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Member Events
Members of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts are invited to enhance their experiences at the Museum through a variety of events including exhibition preview days, exclusive opportunities that highlight the permanent collection, and special programs that are tailored to specific membership levels and philanthropic interests. Click here to learn more or contact Sarah Burgess, at 804.204.2676 or sarah.burgess@VMFA.museum.
All Members
Events Open to All Members
These opportunities to engage with VMFA are open to all current museum members.
Check back soon for events in this category
Friends Circle
VMFA Circle Lectures
Open to members at the Friends Circle level, the VMFA Circle Lecture Series features speakers sharing their expertise on a variety of topics in the art world as they relate to VMFA’s permanent collection and special exhibitions.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series - The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders
Thu, Apr 20, 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders: Palm Toddy and Other Drinks in India
with Professor James McHugh, University of Southern California
Alcoholic toddy is made from the fermented sap of certain palm trees. For drinkers, liquor that grows on trees might sound too good to be true, yet the process of managing trees and collecting sap is skilled, dangerous work. A fascinating South Indian story scroll in VMFA’s collection depicts the myths and interests of a community of toddy tappers. This talk will explore the scroll and what it teaches us about toddy culture, framing the matter of palm toddy within a broad introduction to alcohol in Indian history, religion, and mythology.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series LIVESTREAM - The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders
Thu, Apr 20, 6 pm | Live Stream via Zoom
The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders: Palm Toddy and Other Drinks in India
with Professor James McHugh, University of Southern California
Alcoholic toddy is made from the fermented sap of certain palm trees. For drinkers, liquor that grows on trees might sound too good to be true, yet the process of managing trees and collecting sap is skilled, dangerous work. A fascinating South Indian story scroll in VMFA’s collection depicts the myths and interests of a community of toddy tappers. This talk will explore the scroll and what it teaches us about toddy culture, framing the matter of palm toddy within a broad introduction to alcohol in Indian history, religion, and mythology.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series - Sargent and Spain
Thu, Jun 8, 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
Sargent and Spain
with Sarah Cash, Associate Curator, American and British Paintings,
National Gallery of Art
The beloved American artist John Singer Sargent enjoyed a decadeslong captivation with Spain that yielded a remarkable body of work, depicting the rich and diverse culture he encountered there. This talk will provide an overview of Sargent and Spain, the first exhibition to reveal the depth of this engagement and the intentional approach the artist adopted there. Previously on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, this exhibition highlighted Sargent’s painting, Gathering Blossoms, Valdemossa, a recent gift to VMFA from James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series LIVESTREAM - Sargent and Spain
Thu, Jun 8, 6 pm | Live Stream via Zoom
Sargent and Spain
with Sarah Cash, Associate Curator, American and British Paintings,
National Gallery of Art
The beloved American artist John Singer Sargent enjoyed a decadeslong captivation with Spain that yielded a remarkable body of work, depicting the rich and diverse culture he encountered there. This talk will provide an overview of Sargent and Spain, the first exhibition to reveal the depth of this engagement and the intentional approach the artist adopted there. Previously on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, this exhibition highlighted Sargent’s painting, Gathering Blossoms, Valdemossa, a recent gift to VMFA from James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom.
Cocktails with a Curator
This virtual program series is a special offering for VMFA members beginning at the Friends Circle level. We hope you will join us for a virtual cocktail and live Q&A with a museum curator.
Check back soon for events in this category
Events Open to All Members
These opportunities to engage with VMFA are open to all current museum members
Check back soon for events in this category
Supporters Circle
Curator’s Choice
Curator’s Choice programs are a benefit for members beginning at the Supporters Circle level. We invite you to engage with the museum’s encyclopedic permanent collection and nourish your passion for art through exciting programs designed by the museum’s curatorial staff. These unique opportunities promise to provide the latest information about curatorial collecting strategies, care of the collections, and more!
