April 4, 2008
First Friday TONIGHT
First Fridays this week takes on a global and political theme with the addition of performances by the University of Richmond’s resident Indonesian Orchestra, Gamelan Raga Kusuma, and a Grand Opening at the Valentine Richmond History Center. [via]
From the Curated Culture press release:
The University of Richmond’s resident Indonesian orchestra, Gamelan Raga Kusuma, performs a special free evening of world music and dance at the Richmond Public Library’s Main Branch (101 Franklin Street) between 7-9 pm during First Fridays. Gamelan Raga Kusuma will trade sets with Brazilian Capoiera musicians led by Mestre Panao and Kevin Harding’s Bossa ensemble. The Orchestra will perform traditional Indonesian music and dance with their enormous, hand crafted gamelan, an ensemble of bronze gongs, chimes, cymbals and drums housed in intricately carved wooden cases.
This FREE special First Fridays event is made possible by the generous support of the University of Richmond’s Department of Music and the Modlin Center for the Arts – First Fridays 7th Season Presenting Sponsor.
Also enjoy at the Richmond Public Library, award-winning Poet, Ron Smith, who will be reading in the Special Collections Room at 7:00 pm. Ron Smith is the writer in residence at St. Christopher’s School and the first recipient of the Carole Weinstein Poetry Prize. He is the author of Running Again in Hollywood Cemetery and his most recent work Moon Road, published in 2007.
And don’t miss the Big Book Sale Fundraiser taking place between 2-6pm and 7-9pm on First Fridays, as well as on April 5 and 7. Find fabulous deals on books, cds, videos, and much more while supporting one of the City’s cultural and educational treasurers. Presented by Friends of the Library.
The global theme continues over at art6 Gallery with performances by some of Richmond’s top belly dancers (like Pyro Kitty, Johara, and Shimmy Mischief) who will be accompanied by musicians from Balkanize, adding their unstoppable drum beats to Janine Turner’s photography of the dancers in question. Art 6 offers an opportunity to not only experience Richmond’s growing belly dancing community, through sites and sounds, but also the site specific paper installation, 1000 Paper Birds, by Richmond artist and educator, Nancy Strube.
We’re excited to announce that the Valentine Richmond History Center joins First Fridays again this month with an opening reception between 7-10pm of Battle for the City: The Politics of Race 1950s-70s a fascinating new exhibition featuring stunning imagery and artifacts focused on citywide conflicts over integration, civil rights, urban planning, transportation, and political representation - the outcomes of which affected Richmond’s physical and social landscape. Some of the noteworthy artifacts included are part of the Woolworth’s lunch counter, a seat from Parker Field, a Klan robe, and the office chair used by Mayors Henry Marsh, Roy A. West, Geline B. Williams, and Walter T. Kenny. Jump on a free shuttle at either the Valentine Richmond History Center or at the corner of Madison and West Broad Street, near Quirk Gallery to enjoy this free special event. Shuttle will make a continuous loop from 7-10pm between the First Fridays area and the History Center.
Gallery5 celebrates its 3rd Anniversary on April 4th! On April’s First Friday Gallery5 does battle with their crib-mates RVA Magazine (also turning 3) in a mural competition. Artistic gladiators include your local favorites Jim Callahan, Oura, Adam Juresko, Bizhan Khodabandeh, Ross Trimmer and a secret special guest. It’s an RVA/Gallery5 joint so expect great live music from Fight the Big Bull, Prabir and the Substitutes and cabaret sister act, Vermillion Lies. The high-energy antics of G5 Fire Performers will be outside spinning, spitting, twirling, and breathing the hot stuff. Late night brings DJ sets from the Party Liberation Front starring DJ Reinhold and Discotizer on the second floor and local unstoppable sonic sensations, SoulPower downstairs.
Take part in our Silent Auction with entries from Firehouse Theatre Project, TheatreVCU, Henry, Rumors, Ian Graham, Ken Howard, Revolve, Chop Suey, Tagur Shoes, Sticky Rice, Taboo, OPUS and others. Only $5 gets you in on the fun at this special benefit event that takes place from 7pm-2am.
We welcome the following new sites to First Fridays!
