The Arts in Metro Richmond

[burt]

The Picasso Exhibit is now drawing throngs of people to The Art Museum of San Francisco after its successful 3-month run at VMFA.

FABULOUS FABERGE, opening July 9th, is the next local blockbuster. As art critic Roy Proctor says:

"This time out, the hundreds of Faberge and other Russian decorative arts objects bequeathed to the Virginia Museum by Lillian Thomas Pratt in 1947, including five Imperial Russian Easter eggs designed by Faberge as gifts, are the indisputable star."

Be sure to click on the "Related Stories" box for a glimpse of the priceless display.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/news/2011/jul/03/tdflair01-fabulous-faberge-ar-1142139/

[burt]

VMFA has announced that an economic study determined the recent Picasso Exhibit produced an overall financial impact of almost $29 Million.

I wasn't the only caller who tried unsuccessfully over four days to book tickets for the event. I finally secured tickets by various means and thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition. But, I'm sure I speak for others when I suggest a less frustrating ticketing system would have resulted in a considerably higher economic return.

Here's hoping a more satisfactory system has been set up for FABULOUS FABERGE which opens this Saturday, July 9th for three months.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/news/2011/jul/07/tdmain01-picasso-exhibit-had-a-nearly-29-million-i-ar-1156663/

[burt]

Tomorrow is opening day of FABULOUS FABERGE at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. Over 500 pieces of jeweler Karl Faberge's creations will be on display.

Here is a video produced by VMFA:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/lifestyles/2011/jul/07/6/fabulous-faberge-55317-vi-28679/

[burt]

Tomorrow is opening day of FABULOUS FABERGE at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. Over 500 pieces of jeweler Karl Faberge's creations will be on display.

Here is a video produced by VMFA:

http://www2.timesdis...55317-vi-28679/

Guest curator Geza von Habsburg answers questions about FABULOUS FABERGE:

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...ato-ar-1159127/

[burt]

Faberge is the focus in Richmond. The largest exhibit of Faberge art opened yesterday at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/jul/10/tdmet08-opening-day-of-quotfaberge-revealedquot-dr-ar-1162815/

[burt]

For at least a decade, The Richmond Shakespeare Company which has a passion for Shakespeare's canon of plays, has doggedly pursued the establishment of an acting company devoted to the works of the bard. The group has performed in tiny halls, churches, small theatres and any venue available.

A well-kept secret is that Richmond's architecture dates far earlier than Civil War and even Revolutionary history. It is the site of an imported 15th Century manorhouse as old or older than Shakespeare himself. No where in America are his plays performed in a more authentic setting than the court yards, gardens and interiors of Agecroft Hall.

http://www.agecrofthall.com/index.htm

While Richmond Shakespeare Company has a way to go until it approaches the professionalism and operating budget of Washington's Shakespeare Theatre Company or New York's Public Theatre, it has made great strides. In addition to summer seasons at Agecroft Hall in the city's toney Windsor Farms, the company has almost exclusive rights for its winter programs at The Gottwald Playhouse in downtown Richmond's beautiful CenterStage facility.

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

[burt]

The University of Richmond's Modlin Center for the Arts has an ambitious and varied program of performers lined up for the upcoming season.

The Modlin Center venues on the beautiful UR campus include The Alice Jepson Theatre and The Camp Concert Hall where most of the programming will occur. One or two will take place at downtown's Carpenter Theatre.

The list of performers and the dates they will appear are at the end of this story from a recent edition of The Richmond Times Dispatch:

http://www2.timesdis...son-ar-1201138/

[burt]

Huge bequests from the Arthur Graham Glasgow and Margaret Branch Glasgow Trust, totaling $125 million, have been awarded to The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, VCU Medical Campus, and 13 charitable organizations.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will receive $70 million.

$45 million will go to VCU Medical Campus

and $10 million is to be divided among 13 charitable organizations.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...ift-ar-1263917/

[540_804]

This is truly amazing news!

[burt]

Talk about contrasting arts!!!

Bumps and grinds meet Faberge at VMFA.

Presumably, the performance will take place on stage at The Leslie Cheek Theatre in the Museum.

From the current Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweek...-vmfa-embraces- burlesque/Content?oid=1605597

[burt]

Here's the full website for the above story:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1605597

[burt]

If you have not seen the Tribute to Igor Antonov at Richmond Ballet Studio Theatre at 5th and Canal Streets, it continues until September 18th. Here is a review from The RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...o-i-ar-1298308/

[burt]

While Virginia Opera is still the principal purveyor in The Commonwealth, a new musical organization is now on the scene and calls itself Lyric Opera Virginia.

Norfolk based LOV under Artistic Directer Peter Mark launches itself in Richmond this weekend with two performances of LA TRAVIATA in the beautiful Lora Robins Theatre at the Cramer Center for the Arts located at 11160 Gayton Road in the Stewart School complex..

Check out the story and video in today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...aqu-ar-1310249/

[burt]

The Faberge exhibit at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is in its final weeks.

While it has not drawn as well as hoped, the next exhibit should really be a blockbuster: MUMMY: SECRETS OF THE TOMB from The British Musuem in London opens November 19th for four months ending March 11th, 2012.

