Seems like it’s a weekend for the arts – films, gallery exhibits and shows abound! There’s no excuse to sit at home all weekend, just take a peek at our suggestions on the best bets for weekend fun right here in W.Y.D, which stands for What You’ll Do.
We pull these ideas off our community calendar, which you can find on the right side of WYDaily.com. Submitting to the calendar is free and easy, so make sure to add upcoming events for your group or organization.
This weekend is chock-full of stuff to do, even if art isn’t your cup of tea. There are some book signings at the college bookstore, a popular lecture and discussion series on the constitution, and several fundraisers to keep you busy, too. Read on for more!
The Arts
The Whirlwind of Fire Mime Dance Ministry will be performing at the Williamsburg Library Theater on Sunday as part of African American History Month programming. These dance and mime artists extraordinaire are from First Baptist Church in Newport News. Also performing will be the St. John Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir. The calendar has more information.
The Andrews Gallery will be featuring the work of artist Brian Kelley for the next few weeks, with an opening reception set for Thursday evening. Kelley is a painter and professor at the College of William and Mary. His works deal with the relationship between domestic spaces and the imaginations of their inhabitants. The gallery is located in Andrews Hall, opposite the Swem Library and the rear of Phi Beta Kappa Theatre on Jamestown Road. Here’s the calendar link with more details.
This Century Art Gallery is hosting its Weekend Gallery starting Friday; weekend galleries feature local artists working with various mediums. Visitors will get a chance to meet the artists at the opening reception Friday night, and special musical guest LONDON will play during the Saturday gallery. Weekend local artists include Elaine Abbott (paintings), Juliet Kirby (botanical paintings), Mary Montague Sikes (pastel drawings), Devon Rawson (creative boxes) and Jason Hillegas (jewelry). Visit the calendar to get more information.
William and Mary’s Global Film Festival will be hosting a free Art of Youth studio event on Saturday afternoon. This event is designed as an interactive art studio where people of all ages can come express and experience a combination of youthful pastimes translated to paint on canvas. This event will follow two Global Film Festival matinee screenings, each at 1 pm: “My neighbor Totoro,” showing at the Williamsburg Regional Library Theater, and “The Goonies,” showing at the Kimball Theatre. The gallery exhibition event will be Sunday February 17th from 5:30-7 pm at Andrews Hall Art Studio on the W&M campus. Get more information about the studio art event on the calendar; you can find out more about the matinees on the calendar, too.
Books and Talks
“Constitutional Conversations,” the award-winning nine-month long examination of the nation’s founding document, continues Thursday at the Williamsburg Library. William and Mary law students will lead age-appropriate discussions on constitutional topics for adults and students. The session for adults will examine “Criminal Process and the Rights of the Accused.” The session for middle and high-school students will consider “Federalism: Where is the Power?” Check out the calendar link for details on this popular series.
Author Aleck Loker will be at the College of Willam & Mary Bookstore in Merchant’s Square this weekend signing his book “La Florida.” Loker’s latest book gives an overview of the Spanish exploration of the New World, offering new insights into the clash of European and indigenous cultures which resulted. The calendar has more information. Jack and Judy Witt will be at the bookstore signing “Goshen Revistited.” Virginia’s Goshen Pass has become a sort of artistic and spiritual Mecca for these two artists; the book shares their journeys there in vivid poetry, prose and watercolor. Here’s the calendar link for that event on Sunday.
William and Mary’s Wesley Foundation is hosting popular Christian blogger Rachel Held Evans for a few events this Sunday. Her visit will start at the Williamsburg United Methodist Church’s Sunday morning services; in the evening, she’ll be giving a talk on “My Year of Biblical Womanhood” at William and Mary’s Andrews Hall (room 101) with a Q&A and reception to follow. The calendar can tell you more.
Fundraisers
Jazz up your winter at the Williamsburg Choral Guild’s annual fundraiser on Sunday evening! The affair will feature live and silent auctions, a dinner buffet and music for dancing by the DOG Street Rhythm Kings. To view items for sale and purchase tickets, visit www.williamsburgchoralguild.org or get more information on our calendar.
King of Glory Preschool and Kindergarten will hold its 11th annual “From the Heart… for the Kids” auction and spaghetti dinner on Saturday. The event will include a silent auction, followed by a live auction starting and a spaghetti dinner (with two seatings). Attendees do not need to buy a spaghetti dinner to participate in the auction. Proceeds from this event help the school continue its tradition of excellence in education by offering scholarships to families in need and improving our school’s classrooms. You can get details from the calendar.
A Valentine’s Day Dance is going on at Norge Community Hall Saturday night, with proceeds going to support local missionary Deena Walls of the Grove Christian Outreach Center. The Band The Rocket men Live will play. The event will also feature a silent auction, and some food. Check out the calendar for details.
Classes and Other Stuff
The Williamsburg Montessori School is having an International Festival Sunday afternoon with food, crafts and entertainment. It’s free, but they’re asking for a non-perishable food donation for FISH. Find out the when and where by looking on the calendar.
VCE Family Focus will offer an “Infant Massage and Beyond the Delivery” class that will teach bonding with massage strokes to help mommy and baby relax and release stress, and learn postpartum adjustment. This class is for any family with an infant under the age of 8 months. Siblings are welcome with on-site child care provided. Get more information on the calendar.
Join the Wellspring United Methodist Church for a fun, free class for kids on Saturday morning. “Raised in Praise Family Music and Movement Class” will continue through Saturday, May 4, and is intended for newborns through age 10. Kids will be divided in age groups at registration. For more information, take a gander at the calendar.
