Meet Nico Cathcart, this week’s guest editor! Nico is a painter and muralist hailing from Toronto and has lived in Richmond for the past 11 years. Nico strives to discuss intersectional feminism and climate change in her highly-colorful realistic works which often include local flora and fauna, as well as the female form. She is in the process of going deaf, relying on hearing aids and lip reading to communicate. She often includes birds in her work as a nod to her disability. A veteran of the past three RVA Street Art Festivals, and International Invitational Wall/Therapy, she has murals across the country. In 2020, Nico was honored as an Agent of Change for her use of activism in her art by the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, and was the recipient of the 1708 Gallery space grant. Recently, she released the print “Oceans Rise, Empires Fall” with House of Roulx. Nico is also a Mending Walls RVA artist in collab with Austin Miles and she just finished the Brown Ballerinas for Change mural with Monty Montgomery. Her upcoming projects include the Mending Walls documentary with VPM coming in June and a sustainable agricultural mural in New York.
Take it away, Nico!
RVA Community
Makers
This project was put together by my friend Hamilton Glass for the VMFA and its 3rd year is absolutely the BEST! 2021 Community Makers features portraits by some of the most talented Richmond painters celebrating musicians from different genres from the area. This year's series includes Nadd Harvin painting Z-Bey (pictured), Austin Miles painting Cora Armstrong, Mahari Chabwera painting J. Plunkey Branch, Justice Dwight painting Desiree Roots, and David Marion painting Jon Bibbs. Hamilton also created an engaging community panel for the exhibition. The paintings are amazing quality, and the project does great justice to the Black creative community. It’s really a DON'T MISS event. The exhibition has moved to the Black History Museum and will be on display through July 3.
Located at the Lakeside Farmers Market, the Safe Space Market is an awesome way to spend Friday night. Founded by Andy Waller, the goal of the Safe Space Market is to support, celebrate, affirm, and promote RVA’s Black, Queer, Trans, Indigenous, and marginalized communities through a weekly pop-up market. From BIPOC/LGBTQ+ owned jam (seriously my fav) to tea, to bath and body products, this is the perfect place to grab some local food and goodies for the week. They even have a gender affirming hairdresser on site! RVA Safe Space also gives back. As an example, Safe Space Market hosts a can food drive for RVA Community Fridges, a project aimed at providing free food to those who need it using a "take what you need, give what you need" model. The market is hosted every Friday from 4-7 pm at Lakeside Farmer's Market. Make sure to bring a mask and enjoy the nice weather ahead. Oh, and don't forget to try some local jam, Bloody Mary mix, or pickles while you are at it!
I have an enormous love of RVA’s food scene, and it's hard to just pick ONE place to talk about. But one of my absolute favorites is SB’s Lakeside Love Shack. It's definitely worth the trip out of the city for brunch. Women-owned, and full of unique character, it's the perfect place for a nice weekend late morning. They have a themed menu that ranges from timely to funny (last week it was the Ninja Turtles) including a special mega drink every week, from Bloody Marys to special mimosas (Ninja themed drinks included Donajello Shots and Rock Steady’s Latte). They have expanded outdoor seating too, giving you a chance to grab a coffee or a cocktail while you wait for a table. And trust me, it’s worth the wait every time. Check their Facebook page before you go to see what the theme is each week!
Founded in 1957, the Richmond Symphony performs, teaches, and champions music to inspire and unite our communities. Led by Music Director Valentina Peleggi, the Symphony incorporates classical, contemporary, and popular music, making symphonic music interesting and accessible to everyone. The League of American Orchestras recognized the Symphony as a leader of innovation in the orchestral field and awarded the Symphony the Catalyst Grant, to help implement effective practices to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion. In response to COVID-19, the Symphony now offers digital livestreamed or on-demand concerts and launched an online music school for learners of all ages.
