The internationally celebrated poster show on gender-based inequality, violence, and discrimination comes to The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design.
RICHMOND, VA – August 29, 2023 – A graphic design exhibition titled Women’s Rights are Human Rights will be on view at The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design from October 6th, 2023, through February 17th, 2024. In their collective visual voice, the posters speak from various backgrounds to address globally intersecting themes of gender-based inequality, violence, and discrimination. Designed by both women and men, the posters reflect the idea that all citizens must play a vital role in protecting and advancing human rights.
Women’s Rights are Human Rights was originally curated by Elizabeth Resnick, Professor Emerita, Graphic Design Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston. In her curator’s statement, Resnick says “Gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in every society. Women lack access to decent work and face occupational segregation and gender wage disparities. Women are often denied access to basic education and health care, suffer from violence and discrimination, and are under-represented in political and economic decision-making processes.”
The Branch will host programs and events dedicated to spreading the message created by Women’s Rights are Human Rights, “We feel that this exhibition of graphic design work by such a diverse group of artists is a strong example of how design can make an impact on everyday life. By bringing attention to this topic and providing space for dynamic discussions, we can inspire change in our community,” said The Branch’s Deputy Director, Heather Ernst.
The term women’s rights are human rights was used as early as the 1830s but was famously coined in a speech by Hilary Rodham Clinton in 1995. “If the term women’s rights were to be interchangeable with the term human rights the world community would be a better place because human rights affect the women who raise the world’s children, care for the elderly, run companies, work in hospitals, right for better education and better health care,” said Clinton.
Although they vary in language, message, and purpose, the posters create a unified voice that boldly declares that women’s rights are human rights.
About The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design (or The Branch):
The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design – housed in a 1919 John Russell Pope building on the National Register of Historic Places – explores the impact of design in everyday life, working with individuals and communities to create a more equitable, beautiful, and productive future. Through thought-provoking exhibitions, we aim to spark creativity, joy, and appreciation for design excellence. Through forward-thinking programs, we empower people to recognize and advance successful design solutions to better lives.
General Information:
The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design is located at 2501 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220. The museum is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday 10am – 5pm, and Sundays 1pm – 5pm. Admission in pay-what-you-can. For general information please call 804-655-6055 or visit www.branchmuseum.org.
FB: @museumofarchitectureanddesign
IG: @branchmuseum
About Women’s Rights are Human Rights:
Organized and curated by Professor Emerita Elizabeth Resnick, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston. Learn more at www.womensrightsarehumanrights.org.
Image Credits:
Fight Like RBG 2016 © Nigel Buchanan
Allowed 2013 © Mohammad R. Sharaf
New Forms of Slavery 2002 © Antonio Mena
My Body My Rights 2017 © Ewa Wein
Webinar: The Branch House Plaster
The Branch House decorative plaster is some of the most beautiful plasterwork in Virginia. Unfortunately, the century since the House was built and water intrusion have caused significant damage. You will see up-close views of the beautiful plaster figures and decorations, including the toll that time has taken on the plaster, and you will discover the history of plasterwork in the early 20th century, particularly in Richmond, as well as learn from a dedicated craftsman how this work is being saved at the Branch. The challenges of restoration are best shown in the work to save our decorative plaster.
Panelists:
Gibson Worsham, Glavé & Holmes Architecture, Architectural Historian
Rebekah Jamerson, Master Plasterer, All Things Plaster
Walter M. Dotts III, Trustee – Old House Authority, and great-grandson of John Kerr Branch and Beulah Gould Branch
This webinar is eligible for 1.0 AIA Learning Unit for attending. Please follow the questions upon registration. You will only get credit for attending the LIVE webinar.
*This lecture will be recorded.
**After registration, please check for a confirmation email from Brown Paper Tickets in your Junk/Spam folder. This email includes information to join the webinar.
***Registration closes the date of the webinar at 5:30 PM
Webinars from The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design
Welcome to a new day at The Branch Museum! We are excited to announce new virtual experiences through our two new webinar series (https://branchmuseum.org/webinars/). We particularly think that you will enjoy revisiting the old home of AIA Virginia, the Branch House, as it undergoes several phases of restoration. The Branch House Restoration Series will bring you into our ongoing work on the beautiful 101-year-old Branch House. Through five webinars we will provide an opportunity to go where the public generally cannot explore: the roof and chimneys, the beautiful plaster work, and even the inner workings of the pipes and plumbing, as well as the history of the House. The first 3 of the 5 planned webinars in the series are available for registration now.
