EVENTS

CALENDAR¬

We love making your Museum experience even better by offering a variety of unique programs each month. From interactive talks with exhibiting artists, to master classes, there are events for all ages, interests, and artistic experience.

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    Jun 07

    Photo courtesy of Trudy Gaba.

    PROGRAMS
    Instagram Live Chat: Trudy Gaba

    Join Senior Curator Heather Hakimzadeh for a conversation with Trudy Gaba, the Cincinnati Art Museum co-curator for Kara Walker: Cut to the Quick.

    Find us on Instagram @virginiamoca.

    Wednesday, June 7, 2023
    11:00 AM

    Instagram

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    Jun 08

    Julianna Siddiqi performs Imagine Isabella in Cash Crop, an exhibition by artist Stephen Hayes.

    PROGRAMS
    Imagine Isabella: A Solo Performance

    Imagine Isabella is a solo performance exploring the lives of Antony and Isabella, two of the first 20 enslaved Africans arriving at Point Comfort, Virginia in 1619, and their enslaver Captain Tucker. Performed inside the Virginia MOCA galleries, Imagine Isabella uses the artwork of Kara Walker: Cut to the Quick as a backdrop to bridge art and story.

    Thursday, June 8, 2023
    6:30 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Jun 10

    Photo by Fresh Look Photography.

    CLASSES
    1st Art: Clay

    AGES 2–5 (WITH CAREGIVER)
    One session
    Instructor: Bria Tyler

    CLASS FULL; please join waitlist.

    In this workshop, your little one will learn all about the human face as we use texture tools to animate a clay slab. After adding all the facial details, we’ll then learn how to slump our clay over a mold to create the perfect trinket dish! All artworks created during this class will be glazed, kiln-fired, and treasured for years to come. Museum staff will contact you for pickup when your final artwork is ready for pickup!

    Saturday, June 10, 2023
    10:30–11:30 AM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Jun 11
    PROGRAMS
    Get Well Soon Workshop: Beyoncé Vinyasa Flow Yoga

    A gentle vinyasa flow to a well-curated Beyoncé playlist. First time doing yoga? No problem. All levels are welcome!

    Sunday, June 11, 2023
    9:00 AM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Jun 30

    Photo by Lindsay Collette.

    PROGRAMS
    June Membership Swap: Hermitage Museum & Gardens

    The Hermitage Museum & Gardens is thrilled to partner with Virginia MOCA to welcome our members to the Hermitage in June!

    Benefits include complimentary admission to Sunsets on the River, an outdoor concert series, Member Admission to the opening celebration of their new special exhibition Echoes of the Heart, and more.

    June 1–30, 2023
    All Day

    HERMITAGE MUSEUM & GARDENS

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    Jul 15
    CLASSES
    1st Art: Building Blocks

    AGES 2–5 (WITH CAREGIVER)
    One Session
    Instructor: Bria Tyler

    Explore shapes and colors as we create colorful wooden block sculptures inspired by Collector’s Edition artist, Andrew Zimmerman. Students will select and paint their own wooden shapes and then assemble on to a wooden frame.

    Saturday, July 15
    10:30–11:30 AM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Jul 22
    CLASSES
    Screen Printing: Limited Edition

    AGES 13–17
    1 Session
    Instructor: Jeff Robertson

    Create your own print variation of an original work of art while learning about the purpose and value of art prints. Students will discover the step-by-step process that leads to a successful silkscreen print and explore various techniques to personalize images, infusing them with their own artistic voice.

    Saturday, July 22
    11:00 AM–2:00 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Jul 27

    Anna Freeman, Evaporated/Saturated II, 2023. Porcelain with glaze. Courtesy of the artist.

    CLASSES
    Ceramics: Hand-building a Collection

    ADULTS
    Three sessions
    Instructor: Anna Freeman

    Explore hand-building techniques to create a collection of three to five small forms, such as vases, bowls, jars, or small sculptures. Learn to balance variety and unity within your collection and select a personal theme.

    Thursdays, July 27–August 17
    10:45 AM–2:45 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Aug 05

    Photo courtesy of Lewis Hazen.

