Join VMFA in a Family Day celebration of Native American art and culture inspired by the special exhibition Hear My Voice: Native American Art of the Past and Present. Explore connections with the natural world and indigenous American identities through art activities, such as basket weaving and pottery. View demonstrations by renowned artists Molly Murphy Adams, Virgil Ortiz, and Jeremy Frey and take in beautiful and rhythmic performances.
Event Schedule
*subject to change
Presentations
Thundervoice
Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L
11:00 – 11:30 am & 1:00 – 1:30 pm
The drum is the heartbeat and central pulse of the Native American powwow. Thundervoice is a Northern style drum group from North Carolina. Established in 2012, they bring the thunder to the voice at Pow Wows throughout the region.
Yapatoko Drummers & Singers
Sculpture Garden
11:30 am–12:30 pm & 2:00–3:00 pm
Join the Yapatoko Drummers & Singers as they present Native American traditional drumming and singing in various categories! Yapatoko is Beaver Creek in the Tutelo language which is spoken by the Haliwa-Saponi people of Hollister, North Carolina. The Yapatoko are an intertribal, southern drum, with drummers and singers coming from North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Their three pointed mission is to educate, to entertain with songs, and to have fun.
Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia Performers: Denise Walters, Rufus Kelly, and Benaiah Walters
Atrium, Level 1
12:30–1:00 pm & 1:30–2:00 pm
Watch as three members of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia, Rufus Kelly (a traditional singer, drummer and champion dancer), Ben Walters (a traditional dancer, flute player, recording artist and woodworker) and Denise Walters (singer, traditional dancer and artist as well as Tribal Council Member) perform both traditional and recently composed indigenous music. The Nottoway language is one of the Iroquoian Native languages. Their program includes songs and dances representing these traditions.
Beth Roach | Art Education Center: Early Childhood Classroom, Level 1
1:00 – 1:20 pm
Beth Roach is a member of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of VA and serves on the Tribal Council. She is honored to share traditional stories that illustrate our connections to the Earth, Turtle Island, and to each other.
Radiant Light: American Indian Poetry with Karenne Wood | Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L
2:30-2:50 pm
Karenne Wood (Monacan) will read from her two books of poems, which evoke our connections with the natural world and our struggles to find meaning and identity.
Demonstrations & Workshops
Benaiah Walters | Conference Room 1, Level L
11:00 am–12:00 pm & 2:15–3:00 pm
Watch as artist and Native Flute Player, Benaiah Walters carves wooden flutes and animal figurines.
Virgil Ortiz | Marble Hall, Level 2
11:00 am–12:00 pm & 1:00–2:00 pm
Join Virgil Ortiz as he brings his works, Aeronauts: Steu and Cuda, to life, while telling their story and his inspiration behind the pieces. Ortiz is a Pueblo artist, potter and fashion designer from Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico.
Molly Murphy Adams | Atrium, Level 1
12:00–1:00 pm & 2:00–3:00 pm
Watch as Molly Murphey Adams demonstrates her beautiful beaded works, stemming from a combination of traditional Native arts and modern art. Adams, a mixed blood descendent of the Oglala, Lakota tribe, learned beadwork at a very early age as well as hide tanning, sewing and traditional clothing design
Jeremey Frey | Marble Hall, Level 2
1:00–3:00 pm
Discover the art of basket weaving with Jeremy Frey, who is known for his unique designs and his use of traditional and contemporary materials. Frey is of the Passamaquoddy people, who are based along the Passamaquoddy Bay in Maine.
Activities
Decorate your own Clay Pot
Art Education Center: Studio 1, Level 1
Using paint pens, design and adorn an olla, or clay pot, with animal imagery and stylized motifs.
Create an Arctic Animal Charm
Marble Hall, Level 2
Use air dry clay to create your own small animal charm just like the ones you can see in our collection!
Weave your own Basket
Conference Room 1, Level L
Use raffia and natural materials to weave your own small container!
Make your own Parfleche Travel Bag
Art Education Center, Studio 2, Level 1
Make a folded “leather” bag from paper. Adorn your bag with geometric designs and details!
Construct a Mini Canoe
Marble Hall, Level 2
Create your own small canoe that can float in the water!
Special Project with 1708 Gallery
Marble Hall, Level 2
Work with 1708 Gallery on a light-based project inspired by the Northern Lights and indigenous people of the Arctic.
Jamestown Settlement Video Showing – 1607: A Nation Takes Root
Art Education Center: Early Childhood Classroom, Level 1
Movie will stop at 1:00pm for a Storytelling Presentation
Join us in the Art Education Center to watch and showing of Jamestown Settlement’s new Introductory Film titled, 1607: A Nation Takes Root.
Community Collaborations
Collaborative Nature Mandala
Work as a community to create a temporary mandala using natural materials such as leaves, stones, and vines.
Community Basket Weaving
Work with artist, Vanessa Bolin, to weave a large-scale basket! Learn about the history and meaning behind these woven creations!
Play!
Sculpture Garden, Pauley Center Terrace
Spread out on a picnic blanket, relax on the grounds, or pick up a hula hoop and enjoy the day!
Visit the VMFA Art Galleries
Level 2
Explore our art galleries here at VMFA. Make sure to stop by our special exhibition, located in Evans Court, titled: Hear My Voice: Native American Art of the Past and Present (running from August 19, 2017 – November 26, 2017). Also, visit our companion exhibition located in the Lewis Focus Gallery within Mid-Late 20th Century, titled, In Our Own Words: Native Impressions 2015-16 (running from August 19th, 2017 – February 18, 2018).
Community Voting Project & Prize Table
Atrium, Level 1
Stop by our Survey Table to vote for your favorite activity during today’s family day and receive a fun prize to take home. Reflect on your experience, illustrate your feedback, and vote for your favorite Family Day activities.
Dining
Best Café | Level 1
Stop by the Best Café to pick up a tasty treat or try one of VMFA’s Native American inspired cuisine.