First Friday has rolled around once again, and once again, I find myself contemplating the weather. And let me just say that, no matter how much stock you put in this whole “polar vortex” thing, I can tell you for sure that it’s been way too cold in RVA this winter.
First Friday has rolled around once again, and once again, I find myself contemplating the weather. And let me just say that, no matter how much stock you put in this whole “polar vortex” thing, I can tell you for sure that it’s been way too cold in RVA this winter. One of the reasons I love living in this Southern city is that we don’t really get winter the way they do up north (and also to the west, past the Appalachians). I know some people love the snow, but I always assume those people don’t actually have to go to work in it. If I got to spend the day in bed every time it snowed, I’d love it too, but slogging to work through two weeks of snow this month was a real bummer. Thankfully, the snow has gone away in time for this First Friday, and while The Weather Channel’s home page is currently babbling excitedly about a “Mega Weekend Blizzard,” that’s all happening well to the north of here. We might get some rain this Saturday, but First Friday is shaping up to be cool but not freezing, and relatively clear. So rejoice! And head out to the Broad and Main street Art Walks this weekend to take in some amazing work from local and national artists! Here are some things to look forward to:
Gallery 5: The Art Of The Tease
Since opening in April of 2005, Gallery 5 has sought to house and nourish many different forms and avenues of artistic expression. One that has made a huge impact in our walls (and other venues across the city) is burlesque! These women (and men) have worked extremely hard to bring all different walks of life together to experience the humor, choreography, costuming, props, music and more involved in formulating a top notch show. We’ve seen these endeavors titillate, tease, inspire and grow into a very present, empowering community in Richmond that we’re very proud of. All hail live entertainment!
For February, Gallery 5 would like to further honor and celebrate “the art of the tease” in a new way by having an art showcase that displays selected works by some of the community at large! So join us for the opening night of the Art of the Tease, and get a more up closer and personal look (but don’t touch) at some of the creativity that makes it all tick, boom and wow the crowds!
On display will be:
*homemade, customized costumes, props, jewelry and pasties by selected performers from past (and maybe future) shows!
* video installation and glitter painted photography by Todd Raviotta/Natural Science Productions
* photos by Lauren Lyon, Dave Parrish
* a poster wall installation from the numerous shows over the years
* A wall of performer from sketches Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School RVA
We will also have a market for opening night! Valentine’s Day is right around the corner so be sure to pick up some handmade gifts for your sweethearts or pick up information on some of the wonderful organizations that are supporting this event. Bring them dollars because there will be fabulous raffle prizes from all of our vendors and more!
OH, and what would a burlesque inspired art show be without its inspiration! For opening night we’ll have PERFORMANCES STARTING AT 9PM SHARP by: Deanna Danger, Melody Magpie, Moxie LaBouche, Dante the Inferno, Dev L. Ish, Cherrie Canary, Siren Sivette, Puppie Buffe’, Sally Von Streusel, Lottie Ellington, Lorelei Leisure, Ellie Quinn, and Buster Britches! THIS IS A NO PHOTOGRAPHY EVENT (unless you are one of the approved photographers). Tunes provided by DJ Outsider!
The Art Of The Tease will open with a reception and performance on First Friday, February 7, beginning at 7 PM, at Gallery 5, located at 200 W. Marshall St. The exhibition will remain on display through the end of February.
Quirk Gallery: Andras Bality, Eleanor Grosch, & Lucy Gillis
This month, Quirk Gallery presents a continued presentation of the work of Andras Bality in their Main Gallery, as well as new exhibitions in the Vault and Shop areas. The Shop Show will feature new work from Philadelphia graphic artist Eleanor Grosch, while The Vault will feature works by Richmond artist Lucy Gillis.
All three of these exhibitions will open with a reception on Thursday, February 6, from 5-8 PM, followed by a First Friday reception from 5-8 PM on February 7, at Quirk Gallery, located at 311 W. Broad St. All exhibits will remain on display through February 28.
Visual Art Studio: Into The Blue
High Tide, Dana Frostick, mixed media on canvas
Visual Art Studio presents Into The Blue, a collection of new paintings by Dana Frostick. The exhibition opens with a reception First Friday, February 7, beginning at 6 PM, at Visual Art Studio, located at 208 W. Broad St. February 7 also marks the 17th anniversary of Visual Art Studio’s opening, and to celebrate, there will be refreshments and music by My Son The Doctor. Art will remain on display through April 11.
Virginia Center For Latin American Art: Sneakerheads: Shoes And Oils
This month, VACLAA’s Mobile Art Gallery presents Sneakerheads: Shoes And Oils, new work by Philippe Previl.
Shoes have souls. For many people, shoes are the most self-referential aspect of their attire, expressing their various selves as manifested in different social contexts. Haitian-American artist Philippe Previl perceptively identified sneakers as the most elaborately artistic contemporary expression of the deeply human relationship to footwear. His current exhibit, set to open on the bus at VACLAA on Broad for the next First Friday Artwalk, explores the artistry and expressive qualities of the modern sneaker through vivid paintings that read like traditional portraiture.
Sneakerheads will open with an exhibition at VACLAA’s Mobile Art Gallery, located at 401 W. Broad St, in the parking lot of Moore’s Auto Body shop, on First Friday, February 7, from 6-9 PM.
Elegba Folklore Society: African Root, American Fruit
This month, Elegba Folklore Society presents the second of their Race, Place, and Identity exhibitions, African Root, American Fruit, a collection of paintings and collages by Ronald Jackson.
Ronald Jackson paints portraits and figurative works to comment on the identity of African American people and their influence on the landscape of American society. Jackson will give a talk on the significance of art in African American culture and expound on the implication of his artwork and experience. The evening will also feature a remembrance of the Greensboro, North Carolina Woolworth lunch counter sit-ins which began on February 1, 1960.
