A blog by staff and others about the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
A beautiful and symbolic flower
June 27, 2012
Yesterday was a positively beautiful day. With the sunshine warming me through wispy clouds and a cool breeze gently carrying the air, I slowly strolled past the reflecting pool. Shallow and clear, the pool is home to tall grasses and floating water lilies, but my gaze lingered on the lotus. The bright white petals, blossoming…
One of the Most Stupendous Scenes in Nature
June 7, 2012
Upon visiting Harpers Ferry in 1783, Thomas Jefferson was so awestruck by the raw beauty of the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers that he described the view as “perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in nature.” In addition to being a site of great natural beauty, Harpers Ferry, now situated at the…
Maharaja LIVE
June 7, 2012
Maharaja: The Splendor of India’s Great Kings has made its television debut! WTVR/CBS 6 News’ executive producer, Jessica Noll, reported live from the VMFA yesterday morning for an exclusive look at one of the museum’s most opulent exhibitions yet. But as the rest of Richmond watched from home, I had the privilege of observing the broadcast from behind…
Reasons to Celebrate Walt Whitman
May 31, 2012
“Whatever satisfies the soul is truth.” –Walt Whitman Happy Birthday, Walt! 193 years ago today, America’s greatest and most influential poet was born on Long Island, New York. VMFA is honoring Walt Whitman’s life and work in a special summer exhibition—Bold, Cautious, True: Walt Whitman and American Art of the Civil War Era—that opens in…
The passing of an American art icon: Elizabeth Catlett
April 4, 2012
Bittersweet. The word comes to mind as I take in the sad news that the magnificent Elizabeth Catlett died on Monday. Just two weeks shy of her 97thbirthday, this pioneering African American printmaker and sculptor had certainly lived life large. And last week—little knowing Catlett was facing her final days—VMFA paid tribute to this iconic…
Want Revolutionary Performance? VMFA’s Got It.
March 29, 2012
After the calamitous yet victorious 1917 Russian Revolution, its supreme political and intellectual leader, V.I. Lenin, declared cinema to be the most important of all the arts. He saw film as having superior ability to spread the message and inspire change for his formidable task to improve the lives of the masses of the new Soviet…
Virgina’s talented young artists
March 22, 2012
The National Scholastic Art Awards hold a long tradition of recognizing promising young artists and supporting their passion. The Awards have an impressive legacy dating back to 1923 and a noteworthy roster of past winners including Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford and Joyce Carol Oates. They continue to be the…
9 Ways to Enjoy Black History Month at VMFA
February 15, 2012
VMFA’s collections and programs interpret cultures from throughout the world and across time. The schedule for these is never confined to particular months, but the occasion of Black History month provides the opportunity to recognize some current and upcoming experiences to honor African-Americans. Lunch & Learn series featuring African-American scholar Dr. Nichole Gilpin-Hood, 12 –…
Did someone say Lincoln?
December 20, 2011
Some recent rotations of work in the American Art galleries seem particularly timely, if not in the seasonal sense. From the inaugural display of our first-ever Alexander Gardner Civil War photograph to the reappearance of three iconic Paul Strand urban images, this new showing of photography calls to mind not only the final week of…
A new tapestry in time for Christmas
December 17, 2011
Conservation staff prepares a 16th century Flemish tapestry, Two Scenes from the Life of Christ, for display in VMFA’s medieval galleries. Kathy Gillis, Head of Sculpture and Decorative Arts Conservation, and Jennifer Bridges, Conservation Technician, are carefully securing a backing for protection of the tapestry while on display. The installation is planned for December 15,…