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VCUarts’ She Kills Monsters Brings Fantasy To Virtual Reality

Jonah Schuhart | November 4, 2020

Topics: coronavirus, COVID-19, She Kills Monsters, VCUarts, virtual theatre

The COVID-19-inspired move to virtual production hasn’t always been ideal for live theatre, but for VCUarts’ production of She Kills Monsters, which focuses on role-playing games, it has been strangely appropriate.

In the last year, there has been no shortage of digitization in both theatre and education. It’s no surprise then, that VCUarts’ Theater program is currently showing their latest production, She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms, virtually. Unlike many other virtual productions, VCUarts’ showing of She Kills Monsters was not only influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also by its fantasy setting to include non-traditional techniques while producing and recording the play.

She Kills Monsters is a play written by Qui Nguyen and originally premiered in 2011. The VCUarts adaptation is based on the “Young Adventurers Edition,” which made modifications for high school students by lowering the age of many characters and removing explicit language. The play follows Agnes, a young girl who loses her parents and younger sister in a fatal accident. Agnes finds her sister’s homemade Dungeons and Dragons campaign among her belongings, and decides to play through it with her friends. As she plays the campaign, which stars characters inspired by individuals from the sisters’ lives, Agnes discovers more and more about her little sister. 

The unique circumstances provided by COVID-19 barred theatre students from performing live onstage together. For the virtual production of She Kills Monsters, props and costumes were sent to actors, who had to construct their sets, cameras, and lighting themselves in the COVID-free safe zones of their homes. For the first time, VCUarts Theater students had to extensively use camera equipment and editing software to help make their adaptation into a reality. 

Members of the play’s cast and crew say that this process led to many elements of the production feeling similar to film. Segments of dialogue scenes, recorded by separate actors in separate locations, were pieced together using software to resemble a single, cohesive scene. 

“It’s also different because we’re doing things with more graphic design. I’m doing more stuff in photoshop,” said Art Director Faith Carlson. “I had never used the program before. It was just a totally different ball game.”

These new skills were put to use creating the play’s background settings. Some scenes appear to be almost entirely computer-generated except for the actors. Computer graphics were even used on members of the cast who play some of the less-human roles, like the beholder character.

“Vera the Beholder is like this big, round green monster with a big eyeball and sharp teeth. It’s apparently going to be CGI-ed, and I was facial-tracked for it,” said the actor who portrayed Vera, Kat McMahan. “I haven’t seen any of it yet, but I think it’s gonna be cool.”

McMahan isn’t the only actor to have a unique element to their role. To help prepare for their parts, members of the cast played a game of D&D to increase their familiarity with the setting. Many cast members had never played the game before, and they did not continue their campaign past a single session — a fact that some members of the cast and crew found unfortunate.

“We had so much fun,” said McMahan. “I really wish that was something we kept doing throughout the process.”

While virtual productions are better than nothing, some involved in the production were chagrined to find that the pre-recorded nature of this play takes away from important aspects associated with live theatre — namely the ability to see both one’s fellow actors and the audience. 

“Even though it’s not exactly like our live theatre, I think they found new ways to look at acting and I think it’s been a great learning experience,” said VCUarts Marketing Coordinator Sarah Moore. “The whole department has come together on this one.”

The play had its opening showing on October 28th live on the online video platform, Vimeo. Tickets are still available for the three remaining showings, two of which are on November 5 and the finale on November 6th. Ticket info is available on VCUarts’ website.

Top Photo: Actress Olivia Knight in full costume for her character Kaliope, via VCUarts.

Knot & Stem Brings Hand-Crafted Tapestries To Richmond

Jonah Schuhart | July 3, 2020

Topics: andre delarosa, art, community, delarosas creations, design, embroidery, glass blowing, home design, home design richmond va, interior design richmond va, knot and stem, local artists, richmond va custom tapestries, richmond va tapestries, RVA, sam weiss, samantha weiss, vcu, VCUarts, watercolor, weaving

Among the dreary days of coronavirus, a new handmade weaving business is bringing some color back to Richmond with Knot & Stem. 

The dreary reality of living during the COVID-19 quarantine is an abundance of spare time. It’s easy to lose days or weeks doing nothing when there’s nothing to do. However, the artistically talented have seen new opportunities in the throes of isolation, as their spare time translates into tangible works of art.

This is the case for Richmond’s Samantha Weiss, a local artist and VCUArts grad who recently launched Knot & Stem. Creating hand-crafted woven tapestries, Weiss offers custom designs and themed work through her online business. 

PHOTO: Knot & Stem

“I just wanted to make people happy with more art in the house,” said Weiss. “Maybe make some extra money.” Like many others during COVID-19, Weiss lost her full-time design job to the pandemic’s economic disaster, but she used the situation to bring some color back into her world — and into homes across Richmond. 

