A blog by staff and others about the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
A personal reaction to Posing Beauty
August 4, 2014
I never met an exhibit I didn’t like, by which I mean to say that I never came away from an exhibit that didn’t give me something. So, here comes this show with so many images of beauty that I admired throughout my childhood and adulthood that they brought back the old mythologies of childhood:…
Art of the First World War Remembered at VMFA
July 28, 2014
VMFA is among the first art museums in the United States to commemorate the centenary of the start of World War I with its exhibition THE GREAT WAR: Printmakers of World War I (on view now through November 11, 2014). Comprising more than 28 works on paper by European and American artists, THE GREAT WAR considers the role of…
Continue the Conversation: VMFA and African American Art and Heritage
July 25, 2014
As visitors enjoy the final days of VMFA’s powerful companion shows, Posing Beauty in African American Culture and Identity Shifts, they will find a panel in the galleries inviting them to “Continue the Conversation” by visiting two additional exhibitions. Those smaller unticketed shows, States of Change in Africa and Signs of Protest: Photographs from the…
Conversation. Uncensored. Question Bridge: Black Males at VMFA
July 24, 2014
When I first saw Question Bridge Black Males, I was shocked by the raw and unapologetic nature of the film. There are no special effects, no music, no over-the-top dramatic storytelling — it’s just real. The viewer is forced to confront the multifaceted realities of being a black male without any sugarcoating. Rarely are there…
Amuse Cook-In: Here’s Your Chance to Cook Out in a Museum!
July 23, 2014
When you think of Amuse, VMFA’s fine dining restaurant, you probably think upscale, deliciously prepared gourmet meals that you have to use a fork and knife (in fact, a couple forks and knives) to eat! While we’re sure you love the magic chef Greg Haley works with the food here, most of you would probably…
Happy Birthday Edward Hopper!
July 22, 2014
If you are not familiar with Edward Hopper, you ought to take a few minutes to look at his work, even if that means not reading the rest of this post. The beauty in his work is eerie and solitary, but nonetheless striking. What pushes the elegance of his paintings is the strong presence of…
Artists Sonya Clark and Robert Pruitt Open up the Meaning of Identity
July 15, 2014
How do we use our bodies to tell our story? On Thursday, July 17, 6:30 – 7:30 pm, Dr. Sarah Eckhardt, Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art moderates a powerful discussion between artists Sonya Clark and Robert Pruitt, whose work is currently featured in Identity Shifts, about the shifting ideas of culture, history, and…
Posing Beauty in African American Culture: Teens on Beauty
July 14, 2014
Reprinted from the KaKY (Kollege and Kareer 4 Youth) blog with permission from Marcy Williams, MBA The exploration of beauty in the African American culture has been explored for centuries. From the earliest days of slavery to the most recent neo-soul era, the topic of what is considered beauty in the African American culture has…
VMFA Intern Helps Prepare Félix Bracquemond’s Work for Exhibition
July 11, 2014
Reprinted from the WUDPAC (Winterthur) Class of 2016 blog with permission from Lauren Gottschlich. The summer work projects are in full swing. This summer I am at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond, VA. The museum sports a wonderful encyclopedic collection as well as a picturesque Sculpture Garden. The art covers cultures and…
Fireworks: Art or Science?
July 3, 2014
As your eyes are riveted to the dark canvas above you this weekend, do you find those bursts and trails of color and light to be art? They can’t be placed under glass or displayed in a gallery or garden. They can’t even be enjoyed beyond the moment they occur. For those reasons (and probably…