‘Preserve and protect’: Art flows in James River celebration
Richmond backdrops the James River. Photo by Kaitlyn Fulmore
Anna Lopacinski, Contributing Writer
The James River is historically regarded as the United States’ founding river, and between Sept. 9 – 16, the James River Week at Maymont will celebrate its legacy through an artistic lens focusing on the beauty of the river.
“Maymont is proud to be a collaborator for James River Week,” said Krista Weatherford, director of programming and community engagement for Maymont.
Maymont will not just offer their own programming this year at the event, but it will host community partners as well, Weatherford said.
One of this year’s activities that showcase the beauty of the James River Watershed will be the “Inspired Art of the James River” exhibition.
Wildlife photographer Bill Draper is one of the many artists who has been invited to showcase his work in this exhibit.
“Amazingly we have wildlife within the city limits, it’s just absolutely unbelievable,” Draper said. “I had no idea until I started getting up early in the morning and running around the park, and times when the park is quiet when there are not a lot of people around the wildlife is more prevalent.”
The wildlife needs to continue to be conserved and learned about, Draper said. The use of art at the James River Week will show people the wildlife in Richmond’s own backyard, according to Draper.
“James River is really a treasure, as far as I’m concerned, for the City of Richmond, the surrounding areas,” Draper said. “It is something that we need to continue to preserve and protect.”
Janit Llewllyn, James River Advisory Council co-chair, shares a similar sentiment.
“The fact that art is coming into the environmental picture is so exciting for me,” Llewllyn said. “It will attract a different group of people and it will open people’s eyes”
Llewllyn believes the most successful efforts towards conservation rely on a balance of the harsh truth of science and the beauty of art, she said.
“A lot of times when people focus on the science, it’s all negative, but when you focus on the art, people become more positive.” Llewllyn said.
The hope for the event is that the art will shed light on the importance of the James River, and encourage people to both celebrate and protect it, Llewllyn said.
“Art brings in your heart and is a way for people to express themselves and that’s really a strong driver for a lot of people,” Llewllyn said. “It’s art and beauty that really makes them want to go to a place. That’s what drives them to a place, and that’s what creates a love within them of whatever the resource is.”
The art in this exhibit will be shown over the span of the week and consists of dance performances from the Latin Ballet of Virginia, photography presentations and a screening of the “A Sturgeon Story” by the Headwaters Down team. All pieces are inspired by the James River and the nature surrounding it.
“Right now where we are in our culture, just in general, I feel like we just need art, we need poetry, we need art, we need that kindness of softness,” Llewllyn said. “It’s just something that we all need, and I think the James River Week is a good time to bring that in.”
Tickets can be purchased at James River Association’s website, accompanied by more information on each event.
