05 pm and 2:35–2:50 pm
Immediately following Lion Dance performance

Yu Dance Arts is a Richmond-based youth dance group directed by Yu Xiao that creates and produces intercultural performances combining traditional Chinese dances with modern Western aesthetics.

Galapagos Puppets performs Monkey King Meets the Banana Princess
Reynolds Lecture Hall, Level LL | 12:15–1:05 pm and 2–2:50 pm

---

DEMONSTRATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS
Ongoing

Chinese Knot Tying and Monkey Masks presented by George Mason University, Confucius Institute | Conference Room 1, Level L

Chinese Calligraphy presented by College of William and Mary, Confucius Institute | Atrium, Level 1

Visit the VMFA East Asian Art Galleries | Level 2

---

ACTIVITIES
Ongoing

Red Ribbon Dance Instrument | Marble Hall, Level 2
Get moving with a red ribbon dance instrument!

Peking Opera Mask | Marble Hall, Level 2
Design your own Peking Opera mask

Lion Puppet | WestRock Art Education Center, Level 1
Make a lion puppet inspired by the traditional Chinese Lion Dance

Lantern Making | Atrium, Level 1
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with a hand-crafted decoupage lantern

Scrolls | WestRock Art Education Center, Level 1
Create and paint a Chinese scroll

Zodiac Animal Face Painting | Marble Hall, Level 2
Get your face painted with your favorite Chinese zodiac animal

Play and Construct! | Marble Hall, Level 2
Use oversize tangram shapes to create patterns and designs, and construct the Great Wall of China using cardboard building blocks. Experiment with Chinese instruments including erhu, guqin, and yunlou. Mengxia Zhang will demonstrate the pipa, and John Xu will demonstrate the erhu.

Community Dragon Puppet | Atrium, Level 1
Help decorate a large dragon puppet, and watch it parade through the Atrium at 2:45

Selfie Setup | Atrium, Level 1
Step into a Chinese watercolor and strike a pose with some of your art activities

---

FILMS

Chinese Animated Children’s Films | WestRock Art Education Center, Level 1

Lon Po Po (English) | 11–11:30 am

Snow Kid (English subtitles) | 11:35–11:55 am

Three Monks (no dialogue) | noon–12:20 pm

Feelings from Mountain and Water (English subtitles) | 12:25–12:45 pm

Tadpoles Looking for the Mother (English subtitles) | 12:50–1:10 pm

The Little Nightingale (English) | 1:25–1:55 pm

The Cowboy’s Flute (English subtitles) | 2–2:25 pm

A Deer of Nine Colors (English subtitles) | 2:30–3 pm

---

SAY CHEESE! Photographers and videographers are on duty at museum events to capture images for VMFA’s archives and publications. If you prefer not to have video or pictures taken of yourself or your family members, please notify the staff at the Welcome Table as soon as possible. You will be provided with a red sticker indicating that you and your family should not be photographed or recorded.

---

ChinaFest! Year of the Fire Monkey Family Event is generously sponsored by WestRock

and the Rose Group for Cross-Cultural Understanding 

---

 SAVE THE DATE! Join us June 11, 2016, 11 am–3 pm for Celebrate the Art of Africa and African American Art: Culture King