Richmond Night Market celebrates community, emphasizes creativity during in-person season
Jiana Smith, Staff Writer When Adrienne Cole Johnson and Melody Short co-founded the Richmond Night Market in 2019, their goal was placemaking — creating a space in which marginalized communities, namely women and people of color, could see themselves represented in the city’s growing arts scene, according to Johnson. “We wanted to remind folks that […]
VCU Jazz Festival shines spotlight on student and faculty talent
Mackenzie Meleski, Contributing Writer The VCU jazz department made a return to the stage on Thursday as students and faculty hosted the first jazz orchestra concert in front of a live audience since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event took place at the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall at the W.E. Singleton Center for […]
Art institutions, Richmond team up for painting project funded by grant
Sahara Sriraman, Spectrum Editor A diamond-shaped mural with a teal Sankofa iconography-inspired image sits surrounded by thick red and yellow lines, creating color contrast that immediately catches the eye. The large mural funded by the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative sits at the intersection of West Marshall Street and Brook Road. In September, ART 180, […]
Richmond Fashion Week 2021 returns: local designers express themselves through fashion
Sahara Sriraman, Spectrum Editor Models wearing bright floral patterns, mesh and feather sleeves and sequined tuxedos, paraded down the runway. These are just a few pieces designed by a variety of local designers, businesses and shops from the Richmond area that are featured in the fall 2021 show for Richmond Fashion Week. The 13th annual […]
VCU alumnus Tony-nominated for Broadway’s ‘Slave Play’
Zahra Ndirangu, Contributing Writer VCU alumnus Blair Russell remembers the moment when he was nominated for a Tony Award, he was surrounded by the silence of his Mexico City home in October 2020. “I remember when the nominations came out because we were still in a weird time during the pandemic,” Russell said. “It was […]
2nd Street Festival returns to Jackson Ward, celebrates Richmond culture
Mackenzie Meleski, Contributing Writer The 2nd Street Festival made its return to Richmond on Oct. 2-3, after a yearlong hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward neighborhood. The festival, and its location in Jackson Ward, has been a local tradition for 33 years. This year the two-day event included live music, […]
Richmond Folk Festival returns in person for 17th anniversary
Jiana Smith, Contributing Writer After a silent year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Richmond’s riverfront will once again be full of visitors enjoying art, music and food. The Richmond Folk Festival is returning to the city’s riverfront from Oct. 8-10 as an outdoor, in-person event for its 17th anniversary. Erika Gay, Venture Richmond’s marketing and […]
‘In the Theme of Home’ tells the story of displacement through the immigrant lens
Hadia Moosvi, Contributing Writer A TV rests on the wall of a dark, black room as the proverb, “Home is where one buries their umbilical cord,” fades in on the screen. A person is seen cutting a bamboo tree from the ground that is tied to their body by what resembles a bloodstained rope. Surrounding […]
VCU Cabell First Novelist Award granted to ‘Luster’ author Raven Leilani
Zahra Ndirangu, Contributing Writer New York-based author Raven Leilani was awarded VCU’s Cabell First Novelist Award for her debut novel, “Luster.” The story centers on ideas about race, class, gender and sexuality located amid the backdrop of New York City. “It was a really really beautiful surprise. Finding out I was up for it was […]
VCU fashion alumna recognized nationally, expands fashion presence
Sahara Sriraman, Spectrum Editor Metal chain breastplates that reflect the sunlight, blush-colored velvet suits and leather mini handbags are just some of the pieces featured in VCU alumna Kylie Rose Carroll’s clothing collection, Divine Proportions. Rose’s collection was chosen to be part of the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Fashion Future Graduate Showcase 2021, and […]