02.19.2024

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Today’s Forecast

52º | 3% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:54 a.m. | Sunset 5:52 p.m.

🎨 Virginia is for artists

VMFA awards grants to nine Richmond artists

“Third Home” by Rebecca Oh and “Rock Faerie” by Isaiah Mamo | Photo courtesy of VMFA

The VMFA announced the 2024-25 recipients of its Visual Arts Fellowships, and Richmonders accounted for seven of the 19 total awardees.

The fellowship program is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. This year’s grants totaled $118,000. All recipients were residents of Virginia, and nine were from Richmond. They can use the award however they want, including for education and studio investments.

The awardees from Richmond are Ali Kaeini (painting), G.M. Keaton (new and emerging media), Rosalind Koons (sculpture), Abed Elmajid Shalabi (sculpture), Kate Sicchio (new and emerging media), Rebecca Oh (painting), Laneecia Ricks (photography), and Patton Westphalen (film and video).

These recipients each received between $2,000 and $8,000. Oh and Ricks are both students at VCU.

RIC VMFA grant winners 2 — “Driver & Passenger” by Abed Elmajid Shalabi
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Photo courtesy of VMFA

VCU sculpture student Tyna Ontko received the Cy Twombly Graduate Fellowship, which is reserved for two-time fellowship winners.

This year marks the 84th anniversary of the Visual Arts Fellowship Program. In that time, it has given out nearly $6 million to upcoming artists.

VMFA Director and CEO Alex Nyerges said the program represents a large part of the museum’s mission for nurturing professional artists and students from throughout the Commonwealth.

In addition to the financial aspect of the awards, VMFA’s Amuse Restaurant exhibits works by past fellowship winners.

Events

Monday, Feb. 19

Profs & Pints: The Psychology of Nostalgia | Monday, Feb. 19 | 6-8 p.m. | Triple Crossing Beer – Fulton, 5203 Hatcher St., Richmond | $14 | VCU psychology professor Jeffrey Green will deliver a talk you’re sure to fondly remember.

Tuesday, Feb. 20

Baby Artsplay! | Tuesday, Feb. 20 | 3-3:45 p.m. | Main Library, 101 East Franklin St., Richmond | This playtime includes developmentally appropriate activities like storytelling, creative movement, singing, and music-making with simple rhythm instruments.
VCU Baseball vs. Longwood | Tuesday, Feb. 20 | 3-6 p.m. | The Diamond, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | $7-$10 | The Rams face the Lancers in their home opener.

Wednesday, Feb. 21

“Me and You and Everyone We Know” | Wednesday, Feb. 21 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St., Richmond | $9 | Miranda July wrote, directed, and stars in this film.
Symphonic Wind Ensemble Concert | Wednesday, Feb. 21 | 7-9 p.m. | Singleton Center for Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave., Richmond | $5-$10 | Come out and watch the members of VCU Music’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble perform.

Thursday, Feb. 22

RESONATE Workshop: Entering The World of Investigative Reporting | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 3-4 p.m. | Institute for Contemporary Art, 601 W Broad St., Richmond | Come for an informal presentation that will cover the basics of entering the field of in-depth enterprising reporting.

Saturday, Feb. 24

Legends on Grace: DJ Harrison | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 8-10 p.m. | Dominion Energy Center, 600 E. Grace St. Ste. 400, Richmond | $42-$52 | Butcher Brown’s DJ Harrison is joined by Style Weekly’s Peter McElhinney for an intimate conversation to discuss his experience working and producing Grammy-nominated tracks in the 804.*

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Plan Ahead

Richmond VegFest announced the date for its 2024 festival. The vegan food-focused event will take place in Byrd Park on Satuday, Oct. 5.

Edu

Following issues with the rollout of the new FAFSA application process, Virginia colleges have delayed their commitment deadlines for high school seniors. The FAFSA problems mean students are unsure how much financial aid they will receive. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Arts

Richmond Shakespeare will present Steven Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” Thursday, March 7-Sunday, March 24 at The Steward School’s Cramer Center for the Arts. Tickets are already available, but will remain on sale until the days of each individual show.

Cause

The Junior League is moving to Libbie Mill after spending six years on West Cary Street. The organization, previously based in Monroe Ward, boasts 600+ members. (Richmond BizSense)

Traffic

After traffic cameras were installed in front of two Richmond public schools in November, new laws will allow for more speed cameras in more places. While some critics believe the cameras are a financial burden, advocates say they effectively prevent speeding. (VPM)

Arts

The Richmond Symphony is launching its first Conducting Apprenticeship in collaboration with Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship. Claire Lewis, a 20-year-old Johns Hopkins student, will participate throughout the 2024-2025 season

Sports

Indoor sports options in Richmond

Gyms like the JCC and the YMCA have indoor pools for lap swimming. | Photo by Steven Lek

After our list of indoor sports options a few weeks ago, several readers reached out with more suggestions. Here are a few we missed.

Ice Hockey

If you want the best of both worlds, why not be cold inside? Richmond has a growing number of options for skating and ice hockey. The Ice Den opened in 2021 in Powhatan specifically to support Richmond’s local hockey programs. SkateNation Plus not only has youth and adult league hockey, but hosts laser tag and offers a full arcade.

Swimming

Richmond has a number of indoor pools around the city to stop by and get a few laps in. The Weinstein JCC, the YMCA, and other local gyms have pools.

There’s also SwimRVA, a nonprofit facility in Chesterfield devoted to increasing the accessibility of swimming in the Richmond area. Its Drownproof Richmond initiative works with schools and youth programs to teach children to swim.

Did we miss your favorite place to play in Richmond? Loop us in on your preferred spot.

The Buy

The Buy 2.19.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

A stylish new collar or leash from Six & Main’s collection for your dog to sport during their favorite time of day (walk time).

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
David

From the editor

I grew up swimming laps at the JCC, but these days I get my indoor exercise fix at Triangle Rock Club. Now that the days are getting longer, though, I’m excited to get back out on the trails around the James River.

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