Pop Art & Beyond: Tom Wesselmann

Still Life with Liz, 1992. Alkyd oil on cut-out steel ,72 x 96 inches © Estate of Tom
Wesselmann/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

Pop Art was inspired in the early 1960s by popular culture, advertising and kitsch.  Think about soup cans, pictures of iconic celebrities, comic book-inspired pictures and bigger-than-life billboard advertising. The artist Tom Wesselmann was a leading Pop Artist, and his peers included Warhol, Lichtenstein and Oldenburg, all of whom are represented in VMFA’s collection.

The museum’s permanent collection also includes an entire room dedicated to the Pop Art movement. In fact, two of VMFA’s own Wesselmann works are traveling as a part of the Pop Art and Beyond exhibition. The Wesselmann estate has loaned two additional works for permanent collection galleries so his work can be represented in the context of that important collection.

This show is a retrospective, which means it is an overview of an artist’s entire lifetime of work. Wesselmann made his mark as a Pop Artist, but his work continued to evolve throughout his career, and that’s what makes this exhibition so rich and informative. Retrospectives allow viewers to understand the complete artist, rather than to just see several of his works in isolation.

Color and scale have a dramatic effect on the visitor’s experience. Some of the elements are taken directly from billboard advertising, as the artist appropriated these elements of popular culture. But the art is also grounded in formal art history. Just like the Mona Lisa, many of his paintings contain a window with a curtain and a view to the world beyond. This artist had a creative vision which included rich, saturated color that shaped his work throughout his entire career.

VMFA always offers dimensional experiences for all age groups, providing many ways to deepen understanding and enjoyment of art. Adult lectures and classes, programs for teens and younger children, and free daily tours throughout the museum are offered. Amuse Restaurant and the VMFA shop allow the art to inspire their offerings as well, so you can appreciate Pop Art when you shop and dine as well! Find a list of related programs here:
http://vmfa.museum/exhibitions/wesselmann.aspx

VMFA is lucky to have a magnificent building and over 40,000 members. And they are the only art museum in the US which is open 365 days a year. So don your beret and indulge your artsy side!

Go! Discover Richmond

It’s amazing what you can get done in less than two and a half hours in the City of Richmond. On a chilly Saturday morning last weekend, I saw the tomb of President James Monroe at Hollywood Cemetery, admired a Tiffany window at Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, sipped on basil-infused tea at The Jefferson Hotel and listened to Virginia Union University marching band members, all while participating in a 10K. Go! Discover Richmond wasn’t a race, though (thank goodness!). It was more like a walking tour, at your own pace, highlighting the amazing diversity of Richmond neighborhoods, attractions and businesses. I’m not sure if other cities do this, but they should. It’s an active, time-efficient way to explore city highlights whether you’ve lived in the area all your life or you’re just passing through for the weekend.

The event started and ended at the Virginia War Memorial, a graceful tribute to Virginia veterans. From there, we walked along a charming Oregon Hill street to Hollywood Cemetery, the picturesque resting place of presidents, governors and other significant historical figures. I could easily spend two hours or more just studying the monuments and mausoleums at the cemetery, but that will have to come another day. Our path led onward to magnificent churches – places I’d driven by a million times with barely a glance – where I stood in awe at the luminous stained glass windows, giant organ pipes, and soaring, artistically crafted ceilings. The course also took us past vibrant theaters and to historic sites in Jackson Ward, once called the “Black Wall Street of America” and “Harlem of the South.”

One of my favorite stops was the National Donor Memorial at UNOS, the United Network for Organ Sharing, a place I’d never think to visit on my own. This thoughtfully planned garden is full of meaning for organ donor family members and recipients, and it is also a peaceful and beautiful surprise amidst the concrete jungle of the city.

Along the Go! Discover Richmond course, we were greeted by costumed characters at the theaters and various attractions, and just like any other 10K, there were plenty of water stations to keep us hydrated. Friendly greeters at various locations gave out candy, kazoos and other goodies, including delicious chocolate chip cookies at the DoubleTree hotel’s Two Trees Café. I came home with a stack of tour brochures and performance schedules to inspire more Richmond outings with family and friends. And even though I didn’t break a sweat, I felt a sense of accomplishment from walking six miles and discovering and re-discovering some of the great treasures in my hometown.