    CLASSES
    Canvas Stretching Workshop

    ADULTS
    One session
    Instructor: Lewis Hazen

    Stretch your very own canvas for professional quality artwork. This workshop is for those who want to hand-craft every aspect of their artwork and a perfect opportunity for those looking to save money by avoiding the cost markup of ready-to-use canvases.

    Saturday, August 5
    10:00 AM–12:00 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Aug 12

    Photo courtesy of Brittany Johnson.

    CLASSES
    Drawing: Scratchboard

    ADULTS
    One session
    Instructor: Brittany Johnson

    Scratchboard is a subtractive drawing process that involves scraping away at a dark surface with a sharp tool to reveal a lighter layer beneath. This dynamic drawing method can be used to achieve stunning levels of contrast and detail.

    Saturday, August 12
    10:00 AM–4:00 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Aug 19

    Photo courtesy of Christiana Yapnayon.

    CLASSES
    Character Creation: Trading Stickers

    AGES 6–8
    Two Sessions
    Instructor: Jeff Robertson

    Dive into the world of character design and collectibles as you create your own unique characters to be transformed into trading stickers. We’ll discuss our favorite characters, exploring their attributes and characteristics and then draw our own original designs. These designs will then be transformed into stencils, allowing us to bring our characters to life using marker airbrush techniques for final sticker creation. At the end of the class, you will have a collection of personalized trading stickers.

    Saturdays, August 19 & 26
    1:00–3:00 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Aug 27
    CLASSES
    1st Art: Textile Treasures

    AGES 2–5 (WITH CAREGIVER)
    One Session
    Instructor: Bria Tyler

    Discover different types of textiles and build fine motor skills as young artists cut and paste pieces of fabric onto paper. Once complete, we will then practice weaving pieces of fabric into our weaving frame. We will also look to the artwork of Collector’s Edition artist Asa Jackson who uses textiles to explore time, people, and culture.

    Sunday, August 27
    1:00–2:00 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Sep 10

    Photo courtesy of Rachel Jaffe

    CLASSES
    Handbuilt Homeware Collection

    AGES 9–12
    Four Sessions
    Instructor: Rachel Jaffe

    Repurpose your grandma’s lace and crochet doilies! Create a collection of unique homewares with texture. Rolling lace or crochet doilies into clay and then peeling them away leaves behind a beautiful impression. Using different designs and techniques, learn to create bowls, mugs, trinket dishes, spoon rests, and other useful homewares. Students are encouraged to take creative freedom with their new skills and bring in found patterns and textures to incorporate into their work.

    Sundays, September 10–October 1
    10:00 AM–12:30 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Sep 14

    Photo by Fresh Look Photography.

    CLASSES
    Abstract Painting: Collections in Color

    ADULTS
    3 sessions
    Instructor: Marlowe Emerson

    Experience the Collector’s Edition exhibition from the perspective of color. Examine how different artists use color in their work and how color impacts a collection. Mix your own colors based on your observations and use abstract mixed media processes to experiment with color techniques. Materials are provided though students are also welcome to bring their preferred painting supplies if desired.

    Thursdays, September 14–28
    6:00–7:30 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Sep 17
    CLASSES
    1st Art: Micro Masterpieces

    AGES 2–5 (WITH CAREGIVER)
    One Session
    Instructor: Bria Tyler

    Through magnification, discover a hidden world teeming with fascinating life forms. Inspired by the works of Collector's Edition artist Kelsey Brookes, young artists will observe and create drawings inspired by the extraordinary organisms they encounter.

    Sunday, September 17
    10:30–11:30 AM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Sep 21

    Photo by Lauren Keim. Courtesy of the artist.

    CLASSES
    Photography: Creating and Curating a Collection

    ADULTS
    4 sessions
    Instructor: Lauren Keim

    Photographers, by their very nature, are collectors. Whether making images of birds or sunsets or people, photographers use their cameras to collect the things they notice about their lives. In this multi-week class, students will become archaeologists of their own work. Using weekly prompts as well as exploring the themes that already exist within their camera rolls, students will unearth the motifs, ideas, and subjects that make up the work they create.

    Thursdays, September 21–October 12
    10:00 AM–12:00 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Sep 30

    Photo by Anastasia Gorshkova.