Curator's Choice
Tue, May 2, 6–8 pm
Talk| 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
Reception | 7 pm | Cochrane Atrium
Out of Many One: Reconstructing an Ancient Krater and Its History
with Dr. Peter Schertz, Jack and Mary Ann Frable Curator of Ancient Art, and Skyler Jenkins, Assistant Objects Conservator
When VMFA acquired its first volute krater in 2021, the ancient vessel for mixing wine and water was comprised of 35 large fragments and hundreds of smaller pieces. In this conversation, Dr. Peter Schertz, Jack and Mary Ann Frable Curator of Ancient Art, and Skyler Jenkins, Assistant Objects Conservator, will explore several intriguing questions raised by this work’s acquisition and eventual reconstruction. The program focuses on the krater’s history and unusual imagery, its curious provenance, and the laborious process of cleaning and reassembling the vessel.
Curator’s Choice programs are a benefit for members beginning at the Supporters Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lectures
Open to members at the Friends Circle level, the VMFA Circle Lecture Series features speakers sharing their expertise on a variety of topics in the art world as they relate to VMFA’s permanent collection and special exhibitions.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series - The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders
Thu, Apr 20, 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders: Palm Toddy and Other Drinks in India
with Professor James McHugh, University of Southern California
Alcoholic toddy is made from the fermented sap of certain palm trees. For drinkers, liquor that grows on trees might sound too good to be true, yet the process of managing trees and collecting sap is skilled, dangerous work. A fascinating South Indian story scroll in VMFA’s collection depicts the myths and interests of a community of toddy tappers. This talk will explore the scroll and what it teaches us about toddy culture, framing the matter of palm toddy within a broad introduction to alcohol in Indian history, religion, and mythology.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series LIVESTREAM - The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders
Thu, Apr 20, 6 pm | Live Stream via Zoom
The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders: Palm Toddy and Other Drinks in India
with Professor James McHugh, University of Southern California
Alcoholic toddy is made from the fermented sap of certain palm trees. For drinkers, liquor that grows on trees might sound too good to be true, yet the process of managing trees and collecting sap is skilled, dangerous work. A fascinating South Indian story scroll in VMFA’s collection depicts the myths and interests of a community of toddy tappers. This talk will explore the scroll and what it teaches us about toddy culture, framing the matter of palm toddy within a broad introduction to alcohol in Indian history, religion, and mythology.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series - Sargent and Spain
Thu, Jun 8, 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
Sargent and Spain
with Sarah Cash, Associate Curator, American and British Paintings,
National Gallery of Art
The beloved American artist John Singer Sargent enjoyed a decadeslong captivation with Spain that yielded a remarkable body of work, depicting the rich and diverse culture he encountered there. This talk will provide an overview of Sargent and Spain, the first exhibition to reveal the depth of this engagement and the intentional approach the artist adopted there. Previously on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, this exhibition highlighted Sargent’s painting, Gathering Blossoms, Valdemossa, a recent gift to VMFA from James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series LIVESTREAM - Sargent and Spain
Thu, Jun 8, 6 pm | Live Stream via Zoom
Sargent and Spain
with Sarah Cash, Associate Curator, American and British Paintings,
National Gallery of Art
The beloved American artist John Singer Sargent enjoyed a decadeslong captivation with Spain that yielded a remarkable body of work, depicting the rich and diverse culture he encountered there. This talk will provide an overview of Sargent and Spain, the first exhibition to reveal the depth of this engagement and the intentional approach the artist adopted there. Previously on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, this exhibition highlighted Sargent’s painting, Gathering Blossoms, Valdemossa, a recent gift to VMFA from James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom.
Cocktails with a Curator
This virtual program series is a special offering for VMFA members beginning at the Friends Circle level. We hope you will join us for a virtual cocktail and live Q&A with a museum curator.
Check back soon for events in this category
Events Open to All Members
Check back soon for events in this category
Partners Circle
In addition to the option to bring four guests per visit to special ticketed exhibitions, at no charge, members beginning at the Partners Circle may elect to join Canvas.
