Meet Erin Frye, this week's guest editor! Erin is a local musician, yoga and meditation teacher, and the Director of Programs and Outreach with CultureWorks. At CultureWorks, she helps the Richmond based nonprofit strengthen the impact of artists and arts and culture organizations throughout our region. When she's not working, you can find Erin bringing hope and healing to communities worldwide through accessible music and wellness experiences. Her travels as a volunteer musician have included orphanages, refugee camps, juvenile jails, and more from Africa to Europe, and across North America. She is also the founder of Gals for a Cause RVA, a former Big Sister through BBBS, and a former Teaching Artist/Performer in SPARC’s inclusive LIVE ART program.
Take it away, Erin ...
Freedom
Constellation Tour
Freedom Constellations is a powerful, interactive public art project that imagines a world without youth prisons; where all youth have the support and resources they need to grow, thrive, and stay free. This fall, Richmonders can join a series of FREE interactive tours and experiences led by Performing Statistics educators featuring Freedom Constellations. The project includes an interactive mural on 3rd & Broad, a recently launched GRTC bus wrap, and 160 ft tall portraits of Richmond youth leaders covering City Hall (the largest interactive installation on a municipal building in the country). As viewers hold their phones up to these powerful portraits, they become animated through augmented reality. Each tour will provide three immersive stations for visitors to experience this one-of-a-kind reality animation that was co-designed by Richmond youth. In addition, tour participants will have an opportunity to engage with historic artifacts at John Marshall House and travel to the top of City Hall observation deck with a guide from The Valentine. Take a tour, and have a mind- and heart-opening experience while imagining a better future for Richmond.
Rosette is a Richmond-based string quartet comprised of Ellen Cockerham Riccio (violin), Treesa Gold (violin), Kimberly Ryan (viola), and Steph Barrett (cello). All members are professional musicians who balance teaching private lessons with performing in the Richmond Symphony, Classical Revolution RVA, and other ensembles. This October, Rosette launched their newest concert series called So Hot Right Now in eight different venues. The last of the eight popular performances happens to be TONIGHT, Thursday, October 28th, at Candela Books & Gallery. So Hot Right Now highlights the music of Caroline Shaw, a New York-based musician and the youngest winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Music. Personally, I can’t wait to experience this – hope to see you there!
Food resiliency advocate and urban farms activist, Duron Chavis, recently announced the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for his newest urban gardening project, Sankofa Community Orchard, at 12:00pm on Friday, October 29th. Attendees will be able to tour the beautiful orchard and learn more about this two-acre green space that is dedicated to food justice and climate resiliency. The garden, located in Richmond’s Southside, consists of over 80 fruit trees and features an outdoor kitchen, a curated space for special events, and numerous mural walls courtesy of local Richmond artists. Sankofa Community Orchard is a member of The Jackson Ward Collective, a hub for Black business owners that provides connections to services, programs, technical assistance and financial support to help Black business owners learn, grow and own. My hope is for the community to wrap its arms around the Sankofa Community Orchard, and support Duron’s continued initiatives around urban agriculture and local food systems. His work is creating meaningful, lasting change in our community.
Catch our guest editor, Erin Frye, along with other inspiring leaders from across the country at Rebelle Con, a multi-day experience for women influencing the business world of the future. November 3-4, 2021.
Meet this week's guest editor, Laura Swanson Bowser. She's here to provide a few local tips this week to encourage you to wander, to wonder, and to celebrate all things RVA. Laura is the Founder of Vaud Consulting—an HR and DEI management consulting firm working to advance more culturally inclusive and equitable workforces. Prior to launching Vaud Consulting, Laura was the CEO of an award-winning diversity, equity and inclusion firm. During her tenure as CEO, the company was recognized as a Best for the World diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) solutions provider by B Lab. Laura is also Chair of the Virginia’s Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Commission, Vice Chair of Data Friendly Spaces, board member at Read to Them, previous founding member of the Burke-Paine Society, and a published author.
Take it away, Laura ...
Jolene
Did you know you can shop a local minority owned business and support artists all over the world? Meet Jolene - the latest online store turned brick and mortar pop-up shop in RVA which opened in May of 2021 at 211 W. Broad St. Jolene is a home goods shop dedicated to unique and artfully made, materials-focused objects curated and procured by my new friend Nolan Beck-Rivera. Nolan, who offers interior design as The Materialist, recently moved to RVA from Cleveland. I encourage all Richmonders to pop over and say hi. After all, the holidays are just around the corner! Why attempt to source amazing gifts when a talented designer can do it for you?
