EVENTS
Community Day Presented in Partnership with Virginia Humanities¬
Join us for a museum-wide activation celebrating creativity, community, and environmental stewardship, along with all things nautical! Explore our current exhibitions and enjoy a day filled with performances, activities, artist demos, community resources, food, and more. Celebrate our oceans and the maritime heritage of Hampton Roads and discover how we connect and honor it today. This event is presented in partnership with Virginia Humanities and is part of their state-wide 50th anniversary celebration. Free; registration is encouraged.
FOOD & TRANSPORTATION
The first 150 guests to arrive will receive a food voucher to be used toward food truck purchases. We are also offering a limited number of Uber Ride vouchers worth up to $30 to get you to and from the event. Claim your ride voucher here.
Our parking lot fills up fast—check the map above for nearby parking options.
Programming support is generously provided by LISC Hampton Roads, Hampton Roads Biomedical Research Consortium, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Sinclair Communications, and the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
ATRIUM (ALL DAY)
Artist Demonstrations
Engage with artists in action as they create on-site in mobile studios!
- Ethan Brown (Pamunkey tribe, Richmond, VA) will showcase his wood-burning technique on dried gourds, traditionally used by American Indians for carrying water due to their lightweight and watertight properties.
- Danny “Brad” Hatch (Patawomeck tribe, Fredericksburg, VA) will demonstrate the craft of building Patawomeck-style split oak eel pots (basket traps).
Tattoo Parlor Pop-up
Tattoo artists Ashley Harris of Colley Ave Tattoo and Joe Weber of Cleveland Street Tattoo VB will be in the Virginia MOCA Atrium, offering custom flash designs inspired by the day, all priced at $50. Walk-up appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors can stand by and watch the artists at work, or take the plunge and get inked!
A portion of proceeds supports education programming at Virginia MOCA
Sponsored by John Upton Realty with Signature Homes.
Community Partners
Connect with local organizations to explore new resources and activities:
- Ad Astra Media
- Armed Services Arts Partnership
- Cape Henry Lighthouse/Preservation Virginia
- Chrysler Museum of Art
- First Landing State Park
- Hampton Roads Biomedical Research Consortium
- Jamestown Yorktown Foundation
- Norfolk Botanical Garden
- Sinclair Media Group
- Tidewater Compost
- Virginia Aquarium
- Virginia Beach Public Library
- Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum
- Virginia Humanities
- Virginia MOCA
- Watermen’s Museum
- WHRO
FLEMING GALLERY & STUDIOS
Ceramic Artist Demo (Ceramic Studio | All day)
Watch ceramic artist Anna Freeman throw on the potter’s wheel, hand-build, and carve clay using the sgraffito technique. Visitors can also try their hand at carving with sgraffito tools.
Beeswax Wraps (Studio 2 | All day)
Learn to create sustainable, beautiful handmade beeswax wraps using pine resin and cotton cloth—an eco-friendly alternative to plastic cling wrap.
Pre-K Art Exploration (Pre-K Studio | All day)
Young artists ages 2–5 and their families can enjoy painting, weaving, and building temporary sculptures.
Virginia Coastal Fly Anglers (Studio 1 | 10:30–11:30 AM)
Join the Virginia Coastal Fly Anglers—a community of fly-fishing enthusiasts, experts, and mentors committed to both the sport and the conservation of our waterways—for an introduction to the art of fly-tying! Learn to create classic ties like the Wooly Bugger and Clouser Minnow and discover how time on the water can deepen your connection to nature. Space is limited. Pre-registration recommended.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (Studio 1 | 12:00–12:30; 12:30–1:00 PM)
Join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in exploring approachable ways to advocate for the environment. In this session, you’ll have the opportunity to write and create a postcard to a representative, inspiring action to protect and keep our waterways clean. Space is limited. Pre-registration recommended.
Elizabeth River Project (Studio 1 | 2:30–3:30 PM)
Hear from the Elizabeth River Project about river stewardship and learn to make your own bird feeder with natural materials, supporting native birds! This workshop is open to ages 14+.
