 Cover Story


Economic and cultural change


Philanthropy-supported arts have a big impact throughout Virginia


The recently opened Institute of Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University is expected to add to Richmond's reputation as an arts hub.


by Richard Foster O


n the northeastern edge of Virginia Commonwealth University’s downtown


Richmond campus stands a gleam- ing, seemingly impossib ly angular, zinc- and glass-fronted building that is itself as much a piece of art as the works contained within it. Named by Architectural


Digest as one of its most anticipated buildings in 2018, VCU’s $41 million, three-story,


26 JUNE 2018


41,000-square-foot Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) debuted in April to throngs of art lovers who toured its inaugural exhibit, “Declaration.” A mélange of socially con-


scious works, the show ranged from abstractions and aural instal- lations to Paul Rucker’s “Storm in the Time of Shelter,” a veritable army of 52 menacing mannequins bedecked in outré Ku Klux Klan


robes stitched in a variety of gaudy fabrics from camouflage to plaid.


Among the ICA’s other new


works on display is a pink neon sign on the outside of the building crafted by Bahamian artist Tava- res Strachan. It reads simply, “You Belong Here.” The message may prove to be


prophetic. “I’m convinced that there will


Photo by Caroline Martin


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