- The Branch House 1919-2020 – Its Significance Architecturally and for Richmond | Wednesday, October 21
- ( https://branchmuseum.org/the-branch-house-1919-2020-its-significance-architecturally-and-for-richmond/ )
- The Branch House Plaster | Wednesday, November 11
- The Branch House Roof, Trim and Windows | Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Others will follow:
- The Branch House Roof, Wood Trim & Windows | Wednesday, December 2
- The Branch House Brickwork & Mortars| Wednesday, January 13
- The Restoration Dialogue – Solving the Unknowns of Preservation and Restoration – The Branch House Pipes | Wednesday, February 3
Architecture in Dialogue explores the architectural design process, which must begin in dialogue. The consideration of multiple issues and the inclusion of all voices is necessary to ensure that the built environment truly serves and uplifts the entire community. This need for input and involvement is especially important at a time when, whether through shifts in social norms or more sudden upheaval due to climate or disease, the built environment must change to be at once resilient and sensitive. All webinars in the series are available now for registration.
- Placemaking and the Future of Richmond’s Monument Avenue | Wednesday, October 14
- ( https://branchmuseum.org/placemaking-and-the-future-of-monument-avenue/ )
- Community Needs and Revitalization in Richmond’s East End – The Kitchens at Reynolds | Wednesday, October 28
- ( https://branchmuseum.org/webinar-community-needs-and-revitalization/ )
- Healing Spaces — How the Coronavirus May Impact the Built Environment | Thursday, November 19
- Adaptive Reuse in the Old Dominion (and Beyond) | Thursday, January 28
- Ecological Resiliency and Design Inspiration — The 2019 Aga Khan Award | Thursday, February 18
- ( https://branchmuseum.org/ecological-resiliency-and-design-inspiration-akaa/ )
- Climate Change, Inequality, and Sustainability in Richmond |Thursday, March 11
- ( https://branchmuseum.org/climate-change-inequality-and-sustainability/ )
Listening Theatres: The Sounds of Iconic Landscapes and Architectural Spaces
Just Added!
The Musuem will sponsor an on line interview with the artists moderated by Joel Sanders, FAIA, on July 21, from 6-7PM.
To register for this event please go to www.branchmuseum.org.
The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design is pleased to announce, “Listening Theatres: The Sounds of Iconic Landscapes and Architectural Spaces,” an exhibition exploring how listening to created spaces can inspire creativity, imagination, and discovery of the surrounding world. The exhibit (July 16 – September 13, 2020) will include sound, animation, and drawings by Karen Van Lengen and Jim Welty. It will feature work using recordings and interpretive drawings, presented in active animations that celebrate the aural personalities of iconic architectures. Photographs of the drawings and stills of the animations are included in a colorful display that demonstrates the artists’ process.
The spatial animations included in this exhibition are The Academical Village at the University of Virginia, and New York City spaces of Grand Central Terminal, The New York Public Library, The Seagram Building, Rockefeller Center and the Guggenheim Museum.
Karen Van Lengen is the William Kenan Professor of Architecture and former dean (1999-2009) at the University of Virginia School of Architecture. Van Lengen began her professional career as a design Associate at I M Pei & Partners before forming her own firm in New York City. Her recent projects have focused on the aural aspects of architectural space, bringing awareness to the comprehensive experience of ‘place’. This work developed during her University Fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities resulted in the Soundscape Architecture website that displays creative interpretations and analytic drawings of the characteristic sounds of iconic buildings. The University of Virginia Jefferson Trust supported the Listening to the Lawn website and the Open Gates animation project.
Jim Welty is an accomplished artist who created the animations for Soundscape New York and Open Gates as well as the Soundscape Architecture web site. Welty began his career as an artist working with Frank Stella as Master Printer and collaborator for over 10 years. He has exhibited his sculptures nationally, including a major exhibition entitled “A Short History of Decay,” at the Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia. He is currently developing a new interactive body of work incorporating sound, animation and sculpture, extending the current project’s mission to foster genuine listening and engagement with our environment.
The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design is located at 2501 Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia’s historic Fan District. The Branch Museum inspires current generations to appreciate, support and create exemplary architecture and design. The Branch is dedicated to the advocacy and stewardship of our rich regional heritage and invites the public to envision a world enriched by architecture and design. The Branch is open to the public Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Learn more at www.branchmuseum.org.
2019 Virginia By Design Winners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Penny Fletcher
(804) 655-6101
pfletcher@branchmuseum.org
Public Information
(804) 655-6055
Branchmuseum.org
Introducing Recipients of the 2019 Virginia by Design Awards
RICHMOND, VA March 25th, 2019 — The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design proudly introduces 2019 Virginia by Design Winners. The awards have been determined by a panel of judges with expertise in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, art and art history. The awards will be presented at a gala brunch, Saturday, April 27, 9 am-12:30 pm at The Branch.
“The Virginia by Design Awards celebrate the very best efforts in design in the Commonwealth,” says The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design Executive Director Penny Fletcher. “We are particularly pleased that the continuing theme seen in all the awards is a celebration of design for the public good. All Virginians benefit from the creative and often groundbreaking work seen in these projects and the work of these architects and designers.”