Space is limited. Pre-registration recommended.
OUTDOORS (ALL DAY)
Food/Beverage Trucks and Seating (Traffic Circle)
Cas’ Kitchen on Wheels
Mane Events VA
Pang Bros Food Truck
Beach Toy Collection Station (Front Lawn)
Join Clean Virginia Waterways, Lynnhaven River Now, and the Tidewater Master Naturalists in decorating beach toy collection boxes that will be installed locally to help reduce plastic pollution. Visitors are also encouraged to donate gently used beach toys to support the effort!
Art & Eco Market (Front Lawn)
Support local vendors offering eco-friendly goods, nautical art, and fair-trade items in this outdoor market. Special thanks to Earthy Child and Old Beach Art & Eco Market for organizing this pop-up!
- Alodeuri Artisan Jewelry
- Body Love
- Cactus Moon Trading
- CHIC FLAG
- DecayDecor
- Earthy Child
- Eco Maniac Company
- FAE
- Flutterby Soap Company
- Gaia’s Dreamwork
- Garden Partea, LLC
- J’arrive, African Fabric Bags and Accessories
- JECoDo Designs
- Mako Custom Creations
- MantaWave
- Mermaid City Mosaics
- Nesto’s Art
- Niles Creations
- Rab’s Roots, LLC
- Salty Sea Co.
- Studio Kuumba
- The Salty Potter
- The Wild Crust & Co
- VisitNorfolk
RODRIGUEZ PAVILION
Yoga Flow
10:30–11:30 AM
Join BHAV Brigade for a drop-in nature and water-inspired yoga flow. No prior experience needed. All ages and ability levels are welcome.
Sound Bath
12:30–1:30 PM
Experience a drop-in sound-healing session with Ursi Salkey. Using a curated selection of instruments and sound frequencies, Ursi will guide participants through a calming wellness experience.
Contemporary Dance
1:30–2:30 PM
Join professional dancer and teaching artist, Jasmine Fitch, for an all-ages drop-in contemporary dance workshop inspired by water themes.
AUDITORIUM
VBCPS Environmental Science Program Interns
10:00–10:30 AM
Learn more about the Nature’s Witness community collaboration and outdoor sculpture from five student interns that have worked closely with the museum on this unique project. From assisting in an elementary art classroom to preparing audio tours for our visitors, these teens have been essential to the success of Virginia MOCA’s spring exhibitions.
Barefoot Puppet Theatre presents New Squid on the Block
11:30 AM–12:15 PM
This 45-minute performance features handcrafted puppets (95% biodegradable), an original musical score by Ned Haskins, and a set that transforms from simple wooden crates into an icy, oceanic landscape. The wordless performance featuring delightful characters like sea creatures and penguins uses pantomime and music to communicate messages of connection across differences.
Barefoot Puppet Theatre presents Underwater Shadow Puppetry Workshop
12:30–1:15 PM
Join award-winning puppeteers in a hands-on workshop to create your own shadow puppets using recycled and recyclable materials, then perform with them on stage!
WHRO Film Screening–Against the Current: Life on the Eastern Shore
2:30–3:30 PM
Against the Current provides a powerful glimpse of how Virginia’s Eastern Shore residents are subject to the challenges of rising water’s effects on their lives and livelihood. Through resilience and perseverance, they learn to co-exist and celebrate their rural home. How can this unique community shed light on the national conversations happening around these climate issues?
Shark City Drum & Dance Corps
3:30–4:00 PM
Celebrate the close of the day with a lively, percussive performance by youth artists, led by Shark City Drum & Dance Corps.
GALLERIES (ALL DAY)
Explore Duke Riley: O’er the Wide and Plastic Sea, Open (C)all: Dear Earth, and ARTlab Interactive Gallery. Family gallery guides will be available.
Sea Shanty Performance by Bob and Jeanne Zentz
11:30–11:45 AM & 2:00–2:15 PM
Guided Tour of Duke Riley: O’er the Wide and Plastic Sea
11:00–11:30 AM & 2:30–3:00 PM
EXHIBITION