Knot & Stem tapestries cost anywhere from $25 to $50, and come in a variety of color schemes and designs. Of course, Weiss also takes custom orders where she works more closely with customers for a particular design. 

PHOTO: Knot & Stem

Weiss’s woven tapestry pieces are created improvisationally, based on a color scheme. Her style is influenced by her career history as an interior designer, which gives her a keen eye when it comes to perfectly crafted colors and other design elements. 

“It definitely gives me an advantage in terms of aesthetics and home decor,” said Weiss. “But it’s a little bit more whimsical, since I was in the corporate design world. I was mostly doing offices. It’s more fun to think about home design.” 

Apart from her interior design experience, Weiss is mostly a self-taught artist. Along with weaving, she’s talented in several other art forms: watercolor, embroidery, and especially glass-blowing, in which she majored at VCU. 

PHOTO: Knot & Stem

Her interest in weaving sparked in 2017, when coming across other artists inspired her to try her own hand at the skill. The isolation of COVID-19 gave her a window to fully commit to the new projects. 

“[Weaving takes] a long time, so it’s always hard with a job,” said Weiss. “Since the end of March, I’ve been weaving all day every day. I’m finally getting better.”

Weiss began creating weaved tapestries for Knot & Stem in a small space in her home. She’s not the only talented one in the family — her brother, Andre Weiss DeLaRosa, owns and operates his own wood shop called DeLaRosa’s Creations. In late June, he custom-built a fully operational weaving loom for Weiss. Now Knot & Stem can take custom commissions for weaved tapestries up to four feet long. 

PHOTO: Knot & Stem

As she moves forward with her business, Weiss is also diving back into the design world. She has full plans to keep growing Knot & Stem alongside her work. 

“I definitely want to keep the Knot & Stem business alive, by weaving at night and working by day,” said Weiss. “It’s brought me a lot of peace. I hope I can continue doing it as much as possible.” 

To find more work by Knot & Stem or order a custom piece of your own, visit the business on Instagram. Keep it colorful, RVA!

Top Photo via Knot & Stem

VCUarts Fashion Brings A Lovely Shimmer To Main Street Station

Sydney Lake | May 2, 2019

Topics: fashion, fashion designers, Main Street Station, Shimmer, vcu fashion, VCUarts, VCUarts Fashion Show

The annual VCUarts Fashion Show is catwalking into its 50th year.

This dean’s-level event is well-attended, not only by students but by members of the community and esteemed guests as well. It will be held at the Train Shed at Main Street Station on Wednesday, May 8 for the second year in a row, according to Patricia Brown, chair of the VCUarts department of fashion design and merchandising.

The show has been hosted at a variety of venues over the years, both big and small. Most recently the VCUarts Fashion Show was hosted at the VMFA, but in the last couple of years, the department developed a need for a larger space.

“This venue gives us more space,” Brown said. “We have more room, which creates its own challenges, but I think it’s a really great dramatic space to have it in.”

Photo: Steven Casanova. Designer: Johana Nasreen

Among the guests filling the Train Shed will be design duo Abdul Abasi and Greg Rosborough, whose pieces, Brown said, have reinvented the men’s suit with a utilitarian take. VCUarts alum and fashion illustrator Richard Haines will also be flown in from New York to see the show.

In an effort to have a more straightforward show, the number of designs shown will be limited to around 125, as opposed to last year’s nearly 175. The department aims to keep the show around an hour, Brown said.

Photo: Steven Casanova. Designer: Johana Nasreen

Of the approximately 125 designs to be shown, most junior and senior design students will be represented, along with the expertise of merchandising students, who comprise the majority of the 360-strong department. The show will feature women’s sportswear, dresses, menswear, denim, embellishment/luxury, and surface design, all created by hand or with the assistance of industry-standard machinery.

The VCUarts Fashion Show is juried, and garments are selected by a group of local fashion businesses and influencers. A mix of fashion industry people and retailers including Ledbury, Alton Lane, Frances Kahn, and Pam Reynolds are just a few members of the 12-person jury who will be judging the show. Working with their assessments, they will come down to final number of pieces for the show.

Not only is the show juried by local fashion icons, but it is also locally sponsored.

“The community is really supportive of our show,” Brown said. “We’re so thankful. We have a lot of gratitude for their support.”

Photo: Steven Casanova. Designer: Conner Karlen

To celebrate its 50th year, the show has been dubbed “Shimmer,” a title bearing a triple meaning.

“It was alluding to the celebratory feeling of it being the 50th anniversary,” Brown said. “But, it also has a little nod to modern shimmer technology, and just being more tech-forward. And also, the shimmering faces of graduating students who are showing their work.”

