This past Monday, amidst a bit of precarious, brisk wind, I sat down with artist Alezendria Decking on a suncast lawn at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to chat a little bit more with her about her life, her experiences, and her art. We talked about the hidden...
Christian Detres sat down with Paul Chan, a writer, artist and publisher to discuss the exhibit Paul Chan: Breathers he recently had go up at the Institute for Contemporary Art where it will stay until January 7th, 2024. Check it out here and read below for Christian's interview with the esteemed artist. CHRISTIAN DETRES: Hi Paul! I'm a big...
This story was originally published in RVA 41 which can be in various locations around town, or you can read it right here. This is a slightly modified version formatted for digital distribution. CHRISTIAN DETRES: Alright, I'm recording. Okaaaay… here with Mikemetic. Is that your real name? MIKEMETIC: No. Well, my birth name is Michael Williams....
Richmond, that vibrant crucible of culture and creativity, unfolds yet again in its monthly tradition: First Fridays. This season—ah, the dawn of Fall—the experience metamorphoses into an affair of citywide celebration nestled in the artsy nucleus of Broad Street and Jackson Ward. Whether you're an art savant, a VCU freshman, or an RVA veteran,...
The VMFA’s special exhibits have taken a turn in recent days towards exhibiting stories of social issues and societal critiques. This summer, in continuation of that desired tradition, passing through the VMFA are two tales of adversity, and the overcoming of it that desperately need to be told. The VMFA presents from now until September 10th,...
Meet Kevin Sabo, an avant-garde queer painter whose audacious and captivating work has been making waves in the contemporary art scene.. With his brushstrokes, Kevin conjures up surreal and exaggerated femme bodies, depicting a vibrant fusion of queer spirit and feminine iconography. His canvases are both playgrounds and battlegrounds where he...
During our recent visit to the Petersburg Area Art League, we had the pleasure of meeting Huey Gastón Lightbody, an artist based in Petersburg. Lightbody aptly labels his works as Brutalism, evident at first glance with their untamed brushstrokes and contorted, anime-inspired illustrations gracing the canvases. Contrary to expectations, his art...
I was tasked with covering the First Friday in April. It was a big day. Not only was it the 18th birthday of Gallery 5, it was also Good Friday. I languished at home for a while, deliberating whether I wanted to go out on a cold and rainy night when the weather had been so nice recently. My dog rearranged himself on the couch, circling my will to...
After hosting pop-ups in various spaces, Richmond’s freshest new gallery has finally found a permanent space to call home. Mary Fleming and Kevin Sabo are the co-founders of Pamplemousse, an eclectic little gallery located delightfully off the beaten path. My friends and I actually thought we were lost until we finally spotted the intriguing...
“We opened about a week ago,” said the woman seated behind the wooden desk in the back of the store. The store’s contemporary interiors contrast the historic exterior of the building that’s located along the section of Broad Street called the Arts District. The dark, moody interior space of Et.y.mol.o.gy instantly sucks you in; an eclectic mix of...
