James River Short Films Competition

Fri, Nov 20, 6:30–9 pm

Leslie Cheek Theater

View the latest up-and-coming short videos and films (20 minutes or less) in this juried competition from the James River Film Society. Entries encompass a wide range of genres and styles, from the cutting-edge to the conventional, and finalists are selected from all over North America. $2000 in cash prizes will be awarded, and many…

Virginia Tech Student Symposium: Personal Mythologies and Their Publics

Sun, Nov 8, 11:30 am–1 pm

Leslie Cheek Theater

How does art reshape personal experiences into universal truths? What happens when artists renegotiate boundaries between private and public histories? This research symposium, co-organized with the School of Visual Arts at Virginia Tech, explores these questions through fresh interpretations of objects in the permanent collection. Students in the Art History program will present findings from…

Tjeby: Knight of the 22nd Century BC

Thu, Oct 22, 6:30–7:30 pm

Leslie Cheek Theater

With Dr. Jonathan Elias, Director of the Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium Ongoing research has brought forth new perspectives on Tjeby, the 4,000-year-old Egyptian mummy in the VMFA collection. Scanned in February 2013, Tjeby has been the subject of rare in-depth study. Learn about Tjeby’s times and the research process that gave birth to his sculptural…

3 in 30: Not Your Mummy’s Mummy

Tue, Oct 6, 11–11:30 am & Thu, Oct 8, 6:30–7 pm

Meet at the Visitor Services Desk

Hear fantastic stories of early mummy studies and explore how this ancient burial practice has been illuminated by modern scientific analysis. Join Courtney Morano, Interpretation Manager, to learn about recent research on VMFA’s human mummy, Tjeby, and get a sneak peak at a 3D facial reconstruction which will be revealed publicly on Thursday, Oct 22.

Gallery Talk: Divine Defense: A Closer Look at VMFA’s Talismanic Shirt

Tue, Oct 13, 1–2 pm

Meet at Visitor Services Desk

Join Dr. Rose Muravchick, Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellow of Religion at Vassar College, and Dr. John Henry Rice, VMFA’s Associate Curator of Islamic and South Asian Art, for a look at the 15th–16th-century Talismanic Shirt in VMFA’s South Asian collection. The presenters will look closely at this unusual object, exploring how and why the entire text…

3 in 30: Working from the Model

Tue, Jan 5, 11 am and Thu, Jan 7, 6:30 pm

Meet at the Visitor Services Desk

In the artist’s studio, the term “model” can be used to describe several different objects or activities, from a three-dimensional figure shaped from clay or wax to a person hired to pose for the artist. Led by Kristie Couser, Curatorial Assistant for the Paul Mellon Collections, this gallery talk will explore how late 19th-century artists…

3 in 30: Myth, Metaphor, and Materials: Echoes of Rodin at VMFA

Tue, Dec 8, 11 am and Thu, Dec 10, 6:30 pm

Meet at the Visitor Services Desk

How did the differences between bronze, marble, and plaster affect Rodin’s artistic process? Join Twyla Kitts, Teacher Programs Educator, to discover the connections between material and meaning while considering how Rodin’s creations compare with other works made from the same materials. This talk is inspired by Rodin: Evolution of a Genius, on view through March 13.

James River Short Films Juried Competition

Oct, 20 6:30 - 9 pm

Leslie Cheek Theater

This popular yearly VMFA tradition spotlights the best, most current short videos/films (20 minutes or less). Finalists are selected from an international selection of entrants. A special guest judge chooses the top films at the screening and awards approx. $2000 in cash prizes. Many filmmakers will be present for Q&A plus the audience gets to…

3 in 30: Cats

with Izzie Fuqua, Adult Programs Coordinator

Tue, Nov 7 11-11:30 am
Thu, Nov 9 6:30-7 pm

Meet at Visitor Services Desk

Explore three works of art in the permanent collection that portray the feline form and discover the significance of the cat to different cultures and artists. This program is inspired by the upcoming exhibition, Steinlen: Cats.