Meet this week's guest editor, Ellyn Parker! An artist, writer, and community connector, Ellyn champions the power of nature, creativity, and the arts to foster healing, connection, and community vitality. Growing up outside Lynchburg, in a log cabin by a lake with parents who were public school teachers, Ellyn developed a lifelong love for the Blue Ridge Mountains and for learning. She recently pursued advanced research in Arts in Health through the University of Florida’s Arts in Medicine program, delving into social prescribing—the idea that access to arts, nature, and social connection is essential to wellbeing.
After spending over two decades in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she raised her daughter, owned an art gallery, and became involved in community activism, Ellyn found herself working in government as a community development specialist. For nine years, she led programs that boosted economic development in the nightlife and maker industries, using arts as a bridge to bring people together. Since returning to Virginia in 2015, Ellyn served as the Public Art Coordinator for the City of Richmond and curated exhibits for Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Now, as a public art and creative economy consultant, she is passionate about helping others bring creative visions to life.
Take it away, Ellyn ...
InLight 2024: Grounds for Clearing
Experience the healing power of community, nature, and the arts under the stars. InLight is 1708 Gallery’s annual public exhibition of multimedia works, sculptures, installations, performances, community-based works, and virtual projects that utilize light-based platforms experienced at night.
Quarry RVA & Art Grove Newsletter Artist Connector
Join Art Grove Newsletterand Quarry RVA for an afternoon of building connections with local Richmond artists of any medium and skill level. Discuss the creative process and share hopes for the Richmond artist community. This is a free event featuring tea and cookies.
Nature is the best teacher, companion, healer, and therapist sometimes. You just gotta get up and connect to your breath while watching the sun come up over the water. Yep, that is the good stuff. Watch the day begin (or end, if mornings aren’t your thing) over the beautiful James River which connects our community. Take a breath and let things flow before your day starts. The rest of your day will thank you. Need to cry it out? The river will take your tears and wash them along. Here are a few of my favorite sunrise spots:
Sunrise at the River / Nov 7-13, 6:41 am / FREE / locations linked above
More About the Artists
Beth Anne Booth and Ellyn Parker began working together professionally in 2019 as art administrators, curating exhibits and community programming within the Richmond, Virginia region. Inspired by recent and significant pivots in their respective personal journeys, Beth Anne and Ellyn organically forged a renewed partnership as collaborating artists. Coupled with their combined expertise in Exhibition Design, Public Art, and Design, they create healing, transformative art experiences that amplify humankind’s sacred connection to the natural world.
In their words – "Our installation for InLight is the visual culmination of our discussions on healing, breathing, the arts, and the natural world. We encourage you to meditate in the spaces between the audible inhales and exhales, honoring the shared human experiences that connect us in grief, gratitude, and presence."
Meet this week's guest editor, Dr. Anjali Ferguson! Anjali is a clinical psychologist, TEDx speaker, and children’s book author dedicated to creating inclusive, equitable communities. As the founder of Parenting Culture and the executive director of the Virginia Association for Infant Mental Health (VAIMH), she is committed to expanding access to mental health care for minoritized communities through culturally responsive care. Recognized by Style Weekly as a Top 40 Under 40 honoree and awarded by the American Psychological Association for distinguished community service, Dr. Ferguson frequently shares her expertise in national publications as a media psychologist. She is also a devoted mom to two young children, a passionate foodie, an arts and culture enthusiast, and an avid traveler who embraces the joy of discovering new places and experiences.
Take it away, Anjali ...
First Fridays at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture!
Every first Friday of the month, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, the museum opens its doors for free after-hours admission. It’s a wonderful way to explore Virginia’s rich history with family and friends in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Enjoy live music, tasty bites from food trucks, and family-friendly activities perfect for all ages. Adults can take advantage of $2 off wine and beer in the Museum Café, while kids and adults alike can try specialty mocktails. Each month brings different themed activities, so there’s always something new to discover!
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture, established in 1831, is the oldest museum in Virginia and among the oldest in the U.S. With over nine million items, the VMHC offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Commonwealth. It’s a place where stories of the past come alive, and the whole family can learn and explore together.
The "Two Up, Wine Down" event on November 2, 2024, at the Jefferson School City Center in Charlottesville, VA, is a short drive from Richmond, making it a great outing for wine enthusiasts. Featuring curated tastings, music, and a vibrant community atmosphere, this family-friendly festival is ideal for exploring the diversity of Virginia wines. VIP tickets offer exclusive early access and additional tastings, with more events on Friday, November 1, to make a full weekend of it.
Día de los Muertos celebration at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a fantastic cultural experience and family-friendly event, taking place in the beautiful garden setting. This festival is a meaningful way to celebrate Mexican heritage and tradition by honoring loved ones who have passed.
