Community CalendarWeek of August 22, 2010

 Check out the night sky with SKY WATCH at the Science Museum of Virginia every 3^rd Friday of the month.  Join members of the Richmond Astronomical Society on the museum's front lawn as they share their powerful telescopes for a look at the night sky. The next Sky watch is on September 17th at 8:30 pm.  For more information contact the Science Museum at 864-1400.  The museum is located at 2500 West Broad Street downtown.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, in conjunction with the Richmond Jazz Society, presents the Jazz Café, a musical event open to the public every Thursday evening through September. A variety of jazz trios will perform in the VMFA's Best Café on Thursday evenings, from 6 – 9 pm.  Take a break and relax after work with great jazz.VMFA is located at 200 North Boulevard in Richmond. For more information visit www.vmfa.state.va.us

Galleries, on an off Historic Broad Street downtown, will open new exhibits on Friday September 3^rd as part of the First Fridays Art Walk in Richmond.  Galleries include 1708, Quirk, Ghost Print, The Visual Arts Studio, and Gallery 5 plus many more.  There is food, street entertainment, and shopping too!  For more information visit http://www.firstfridaysrichmond.com

The Virginia Center for Architecture is featuring an exhibit called American Ruins fromSept. 9 to Nov. 28. Uncover a visual record of ancient ruins on the American landscape. See nearly 50 photographs by Arthur Drooker that capture the essence of our shared American past. Explore geographic, architectural and historic diversity.  The exhibit investigates the interaction between art and architecture.   The Center is located at 2501 Monument Avenue.  For more information visit www.virginiaarchitecture.org

On Friday, September 10^th from 6 to 8 pm small paintings by artist, Don Shrader  will be at Chop Suey Books.  The exhibition called “Something Missing” opens on the 10^th and runs through September.  Chop Suey Books is located at 2913 W. Cary Street in Carytown.  For more information contact 422-8066.

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond presents LUCK OF THE DRAW 2!  On Thursday, September 23^rd 6 pm, they are hosting this fundraiser to benefit the Visual Arts Center’s programming.  A raffle is being held for a drawing, photograph, painting or work on paper created by local artists like Pam Anderson, Noah Scalin, and Diego Sanchez, plus many more.  The Visual Arts Center is located at 1812 West Main Street.  For more information visit visarts.org

“Darkroom: Photography and New Media in South Africa Since 1950” from August 27 to October 24. This ground-breaking  exhibition presents the work of 18 South African photographers and video artists from four generations (1948-2000). In addition, opening at the Anderson Gallery of Virginia Commonwealth University is “Imaging South Africa: Collection Projects by Siemon Allen” – A complementary exhibition of work by Richmond-based South African artist Siemon Allen.  Public receptions will be held at all three venues on Friday August 27^th from 6 to 9 pm.  Shuttles will be running between the sites.  For more information visit www.vmfa.state.va.us

The University of Richmond presents the 22nd Annual University of Richmond International film Series for Fall, 2010. Films from Germany, France, Slovenia, China, Africa, Columbia, and Italy are featured.  This series is open to the public.  All films are shown in Jepson Hall 118 unless otherwise noted.  Friday showings are at 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday showings are at 7:30 p.m. The films are shown in the original language with English subtitles.  For more information, please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The Happy Lucky Combo is playing their eclectic mix of music at Ellwood’s Coffee on September 17^th from 8 to 10 pm.  The coffee shop is located at 10 South Thompson Street.  For more information call 612-1827