Canvas Programs
In addition to all the benefits of their chosen level of membership, Canvas members receive invitations to two exclusive Canvas events per year, a quarterly online Canvas newsletter, and the opportunity to learn about and lend support to the museum’s newest initiatives and most urgent needs.
Check back soon for events in this category
Curator’s Choice
Curator’s Choice programs are a benefit for members beginning at the Supporters Circle level. We invite you to engage with the museum’s encyclopedic permanent collection and nourish your passion for art through exciting programs designed by the museum’s curatorial staff. These unique opportunities promise to provide the latest information about curatorial collecting strategies, care of the collections, and more!
Curator's Choice
Tue, May 2, 6–8 pm
Talk| 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
Reception | 7 pm | Cochrane Atrium
Out of Many One: Reconstructing an Ancient Krater and Its History
with Dr. Peter Schertz, Jack and Mary Ann Frable Curator of Ancient Art, and Skyler Jenkins, Assistant Objects Conservator
When VMFA acquired its first volute krater in 2021, the ancient vessel for mixing wine and water was comprised of 35 large fragments and hundreds of smaller pieces. In this conversation, Dr. Peter Schertz, Jack and Mary Ann Frable Curator of Ancient Art, and Skyler Jenkins, Assistant Objects Conservator, will explore several intriguing questions raised by this work’s acquisition and eventual reconstruction. The program focuses on the krater’s history and unusual imagery, its curious provenance, and the laborious process of cleaning and reassembling the vessel.
Curator’s Choice programs are a benefit for members beginning at the Supporters Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lectures
Open to members at the Friends Circle level, the VMFA Circle Lecture Series features speakers sharing their expertise on a variety of topics in the art world as they relate to VMFA’s permanent collection and special exhibitions.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series - The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders
Thu, Apr 20, 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders: Palm Toddy and Other Drinks in India
with Professor James McHugh, University of Southern California
Alcoholic toddy is made from the fermented sap of certain palm trees. For drinkers, liquor that grows on trees might sound too good to be true, yet the process of managing trees and collecting sap is skilled, dangerous work. A fascinating South Indian story scroll in VMFA’s collection depicts the myths and interests of a community of toddy tappers. This talk will explore the scroll and what it teaches us about toddy culture, framing the matter of palm toddy within a broad introduction to alcohol in Indian history, religion, and mythology.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series LIVESTREAM - The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders
Thu, Apr 20, 6 pm | Live Stream via Zoom
The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders: Palm Toddy and Other Drinks in India
with Professor James McHugh, University of Southern California
Alcoholic toddy is made from the fermented sap of certain palm trees. For drinkers, liquor that grows on trees might sound too good to be true, yet the process of managing trees and collecting sap is skilled, dangerous work. A fascinating South Indian story scroll in VMFA’s collection depicts the myths and interests of a community of toddy tappers. This talk will explore the scroll and what it teaches us about toddy culture, framing the matter of palm toddy within a broad introduction to alcohol in Indian history, religion, and mythology.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series - Sargent and Spain
Thu, Jun 8, 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
Sargent and Spain
with Sarah Cash, Associate Curator, American and British Paintings,
National Gallery of Art
The beloved American artist John Singer Sargent enjoyed a decadeslong captivation with Spain that yielded a remarkable body of work, depicting the rich and diverse culture he encountered there. This talk will provide an overview of Sargent and Spain, the first exhibition to reveal the depth of this engagement and the intentional approach the artist adopted there. Previously on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, this exhibition highlighted Sargent’s painting, Gathering Blossoms, Valdemossa, a recent gift to VMFA from James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series LIVESTREAM - Sargent and Spain
Thu, Jun 8, 6 pm | Live Stream via Zoom
Sargent and Spain
with Sarah Cash, Associate Curator, American and British Paintings,
National Gallery of Art
The beloved American artist John Singer Sargent enjoyed a decadeslong captivation with Spain that yielded a remarkable body of work, depicting the rich and diverse culture he encountered there. This talk will provide an overview of Sargent and Spain, the first exhibition to reveal the depth of this engagement and the intentional approach the artist adopted there. Previously on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, this exhibition highlighted Sargent’s painting, Gathering Blossoms, Valdemossa, a recent gift to VMFA from James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom.