Families can bring their own personal offerings to add to the community altar, a central part of Día de los Muertos that symbolizes remembrance. Kids and adults alike will enjoy hands-on activities, including traditional “papel picado” (colorful paper cuttings) demonstrations by artist David Amoroso and sugar skull face-painting by artist Vanessa Hoggins. The event also offers an array of crafts and activities to explore this beautiful celebration of life.
And for those who get hungry while enjoying the festivities, there’s a taco bar offering delicious food options. This vibrant event is a chance for everyone, especially children, to learn more about Día de los Muertos and its deep cultural significance in a joyful, welcoming environment.
Dr. Anjali Ferguson is making significant strides in promoting equity and addressing racial bias through her acclaimed children’s book, An Ordinary Day. Recognized nationally as a must-read, the book highlights microaggressions while providing families with a guide on how to have meaningful discussions about these topics with their children. Parenting Culture plans to host "Parents' Night Out" events where families can gather, enjoy time together, and obtain free resources. Additionally, Dr. Ferguson is in the process of writing a second children's book inspired by the birth of her daughter, so stay tuned for more information on its content!
Meet this week's guest editor, Nick Serfass! Got an idea? Give it to Nick - he’ll put it down, flip it, and reverse it over and over again until it becomes a hit. Nick is a creative problem-solver who thrives in association life, blending entrepreneurial spirit with event production, media storytelling, and community impact. Formerly an architect with Baskervill, he shifted careers to work in regulatory agencies and student organizations, ultimately landing at rvatech/. There, Nick has positioned Richmond as a potential AI and machine learning tech hub and helped launch a brand platform to attract and retain tech talent in "Tech’s Most Creative City." A proud Midlothian resident since 1988, he’s also a dedicated ultramarathon runner, avid reader, and local coffee, golf, and speakeasy connoisseur.
Take it away, Nick ...
Halloween UnHappy Hour at Poe Museum
Presented by Triple Crossing, come along on Thursday, October 24th, from 6-9 PM for the Poe Museum’s Creature Feature Halloween UnHappy Hour! Don’t miss the most beloved — and spookiest — UnHappy Hour of the year. For this special Creature Feature theme, the Poe Museum will be joined once again by Richmond surf rock legends The Embalmers. As always, there will be a contest for the best costumes, scary-good refreshments, beer from Triple Crossing, and an assortment of wines. Plus, TBT El Gallo will be for sale in the parking lot with elevated Mexican street food for any hungry beasts or ghoulies! Hope to see you there, for a miserable time from six to nine.
Vitals:
Halloween UnHappy Hour / Thursday, October 24, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm / tickets, $12 at the door / Poe Museum, 1914 E Main Street
Richmond Restaurant Week
Since 2001, Richmond Restaurant Week has showcased the city's diverse food scene while supporting Feed More, a Richmond-based nonprofit that collects, prepares and distributes food to our neighbors in need. For two weeks each year, diners can enjoy a three-course meal at top locally-owned restaurants for just over $35. Make a reservation, try something new, and help the community by simply savoring a great meal. Contribute to the local economy and help eliminate hunger just by enjoying a great meal.
Central Virginia's premier fall technology conference, rvatech/'s Women in Tech Conference is curated by Richmond's women in tech community but is designed and built for all audiences including technologists, business leaders, community builders, educators, and students. Aimed at bringing together professionals on a wide range of relevant topics to learn, engage, and collaborate, this event will feature a robust slate of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. Held at the Science Museum of Virginia, the Women in Tech Conference features tracks on technology, innovation, and leadership. Come one, come all to rvatech/'s largest conference of the year.
The Richmond Technology Council recently developed a new brand platform for the city of Richmond and its tech ecosystem: Richmond, VA - Tech's Most Creative City. The brand platform was the result of over two years of research, collaboration, and strategy aimed at positioning Richmond as a higher profile tech town on the national stage. The initiative is aimed at continuing to build and grow the already prominent and world-class tech workforce that exists in the city today. The hopeful result of its implementation will be enhanced recognition, awareness, and perception of the city among the technology workforce nationally.
The Tech's Most Creative City brand platform was developed after careful competitive analysis, persona development, strategy research, and creative design conducted by local ad agency Two Tango. The effort included collaboration among the organization's largest members, including Capital One, CarMax, Altria, Meta, Google, and Amazon Web Services, in addition to input from collateral organizations including local economic development authorities, educational institutions, and partner nonprofits. The first phase of implementation is the launch of https://techsmostcreative.city/, a parallel website focused on telling stories about the creative technology work being conducted by local Richmond companies and practitioners.
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