312 Gallery, located at 312 Brook Road, was established in 2003, and this Historic Jackson Ward art gallery radiates an urban spirit with fresh new work by local artists. Past exhibits included an emphasis on African-American and African tribal art. On April 4th, 312 Gallery presents the mixed media sculptural works of artist Tex Francis. First Fridays receptions take place from 7-10pm. Tex Francis’ solo exhibition will be on view from April 4-30, 2008.
Individual Venue Listings for April First Fridays
1708 Gallery
18th Annual Art Auction
Get a glimpse at 1708’s 18th Annual Art Auction exhibition on First Fridays. Support one of Richmond’s top arts venues at the big event, taking place April 19, 2008.
First Friday Hours: 7–10 pm
Exhibition Dates: April 4-26, 2008
312 Gallery
Tex Francis
Solo exhibition features the mixed media sculptural wall art of artist Tex Francis
First Friday Hours: 7–10 pm
Exhibition Dates: April 4-30, 2008
Art6 Gallery
Nancy Strube: 1000 Paper Birds, installation of paper
Janine Turner: Celebration of Form, photographs of belly dancers
Graphic artist Nancy Strube presents a paper-based installation while photographer Janine Turner presents a series of photographs of belly dancers, celebrating the human form. Some of Richmond’s top belly dancers will be dancing during the First Fridays opening and will be accompanied by musicians from the Eastern European based groove ensemble, Balkazine.
First Fridays Hours: 6-10pm / Featuring Belly Dancers and Musicians from Balkanize
Exhibition Dates: April 4-27, 2008
Black History Museum & Cultural Center of VA
The Gift of Black Inventors
The product of more than twenty-five years of research by James E. Wright, Jr., this exhibition highlights the contributions of Americans of African decent. James E. Wright, Jr., Director, MSI Program, University of Richmond, founded the African American Inventors Institute in 1995 to further increase awareness of the contributions of African Americans and to stimulate interest in science and technology. “We are presenting young people with images of themselves. If I can see one, I can be one,” says Mr. Wright.
The exhibition will display over 125 items and will feature inventors and their inventions as varied in time and function as Sarah Boone and her 1892 patent for the ironing board, Winston Wesley Cavell and his spotter-tracer projectile patented in 1961, and Lonnie Johnson’s ‘Super Soaker’ patented in 1991.
First Fridays Hours: 6-9pm
Exhibition Dates: March 7 – July 31
Chez Foushee
Chez Foushee, voted one of Richmond’s Best Restaurants, will be open for dinner and drinks on April 4, and will be presenting a new spring menu between 6-10pm and cocktails will available until 11pm.
Curated Culture’s Cornerstone Gallery
Match Play: Robert Walz and Brenda Walz Van Ness
Through her photography, Brenda Walz Van Ness attempts to celebrate
the almost invisible yet universal aspects of life that often gets lost in today’s complex and busy world. Robert Walz’s work consists of a series of small to medium sized print-based experiments, whose elements were created in response to (or often during) encounters with his sister Brenda.
First Fridays Hours: 7-10pm
Exhibition Dates: April 4-May 30, 2008
Elegba Folklore Society
Works by primarily Afrocentric artists include paintings, sculpture, drawings, dolls, original art cards and other multicultural crafts.
First Fridays Hours: 7-10pm
Exhibition Dates: April 4
For Instance Gallery
For Sounds like a Whispering Blast
Works by Marty Johnson - A Spectiveretro
First Fridays Hours: 6-10pm; Featuring Live Jazz by The Kevin Johnson Group
Exhibition Dates: April 4-25, 2008
Gallery 5
Gallery5 and RVA Magazine: 3 Year Anniversary Party!
Gallery5 and RVA Magazine will host their 3-Year Anniversary Party. Mural competition between artists of Gallery5 and RVA Magazine, live music by some of Richmond’s best groups, silent auction, food, cash bar, dance party, and much, much more!!! $5 donation at the door
First Fridays Hours: 7pm-2am; $5 donation at the door
Exhibition Dates: April 4, 2008
Ghostprint Gallery
Anna Kaarina Nenonen - Everything Has a Hidden Meaning Nenonen, a native of Finland where her work is widely exhibited and collected, comments, often ironically, on female sexuality in her boldly painted canvases. Now a resident of Virginia, her professional and personal ties to horsemanship provide an additional rich source of imagery for her work.
