crystal j. silk Trunk Show at the VMFA!

So in less than a month I will be selling some new wares at a trunk show at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts! The Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria exhibit opened on Feburary 12 and crystal j. silk has been invited to do a trunk show in conjunction with the exhibit. The African Art Wing of the Museum has recently re-opened too and the museum shop wanted to do the trunk related to these 2 major museum exhibits. I will be in the VMFA Shop for this one-day event on Saturday, April 23 from 12 pm - 4 pm. Artina Slaughter of Mashulu will also be there selling her wonderful hand-crafted bags and accessories.

Have you been to the museum lately? You've got to see the Ife exhibit, it will only be here until May 22. It is an incredible collection of ancient African art fashioned from terracotta, brass, copper and stone -- so detailed and sophisticated when you consider it was created in the 12th through 15th centuries. There is a group of life-size portrait heads that are the highlight of the collection that have never been shown outside of Nigeria and you can see them here in Richmond! And not to mention that the Picasso exhibit is here. This exhibit too is very special in that the VMFA will be the only museum on the east coast to house it. Picasso was influenced by African art, and collected it too. His mixture of ideas from African masks and carvings with geometric shapes and configurations gave birth to Cubism.

How cool is it that both of these exhibits are here at the same time with this truly exhilarating connection. I'm so thrilled to even have my work in the same building as these great works of art!

I am working on a new collection of hand painted scarves, ruffle scarves and pillows inspired by the Ife exhibit for the trunk show. I'll be superbusy from now until the show {with 2 shows in between - Fool for Art and Spring Bada-Bing}, there will be much painting and sewing to get ready. I hope to do a progress post soon so you can take a peek at the collection.

Save the date! April 23. You could make a day of it, go see the exhibits and stop by the gallery shop and check me out too. I am beyond excited!