Times Dispatch Go! Discover Richmond
Presented by Sports Backers
(804) 285-9495

Carla Murray is a Richmond Region native who enjoys outings in RVA with her husband and daughters, lunches with friends at new restaurants, and promoting Maymont via social media. Her obsessions include turtles, Cirque du Soleil, Costa Rica, books and wine.

Casa Del Barco: Upscale Mexican on the Canal

My favorite food is Mexican. I love the sauces, cheeses, seasoned shredded meats… yum! There are several good options in Richmond where I can get my enchilada and taco fix, but Casa Del Barco brings some unique, upscale menu items to the table. You can still find favorites like guacamole and empanadas. Casa Del Barco adds some interesting twists though, like guacamole with crab and tacos with slow roasted duck. The restaurant is also one of the latest to join the local, sustainable food trend.

Situated along the canal across from some of the coolest wall murals in the city, the scenic location is a bit challenging to find in a car. I’d suggest calling for directions instead of relying on a GPS. On the other hand, it’s in a perfect location if you’re exploring the Canal Walk, an easy stroll along the canal from Brown’s Island and The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar. The interior is dramatic with high, custom-stenciled ceilings, Mexican-style chandeliers, exposed brick walls and dark wood furnishings. A long bar on one windowed wall offers plenty of space for a hopping happy hour.

On a recent lunch visit, our table started with an order of guacamole with bacon and tomato. The guacamole was super fresh, and the bacon added a nice salty crunch. I mean, how can you go wrong with that combination? I ordered the queso fresco (fresh cheese) enchilada for my main dish. My gluten-free friend and I were both excited that the enchiladas are served with corn tortillas instead of flour. This was not your average rolled up and filled enchilada. Instead, it was served in a dish with layers of tortilla, cheese and sauce. It was an interesting, light and tasty alternative to the norm, but the real standout of the meal was the side serving of frijoles negros, or black beans. They were sprinkled with bits of queso fresco and fresh cilantro, and they were incredibly flavorful…my favorite black beans ever.

Besides its upscale take on Mexican favorites, Casa Del Barco’s other claim to Richmond fame is its extensive tequila bar. Who knew there were more than 100 different kinds of tequila, much less that you could find 140 in one place?!

Casa Del Barco
320 South 12th Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 775-2628

Carla Murray is Assistant Director of Marketing & PR for Maymont. She is a Richmond native and a Virginia Commonwealth University graduate. She lives in New Kent with her husband, two daughters, a dog, a cat and a turtle. Some of her favorite activities include letterboxing, long walks, Cirque du Soleil shows, wine tastings, reading novels, and spending time with family and friends.

Making Images for History

Let’s do a little word association…

When you hear (or read) “President of the United States” (as in the office, not the specific person currently holding it), what comes to mind?

For most people, words like “powerful,” “commander,” and maybe “leader of the free world” pop up first.

“Accessible” and “human”? Not so much.

However, head over to the Virginia Historical Society for The President’s Photographer: 50 Years Inside the Oval Office and I bet your feelings will change. Featuring dozens of rarely seen images of recent U.S. presidents, this exhibit gives us a more complete picture of the men who’ve held that office. We get to see them in both official and informal moments as they experience joy, frustration, exhaustion, sadness, and everything in between. We walk away remembering that while these men had (or have) an extraordinary job, they are, in the end, as human as they people they serve.

We owe that perspective to the individuals responsible for capturing these images: the official White House photographers. John F. Kennedy kicked off the tradition of the presidential photography by hiring Cecil W. Stoughton. Since then almost every president has followed suit in an effort to create a photographic record of the ins and outs and highs and lows of his administration. Those records are made richer for us by the commentary accompanying each of the images in this exhibit. We learn the story behind each image, why the photographer chose to capture it, and how it fits into the complete narrative of the presidents themselves and the country as a whole.