    CLASSES
    The Golden Mean

    AGES 6–8
    Four Sessions Instructor: Renee Calway

    What is the Golden Mean, and why is it so important? Patterns that repeat in nature, like this one, have helped artists to create balanced, harmonious, and proportioned works of art for centuries. We’ll explore this artful ratio and take inspiration from the artwork of Collector’s Edition artist Kelsey Brookes. Students will identify the sequence in nature using microscopes, play with paint, and get creative with color in the studio using modeling clay.

    Saturdays, September 30–October 21
    10:00–11:30 AM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Sep 30
    CLASSES
    Pieces of Mind

    AGES 9–12
    4 Sessions
    Instructor: Renee Calway

    Dive into the world of art, science, and community inspired by Collector’s Edition artists Washington Silvera, Do Ho Suh, and Asa Jackson. Explore landscapes, water, and the mysteries of nature's relationship with humanity, and design your own treasure box containing a secret terrarium. Using gel slabs, students will also create cyanotype prints in vibrant rainbow colors, incorporating typography to express individuality and memory. We’ll also collaborate on a large tapestry representing our Hampton Roads community by cutting stitching, collage, and painting.

    Saturdays, September 30–October 21
    1:00–2:30 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Oct 15

    Anna Freeman, Shifting Balance, 2020. Porcelain clay with glaze. Courtesy of the artist.

    CLASSES
    Ceramics: Making an Impression

    ADULTS
    1 session
    Instructor: Anna Freeman

    Explore the art of ceramics while connecting with nature and create a tray or tile with textured surfaces created using natural materials. We will begin by visiting the Collector’s Edition exhibition for inspiration and then take a short outdoor walk around the Museum to collect natural materials while embracing the practice of ethical and respectful collection. Back in the studio, we will delve into the art of composition and design and explore slab-building techniques to craft a beautiful tray or tile.

    Sunday, October 15
    1:00–4:00 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Oct 15

    Photo by Fresh Look Photography.

    CLASSES
    1st Art: Landscape Love

    AGES 2–5 (WITH CAREGIVER)
    One Session
    Instructor: Bria Tyler

    Explore the fascinating world of landscapes inspired by the incredible artwork of Collector's Edition artist Rachel Burgess. Using colorful card stock paper, scissors, and glue, we'll bring our own unique landscapes to life. From rolling hills to magnificent trees, let your imagination soar.

    Sunday, October 15
    10:30–11:30 AM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Oct 28

    Photo courtesy of Rachel Jaffe

    CLASSES
    Ceramics: Tealight Houses

    AGES 13–17
    Four Sessions
    Instructor: Rachel Jaffe

    Brighten your home with ceramic tealight houses. Tap into your “inner architect” by creating a collection of luminaries.

    Saturdays, October 28–November 18
    10:00 AM–12:30 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Nov 05
    CLASSES
    Artful Supporter: Mixed Media Portrait

    AGES 6–8
    1 Session
    Instructor: Bria Tyler

    Create vibrant, mix-media portrait drawings inspired by Collector's Edition artist Maizelle using oil pastels, paper, and tissue paper, Then, decorate a wooden photo frame to display your artwork as a cherished keepsake. Join us on this artistic adventure where we'll unleash our creativity, express gratitude, and celebrate those who uplift and inspire us through the power of art!

    Sunday, November 5
    12:30–2:00 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Nov 18

    Photo by Daniel Olah

    CLASSES
    The Secrets of Sensory

    AGES 9–12
    One Session
    Instructor: Renee Calway

    Explore the connection between mindfulness and creativity. Inspired by the sensory art of Jesse Fleming and the conceptual assemblage style of Asa Jackson, students will study these Collector’s Edition artists and work together to create an immersive sensory space, designed to ignite your senses. Through the interplay of light, color, sound, touch, and even smell, we'll elevate the artistic experience to new heights.

    Saturday, November 18
    10:00 AM–12:00 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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    Nov 18
    CLASSES
    Screen Printing: Limited Edition

    AGES 13–17
    1 Session
    Instructor: Jeff Robertson

    Create your own print variation of an original work of art while learning about the purpose and value of art prints. Students will discover the step-by-step process that leads to a successful silkscreen print and explore various techniques to personalize images, infusing them with their own artistic voice.

    Saturday, November 18
    11:00 AM–2:00 PM

    VIRGINIA MOCA

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