This dean’s-level event can be viewed in-person or by livestream this year. Tickets are available for purchase online starting at $30, with discounts available for fashion students and their families.

“For this year, we will have a much broader range of prices for show seats,” Brown said. “While we need to keep some of the higher cost front-row seats in order to cover our costs, attending the show can also be more affordable this year.”

The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at the Train Shed in Main Street Station. For more information, visit the VCUarts website.

Top Photo: Steven Casanova. Designer: Maryam Al-Majid


“Home Sweet Home” VCUarts Undergraduate Juried Exhibition

RVA Staff | March 7, 2019

Topics: home sweet home, undergrad exhibition, VCUarts

March 15-28, 2019
The Anderson

One of The Anderson’s signature events in the student exhibition calendar, the annual Undergraduate Juried Exhibition showcases the best in VCUarts Undergraduate studio research. This year’s theme “Home Sweet Home,” provided by Juror Rebecca Matalon, Curator at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, promises a timely and provocative exhibition.

TICKETS: https://arts.vcu.edu/calendar/event/undergraduate-juried-exhibition/

Building a Bigger Catwalk: Rudy Lopez Brings His Vision to Richmond’s Fashion Scene

Megan Wilson | August 17, 2018

Topics: Broad Street Arts District, fashion, Fashion Merchandising, Henry, Need Supply Co., Organization for Returning Fashion Interest, Parsons School of Design, Rudy Lopez, RVA fashion, rva streetwear, streetwear, vcu, vcu fashion, VCUarts

During his first year as a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, Rudy Lopez helped orchestrate the largest end-of-year showcase the fashion department has ever seen, held at the Main Street Train Shed. This is a dramatic achievement for Lopez, who, even a year ago, thought working as a professor at VCU was far from likely. After years of failed starts and stints in retail to pay the bills, he’s at the forefront of campus fashion, and branching out city-wide.

This article originally appeared in RVA #33 Summer 2018, you can check out the issue here, or pick it up around Richmond now. 

Lopez, originally from the Philippines, grew up in a family of achievers. His father was a doctor, his sister a financial executive; another sister went into the arts and became a sculptor. He came of age during the 1990s East Coast skateboarding scene. Although he loved to draw from his earliest years, he really explored his creative side while playing in bands and traveling to hardcore punk shows in DC. When it came to a career, he wasn’t sure where his many interests and energy would lead.

Lopez took his first shot at college at George Mason University, where he quickly partied his way to academic probation. The summer after his first year, while talking about his future, a friend asked if he could see himself drawing more. Lopez immediately thought, “Yes, of course.” He researched art schools and sent in five drawings to VCU; his journey through art school started that fall, in 1998.

The words of Dean Richard Toscan during orientation shaped him in ways that probably weren’t expected — he still remembers them today: “If you think you are the hot-shot artist in [your] high school, look around; you’re one of 500.”

“I felt way over my head,” Lopez said. “I wasn’t that artist.” Self-fulfilling or not, his prophecy turned out to be right — but something good still came of his struggles through the school’s foundation classes, which he called “art bootcamp.” The summer after that first year, Lopez received an invitation to help out with a fashion show in New York, hosted by Organization for Returning Fashion Interest (ORFI).

“They needed help putting on the fashion show, filling out model sheets, organizing garments, sending invitations; the grunt work,” Lopez said. He hopped a train to New York, where he went 48 hours without any sleep.

“I was surrounded by creatives,” he said. “I felt this overwhelming wave of passion.”

Photo By: @rudyhlopez

When he returned to VCU, he turned to the fashion department to merge his newfound interest with his desire to be creative. He pursued the Fashion Merchandising track, thinking he could study design later if he wanted. Future internships led him to new contacts in New York and revelations about his career path. After graduation, Lopez attended Parsons School of Design, where he studied fashion graphic design.

From Parsons, he worked his way back to Richmond’s Need Supply Co., where he worked as a store manager before opening Henry, a streetwear shop on Broad Street, in 2006. Although the store earned acclaim, and is seen as the foundation for the current streetwear scene in the Broad Street Arts District, it didn’t survive the economic downturn, closing in 2008.

Lopez was discouraged. “It got to a point where I hated the Richmond fashion scene,” he said. He and his wife decided it was time for a break from the city, returning to Lopez’s native Philippines for about five months. However, he came back for a position at VCU, as a manager at the campus technology store.

While there, an assistant professorship opened up at the Fashion Department in VCU. “They asked me to interview,” Lopez said, and he went for it, despite thinking it was a long shot. Fortunately, he got the job, and said he couldn’t be happier with the work, especially mentoring students like himself who struggle to find their passion.

“I love it — teaching, guiding, and mentoring,” Lopez said. “Looking back at my own path, I always liked giving younger, up-and-coming people advice. I loved helping them and giving them whatever I could.”

