City to Host Black History Month Art Exhibition

The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host a group art exhibit featuring more than 20 prominent African-American artists at the Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road. The art exhibit titled “Isn’t She Lovely” blends a variety of contemporary artists in one space. The show will open on Friday, February 13 with a public reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Spotlight Gallery exhibit will be on display until March 13, 2015.



"Ribbons of Life" by Larry Poncho Brown

The multimedia exhibition will focus on themes of African-American female beauty that include pieces of photography, paintings, quilts, sculpture, masks, and more. Artists from Richmond, Baltimore, and the Washington, DC areas will be featured in this exhibit. This show will also feature the work of Nia Campbell, an upcoming high school artist, showing her piece “Rapunzel”.

Spotlight Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. This exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information or to schedule tours please contact Shaunn Casselle at (804) 646-6722.

Black History Month Cook-Off

Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will celebrate Black History Month with a Soul Food Cook-Off on February 28 from 7 to 8 p.m. at its Randolph Community Center, located at 1415 Grayland Avenue.

     The public is invited to bring their favorite homemade soul food dish to the community center to share, whether it’s a main dish, a side dish, a dessert or bread. Everyone who brings a dish will get to enjoy the food and will be asked to vote on their favorites.

      Children age 6 and older, as well as teens and adults, are encouraged to enter, and winners will be selected from age groups six to 11, 12 to 16, and 17 and older.

      The cook-off is free to enter, but participants must register by February 15. For more information or to register, call the Community Center at (804) 646-1080.

  

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Art Opening, Panel Discussion Celebrate Black History

In celebration of Black History Month, the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host an art exhibit featuring the works of several local African-American artists. Titled Dark Waters,” the exhibit will open with a reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, February 8 at the Spotlight Gallery located within the department’s Pine Camp Arts and Community Center at 4901 Old Brook Road.

      In addition, the artists will discuss their work prior to the opening reception from 6 to 6:30 p.m. in the Pine Camp Theater. Both events are open and free to the public.

     “Dark Waters” is the culmination of artistic expression from several contemporary artists who were asked to interpret their impressions of the impact of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. The works on display will include Austina Hume’s ZongZorgCare, a mixed-media sculpture that served as the inspiration piece for this exhibition.

      The exhibit will be on display through March 8. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

 

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Department Announces Change to Upcoming Black History Art Exhibit

The work of Jerome Jones will be featured along with that of Dawn Cherry Miles in the department's annual Spotlight Gallery Black History Month exhibit scheduled to open with a public reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 27 at Pine Camp Arts and Community Center. The exhibit, titled “Imagery, Imagination and African Influence,” will no longer feature the work of Thaddeus LaCrette as previously announced.         Jerome Jones, like Dawn Cherry Miles, is a local African-American artist. He has gained national acclaim for his unique and diverse collection of work. His creative style of portraiture reflects the likeness of his subjects and what they love to do.
     Jones also will participate with Miles in the artist’s discussion to take place on Jan. 27 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Pine Camp Theater.
     The theater and the gallery are located within the Pine Camp Arts and Community Center at 4901 Old Brook Rd. Both events are open and free to the public.

     The exhibit will continue to be on display through March 2. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

Spotlight Gallery to Feature African-American Artists

In celebration of Black History Month, the department will host an art exhibit featuring the works of two local African-American artists: Dawn Cherry Miles and Thaddeus LaCrette. The exhibit, titled “Imagery, Imagination and African Influence,” will open with a reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on January 27 at the Spotlight Gallery, which is located within the department’s Pine Camp Arts and Community Center at 4901 Old Brook Rd.

      In addition, the artists will discuss their work on Friday, January 27, from 6 p.m. to 7p.m. in the theater at Pine Camp. Both events are open and free to the public. 

     The works on display will include Thaddeus LaCrette’s life-sized beaded sculptures and ceramic sculptures by Dawn Cherry Miles. Dawn Cherry Miles is a Richmond native, while Thaddeus LaCrette is originally from Grenada and has lived in Brooklyn, NY, and Atlanta.

     The exhibit will be on display through March 2 in Pine Camp’s Spotlight Gallery. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

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Department to Host Panel Discussion on Race

The department will present a panel discussion for Black History Month called, “Outside the Lines: Race in the 21st Century.” It will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the department’s Hickory Hill Community Center, 3000 E. Belt Boulevard.
Serving on the panel will be the president of the Virginia Chapter of the NAACP, Rev. Dr. J. Rayfield Vines Jr.; pastor of Garland Avenue Baptist Church, Rev. Clifford B. Chambliss; iPower 92.1 FM radio personality, TT Torrez; Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter Michael Martz; Patrick Henry Charter School board member Antione Green; and Boaz and Ruth AmeriCorps Director Megan Rollins.
The discussion will be moderated by “Miss Community” Clovia Lawrence of Radio One. The program is open to the public and free to attend.

City offers Slave Trail Walk to Commemorate Black History Month

The department is offering two opportunities this month to take an interpretive walk on Richmond’s Slave Trail in recognition of Black History Month.
These programs offer the opportunity to walk along the same route through what is now the James River Park System that so many enslaved Americans were forced to take in the first half of the 19th century before being placed on the auction block. You will also see the many signs of slave labor that are still visible in Richmond today.
The walks are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 26, and last until approximately 5 p.m. The fee is $5 per person. No pre-registration is necessary.
Walk participants should meet their guide at Ancarrow’s Landing Park, located at the end of Maury Street. The walk is approximately 2 miles one way, but can be shortened if the group prefers to drive part of the way.
These programs are co-sponsored by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and the Friends of the James River Park. For more information, call 804-646-8911.

Spotlight Gallery to Feature Local African-American Artists

In celebration of Black History Month, the city's Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host an art exhibit featuring the works of five local African-American artists: Maurice Beane, John Greene, Emmett Johnson Jafari, Jay Sharpe and Richard Ward. The exhibit, titled “Five Men: African-American Works in 3D,” will open with a reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on February 4 at the Spotlight Gallery, which is located within the department’s Pine Camp Arts and Community Center at 4901 Old Brook Rd.
In addition, several of the artists will discuss their work on Friday, February 4,from 6 p.m. to 7p.m. at Pine Camp prior to the opening. Both events are open and free to the public.
This annual Black History Month exhibit will trace the artistic influence of African-Americans from the rich imprint of Africa to current trends in contemporary art. “Their works will amaze you,” said Dr. Carolyn Graham, the department’s interim director.
The exhibit will be on display through March 11 in Pine Camp’s Spotlight Gallery. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

Guided Walks on Richmond's Slave Trail

January 21, 2010
Richmond's Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will offer guided walks on Richmond's Slave Trail each Saturday during February in recognition of Black History Month.
These emotional walks, led by James River Park Manager Ralph White, will take you from the stone docks at Ancarrow's Landing through the forest and across the river to the site of the old slave jails.
The walks will be scheduled for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. based on demand. There is a $5 per person fee.
Please register in advance by calling the James River Park System at 804-646-8911.