Cocktails with a Curator
This virtual program series is a special offering for VMFA members beginning at the Friends Circle level. We hope you will join us for a virtual cocktail and live Q&A with a museum curator.
Check back soon for events in this category
Events Open to All Members
Check back soon for events in this category
Patrons Society
Leadership Programs
Leadership Giving Society memberships provide vital ongoing philanthropic support to advance the museum’s mission. The following opportunities, including opening-night preview events, are available to all Leadership Giving Society members, beginning at the Patrons Society level.
Check back soon for events in this category
Canvas Programs
In addition to all the benefits of their chosen level of membership, Canvas members receive invitations to two exclusive Canvas events per year, a quarterly online Canvas newsletter, and the opportunity to learn about and lend support to the museum’s newest initiatives and most urgent needs.
Check back soon for events in this category
Curator’s Choice
Curator’s Choice programs are a benefit for members beginning at the Supporters Circle level. We invite you to engage with the museum’s encyclopedic permanent collection and nourish your passion for art through exciting programs designed by the museum’s curatorial staff. These unique opportunities promise to provide the latest information about curatorial collecting strategies, care of the collections, and more!
Curator's Choice
Tue, May 2, 6–8 pm
Talk| 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
Reception | 7 pm | Cochrane Atrium
Out of Many One: Reconstructing an Ancient Krater and Its History
with Dr. Peter Schertz, Jack and Mary Ann Frable Curator of Ancient Art, and Skyler Jenkins, Assistant Objects Conservator
When VMFA acquired its first volute krater in 2021, the ancient vessel for mixing wine and water was comprised of 35 large fragments and hundreds of smaller pieces. In this conversation, Dr. Peter Schertz, Jack and Mary Ann Frable Curator of Ancient Art, and Skyler Jenkins, Assistant Objects Conservator, will explore several intriguing questions raised by this work’s acquisition and eventual reconstruction. The program focuses on the krater’s history and unusual imagery, its curious provenance, and the laborious process of cleaning and reassembling the vessel.
Curator’s Choice programs are a benefit for members beginning at the Supporters Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lectures
Open to members at the Friends Circle level, the VMFA Circle Lecture Series features speakers sharing their expertise on a variety of topics in the art world as they relate to VMFA’s permanent collection and special exhibitions.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series - The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders
Thu, Apr 20, 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders: Palm Toddy and Other Drinks in India
with Professor James McHugh, University of Southern California
Alcoholic toddy is made from the fermented sap of certain palm trees. For drinkers, liquor that grows on trees might sound too good to be true, yet the process of managing trees and collecting sap is skilled, dangerous work. A fascinating South Indian story scroll in VMFA’s collection depicts the myths and interests of a community of toddy tappers. This talk will explore the scroll and what it teaches us about toddy culture, framing the matter of palm toddy within a broad introduction to alcohol in Indian history, religion, and mythology.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series LIVESTREAM - The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders
Thu, Apr 20, 6 pm | Live Stream via Zoom
The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders: Palm Toddy and Other Drinks in India
with Professor James McHugh, University of Southern California
Alcoholic toddy is made from the fermented sap of certain palm trees. For drinkers, liquor that grows on trees might sound too good to be true, yet the process of managing trees and collecting sap is skilled, dangerous work. A fascinating South Indian story scroll in VMFA’s collection depicts the myths and interests of a community of toddy tappers. This talk will explore the scroll and what it teaches us about toddy culture, framing the matter of palm toddy within a broad introduction to alcohol in Indian history, religion, and mythology.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series - Sargent and Spain
Thu, Jun 8, 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
Sargent and Spain
with Sarah Cash, Associate Curator, American and British Paintings,
National Gallery of Art
The beloved American artist John Singer Sargent enjoyed a decadeslong captivation with Spain that yielded a remarkable body of work, depicting the rich and diverse culture he encountered there. This talk will provide an overview of Sargent and Spain, the first exhibition to reveal the depth of this engagement and the intentional approach the artist adopted there. Previously on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, this exhibition highlighted Sargent’s painting, Gathering Blossoms, Valdemossa, a recent gift to VMFA from James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series LIVESTREAM - Sargent and Spain
Thu, Jun 8, 6 pm | Live Stream via Zoom
Sargent and Spain
with Sarah Cash, Associate Curator, American and British Paintings,
National Gallery of Art
The beloved American artist John Singer Sargent enjoyed a decadeslong captivation with Spain that yielded a remarkable body of work, depicting the rich and diverse culture he encountered there. This talk will provide an overview of Sargent and Spain, the first exhibition to reveal the depth of this engagement and the intentional approach the artist adopted there. Previously on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, this exhibition highlighted Sargent’s painting, Gathering Blossoms, Valdemossa, a recent gift to VMFA from James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom.