First Fridays Hours: 7-10pm
Exhibition Dates: April 4-26, 2008
Henry
Henry is Richmond’s latest hot spot for men’s and women’s streetwear, sneakers, and accessories. First Fridays events showcase mixed media works by local and national emerging artists.
First Fridays Hours: 11am-11pm
Jennifer Young Studio & Gallery
Spring Mix
A celebration of springtime at Jennifer Young Studio & Gallery, featuring Jennifer Young’s vibrant plein air and studio paintings of gardens and flowers. The show opens Friday, April 4th, 2008, with a reception from 6 to 8:30 PM. The exhibit continues through May 30th.
First Fridays Hours: 6-8:30pm
Exhibition Dates: April 4-May 30, 2008
Lift Coffee Shop
Enjoy gourmet coffees, teas, and pastries, as well as free wi-fi, while enjoying a diverse array of works by local artists in one of Downtown’s hippest coffee shops.
First Fridays Hours: 7-11pm
Metro Space Gallery
Art in Black and White: A Group Show
First Fridays Hours: 6-10pm
Exhibition Dates: April 4-29, 2008
Quirk Gallery
Main Gallery: Shrinkage: Winning Entries form the Shahneshin Foundation’s International Poster Competition
Vault Project: Lissa Hunter
Shop Show: Joe Lupo
Window Dressing: Kristin Caskey
First Fridays Hours: 11am-10pm
Exhibition: March 26-April 26, 2008
Richmond Public Library
Richmond Illustrators Club - photography
Nicole Poegl - photography
Artspace Membership Show
First Fridays Hours: 7-9pm
Exhibition Dates: April 4-29, 2008
First Fridays Special Events:
Big Book Sale Fundraiser from 2-6pm and 7-9pm and April 5 & 7, presented by Friends of the Library.
Global Night from 7-9pm featuring Members of Gamelan Raga Kusuma, University of Richmond’s own Balinese Gamelan Orchestra will perform traditional Indonesian music and dance with their enormous, hand crafted gamelan, an ensemble of bronze gongs, chimes, cymbals and drums housed in intricately carved wooden cases. The Gamelan Ensemble will be joined by Brazilian capoeira musicians and dancers led by Mestre Panao, and Kevin Harding’s Bossa ensemble.
“Global Night” is made possible by the generous support of the University of Richmond’s Department of Music and the Modlin Center for the Arts - First Fridays 7th Season Presenting Sponsor.
And award-winning Poet, Ron Smith, will be reading in the Special Collections Room at 7:00 pm. Ron Smith is the writer in residence at St. Christopher’s School and the first recipient of the Carole Weinstein Poetry Prize. He is the author of Running Again in Hollywood Cemetery and his most recent work Moon Road, published in 2007.
Sound of Music Studio
Music by the Palominos and Prabir and the Substitutes
First Fridays Hours: 7-10pm
Exhibition Dates: April 4-26, 2008
Studio/Gallery 6
Todd S. Hale - mixed media
Kendra Wadsworth - painting
First Fridays Hours: 7pm-12am / Featuring live music by The Orioles; Special benefit for the VA Equine Rescue League
Exhibition Dates: April 4-25, 2008
Theatre IV
Theatre IV will be dark on April 4th getting ready for their fantastic Annual Fairy Tale Ball on Saturday, April 5. For more information and to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at 344-8040.
First Friday Hours: n/a
Transmission
Claire Watkins, Kell Black, and Rosana Barragan
Claire Watkins will be exhibiting her kinetic sculptures, while Kell Black (from Tennessee) will exhibit his intricate paper cutouts, and Rosana Barragan will be performing a dance piece specifically for this show.
First Fridays Hours: 7-9pm
Exhibition Dates: April 4-29, 2008
Turnstyle
Live music from DJ Chris Stevens with art by Chastity Stevens
First Fridays Hours: 7-11pm
Exhibition Dates: April 4-25, 2008
Visual Art Studio
Jumping through Hoops, How I Slept My Way to the Top
Tongue in cheek mixed media adventures by Anne Hart Chay with special guest artists Eric Garner (nonobjective painting), Karen Kain (works on paper and limited edition prints), Kathy Benner (fiber art) and Nick Sullivan (photography).
First Fridays Hours: 7-10pm
Exhibition Dates: April 4-May 30, 2008
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