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After a year of uncertainty, Richmond museums adjust to reopening while maintaining safety

SAHARA SRIRAMAN Spectrum Editor

ART INSTITUTIONS IN RICHMOND have begun reopening and preparing exhibits in the midst of increased vaccine distribution. The COVID-19 pandemic caused these institutions to limit visitors and alter exhibits and events in the past year.

The Institute for Contemporary Art is planning to carefully advance with the in-person events they have planned for the semester, such as lectures, exhibits and poetry readings, according to Michael Lease, the director of facilities and experience design for the ICA. If capacity limits become required, the museum will offer hybrid versions of events.

“Given the news, we’re being cautious and not trying to pack lots of folks into the building. But with that said, we have a facility that is incredibly spacious, clean, and safe, and we’re eager to see students, faculty, and staff return to the ICA this semester,” Lease stated in an email.

By following all safety instructions set forth by VCU and Virginia and maintaining an advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, the museum is continuing to keep COVID-19 cases under control, according to Lease.

“We hope the VCU community feels welcome to take in our exhibitions, post up alone, or with friends, to study, or have meetings,” Lease stated.

On Aug. 9, VCU announced an indoor mask requirement for all students and faculty to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. The university’s guidelines include required vaccine reports through University Student Health Ser vices, daily health surveys for unvaccinated students and asymptomatic surveillance testing for all unvaccinated on-campus students.

Virginia is also re quiring masking in doors for everyone “in areas of substantial and high transmission.”

“We enjoyed the brief period when the world felt safe and COVID-19 seemed to be ebbing, and we fully support the return to the masking requirements,” Lease stated.

Starting July 2021, the ICA has been open six days a week, compared to a previous schedule of three days a week. The ICA is now holding some exhibitions in person, while also distributing photos and videos of the exhibits online as a virtual option.

The VCUarts department adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic by hosting virtual events like guided meditations, Instagram live exhibition tours, artist interviews and virtual galleries of student art, according to VCUarts associate director of print and digital content Kim Catley stated via email.

“From a programming perspective, the ‘silver lining’ of the pandemic has been the opportunity to try new things. In some cases, these were ideas we’d been considering for a long time, but hadn’t yet pursued,” Catley stated.

In terms of VCUarts’ plans for making adjustments due to the delta variant and safety precautions, the school will be following all instructions and guidelines set forth by VCU, according to Catley.

She also stated that VCUarts will most likely limit the number of people in a building or gallery, especially as the number of visitors increases this fall.

“In proportion with the severity of those limitations, we will add virtual and other supplementary means of access to ensure that our artists can continue to share their vision, and that their audiences can continue to be inspired,” Catley stated.

“Sound of Metal” (2019)

This drama follows drummer and recovering drug addict Ruben Stone, played by Riz Ahmed, as he gradually loses his hearing and comes to terms with it. Director Darius Marder constructs the sound in order to make the audience understand Ruben’s perspective and the difficulty of losing hearing.

Available on Amazon Prime Video | 97% Rotten Tomatoes

“Mystic River” (2003)

In this mystery crime film directed by Clint Eastwood, a man investigates the murder of his teenage daughter. As he discovers more details about the murder, him and his two childhood friends, one of which is the lead detective on the case and the other the prime suspect, are forced to face the demons of their pasts while coping with the present.

This film was nominated for six Academy Awards in 2004 and won two — best actor in a leading role and best actor in a supporting role.

Available on Netflix | 88% Rotten Tomatoes

“Untold: Malice at the Palace” (2021)

This docuseries looks at the details and subsequent consequences of the 2004 Pacers-Pistons brawl (better known as “The Malice at the Palace”) that occurred in 2004 during an NBA game when a major fight broke out between the players and the spectators. It led to nine of the players being suspended afterwards, while five of them were charged with assault.

Available on Netflix | Unrated on Rotten Tomatoes

“If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018)

This film is centered on both romance and justice, focusing on two lovers, Tish and Fonny, in the ’70s who struggle to build their new life together as a young Black couple. When Fonny is accused of rape, Tish attempts to clear his name so they can have a free life together. This powerful film looks at what the American dream meant for people who had to fight for it.

Available on Hulu | 95% Rotten Tomatoes

“The Half of It” (2020)

The ICA follows the instructions of Gov. Ralph Northam, VCU’s Public Health Response Team and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with guidance from Virginia and the VCU Health System. Lease stated that the ICA will continue to do so as the number of Richmond residents increases.

“We have been closely following state and university guidelines since all of this began and are happy to report that we’ve had very, very few cases among staff and

Similarly, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has been following both Northam’s and Richmond’s instructions and will continue to do so. The museum closed from March 14 to July 1 of last year and reopened July 4.

Some of the safety rules the museum will continue to implement include required face masks, regularly sanitized facilities and hand-sanitizing stations.

The VMFA is planning to hold completely in-person events such as galleries, art shows and interactive exhibitions with limited capacity.

VCUarts is planning on having various in-person events this fall including an international arts conference, public exhibitions and book launches, according to Catley.

Makai Walker, a theater performance junior, said that before the pandemic their experience with VCUarts was interactive and hands-on. They said after VCU sent students home last spring, classes weren’t as organized and collaborative, especially for theater classes.

“It was messy and a lot of the actual fun of learning how to be an actor and learning how to do your actual craft was taken out of it because it was online,” Walker said.

Walker said while their fall classes were all online, their spring classes were hybrid, so they were able to do more in-person learning. They said all their classes this semester are in person, which Walker is excited about.

“This whole summer, this past year became so much about the kind of artist I want to be. And going into this semester, I just have more confidence in my own abilities. I have more faith in knowing I can handle it and I

This coming-of-age film follows the story of Ellie Chu who decides to write a love letter for a jock at her school to another girl, Aster, in order to make money to support her and her father. As Ellie forges bonds with both the jock, Paul, and Aster, Ellie is forced to come to terms with her relationships with both while evaluating her future.

Available on Netflix | 97% Rotten Tomatoes

“I Am Sam” (2001)

This emotional film, starring Sean Penn and Dakota Fanning, follows the trial of Penn’s intellectually disabled character, Sam Dawson, as he fights for custody of his young daughter. Sam and his lawyer, a woman who takes the case pro bono in order to prove her generosity, become close as the case advances, confiding in each other about their problems.

A moving film, it looks at the story of this disabled man and work-obsessed lawyer while they fight for their families and become unlikely friends.

Available on Netflix | 35% Rotten Tomatoes

Have suggestions for our watchlist? Email spectrum@ commonwealthtimes.org

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