Words and Images courtesy of MOCA.
The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (Virginia MOCA) will open four exhibitions that share a common theme: Food. Starting February 6, 2021, Nourish, a collaboration between 12 artists and food experts from our region, will present new work commissioned by the Museum. Free admission to the exhibitions is provided by PNC, the signature sponsor of the exhibitions.
“It seems that each week in this time of COVID-19 there is a news story about food – ranging from the growth of home cooking to the realities of food insecurity,” said Alison Byrne, Virginia MOCA Deputy Director, Exhibitions and Education. “We felt it was a good time to explore food as a cultural common denominator, impacting the health and well-being of everyone.”
The exhibitions approach the subject of food and our relationships with it from different angles. First Course, a special preview exhibition of the 12 commissioned artists in Nourish is currently on view at the Virginia MOCA Satellite Gallery. “Investing in innovative arts programming is a key to ensuring the future of our local economy, and we believe it is important to make art accessible to the entire community,” said PNC Wealth Management Director, Don Winchester. “We are delighted to work closely with Virginia MOCA to make free admission possible for these exciting, timely exhibitions.”
The exhibition and the related educational programming encourage members of the community to explore the
possibilities at the intersection of food, art, and creativity. Concurrently on view with Nourish at Virginia MOCA will be American Appetite: Selections from the Chrysler Museum of Art; Real Food Films, and a Community Gallery Open Call. Further details on each exhibition can be found in the attached information. "Virginia MOCA’s exciting project on the cultural importance of food is a perfect opportunity for collaboration,” said Chrysler Museum Director and CEO, Erik Neil. “We are so pleased to work with their team and find new ways to share the Chrysler Museum collection with the 757 community.”
The exhibitions run from February 6, to June 6, 2021. Despite capacity constraints mandated during COVID-19, the current exhibitions at Virginia MOCA, open through January 3, 2021, are exceeding attendance expectations set before the pandemic began. “Visitors are coming from not only Virginia Beach and the greater Hampton Roads area, but from across the country,” said Virginia MOCA Executive Director, Gary Ryan. “We are confident that the compelling work in the upcoming exhibitions coupled with free admission will draw a similar range of visitors.”
About Virginia MOCA
The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art is an accredited, non-collecting contemporary art museum which presents the most vibrant and relevant art of our time to foster an appreciation for our shared humanity. Every year, the museum presents more than 20 exhibitions, on campus and throughout the community, all of which strive to resonate both locally and nationally.
About PNC Foundation
The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (www.pnc.com), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it
has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and
community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through Grow Up Great, its
signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a bilingual $500 million, multi-year initiative to help
prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life.
About PNC Bank
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking,
real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information
about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
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