ChinaFest! Event Schedule
Sat, Feb 11 | 10 am–5 pm
Bring the whole family to celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Chinese Year of the Fire Rooster! Explore Chinese art and culture through fun art activities and collaborative events. Experience demonstrations and performances by Yu Dance, The Pride: Lion Dance at UVA, Lion Dance at VCU, and Wushu martial arts—and much more!
Download ChinaFest Map!
All times and locations are subject to change
Performances
Acro Yoga
Atrium | 10:45–11 am &
1:30–1:45 pm
Enjoy performances of this acrobatic yoga style with the talented yogis of Acro Yoga RVA.
The Pride: Lion Dance at UVA
Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L
11–11:15 am & 1:50–2:05 pm
Watch The Pride: Lion Dance as they incorporate both traditional and modern styles composed of Southern Chinese and contemporary influences. UVA performers collaborate inside a lion costume to mimic the movements and characteristics of the animal to the sounds of vigorous drumming.
Yu Dance Arts
Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L
11:20–11:35 pm & 2:10–2:25 pm
Atrium | 12–12:10 pm
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.
Lion Dance at VCU
Atrium | 11:45–noon & 1–1:15 pm
Enjoy performances of local VCU lion dancers in the Atrium.
O-mei Wushu Center
Leslie Cheek Theater, Level L
11:50–12:10 pm & 2:40–3 pm
Atrium | 4–4:15 pm
Watch the talented practitioners of O-mei Wushu Center perform skillful martial arts techniques.
Demonstrations
Year of the Rooster Masks & Chinese New Year Paper Cuts presented by George Mason University, Confucius Institute
Conference Room 1, Level L
10 am–1 pm
Watch as teachers from the George Mason Confucius Institute demonstrate the Chinese tradition of paper cutting. Also make your own rooster mask to celebrate the year of the Fire Rooster!
Chinese Calligraphy presented by College of William and Mary, Confucius Institute
Conference Room 1, Level L | 2–5 pm
Join teachers from the College of William and Mary, Confucius Institute as they practice the beautiful art form of writing Chinese characters.
Kung Fu Workshops
Atrium | 10:30–10:45 am &
1:15–1:30 pm
Watch and try some graceful warrior moves with East West Kung Fu.
Table Tennis Exhibition
Reynolds Lecture Hall | Ongoing
Observe Table Tennis (aka Ping Pong) players from Richmond Table Tennis Club compete on an international level in this popular Olympic sport! Practice tables open all day, scheduled talks at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm.
Pingpong (detail), 1990, Gong Jianhua (Chinese), silver gelatin print. Promised gift of Kent and Marcia Minichiello
Community | Ongoing
Community Rooster Puppet with All The Saints Theater Company | Atrium
Celebrate the year of the Fire Rooster by helping to decorate a large rooster puppet with colorful feathers.
Flower Curtain | Atrium, Level 2 Boulevard Landing
Add a tissue paper flower to our collaborative flower curtain!
Pagoda Playhouse, Temple Wishes and Selfie Station | Atrium
Step into a pagoda, write a wish on a lantern for the wall, and strike a pose!
Activities | Ongoing
Panda Scroll
Art Education Center, Level 1
Create and paint a Chinese scroll.
Landscape, 19th–20th century, Wu Guxiang (Chinese, 1848–1903), ink and color on paper. Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Endowment and partial gift of Y.T. Bay Collection
Tao Tie Vessel
Marble Hall, Level 2
Make a rubbing inspired by ancient Chinese bronze vessels.
Ritual Food Vessel, 13th–11th century BC, Chinese, bronze. Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund
Chinese New Year Lantern
Art Education Center, Level 1
Using recycled paper, cut out intricate designs and patterns to adorn a Chinese New Year Lantern!
Decorative Fan
Marble Hall, Level 2
Design your own folding fan with plum blossom stamps.
Crane, Pine, and Calligraphy, 1944, Zhang Yuanji (1867–1959), ink and color on paper. Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Endowment and partial gift of Y.T. Bay Collection
Folded Chinese Landscape
Marble Hall, Level 2
Make your own folded landscape greeting card.
Album of Twelve Landscape Paintings: Autumn Mountains in Imitation of the Wang Yuanqi, late 19th century, Wu Yunlai (Chinese, 1860–1900), album; ink, color on paper. Gift of the Family of the Honorable and Mrs. Walter S. Robertson
Zodiac Animal Face Painting
Marble Hall, Level 2
Get your face painted with your favorite Chinese zodiac animal. Line will stop at 4:30
Play and Construct!
Marble Hall, Level 2
Use oversize tangram shapes to create patterns and designs. Experiment with Chinese instruments including erhu, guqin, and yunlou.
Chinese Animated Children’s Films
Art Education Center, Level 1
Repeating throughout the day: segments from China Highlight’s Passage to China cultural series, Three Monks, The Snow Child, Where is Mother. These films will highlight themes of tea, pottery, architecture, wood printing, and more.
Visit the VMFA East Asian Art Galleries!
Level 2
Explore our East Asian art galleries and find inspiration for your ChinaFest Art Activities!
King Sagara, ca. 1740, Chinese, hanging scroll. Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund
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 Rooster Family Event is generously sponsored by:
SAVE THE DATE! Join us on June 10, 2017 for Celebrate the Art of Africa and African American Art: Adornment