Reception for the Ugly Objects
Dominion Place Retirement Community
1025 W. Grace St., Richmond, VA 23220
5-7pm, December 7, 2007

Undergraduate and graduate students from Craft/Material Studies (Advanced Metals or Jewelry and Jewelry or Metal) engaged in conversation with individuals from Dominion Place Retirement Community about issues of beauty and ugliness; these conversations became the source of inspiration for their creative activity. Each participant from the Retirement Community prepared an object from their possession, which they considered UGLY but have not had the heart to throw away. Students were asked to ALTER/CHANGE/BEAUTIFY the object belonging to the retiree in response to the information he/she gleaned from the conversation. The altered objects return back to the original owners.

Familiar Faces, VCUarts Anderson Gallery’s opening winter exhibition, will take place January 18, 2008 through March 2. This exhibition, shown in tandem with Gord Peteran: Furniture Meets Its Maker, assembles national and international artists whose work interprets the human face using familiar materials: cloth and thread. The third in a bi-annual series of guest-artist curated shows, Familiar Faces welcomes curator Sonya Y. S. Clark, chair of the Department of Craft/Material Studies.

The exhibition opens with a public reception on Friday, January 18 from 7-9pm.

After Picasso, 2006, by Devorah Sperber
Medium: 5,024 spools of thread, stainless steel ball chain and hanging apparatus, clear acrylic viewing sphere, metal stand. Dimensions: 122”h x 100” w x 60”d (detail view)

For more than 20 years, VCU Music has been celebrating the holidays with a Holiday Gala to benefit the Hospital Hospitality House.  This annual event is a highlight of the year for faculty, students and audience members.  This year’s concert will feature performances by the Jazz Orchestra II, VCU Guitar Ensemble and Community Guitar Ensemble, The Madrigalists, the Commonwealth Singers, Symphonic Wind Ensembles and more!

Rumor has it that Santa will come and bring some snow along with him for this special event.

Mark your calendar and plan to bring your family and friends to the Holiday Gala on Friday, December 7 at 8 p.m.  Tickets are $5 General Admission and all proceeds benefit the Hospital Hospitality House.  Call the VCU Music Box Office at 804.828.6776 soon to purchase your tickets.  (Please note that this concert often sells out, so it’s best to purchase your tickets in advance.) Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Avenue.

Come celebrate with us and support the Hospital Hospitality House.