African Root, American Fruit will open with a First Friday reception on February 7, from 5-9 PM, at Elegba Folklore Society, located at 101 E. Broad St. Ronald Jackson’s gallery talk will begin at 6 PM. The exhibition will remain on display through February 28.
mOb/Storefront For Community Design: Decorative Gates
This First Friday, mOb/Storefront For Community Design presents a rather enigmatic event entitled Decorative Gates. Described as “mOb project development and gate proposals for the Landmark Theater” and “The best little bathroom show on Broad Street, coordinated by Tiffany Glass Ferreira,” we know nothing beyond that. But the poster sure is intriguing–reminds me of early issues of Raygun, personally.
Decorative Gates will take place on First Friday, February 7, from 5-9 PM, at Storefront For Community Design, located at 205 E. Broad St.
EDIT Gallery: grow / büyümek
This month, EDIT Gallery presents grow / büyümek, a collaborative art show by Katy Pumphrey and Becca Krieger.
Their pieces aim to capture the essence of growth and healing through their relationships with God. A timeline-like exibit of art will be displayed representing experiences that have caused drastic change in their lives. As their time in this internship comes to a close, they are preparing to embark on their next adventure in Ankara, Turkey. Come on out and enjoy some local art, and a mini Turkish feast. Fresh fudge and coffee will be provided as per usual.
grow / büyümek will open with a reception on First Friday, February 7, beginning at 6 PM, at EDIT Gallery, located at 8 E. Broad St. Art will remain on display throughout the month of February.
Sediment Arts: Mind The Gaps
Sediment Arts is a new gallery that presents its inaugural exhibition this month, Mind The Gaps.
Before embarking on a journey travelers are prompted by a message to “mind the gap”. That is, to be aware that there is a potentially dangerous area between our step from solid ground to that of a moving system of parts we rely upon to transport us to another place. This gap is a real space wherein a stiletto may slip, pocket change may drop, a cell phone, grocery list, or love letter may disappear. It is just one distance we must mind in the world of objects. What other spaces do we cross both physically and psychologically, in trust they do not widen in mid-step and leave us suspended, or worse–to fall?
Compressing, widening, and reorienting the stuff of the world is what artists can do. Shifting spaces between the real and simulated, the poetic and overly definitive, the humorous and desirous, between missing the point and embracing the beauty in not-knowing. Mel Bochner wrote, “ In a world which is probably not more dehumanized than ever before, awareness of distance is a principal matter in functioning. Between objects are distances, not separations.” While discrete and autonomous objects denote separation, Bochner proposes that distances imply detachment which requires interdependency and a contextual relationship.
Our inaugural exhibition at Sediment features five artists currently living in Richmond, Virginia. The work of Jon Duff, Paloma Barhaugh-Bordas, Courtney McClellan, David Kenedy, and Ryan Crowley span a variety of mediums and processes. The interludes between their distinctive works become a net of connections that allow for a multiplicity of perspectives on each piece and the exhibition as a whole. We are aware to mind the gaps.
Mind The Gap will open with a reception on First Friday, February 7, from 6-9 PM at Sediment Arts, located at 208 E. Grace St. Art will remain on display through February 28.
ADA Gallery: XOXO
This month, ADA Gallery presents XOXO, a collection of new acrylic paintings by Berlin-based artist Kottie Paloma. The exhibition will premiere with a reception on First Friday, February 7, from 7-9 PM, at ADA Gallery, located at 228 W. Broad St. Art will remain on display through March 2.
Glave Kocen Gallery: Click III: From The Mountains To The Sea
This month, Glave Kocen Gallery presents the latest edition of their biennial invitational photography exhibit.
Click III: From the Mountains to the Sea features the strongest line up to date, and as usual BJ Kocen & Co-Curator Scott Elmquist try to exemplify how far the medium can go through process and different points of view. CLICK also prides itself on mixing it up with seasoned vets of photography and the upstarts. The number of participants has decreased but that has given room for the photographers to spread out with more works as opposed to the usual one photo per photographer. The participants are as follows; Bob Brown, Tom Chambers, Logan Crable, Scott Elmquist, Travis Fullerton, Briget Ganske, Adam Goldsmith, Katherine Dilworth, John Henley, Andrew Hersey, Edward Levinson, Cyane Lowden, Susan Mikula, Alex Nyerges, Tanya Rogish, & Jeff Saxman. CLICK is a favorite among photo fans as the display goes into great detail including type of camera used, artist statement AND a curator’s statement for each photographer.
Click III: From the Mountains to the Sea will open with a reception on First Friday, February 7, from 6-9 PM at Glave Kocen Gallery, located at 1620 W. Main St. Art will remain on display through March 1.
Artemis Gallery: Eros And Arrows
This month, Artemis Gallery presents Eros And Arrows, an exhibition of Valentine’s Day cards created by local artists.
Artemis Gallery presents Valentine cards made by local artists to express everything that storebought cards never say. The deeper emotions that come from romance and the taking of risks creates pain as well as pleasure; no more saccharin sweet cards for Artemis Gallery! Come and see what creative and talented artists have come up with to express the theme of Eros! The following artists will be presenting their works: John Crutchfield, Laura Goetz, Debbie Tallman, Dawn Vass, Megan Hines, and Sharon Kronstedt. There will also be light refreshments and acoustic guitar music!
Eros And Arrows will open with a reception on First Friday, February 7, from 5-10 PM at Artemis Gallery, located at 1601 W. Main St. Art will remain on display throughout the month of February.
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Artists! Galleries! Would you like your future First Friday events covered in these monthly articles? We might hear about your event anyway, but why leave it to chance? Email your press releases to andrew@rvamag.com.
