The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will be hosting
College Night Thursday evening with the hopes of
drawing a crowd of interested students and faculty
from surrounding schools.
Featuring the VMFA’s “Look Here” series that has
been ongoing since expansion of the museum started
in 2005, College Night is a free event that incorporates
galleries not featured in the current “Look Here”
exhibit.
“We wanted to showcase galleries and collections
which aren’t on view all the time, like our African
collection, which hasn’t been viewed in a couple years
due to the expansion,” said Celeste Feta, manager of
gallery education.
“(‘Look Here’) unites objects from our collection
under one theme: Different mediums, different styles,
different cultures all addressing a larger concept,”
said Feta.
The larger concept is mystery.
“(Mystery) looks at all the mysteries of the universe
from persons, to secrets within works of art, to nature,
and death, which is the ultimate mystery,” Feta said.
Feta said the most exciting part about “College
Night” is the interactive component between students,
faculty and museum staff.
“I wanted to get a better idea of what people wanted
to see happen with college night.”
In addressing this issue, Feta turned to her colleagues
at VCU and the University of Richmond for help.
“I had a lot of connections at these schools .
and thought about how to get more people to come
out.”
In keeping with the sense of community in the art
world, Feta put together a college advisory board last
year to help increase the interaction between students
and faculty.
“I wanted to get a better idea of what people wanted
to see happen with College Night. We have eights
colleges or universities represented on the board, with
one faculty member and one student representing
their school.”
Although the schools vary in distance to the museum,
all their voices are heard on the board. They are VCU,
UR, Virginia Union University, Virginia State University,
Randolph-Macon College, John Tyler Community
College, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and
Richard Bland College.
Feta said she is excited about the piqued interest
in the community.
“We’ve had great response in registration for College
Night’s individual events.”
These events include live and online gallery chats
with curators, raffles, a mystery hunt with clues
throughout the museum, a portfolio review and a
label-writing contest.
The portfolio review and label-writing contest are
especially important because they allow the student artists
to get the most out of their visit to the museum.
“It gives students an opportunity to speak with
someone about their work outside of a professor,”
Feta said.
According to Feta, the portfolio review slots filled
up quickly, leading her to think the board’s suggestions
were well received by the student art community.
“What we try to do is have three different reviewers:
a museum staff member, a professional artist and a
gallery owner. Each reviewer selects the best one out of
the works they see, and that artist wins a gift certificate
to Main Art Supply, and their work gets posted on the
VMFA Web site – a real resume builder.”
Feta said the board has done its job and expects
College Night to go off without a hitch. In addition
to all the interactive features, there will be free food
and live DJs in the form of Double Standard Crew.
“This is a way to get students and faculty excited
about the expansion and to keep connected with the
community throughout this process,” Feta said.