Cocktails with a Curator
This virtual program series is a special offering for VMFA members beginning at the Friends Circle level. We hope you will join us for a virtual cocktail and live Q&A with a museum curator.
Check back soon for events in this category
Events Open to All Members
Check back soon for events in this category
Fellows Society+
Fellows Programs
VMFA is delighted to offer Fellows Programs as a benefit for members beginning at the Fellows Society level. This special series of programs will provide high-level, exclusive access to the work of VMFA curators, thought leaders, and museum-field experts.
Fellows Program
Tue, May 2, 6–8 pm
Talk| 6 pm |Reynolds Lecture Hall
Reception | 7 pm | Cochrane Atrium
Uncovering Creole Woman Wearing a Madras Tignon: A Conservation and Curatorial Conversation
Join Dr. Susan J. Rawles, Elizabeth Locke Associate Curator of American Decorative Arts, and Josh Summer, Louise B. and J. Harwood Cochrane Associate Conservator of Paintings, for a conversation about VMFA’s recently acquired portrait, Creole Woman Wearing a Madras Tignon. Long believed to be an image of famed voodoo priestess Marie Laveau by the American artist George Catlin, the painting has been newly attributed based on revelations garnered through collaborative conservation and curatorial research. Engage in the painting’s rediscovery with an in-depth examination of its multilayered surface and learn about its relevance for VMFA’s permanent collections.
Fellows Programs are a benefit for members beginning at the Fellows Society level.
To reserve a seat or learn more, please call 804.340.1499.
Leadership Programs
Leadership Giving Society memberships provide vital ongoing philanthropic support to advance the museum’s mission. The following opportunities, including opening-night preview events, are available to all Leadership Giving Society members, beginning at the Patrons Society level.
Check back soon for events in this category
Canvas Programs
In addition to all the benefits of their chosen level of membership, Canvas members receive invitations to two exclusive Canvas events per year, a quarterly online Canvas newsletter, and the opportunity to learn about and lend support to the museum’s newest initiatives and most urgent needs.
Check back soon for events in this category
Curator’s Choice
Curator’s Choice programs are a benefit for members beginning at the Supporters Circle level. We invite you to engage with the museum’s encyclopedic permanent collection and nourish your passion for art through exciting programs designed by the museum’s curatorial staff. These unique opportunities promise to provide the latest information about curatorial collecting strategies, care of the collections, and more!
Curator's Choice
Tue, May 2, 6–8 pm
Talk| 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
Reception | 7 pm | Cochrane Atrium
Out of Many One: Reconstructing an Ancient Krater and Its History
with Dr. Peter Schertz, Jack and Mary Ann Frable Curator of Ancient Art, and Skyler Jenkins, Assistant Objects Conservator
When VMFA acquired its first volute krater in 2021, the ancient vessel for mixing wine and water was comprised of 35 large fragments and hundreds of smaller pieces. In this conversation, Dr. Peter Schertz, Jack and Mary Ann Frable Curator of Ancient Art, and Skyler Jenkins, Assistant Objects Conservator, will explore several intriguing questions raised by this work’s acquisition and eventual reconstruction. The program focuses on the krater’s history and unusual imagery, its curious provenance, and the laborious process of cleaning and reassembling the vessel.