Every image is worth a nice, long look, but highlights include the iconic swearing in of Lyndon B. Johnson following the assassination of JFK; a close-up of Barack Obama’s handwritten edits of the State of the Union; George W. Bush addressing rescue workers at Ground Zero, and Betty Ford’s unexpected (but fantastic) final hurrah before turning over the White House keys to the Carters. A shot of Obama’s exchange with a particularly bold preschooler is also delightful.

The exhibit also includes the National Geographic documentary on Peter Souza, the current Chief Official White House photographer for President Obama. It clocks in at about an hour, but is well worth your time as it helps viewers fully grasp the special relationship between president and photographer. It illustrates  the important role that relationship plays in, as Souza puts it, “creating a good photographic archive for history…creating this archive that will live on.”

The President’s Photographer: 50 Years Inside the Oval Office runs through July 8^th. The Virginia Historical Society offers free admission to the museum and its research library, but it’s always nice to drop a couple bucks in the donation box on the way upstairs if you can swing it.

Also, heads up: the folks over the VHS tell me this the last time this exhibit will be in Virginia for the next few years—so don’t miss it!

Virginia Historical Society
428 N. Boulevard
804-358-4901

Valerie Catrow is the former editor of RVANews and a current contributor to their parenting column, Raising Richmond. A Richmonder through-and-through, she grew up in Midlothian, graduated from the University of Richmond, and currently lives on the city’s Northside with her husband, Ross, and their son, JR. You can see what she’s up to on a day-to-day basis via Twitter and Instagram.

Raise the Roof Inspires Giggles, Grins and Delighted Concentration

“Look! He’s raising the roof!” exclaims a young guest while his father turns the crank on a simple machine inside the dome. “The walls are moving up and pushing the roof pieces together,” continues the boy with a grin as he figures out the exhibit.

“Listen how my voice echoes,” a young girl tells her family as a microphone amplifies her words. “Can you guess the kind of room where that sound might be made?” asks her father as they make their guesses, then lift the exhibit flap to find out.

Giggles emanate from the Dogtastrophe exhibit as a young boy builds a dog house on a video screen, and then tests its durability with a lawn sprinkler flood.

These are the kinds of happy sounds you hear daily in the Science Museum of Virginia’s Raise the Roof exhibition. This truly experiential exhibit allows guests to discover what is behind the walls and structures they see every day.

A six-year old, particularly drawn to Dogtastrophe, sits down and starts creating a new dog house to test. He’s totally wrapped up in what he’s doing and doesn’t realize his two-year old brother is spying on him, watching his every move. The older boy builds several dog houses, then moves on to another exhibit. Now the coast is clear! The younger brother sits down at Dogtastrophe. He knows exactly what to do now and happily starts creating his own dog house! His smile could not be wider.

You are invited to join people of all ages and discover your inner engineer as you build tall block towers, test model skyscrapers on an earthquake table, discover how to keep a column from buckling and explore a round Mongolian ger (yurt). And don’t forget the ever-popular demolition videos and learn about the art and science behind the destruction.

Raise the Roof is at the Science Museum of Virginia through Sunday, April 28.

Science Museum of Virginia
2500 West Broad Street, Richmond VA 23220
804.864.1400

The Science Museum of Virginia’s mission is to inspire Virginians to enrich their lives through science. Gone are the days when science sat idle in a textbook. Since its founding by the Virginia General Assembly in 1970, the Science Museum of Virginia has brought learning to life with hundreds of experiential exhibits, awe-inspiring artifacts, and interactive technologies.

Richmond Ballet’s Leap Week

The Richmond Region will be swept off its feet March 17-24 when Richmond Ballet takes dance off of the stage and into the community for the first-ever Leap Week, a weeklong celebration of the Ballet’s recent successes and dance as a whole.

Kick off Leap Week with an afternoon of four dance-themed films on Sunday, March 17, selected by our company dancers and then voted on by our Facebook fans. Enjoy amazing cuisine Monday evening at Can Can Brasserie, a French bistro in the heart of Carytown, while tasting specialty drinks such as the White Swan, the Balanchine and more – with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Richmond Ballet.