While the majority of RVA was shut down during the pandemic, and restaurants, schools, and shops struggled to remain open, Adarra took off. Recently named one of America’s best new restaurants, as well as Style Weekly’s Restaurant of the year, this cozy, less than two-years old, restaurant in Richmond’s Jackson Ward neighborhood is now one of the hottest places in town. Each small course offers a stunning spin on the vibrant small plates of Spain’s Basque country. And, while I could wax poetic about every meal I have enjoyed, I will spare you and leave you with one fact. This restaurant made me not only like beets—a food I previously only tolerated—but crave them! As such, I can only deduce that the beets, which are grown in Chef Randall Doetzer parents’ garden, are either witchcraft or Adarra is just that good.
Given that Richmond is recognized as one of the most artistic mid-sized cities in America, it is safe to say that COVID has greatly impacted our community over these past 18 months. Our city, however, has risen to the challenge—finding innovative ways to give virtual art shows, outdoor driveway performances, and large-scale community projects. If you are like me though and still yearn for in-person connection, I have some good news to share. Starting September 17th, Richmond legends Matt Lively and Ed Trask will be launching a fully in-person exhibition at VisArts. The exhibition “Stretching the Blip of the Moment” combines paintings and sculptures in a style much like the work Lively and Trask have partnered on in the past, however, this time with a few amazing surprises. While I am not at liberty to say more, I did recently pop over to Matt’s 150-year-old barn-turned-studio (pictured) to take a sneak peek. You won’t want to miss this.
Hidden deep in the James River Park, tucked quietly under a moss-covered granite cliff, is the Grid Mailbox. Inside you’ll find the Dear Richmond journal, a collaborative writing experiment. For those who stumble upon it, the community journal serves as a special place to write a call to action, hopes for a better future, or simply the words you need to hear. Check out the most recent entries at our partner publication, Richmond Grid.
Meet James Millner, this week's guest editor! As the director of Virginia Pride, James works tirelessly to make the Richmond based nonprofit a vehicle for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender awareness, networking and education throughout Virginia. James and the Virginia Pride crew are known for creating unique events designed to instill pride, celebrate unity and embrace diversity in the Commonwealth. He seeks to improve the lives of LGBTQ Virginians by creating visibility and promoting full human and civil rights through education, networking and celebrations that advocate equality.
Take it away James …
June is National LGBTQ Pride Month, when we reflect on, celebrate and recommit to the fight for LGBTQ equality. June is also the month in which LGBTQ people have historically been granted rights by the United States Supreme Court, including the right to marry and the right to work without fear of being denied a job or fired because of our sexual orientation or gender identity. Here are just a few of the many ways you can celebrate Pride Month here in the River City!
Pride
at The Market
Join us this Saturday, June 26, at 17th Street Market as VA Pride presents “Pride at the Market” in partnership with the Richmond Department of Recreation and Parks and the Shockoe Bottom Neighborhood Association. We’ll host a fabulous DJ Dance Party and Drag show featuring some of Richmond’s biggest divas! You can purchase food and drinks, including adult beverages, from restaurants along the Market and consume them outside!
VA Pride is teaming up with Common House in Richmond to host a happy hour on Wednesday, June 30 from 6-8 pm to support VA Pride, Stonewall Sports—Richmond, and Black Pride RVA! A portion of all beverage proceeds will be donated to supporting Virginia Pride’s mission of building LGBTQ awareness and education opportunities in the broader Commonwealth region. Join us as we honor all the community organizers, activists, advocates, and allies who continue to do the work for a more loving and a more equal future. Bring your friends, grab a pride-themed drink, and enjoy.
Be sure to check out how the City of Richmond is celebrating Pride Month! There’s a pride flag flying over City Hall for the first time ever recognizing the LGBTQ community. Nearby you’ll find Main Street Station illuminated in rainbow colors and Dominion Energy is displaying a special pride-themed light show every night. Never before has so much been done to commemorate LGBTQ Pride Month in RVA!
Richmond-based alternative rock singer-songwriter, Rachel Leyco, is performing at Starr Hill Richmond Beer Hall & Rooftop tonight, Thursday, June 24, for a special PRIDE month show as part of the brewery's Sunset Solo Series. Make sure to order a Love Wheat Beer and Starr Hill will donate $1 to VA Pride from every one sold during the month of June.
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