InLight 2010 comes to Shockoe, includes restaurants

The third annual InLight Richmond exhibit is coming to Shockoe Slip on Friday. Find out what to expect, how you can get involved, and which neighborhood restaurants have something special planned for the festivities.

October 20, 2010; 12:00 PM • by Holly Gordon

The arts community is often one of the early leaders in revitalizing neighborhoods and getting people to come downtown. This is especially true in Richmond. For 10 years, the First Fridays Art Walk has been building a sustainable district along the Broad Street corridor, and 1708 Gallery was one of its earliest champions. Now the gallery is taking the art to the streets again for the third annual InLight Richmond — this time in Shockoe Slip — on Friday, October 22, 2010, from 7:30pm until midnight.

39 temporary installations created by 60 artists will present a mix of light-inspired visual and performance art in a variety of unexpected places. Exhibitions include photography, video, sculpture, mixed media, interactive, sound, digital, and performance.

InLight is not only a chance for local and international artists to display public art pieces, but “a collaboration with the community where the art is being installed. It highlights that part of the community,” says Tiffany Glass Ferreira, Richmond artist and member of InLight’s marketing committee. The move to Shockoe will also “give the artists a fresh canvas,” she shares.

1708 Gallery is a non-profit arts organization committed to presenting exceptional new art. The recognizable LED’s embedded in the concrete squares outside of their space still remain from the inaugural InLight two years ago. One of 2009’s most memorable exhibits was of a pair of ghost hands that took turns appearing out of a high rise building’s windows and passing objects to each other.

Last year’s Best in Show Award went to Joshua Poteat and Roberto Ventura’s For Gabriel (pictured above, courtesy of Heidi Hess and Eric Saylor). The mixed media piece was presented in an empty storefront on East Grace Street and represented the buried narratives that occupy the space between Richmond’s historic past and its evolving ambitions.

This year’s artist bios can be found on InLight’s website. You can view images from last year here. Definitely watch the video from the 2008 exhibits; it’s absolutely entrancing.

A Community Lantern Parade kicks off InLight at 7:30pm on Friday. Lantern-making workshops have been held all over town this month, and 1708 has instructions on their website on how to make lanterns from home. The parade last year was truly one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever been a part of. I made my two lanterns at the October First Fridays, which I’ll add to mine from last year. To participate in the parade, bring your lantern to the James Center’s Atrium at 12th Street and Cary Street at 7pm where you will receive a LED candle for your lantern. Don’t forget to wear cobblestone-friendly shoes.

InLight will also include a Wearable Art Show. At 9pm, the winning designs will be presented by models at the Shockoe Plaza in front of The Martin Agency. The Lost Cats Project will hide a special edition litter of glow-kitties around Shockoe as well.

“What’s great about the Shockoe location is the position of all the restaurants right there, so you can really make a night out of it,” Ferreira offers. New to 2010 will be official participation by the surrounding restaurants. They will be offering a special $17.08 dish (in honor of InLight host, 1708 Gallery) and serving InLightinis. Some are concocting their own light-inspired drinks too.

Here are the confirmed participating restaurants for the $17.08 dish:

• Bistro Bouchon: Cheese and charcuterie platter
• Europa: Shrimp and andouille ravioli
• Kobe: Tuna teriyaki (upstairs) & hibachi shrimp (downstairs)
• La Grotta: Beef and fontina ravioli with walnuts and cream sauce
• Morton’s: 3 prime mini cheeseburgers, chicken goujonettes, mini iceberg wedge salad
• Sam Miller’s: Whole lobster w/ truffled sweet potato fries and braised kale
• The Dining Room at the Berkeley Hotel: Prime rib and baked potato
• Urban Farmhouse: Grilled Vermont Cabot cheddar & locally grown Granny Smith apples ($7.08), Homestead Creamery pumpkin ice cream ($1.70), and Harvest coffee cider & hot apple cider ( $1.70)
• Dora’s Brazilian Grill: One grilled beef and one grilled chicken kebab served with rice, black beans, and grilled pineapple dessert
• Tobacco Company: Two glasses of Virginia wine with house made buttercake

As for the InLightini recipe, here it is, courtesy of Maureen Neal, InLight mixologist:

• 2 parts vodka (top shelf — Effen, Kettle One, Absolut)
• 1 part Bacardi Limon rum
• 1 dash of Triple Sec
• 2 dashes of sweetened lime juice (Rose’s)
• Fresh mint
• Lemon

Place all liquid ingredients along with fresh mint and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain Inlightini into chilled martini glass. Float a thin slice of lemon and sprig of mint on top.

(Photograph by Heidi Hess and Eric Saylor)

For more information on other happening in the Shockoe area, stop by River District News.

October 20, 2010 12:00 PM 3