Head behind the scenes Tuesday with a special sneak peek of our company dancers and The School of Richmond Ballet as they train and rehearse in the Ballet’s spectacular home studios. Participants may also take a free Rhythm and Motion Class, a new dance-based workout originating in San Francisco, offered exclusively in Richmond by Richmond Ballet.

On Wednesday, dig deeper into the culture of dance by paying a visit to Assemblé, an art exhibit showcasing five acclaimed local artists’ depictions of Richmond Ballet dancers by invitation only. Mix and mingle with company dancers at Heritage’s after-party, again featuring dance-themed cocktails and benefitting the Richmond Ballet. (Assemblé will also be open to the public on March 30 and can be seen by appointment April 4-14 at Richmond Ballet New Works Festival.)

Ballet in the ‘Burbs headlines Thursday’s events as Minds in Motion, Team XXL, ambassadors for Richmond Ballet’s acclaimed education and outreach program, will head out to three Richmond Region libraries to perform dances based on different children’s books. Area restaurants will help Minds in Motion celebrate these performances by hosting an evening with the Ballet. Customers will have the opportunity to meet company dancers and can even enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to next season’s performance of The Nutcracker.

Round out the festivities in our Studio Theatre with performances by the Royal Ballet School, Richmond Ballet II, our touring company and Richmond Ballet trainees.  A post-performance reception, catered by FeedMore Community Kitchen, will be held in honor of our guests from London.

Please visit RichmondBallet.com for the most up-to-date information on Leap Week happenings.  We hope to see you showing your support at any or all of our fabulous events!

Richmond Ballet, The State Ballet of Virginia, is dedicated to the education, promotion, preservation, and continuing evolution of the art form of ballet. Richmond Ballet strives to keep meaningful works of dance alive and to produce and foster new works that remain true to these values. Now in its 29^th professional season, Richmond Ballet’s mission is to “awaken and uplift the human spirit, both for audiences and artists.”

Rappahannock: Fresh from the River

Richmonders love the river. We live, work, dine and play along the banks of the James from Goochland to Downtown to Charles City. But we also like to travel a little further east, especially to the mouth of the Rappahannock River where it meets the Chesapeake Bay. That’s where you’ll find what could possibly be the greatest tasting oysters in the world.

Rappahannock River Oysters has been growing the Chesapeake Bay’s native oysters since 1899, and they have developed a faithful following across the Commonwealth for their delicious delicacies. Their goal is to make sure Rappahannock oysters are consistently available and asked for by name. They’ve taken one step closer to that goal by bringing their plump, briny bivalves to the Richmond restaurant scene.

I visited their sleek new Rappahannock Restaurant on Grace Street for lunch recently. I didn’t have the oysters, but I did have seafood that tasted fresh off the boat. My grilled rockfish sandwich boasted a large filet of the white, flaky meat and dripped with a flavorful aioli and gribiche sauce. The fresh bread was just right for the hearty sandwich – two crunchy, chewy slices of baguette-style goodness. A salad of mixed greens with chunky home-made croutons and a light dressing served as the perfect complement to the meal. Lunch prices were slightly higher than my usual choices, but so worth it for truly fresh seafood.

Other lunch offerings included the server-recommended local fluke ceviche seasoned with an intriguing combination of citrus, Thai chile, coriander, pomegranate and cilantro as well as oyster chowder, shrimp, pork belly, caviar, clams, and of course, those famous raw oysters.

Already, this has become a hot spot for lunch, happy hour and dinner among the locals, building a fast reputation as the place for amazing seafood and outstanding cocktails. Make a reservation and be prepared for a vibrant crowd. Richmond diners are gathering in schools at this pearl of a restaurant.

Rappahannock Restaurant
320 East Grace Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 545-0565
www.facebook.com/RappahannockRVA

Carla Murray is Assistant Director of Marketing & PR for Maymont. She is a Richmond native and a Virginia Commonwealth University graduate. She lives in New Kent with her husband, two daughters, a dog, a cat and a turtle. Some of her favorite activities include letterboxing, long walks, Cirque du Soleil shows, wine tastings, reading novels, and spending time with family and friends.