Curator’s Choice programs are a benefit for members beginning at the Supporters Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lectures
Open to members at the Friends Circle level, the VMFA Circle Lecture Series features speakers sharing their expertise on a variety of topics in the art world as they relate to VMFA’s permanent collection and special exhibitions.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series - The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders
Thu, Apr 20, 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders: Palm Toddy and Other Drinks in India
with Professor James McHugh, University of Southern California
Alcoholic toddy is made from the fermented sap of certain palm trees. For drinkers, liquor that grows on trees might sound too good to be true, yet the process of managing trees and collecting sap is skilled, dangerous work. A fascinating South Indian story scroll in VMFA’s collection depicts the myths and interests of a community of toddy tappers. This talk will explore the scroll and what it teaches us about toddy culture, framing the matter of palm toddy within a broad introduction to alcohol in Indian history, religion, and mythology.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series LIVESTREAM - The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders
Thu, Apr 20, 6 pm | Live Stream via Zoom
The Intoxicating Tree of Wonders: Palm Toddy and Other Drinks in India
with Professor James McHugh, University of Southern California
Alcoholic toddy is made from the fermented sap of certain palm trees. For drinkers, liquor that grows on trees might sound too good to be true, yet the process of managing trees and collecting sap is skilled, dangerous work. A fascinating South Indian story scroll in VMFA’s collection depicts the myths and interests of a community of toddy tappers. This talk will explore the scroll and what it teaches us about toddy culture, framing the matter of palm toddy within a broad introduction to alcohol in Indian history, religion, and mythology.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series - Sargent and Spain
Thu, Jun 8, 6 pm | Leslie Cheek Theater
Sargent and Spain
with Sarah Cash, Associate Curator, American and British Paintings,
National Gallery of Art
The beloved American artist John Singer Sargent enjoyed a decadeslong captivation with Spain that yielded a remarkable body of work, depicting the rich and diverse culture he encountered there. This talk will provide an overview of Sargent and Spain, the first exhibition to reveal the depth of this engagement and the intentional approach the artist adopted there. Previously on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, this exhibition highlighted Sargent’s painting, Gathering Blossoms, Valdemossa, a recent gift to VMFA from James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level.
VMFA Circle Lecture Series LIVESTREAM - Sargent and Spain
Thu, Jun 8, 6 pm | Live Stream via Zoom
Sargent and Spain
with Sarah Cash, Associate Curator, American and British Paintings,
National Gallery of Art
The beloved American artist John Singer Sargent enjoyed a decadeslong captivation with Spain that yielded a remarkable body of work, depicting the rich and diverse culture he encountered there. This talk will provide an overview of Sargent and Spain, the first exhibition to reveal the depth of this engagement and the intentional approach the artist adopted there. Previously on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, this exhibition highlighted Sargent’s painting, Gathering Blossoms, Valdemossa, a recent gift to VMFA from James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom.
Cocktails with a Curator
This virtual program series is a special offering for VMFA members beginning at the Friends Circle level. We hope you will join us for a virtual cocktail and live Q&A with a museum curator.
Check back soon for events in this category
Events Open to All Members
Check back soon for events in this category
In addition to the member events outlined above, a number of highly customized events and programs are planned throughout the year that are tailored to specific membership levels and philanthropic interests. Leadership level members are invited to opening receptions for major exhibitions, members of Glasgow Society who have made planned gifts in support of VMFA’s mission are invited to learn about the impact of their giving, art donors are brought together to celebrate the growth of VMFA’s permanent collection each year as part of the John Barton Payne Society – these are just a few examples of the many wonderful opportunities to engage with VMFA and its mission that are provided each year. Click here to learn more or contact Stacy Newport, Annual Giving Officer, at 804.340.1439 or stacy.newport@VMFA.museum.