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The Arts in Metro Richmond


burt

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Odell Associates wins in its bid for the big Indian Chief(see posts above in reference to "Connecticut.") He will take up his position atop the Lucky Strike Power Plant at the eastern end of Tobacco Row when contract negotiations are completed.

From today's RTD: Odell Associations has done some photographic magic to show what Connecticut will look like on its roof. thumbsup.gif

http://www2.timesdis...-131402/324646/

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Richmond's Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has an Indian/South Asian collection that ranks among the top five in the nation.

The new 8,000 s/f gallery for the collection, including a white marble garden pavillion, will be ready for the May 1st re-opening of VMFA.

Check out a video of the pavillion's installation as well as related VMFA videos.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...-190209/326603/

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Steven Smith, who led the Richmond Symphony in a highly praised evening of Beethoven, Berlioz and Shostakovich last week, has been named the new Music Director of the orchestra.

Ironically, Steven Smith takes up the baton from Mark Russell Smith who is leaving Richmond after a multi-year tenure as Music Director of the Richmond Symphony.

From a breaking story in today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...-114202/328330/

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The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is launching a blockbuster of special traveling exhibitions that are likely to attract throngs of art lovers from far and wide, thereby pumping dollars into Richmond's economy.

Check out this exciting story in today's RTD by Roy Proctor who is the former drama and arts critic for The Richmond Times Dispatch and then click "Upcoming Special Exhibitions" which gives dates and particulars of each show.

http://www2.timesdis...-185404/329547/

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This interesting interview of Alex Nyerges (pronounced NAR-jess), Director of Virginia Museum of Fune Arts, reveals some interesting facts about VMFA and its collections.

After completion of the expansion, VMFA will have 545,000 s/f of enclosed space which will rank it 10th in total museum size on a list headed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

It will be in or near the top ten in many areas among American museums that collect art from all cultures and periods.

By Roy Proctor in today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...-185012/332630/

PS -- My comment: For anyone curious about space formerly occupied by Theatre Virginia I have learned that it is still in tact but currently serves as a construction storage area. The former Green Room and dressing rooms are now security offices. Funding to refurbish the theatre is not available but may be in the next fuinding go-round. When and if that happens it is likely the 500-seat theatre will be used for large audience lecture programs, small conferences and a program similar to the old "Fast Forward" series of contemporary music, dance and artist performances.

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Only 30 days remain before the public re-opening of The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on May 1st.

Style Weekly in its current issue lays out compresensive coverage with stories, interviews and photographs.

http://www.styleweekly.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=C25B8A41DBD342928B44385225738C2A&AudID=B41896E73131487DA9D3430288834D1D

On a personal note, I have just been gifted with a VMFA Membership and can't wait 'til my next Richmond visit.

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Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens has an exhibit called "Glorious Glass in the Garden" which will be on display until January 10, 2011.

The Botanical Garden in North Richmond has grown extensively in the past decade and draws considerable visitation from local residents and tourists.

Here's a slideshow courtesy of Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...s-glass-garden/

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I have my tickets for tomorrow night's opening of The Richmond Ballet at The Joyce Theatre at 19th Street and 8th Avenue here in New York.

Almost all orchestra seating for Tuesday night has been reserved by the Ballet for a large contingent of Richmond followers who have purchased tickets for the opening.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/content/2010/apr/05/backstage-richmond-ballet/

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A friend and I were at the opening of Richmond Ballet's week-long run at The Joyce Theatre here in New York last night. Our seats were next to Tim, Anne and Anella Kaine with whom we chatted extensively during intermissions. The former Governor and current DNC Chairman was enthusiast in his praise of the dancers, as were his wife and daughter.

Last evening was the presentation of Program A. I was especially impressed with Jessica Lang's piece called "To Familiar Spaces in Dream" which was danced superbly by the excellent company. The full house rose for a prolonged standing ovation at final curtain.

My nights are taken up all week, but fortunately I will be free next Sunday to see Program B.

Here's a video from Richmond dot com showing clips of the dancers' travels between Richmond and New York City:

http://www2.richmond...nleashed-97083/

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This video will be of little interest to most of you but I'm posting it anyway because I have a passion for theatre buildings.

Philip Skaggs, a dancer with Richmond Ballet, shot the video.

The Joyce Theatre at the southwest corner of 8th Avenue and 19th Street in the Chelsea district of Manhattan was built in the mid-20th Century as a movie house called The Elgin and seats 440 patrons. The stage was expanded after conversion to live performance use (not unlike the smaller converted movie house now called The Grace Street Theatre near VCU in Richmond which is now a venue for dance companies.) And while The Joyce does not have a tall fly grid, the proscenium is quite high and very wide.

Incidentally, The Richmond Ballet's Studio Theatre at 5th and Canal Streets in downtown Richmond has a deep and wide stage and the venue can accommodate about 200. All of the six ballets being performed in New York premiered on the Studio Theatre stage in Richmond.

From today's Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/video/2010/apr/08/behind-the-scenes-of-the-joyce-theatre--56658/

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The Museum of the City of New York's cast-off is now a treasure at VMFA. The entire Rockefeller bedroom from his mansion at 4 West 54th Street is now installed in a VaMus gallery.

From Roy Proctor in today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...-184808/337308/

And the mysterious Richmond lady known as Arabella who became the richest woman in America was the previous owner of the mansion just west of Fifth Avenue.

Here's her story as revealed today in the RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...-184808/337309/

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I just talked to a friend who went to the members' premiere of VMFA today. This is someone who retired from the Museum staff a few years ago who says he was astounded at the changes. He was guided by a friend and staff member throughout the entire complex -- INCLUDING the theatre.

I earlier reported restoration of the Museum Theatre was awaiting further funding but, while not totally restored, it is operational and looks just as it did in its glory days. In fact, it may host lectures and other activities within a few weeks.

It is officially called The Leslie Cheek Theatre in honor of the former Museum Director who established the first theatre within a major museum in the nation.

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I just talked to a friend who went to the members' premiere of VMFA today. This is someone who retired from the Museum staff a few years ago who says he was astounded at the changes. He was guided by a friend and staff member throughout the entire complex -- INCLUDING the theatre.

I earlier reported restoration of the Museum Theatre was awaiting further funding but, while not totally restored, it is operational and looks just as it did in its glory days. In fact, it may host lectures and other activities within a few weeks.

It is officially called The Leslie Cheek Theatre in honor of the former Museum Director who established the first theatre within a major museum in the nation.

This is a great theatre in which I received some valuable lectures from museum staff. Hopefully a local donor will come up with the money. This is a asset to the community that cannot go to waste.

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