Virginia by Design recognizes the best efforts of designers or visionaries in Virginia who, by profession or avocation, have made creating, preserving, and enhancing design in Virginia a notable endeavor, which elevates the power of design. The awards specifically highlight excellence in design, visionary thinking, patronage and the transformative role of design in shaping the built environment.
Design Achievement Award — this award is for a corporation or institution for utilizing design as a strategic tool in their mission and consistently exhibiting ingenuity and insight in relating design to quality of life.
Honoree: The
Valentine
The Richmond museum known as The Valentine has been collecting,
preserving and interpreting Richmond’s history for more than 100 years. During
its recent renovations, design became the strategic tool used to facilitate The
Valentine’s mission as reflected in the visitor experience.
The Valentine reflects and interprets the broad issues and diverse communities that define the history of Richmond and its surrounding counties. Their use of their design collections to connect to contemporary themes and issues reflect their continuing ingenuity and insight that enhance their visitors’ experience.
Honorable Mention: Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University (CNU) has utilized design as a strategic tool within their mission to provide educational and cultural opportunities that benefit many in the Commonwealth. The University’s Master Plan has been developed as a strategic design tool to enhance the campus and the educational and cultural opportunities available to students, community members, and residents of the Commonwealth.
Emerging Designer — this award honors a designer, not yet licensed or professionally certified, who demonstrates an exemplary level of excellence in design execution and a dedication to advancing the discipline.
Honoree: Alec Yuzhbabenko, Assoc. AIA
Alec Yuzhbabenko is an Associate Design Principal at Hanbury Architects in Norfolk, Virginia. He has been cited for his collaborative spirit in the constant pursuit of challenge and excellence. His contributions to the profession and the industry exceed his years. As a consummate team member, he brings a broad spectrum of skills to the design table – architectural design, graphic design, presentation, communication, and much more – so that creative thinking happens on numerous levels simultaneously. Yuzhbabenko is a Summa Cum Laude graduate from Virginia Tech with a Bachelors in Architecture.
Prize for Public Interest Design — the prize is for a creative project that has transformed its surroundings, whether a setting, neighborhood or community. It is for an individual or entity responsible for shepherding the project within Virginia. The jury awarded two 2019 Prizes for Public Interest Design.
Honoree: Potomac River Water Transportation Framework Plan, Michael Winstanley, AIA, AICP
The Potomac River Water Transportation Framework Plan is a comprehensive master plan outlining a water-based transportation network on the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers for commuters, tourists and the federal government (defense and civilian evacuations) in Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland. The plan includes inter-modal connections to the existing land-based public transportation system. Providing alternative means of transportation that is efficient, economical and environmentally friendly is essential to both quality of life as well as a thriving economy. Water transportation also provides yet another means to evacuate civilians during major events either man-made or natural.
Honoree: Monroe Park Conservancy, the City of Richmond, and Alice Massie
The Monroe Park Project has truly transformed its surrounding neighborhood and the City of Richmond. It is a project exemplifying visionary thinking that has transformed its environment and provided a fitting rebirth for one of Richmond’s oldest and most significant public spaces. The renovations bring new life, new amenities, and modern infrastructure to Monroe Park. Renovations honor the Park’s history while creating a dynamic welcoming and safe place for all Park visitors to enjoy. In the words of Style Weekly architecture critic Edwin Slipek, “This project raises the level of architectural design excellence and civic pride in the lower Fan District and Western edge of downtown by a remarkable degree.”
Vision in Design Honor — the honor recognizes a visionary thinker such as an educator, author, critic, curator, preservationist or designer who has had a profound impact or influence on design education, theory, practice or public awareness.
Honoree: Peter Culley, RIBA, ARB, CPHC
Peter is the creative leader and founder of Spatial Affairs Bureau – an architecture, landscape, furniture, and product design studio, with offices in London, Los Angeles, and Richmond. He retains an overarching design role on each project. While recognizing the overall design vision that Culley brings to all of his work, the jury particularly recognized his visionary work in Virginia. The proposed BridgePark project offers an inspiring vision for the City of Richmond. In addition, Culley also represented Rich Mather Architects as the project manager throughout the transformative redesign of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts building and campus. Culley is also a committed educator, as an instructor in architecture schools, but also through taking projects into elementary and high schools to encourage important discussions with young people. Great vision includes planning for those who may someday follow and be inspired to provide their own vision.
For more information about the Virginia by Design Awards or images of the winning work, please contact Penny Fletcher, Branch Museum Executive Director at 804-655-6101 or pfletcher@branchmuseum.org.
The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design is located at 2501 Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia’s historic Fan District. The Branch is a not-for-profit organization that inspires current generations to appreciate, support and create exemplary architecture and design. The Branch is dedicated to the advocacy and stewardship of our rich regional heritage and invites the public to envision a world enriched by architecture and design. The Branch is open to the public Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Learn more at www.branchmuseum.org.
