June 10, 2013
Pieces ranging from the painted glass work of a Virginian painting professor to a photograph documenting the visual traditions of Indian Royalty have recently been added to your art collection at the VMFA. These pieces have been brought to you through the VMFA’s privately supported acquisition program. Richard Roth, a painting professor at Virginia Commonwealth…
June 10, 2013
After undergoing minor amputative surgery, our red oak remains standing strong. So many of you thoughtfully inquired about the damage to the VMFA red oak that occurred recently, that I wanted to describe what we found as Davey Tree, Inc. completed the arbor care and clean up.In the photo below, you will see a darkening…
June 7, 2013
During the wildly popular Chihuly exhibition, which ended in February, his studio editions in the VMFA shop were quite a hit. We’re pleased to announce that new 2013 editions, fresh out of Chihuly’s workshop, are now available. It was the spirit of experimentation that led Dale Chihuly to work with all 300 colors available in…
June 4, 2013
Through our privately funded aquisition program, VMFA regularly aquires significant pieces to be added to our permanent collection. We welcome you to visit and enjoy recent aquisitions such as these at the museum. This singular pair of girandole mirrors is a spectacular manifestation of decorative arts as sculpture. The unusual inclusion of Native American motifs—arrows,…
May 29, 2013
VMFA is fortunate to have endowed private funds which can only be used for art acquisition. Here are some recent acquisitions currently on view in the galleries. The curators have provided insights about the objects. Elaborate processional crosses made for Ethiopian churches are often inscribed with images and lettering that deepen their message. On this…
May 20, 2013
Recently, I was asked how we can afford to be free and open 365 days a year. My answer was simply, “How can we afford not to be?” One of the three basic tenets of our business model is accessibility. Accessibility is more than just compliance with Federal and State regulations on physical accessibility with…
May 15, 2013
Today, VMFA volunteers planted over 500 pots of annuals contracted by the VMFA and grown for us by Stranges Wholesale growing division in Mechanicsville. Most are exotic, some native, and all reflect the colorful bedding planting that was the style during the late 1800’s as the world’s plants were coming to Europe and North America…
April 18, 2013
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts gardening volunteers, many of whom are on the The Council of the VMFA, have been completing spring projects. Shown here (L to R) are Bob Allen, Carmella Allen, Dave Herbst, Skip Walton, Alice Higgins, Bill Cooper and Richard Lister. The project shown is the mulching of newly planted trees along…
April 13, 2013
Most people do not typically see a museum as a fast-paced, dynamic and constantly evolving place. I think the popularnotion is that museums are stale and nice places to visit for a history class. Even though I have only been here for three weeks, I can honestly say VMFA is throwing a coup d’état on…
April 9, 2013
Today, April 9, 2013, marks the 20th anniversary of the death at the age of 96 of the internationally renowned singer and humanitarian, Marian Anderson. Since my childhood, I had known of Anderson’s great musicality and barrier-shattering reputation as the first African American artist to perform at the White House (in 1936) and sing a…
