VCU Launches Art Research Institute
The VCUarts program held the grand opening of the VCU’s Arts Research Institute (ARI) at the VCUarts Depot Oct 2. The ARI was created to be a resource specifically to help VCU school of the Arts faculty with research development. This includes finding funding for research, building partnerships and collaborations that allow them to expand […]
RVA Street Art Festival livens the concrete giant
When the Richmond Flying Squirrels Diamond baseball stadium first opened in 1985 it received a series of awards for its unique modernist art-deco architectural designs. 32 years later, the stadium is harkening back to its creative roots by hosting the fourth annual RVA Street Art Festival. From Sept. 22 to Sept. 24, the stadium’s signature […]
Virginia PrideFest colors the River City for a weekend
Brown Island was dotted with colorful rainbow flags and clothing as Richmond celebrated VA PrideFest 2017 this past Saturday. Thousands of LGBT members and allies attended the Commonwealth’s largest Pride festival. “When I was a teenager I felt stuck in self-guilt and hate about my sexuality and now I’m here I am 20 years […]
Richmond and the vinyl resurgence
Richmond-native Arnold Brown settled in Washington D.C. in 1989 due to what he described as a “consequence of jobs and familial obligations.” “When I was a teenager in (Jackson) Ward we would sit around a stoop at a neighbor’s house and listen to the newest records,” Brown said. “It was like a party every […]
Local documentary addresses the politics of hair
Anyone with access to the internet may have heard about the global phenomenon which has been’popularly dubbed the “natural hair movement.” The campaign is a push for black women to embrace their natural hair textures and use protective styles, such as locs, twists and braids, instead of using traditional chemical processes to straighten their hair. […]
Research indicates international pushback against the free press
On Saturday April 28, the New York Times published an article titled, In Mexico, ‘It’s Easy to Kill a Journalist. It discussed how Mexican journalists are often victim to extrajudicial murders by cartel enterprises and corrupt officials who want to silence opposition and prevent accountability and investigation. Though the Times’ piece on Mexico was specific […]
VCU Student wants to go “BeyondNightLife”
For Josh Roth, co-owner of BeyondNightLife, a key foundation in branding a business is finding the balance between consistent social media presence and actively establishing strong in-person connection with the people and community around you. “I’ve always been comfortable talking to anyone,” Roth said. “It’s always been something that I’m good at and I use […]
The Black Panther Party 50 years later
Students and community members had fists raised at a packed panel event exploring the lessons and legacies of the Black Panther Party at The Depot last week. The event was hosted by the VCU African-American Studies Department and held in celebration of the Black Panther Party’s 50th anniversary. Three former Panthers — Sekou […]
Chino Amobi: A look behind NON World Wide Collective
For Chino Amobi, one of the three founders of the music collective NON Worldwide Records, the creation of music isn’t about technical approach so much as it is about intuition. “I can’t read music but I play it by ear, by feeling — it’s not a technical process, ” Amobi said. “ I really do […]
Gallery5 celebrates its twelfth birthday with fire, music and more
First Fridays are always a special affair in downtown Richmond, but April 7 was just a tad more exciting as Gallery5 celebrated its twelfth year anniversary with the presence of fire dancers, live music, an array of vendors and of course, a variety of artwork. Gallery5 was founded by Amanda Robinson and opened as a […]