Meet this week's guest editor, Amanda Robinson! For over 20 years, Amanda has been a driving force in Richmond’s artistic community. She is the founder and former Executive & Artistic Director of Gallery5, a nonprofit visual and performing arts center in Richmond, where she curated hundreds of notable exhibitions between 2005 and 2012, earning numerous awards and recognitions. In 2008, she received the Theresa Pollak Award for “Art Innovator of the Year,” and in 2006, was the youngest recipient of Style Weekly’s “Top 40 Under 40.” Under her leadership, Gallery5 was consistently recognized by readers of Style Weekly and Richmond Magazine as “Best Art Gallery” and “Best Independent Art Gallery.”
Amanda returned to Gallery5 in 2023 to serve on the Executive Board and as its volunteer Creative Director. Since her return, she has launched new programs, collaborations, and exhibitions with fresh energy and vision. During her 10-year hiatus from Gallery5, Amanda founded—and continues to own and operate—Sweet Fix, a custom cake studio in Richmond. Her incredible cake creations have been featured on Food Network, Martha Stewart, Southern Living, and more.
Take it away, Amanda …
Stay Gold
On First Friday, April 4, Gallery5 and RVA Magazine will once again join forces to commemorate their joint 20-year anniversaries with a special Birthday Celebration and Block Party. The Stay Gold: 20 Years of RVA Magazine and Gallery5 event will transform the block around Gallery5 into a vibrant night market and festival of fire—curated by RVA Moon Market and the Party Liberation Foundation. It will also feature a full lineup of live musical performances and a collaborative 20-year retrospective exhibition and slideshow reflecting on two decades of Richmond’s artistic, cultural, and political movements, while highlighting both organizations’ origins and their shared commitment to enriching the city’s creative community. Featuring live performances by No BS! Brass Band, Sweet Potatoes, Gull and WRIR 97.3!
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will celebrate artist Frida Kahlo and her Mexican heritage with a free, fun-filled community event, ¡FridaFest! People of all ages are invited to enjoy live music, food and beverages, artist demonstrations, a photo booth, and more. The festivities will take place outdoors in the museum’s Robins Sculpture Garden and indoors in VMFA’s Cochrane Atrium. April 5 is also the opening day of the museum’s highly anticipated exhibition Frida: Beyond the Myth, on display through September 28. Featuring live performances by: Bio Ritmo, Mariachi America RVA, Mexican Folk Jerocho, Miramar, and DJ Ray-Ray.
Vitals:
Frida: Beyond the Myth / Saturday, April 5 / 1 PM-7 PM / Free ($10-$20 for Exhibition Tickets) / VMFA, 200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Jonathan Brown Jr. Sings
Join Brambly Park for a memorable night with Jonathan Brown Jr., a talented artist known for his heartfelt, soulful performances. With a style that blends powerful vocals and compelling rhythms, Jonathan’s music connects deeply with his audience. His dynamic stage presence and unique sound promise an unforgettable evening.
Virago Alley is Amanda’s newest nonprofit, currently fundraising to renovate a brick-and-mortar space that will house traditional archery and fencing practice areas, along with workshop and limited studio space for historic artisans.
Its flagship initiative, the Richmond Renaissance Faire, launched on March 7 with a grassroots First Fridays fundraiser that drew over 5,000 attendees to the three blocks surrounding Gallery5. Amanda saw the local launch as an opportunity to build authentic partnerships and ensure that the community of artists and organizations has a voice in shaping the Faire’s foundation year.
The Richmond Renaissance Faire celebrates underrepresented historical art forms and global artisanship. Designed as a multicultural experience unlike any other Ren Faire in the U.S., it blends live demonstrations, performances, and merchant showcases from East Asian, Middle Eastern, Indigenous American, African, and European communities—all presented through the lens of 13th–17th century craftsmanship, with a distinct Richmond flair. Events will continue throughout 2025 in preparation for a full multi-day festival in 2026.