News of note: The expanded museum building is on the short list for an international architectural award. More on that later.

[burt]

If you're a Byrd Theatre devotee and you like to hear the Wurlitzer Organ fill the huge room with music and watch the organ rise from the orchestra pit, then here's your treat:

http://byrdtheatre.c...happenings.org/

This is a Byrd Theatre Foundation fund raiser. The artist is a famed organist from Berlin named Cameron Carpenter.

No movie. Just music. 8PM on Friday, October 7th.

[burt]

Who says burlesque and fine art don't mix?

All 500 seats at The Leslie Cheek Theatre in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts sold out for the recent burlesque performance -- competing with and complementing the elegant Faberge show in the galleries.

That's what some people would call "high camp" -- especially since the emmcee, Miss Magnolia, is a man.

CBS6 video from West of the Boulevard blog:

http://wotbn.net/burlesque-finds-receptive-audience-at-vmfa/

[burt]

Virginia Opera, based in Norfolk, will present a full production of AIDA with the Virginia Symphony in the pit and The Richmond Ballet on the massive Carpenter Theatre stage with the opera company.

It will be at The Carpenter Theatre Friday and Sunday, October 21 and 23.

NOTE: The photo/illustration in the opera's website is the auxilliary annex (renovated Thalhimer building) directly adjacent to The Carpenter Theatre where the opera will be performed. The lobbies of the two buildings. officially known as Richmond CenterStage, are connected and there are two smaller performing spaces in the building shown.

http://www.vaopera.o...enues/index.cfm

[Oaktowntwinz]

I came across this article about the arts in Richmond. Burt, I think you will like it. It does seem that Richmond is starting to really define itself through the arts. The Institute for Contemporary Arts is expected to be completed in 2014 and may provide Richmond with the iconic structure that identifies the city. Whether you love or hate the work of Steven Holl, he isn't timid and is visionary. Thats something relatively new for the city.

http://www.virginiab...s-into-a-groove

[burt]

Oaktowntwinz, this Style Weekly story was printed July 21, 2009 -- before Steven Holl was announced as architect for VCU's Institute for Contemporary Arts:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1360439

Go to the topic titled "VCU Developments", page 33 beginning with 540-804's posting on May 26, 2011 and you'll see quite a discussion on the subject, including your comments.

Sometime before the Style Weekly story, a lady whose first name is Jayne (who at the time was assistant to Mr. Tuscan, head of the art department at VCU) visited me here in New York and showed me schematics for the project. I had previously e-mailed Mr. Tuscan and her suggesting that the location be shifted from a lot across from The Brand Center on West Cary Street to a gateway site at Belvidere and Broad. Upon seeing the design, I urged that the University go after a more daring architect.

Imagine my surprise when the busy intersection was named as the site and Steven Holl was brought on as architect.

[Oaktowntwinz]

Thanks for reminding me of that article Burt. I'm glad you used your influence and encouraged them to move this project to a gateway intersection. Hopefully, Steven Holl will design something special that people will be able to immediately recognize as a Richmond landmark.

[burt]

I thought it passing strange that a new opera company could launch itself and be ignored by the press.

Finally, after digging around in Google, I found this Times Dispatch review by Roy Proctor of Lyric Opera Virginia's full production of LA TRAVIATA. It played two sold-out performances at The Cramer Center for the Arts in the Stewart School on Gayton Road on September 16th and 18th..

Proctor's review was burried in a section of the newspaper on Sunday, September 18th where one would not expect to find it.

http://www2.timesdis...-op-ar-1317853/

For details about the new Norfolk based opera company, click their web site in the "related" box.

[burt]

I don't know how many of you know this, but Theatre IV is restoring the facade of The Empire Theatre in the one hundred block of West Broad Street in The Gallery District to its original look.

This photo was taken when it was known as The Booker-T Theatre. It was born as The Empire and subsequently became known as The Strand, then The Booker-T.

After restoration, expected to be completed in November, it will look similar to this photo.

From Theatre IV's blog:

http://2.bp.blogspot...%2Bfacade-1.jpg

[burt]

Here is the blog about the Empire's new (old) face:

http://thebarksdaleb...istory-yet.html

Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV are for all intents one organization. It's too complicated to explain.

[burt]

After a one month hiatus brought about by "wilding" activities,, Richmond's First Friday art stroll is set to begin in an hour along West Broad Street in The Gallery District.

It will run between 5PM and 9PM today.

From RVANews:

http://rvanews.com/n...this-week/51562

[burt]

The City and it's art community breathed a big sigh of relief as First Friday Art Walk returned peacefully to The Gallery District in downtown Richmond last night.

Galleries got big crowds and restaurants did brisk business.

It's hoped and expected that VCU's planned Institute for Contemporary Art designed by architect Steven Holl will be anchoring the corner of Broad and Belvidere Streets within a couple of years. It and the Empire Theatre complex with its restored facade on Broad between Adams and Jefferson Streets are going to vastly enhance the arts district. The Empire's new face should be finished by late November to coincide with the theatre's opening of MY FAIR LADY.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...eac-ar-1368086/