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Sanford Bond, FAIA Exhibition
Currently on exhibit at The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design
Planar Assemblages: Furniture + Other Works
Sanford Bond, FAIA
Sculptures, furniture, and other work from the career of Sanford Bond, FAIA. In our Main Galleries November 8 – January 7, 2019.
“My career has focused on creating places by defining space with various materials and building methods. Primarily as an architect, I create places for human use and habitation using a palette of different materials with a range of spatial definitions in order to define discreet regions of space accommodating various human endeavors. Every material possesses a set of characteristics rendering it different from any other and lending it to a particular building method. These innate qualities may be used to define unique and different places enabling a range of use and meaning, differing with the person and their unique set of experiences.”
Call for Submissions: Virginia By Design
The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design issues an open call for nominations, which are solicited from the general public as well as designers in architecture, landscape architecture, graphic design, interior design, and all other design professions.
In its second year, Virginia by Design recognizes the best efforts of designers or visionaries in Virginia who, by profession or avocation, have made creating, preserving, and enhancing design in Virginia a notable endeavor, which elevates the power of design. The awards specifically highlight excellence in design, visionary thinking, patronage and the transformative role of design in shaping the built environment.
Awards will be determined by a panel of jury members, distinguished for their contributions to the design field. Deadline for submissions of 5 p.m., January 4, 2019. Brunch at The Branch, the awards presentation is on Saturday, April 27, 2019.
Read about 2018 Virginia by Design Awardees
Read about 2019 Submission Requirements and Submit a Nomination
Happening at The Branch
Did you miss Brunch at The Branch? The Branch Museum had 150 people and 22 sponsors for their inaugural event where they awarded the first Virginia by Design Awards. Visit their Virginia by Design Event Album on Facebook.
Architecture Camp: Summer 2018
The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design’s mission is to elevate awareness of the transformative power of architecture and design throughout Virginia; we do this through exhibits, lectures, and educational programming. This summer, our newest programming initiative is Architecture Camp. Starting June 25, we are pleased to offer five sessions of Architecture Camp with the city of Richmond as our backdrop!
Architecture Camp’s schedule includes exciting field trips and building challenges in which students will investigate approaches to real-world problems. Campers will become acquainted with The Branch House and Richmond’s many neighborhoods through interactive tours and activities. Throughout the week campers will be introduced to architects, designers, and other building systems professionals. Campers will practice observing, sketching, presenting, and building at various scales. They will use these new abilities in design challenges that relate to our built environment and our city. Students will complete camp with a new understanding of and appreciation for the built environment around them, and the understanding to know they can influence it. Architecture Camp will culminate in an exhibit of camper work Fall 2018 at The Branch Museum.
Architecture Camp is aligned with STEM and STEAM initiatives, asking campers to not only learn about their city but interpret and apply their skills and knowledge to new situations. Highlights for the week-long camp include a full day learning about the engineering and design of bridges and their practical application around Richmond; getting messy and hands-on with building materials from concrete and plaster to wood and plexiglass; examining the ins and outs of significant structures in Richmond, from the newly-completed Institute of Contemporary Art to the Maggie Walker Statue; observational drawings and map-making; and tracing the process of an idea to completed building.
This spring, we hosted a Spring Break session of Architecture Camp, a preview of the summer camps! Look at the photos from this inaugural session below.
Registration for summer camps are open to elementary and middle school students, and space is limited! Sign-up on our website. Through a generous donation from The Rotary Club of Richmond, VA camp scholarships are available to those qualifying for the free lunch program.
Questions? Want more information? Contact us at mloustaunau@branchmuseum.org
photos courtesy of Manon Loustaunau.
Virginia By Design Honorees
The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design has proudly introduced the first recipients of its new Virginia by Design Awards. All but one of the awards have been determined by a panel of judges with expertise in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, art and art history. Recipients of The Branch Medallion have been chosen by the leadership of The Branch. The awards will be presented at a gala brunch this Friday, April 13, 9 am-12:30 p.m. at The Branch.
Read about all of the 2018 honorees>>
An exhibition featuring work of Virginia by Design Award recipients will be at The Branch, Tuesday, April 24-Sunday, June 10.
“Virginia is rich with unrecognized design talent and visionaries,” says The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design Executive Director Penny Fletcher. “We’ve created our new Virginia by Design Awards as an annual program to honor these outstanding people and organizations for their contributions.”
Honors and Design Awards Presented at Visions 2016
The AIA Virginia Awards for Excellence in Architecture and Honor Awards were presented at the 2016 Visions for Architecture gala at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
AIA Virginia 2016 Honors
AIA Virginia 2016 Awards for Excellence in Architecture