He described the team as “a great blend of analytical and creative backgrounds,” looking to “create well-rounded people who can think in a variety of ways.”

Enter Lopez. He hopes to encourage an increasing level of collaboration among departments in the school and with businesses in the community. He says the community is ready for it. “Everyone says, ‘I don’t follow fashion,’ but every single person is dressed,” he said. “You’re part of the cycle.”

During the end-of-year fashion showcase, Lopez invited friends to create music, bringing the community to the campus. Joe Davenport, who performs as DJ Bobby La Beat, laid out live beats.

It’s just a first, small step toward his goal of uniting different communities. “Collaboration this year is not as extensive as I would like,” he said. “When you look at the production of a fashion show, there are so many elements: we have music we need to curate, the Department of Theater could create backdrops for the fashion show, there’s opportunity to work more closely with the designers as they create their collections.”

The physical impact of his presence could be seen in the innovative runway design for the 2018 showcase. The venue selection gave students space to create a runway that welcomed three times as many guests compared to previous years. Compared to a typical 70-foot runway, Lopez said, this year’s runway snaked through the train shed for nearly 500 feet.

“People were caught off guard when I said the fashion show could be bigger,” Lopez said, about an event that was already dramatically larger than prior ones. “It could be bigger not even in terms of people, but to be inclusive of people outside of VCUArts and fashion.”

Ultimately, he does this work because he wants the next generation of fashion students to be as proud of Richmond as he is. He said his work is “a reflection of how proud I feel graduating from the school, and the students coming after me.”

Where Sound and Art Collide: The Practice of Kinetic Imaging

Sarah Kerndt | June 7, 2018

Topics: art, Experiments in Sound, RVA ARt, sound art, Sound Art Richmond, VCU Department of Kinetic Imaging, VCUarts

Have you ever wondered about the sounds around you? Take a moment and listen to your environment. Perhaps you can hear the chatter of your co-workers, maybe your phone just went off, or maybe all you can hear is the hum of the air conditioning circulating in the room. Have you ever stopped to think about what is causing the sounds you hear, or maybe wondered why the sounds you hear are making you feel the way they do?

Well, this summer, those with a curiosity for sound and making art with it will have a chance to do some serious experimenting with VCUarts’ Department of Kinetic Imaging new summer workshop series.

In partnership with Sound Arts Richmond, the department kicked off the program,  “Experiments In Sound,” to highlight a broad range of Kinetic imaging practices. The first of its kind for Richmond, the workshops are open to everyone, but primarily geared toward those looking to continue their education in the realm of fine art and sound. Participants can immerse themselves deeper into animation, film, video, sound production, and other emerging media.

The workshops offer everything from going on nature walks and learning how to create soundscapes, to learning how to build your own microphone, to learning how to use advanced software such as Ableton Live, podcasting, and making your own invisible speakers.

“A benefit from taking these workshops is that we have a lot of equipment, and a lot of software, so if you do have an interest in things, there’s only so much kind of playing you can do in your own studio at home,” said Stephanie Thulin, Assistant Director of the Kinetic Imaging Department.” [Experiments In Sound] gives you not only the space and the equipment to kind of play around with, but also gives you a community that you may not have known about.”

Community sits at the heart of what Experiments In Sound is all about. The plan for the workshops became solidified when Vaughn Garland, adjunct professor in the Department of Kinetic Imaging and creator of Sound Arts Richmond, approached Thulin about getting involved in the Sound Arts Richmond Festival that comes around every year from March to October.

“Sound Arts Richmond gave us that push to jump into something we were already interested in doing, but when [Garland] came to us with this idea, it was kind of like, well if we’re going to be involved, we should be involved in some kind of educational component because that’s who we are; and it should also highlight a range of sound art which is also who we are,” Thulin said.

Each workshop not only covers a wide range of sound art elements, but also gets you face-to-face with VCU Kinetic Imaging Faculty, practicing artists, and alumni who are helping to guide the workshops, answer any questions, and help attendees cultivate their knowledge and expertise in sound art.

“I hope the program encourages people to be more aware of their auditory surroundings, and the unique ways we experience life,” said Sara Bouchard, a Kinetic Imaging graduate student and co-creator of Experiments in Sound, of the program.

The workshops, which will run until June 30, have an average of seven to 10 people for paid programs, and 15 to 20 for the free program.

At the end of the workshops, participants have an opportunity to showcase their work at VCU’s Anderson Gallery on West Franklin Street.

“I saw this as not just a Kinetic Imaging thing and wanted to have the school of the arts be involved, showcasing how we, as a department, are advocates for the whole school. So, it’s Kinetic Imaging in partnership with The Anderson and Innovative Media,” said Thulin.

Experiments In Sound will run until June 30, you can check out the workshop series’ full schedule here.

 

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