Thursday, Feb. 6
Community Care Night: “A Healing Art Project” presented by Mending Walls at Gallery5
Celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Mending Walls public arts initiative with Hamilton Glass, who will provide a brief presentation on its evolution including details about community murals, the Mending Walls Conversation and Coffee table book and the Emmy award-winning documentary. Books will be available for purchase and art supplies and blank bricks will be available to attendees to create a new community build. 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 7
Inaugural opening for “Lovers” and “Friends” at Main Projects art space [Update: A private opening is on Thursday, public opening is on Friday for First Fridays]
Come check out the first show at a brand new art space, Main Projects, at 1625 West Main St. Founded by Laura Martin Mills and Eric Thomas-Suwall, it opens its doors with two group exhibitions, “Lovers” and “Friends.” The flagship exhibition “Lovers,” co-organized with Elizabeth Dolan Wright, founder of the Common Wealth Public Art Fund, explores the “multifaceted nature of love” through the works of internationally acclaimed and Virginia-connected artists, including Loie Hollowell, Diana al-Hadid, Gina Beavers, LaRissa Rogers, Amanda Baldwin, Tahnee Lonsdale, Chris Oh and Meghann. Complimenting that show is “Friends,” a small works exhibition spotlighting new voices that include Nick Hobbs, Scout Zabinski, CARO, among others. Public opening takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. On view through April 4, 2025. It will be open on First Friday until 8 p.m.
The Burl Show: A Group Exhibition at Eric Schindler Gallery
This is an interesting group exhibition presented by RVA Urban Wood, a group that organizes events to save local trees from the landfill, and Eric Schindler gallery. It will feature a range of artists, craftspeople, and designers who have experimented with burl (“the knot found on tree trunks caused by disease, infection and stress”). Over a year ago, each artist was given burl and time to experiment as they saw fit. “The goal of the show is to create an interior that invites our city to socialize, think about, and imagine possibilities for recycling local trees,” according to organizers. Participating artists include: An Liu, Matt Fried, Alicia Dietz, TJ Krivanec, Tyna Ontko, Chris Chase, Annie Evelyn, Susie Ganch, Hillary Waters, Keenan Rowe, Chelsea Nanfelt Rowe, Scott Konopasek, August Neuscheler, Ethan Hanen and Laura TeeleThere will be an opening reception Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. and a curatorial discussion Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. Show runs through March 8, 2025.
Saturday, Feb. 8
ChinaFest: Year of the Wood Snake at VMFA
Looking for a colorful, celebratory atmosphere on Saturday for the whole family? Or beginning to see the need to learn more about Chinese culture as world powers realign? Come enjoy the tradition of the Chinese Lunar New Year alongside the 20th anniversary of the ChinaFest program, a free annual event at VMFA. The daytime event, ChinaFest: Year of the Wood Snake, will feature free art activities, performances and music. All ages welcome. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free.
Richmond Symphony presents “Mancini: An Orchestral Love Affair” at the Dominion Energy Center’s Carpenter Theatre
It is true that Henry Mancini (1924-1994) was one of the greatest and most prolific film composers of the second half of the 20th century. It is also incomplete. He was also a pop recording star, with 90 albums that netted over 70 Grammy nominations and 20 wins. And he was a prolific conductor, leading over 500 symphony performances. A number of his songs—“Days of Wine and Roses,” “Moon River”—are part of the great American songbook. One of them, “The Pink Panther,” made the jump from film title sequences to Saturday morning cartoons and console video games.
As a composer, Mancini had a light touch that made him a staple of easy listening music, an older, middle-class alternative to rock, punk, rap and other genres aimed at younger listeners. That puts it in a class with Bert Bacharach, whose bouncy, catchy pop tunes are making something of a comeback. It will be interesting to see how the Richmond Symphony, under the baton of Associate Conductor Hae Lee, turns back the clock in an evening that assays a half-century of Mancini’s hits. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $15-$69.—Peter McElhinney
Sunday, Feb. 9
The Love Movement presents Super Bowl Sunday at the Hof
Are you an NFL fan stoked for the big game and unconscionable advertising spending about to take place? If you’re looking for a place to drop some coinage and watch the biggest pigskin day of them all; the Super Bowl will be shown on a large, 100” projector over at the Hof near the corner of Broad and Arthur Ashe Boulevard. Runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets $10 to $150. There will be drinks, DJs and raffles, raising funds for Community, Wellness, and Life charitable organization.
Monday, Feb. 10
Second Mondays Tribute to Paul Watson at Artspace Gallery
Out of Your Heads Records’ Second Monday series at Artspace devotes February’s session to an appreciation of the late Paul “Watty” Watson who died last November. For decades, the cornetist, guitarist, banjo player and singer Watson was integral to the local scene. He played with the Orthotonics in the 1980s and later with the Ululating Mummies, Sparklehorse and House of Freaks. He toured Europe with his band And the Wiremen and worked at iconic RVA institutions like Millie’s Diner and Fountain Bookstore. And Watson made a small army of friends, including local musicians who will be at the event to play and share memories. Be prepared for the evening to be moving and, inevitably, go on later than usual. 8 p.m. Admission is free.—P.M.
