Virginia Union University Archives

The Richmond Environmental Film Festival kicks off its 2020 edition on Friday, February 7 and runs for an entire week. In anticipation of a new year of fantastic films, here are six to look out for.

Bird of Prey

Cinematographer Neil Ritter is on a mission to document, and hopefully protect, the near-extinct Philippine Eagle. In Bird of Prey, lush, colorful photography tracks the lives of these wild birds as well as the efforts of the local and international activists trying to protect them.

Bird of Prey will be shown at The Byrd Theatre on Saturday, February 8 at 11:50 AM.

The Human Element

Photographer James Balog has always been captivated by the beauty of nature. In his experience, though, he has become hyper-aware of the intersections of nature and human activity. In this documentary he sets out on a journey to explore the balances and imbalances between all the elements of the earth, and hopefully encourage the human element, the one with the power to change, to do something.

The Human Element will be shown at The Byrd Theatre on Saturday, February 8 at 2:45 PM.

Biggest Little Farm

Easily the most notable and recognizable title in the festival, The Biggest Little Farm is the story of a California couple who leave the city behind for a peaceful and enriching life on a sustainable farm they build themselves. The failures, triumphs, and obstacles they encounter along the way help them to confront the changing world, as well as ask tough questions about the way we produce the food we eat every day.

The Biggest Little Farm will be shown at The Byrd Theatre on Saturday, February 8 at 5:05 PM.

The Butterfly Trees

Described by director Kay Milman as part science, part love story, part armchair adventure, The Butterfly Trees documents the migration of the Eastern Monarch Butterfly. Ten years in the making, this film was, in part, a response to the year 2013, during which the Monarch Butterfly population reached its lowest number in recorded history.

The Butterfly Trees will be shown at The Byrd Theatre on Sunday, February 9 at 5:05 PM.

Sustainable

A story about reconnecting to our food supply, Sustainable sheds light on the issues of food sustainability, environmental degradation, and human health. It challenges our engagement with the food we eat and the ways we can turn things around.

Sustainable will be shown in the VCU Student Commons Theatre on Tuesday, February 11 at 4:30 PM.

Silent Forests

A collage of human stories, Silent Forests documents the efforts of the activists fighting to protect the lives of elephants living in the Congo Basin, as well as bring illegal poachers to justice.

Silent Forests will be shown at the Virginia Union University Living and Learning Center on Wednesday, February 12 at 6:30 PM.

These and many more films will be screening in a variety of places around town during the RVA Environmental Film Festival, which runs from Friday February 7 to Friday, February 14. Tickets to every film in the festival are free and open to the public. More information can be found on the official RVA Environmental Film Festival website, as well as the Byrd Theatre’s website.

At The Well Art Gallery in Blackwell, Ricky Parker’s latest art exhibit explores the American Slave Trade and its capitalistic roots starting this Friday.

This Friday, a local artist and professor at Virginia Union University is bringing a meme-themed art show to Manchester’s The Well art gallery. Ricky Parker, Creative Director of Dream For Purpose, will open his “Trading in Traffick” exhibit, with eight individual pieces on display.

“Trading in Traffick” examines the American slave trade, revealing Parker’s research findings on the period in history. The exhibit stretches back 400 years to the first appearance of slaves in the New World in 1619, and reaches as far forward as the beginning of the Civil War. As he touches on the slave trade, Parker also offers critiques of capitalism in relation to the American society.

“I believe the foundation of capitalism in America is slavery,” said Parker. “[It] was a business model in America… some of the first millionaires in America were slave owners.”

The pieces are mostly two-dimensional works, though “Trading in Traffick” will also include structural sculptures. While the majority of the exhibit is framed, the works don’t resemble traditional paintings or illustrations — instead, Parker took a different route by displaying the works in a new medium.

“The majority of it is memes,” said Parker. “[That’s] really the theme around it.”

Parker began his research and work on “Trading in Traffick” more than a year ago, and began the project as a way to learn more about the history of African-Americans and their African descendants.

“[It was] just not knowing my origin,” said Parker “It wasn’t a conversation that I could have with my parents… I was just trying to figure out what could happen before [1619] to make [slavery] a thing.”

As he finished “Trading in Traffick,” Parker chose The Well to host the exhibition, for the gallery’s ability to be a safe area to have a tough conversation. In Richmond’s Blackwell neighborhood, The Well is located at 1309 Hull Street.

Interested viewers can visit The Well to see “Trading in Traffick” starting this Friday, December 6, at 7pm. For more information about the exhibition and Parker’s work, check out The Well Art Gallery on Facebook, and Parker’s organization, Dream For Purpose.

All Images and Photos via Ricky Parker

Six Films You Should See At This Year’s RVA Environmental Film Festival

“Trading in Traffick” Challenges Capitalism with Memes