Arts & Culture

The University of Virginia recently unveiled a surprising work of art – a painting by one of Germany’s best known graffiti artists -- on four panels of the Berlin Wall.

A University of Virginia Professor is celebrating a rare victory today – winning a Pulitzer prize for the second time. 

Alan Taylor’s latest book – The Internal Enemy -- tells the story of 3,400 slaves who escaped from Virginia and Maryland plantations to British ships off the coast during the War of 1812.

“I found some important documents, including some letters written by these former slaves, telling dramatic stories of their night time escapes, fighting on behalf of the British as marines and sailors and nurses and laundresses and guides and pilots.”  

The production company behind the popular Netflix series House of Cards has delayed the start of a third season as it waits to see whether the state of Maryland will come up with incentive payments totaling $15 million. 

The show had received $13 million a year in its first two seasons but threatened to leave if Maryland didn’t come up with another $2 million.  The governor proposed taking money from non-profit arts organizations, but the legislature did not agree.  Does that open a door for the state of Virginia or the District of Columbia?

Some call him Virginia’s own P.T. Barnum.

Mark Cline and his towering roadside attractions are known throughout the state. Maybe you recall his April Fool’s Day Foamhenge Project….or Dinosaur Land in White Post, Virginia.  There’s 75-hundred pound “lady in the lake” now living in Alabama….., and a 9-11 tribute in Waynesboro.

Cline has hundreds of foam and fiberglass figures and characters, many live in Natural Bridge, where his Enchanted Castle studio is located.

It’s been said that Americans no longer make anything, but one group of people begs to differ.  A new generation of craftsmen has taken over an old industrial building in Charlottesville, and they’re featured in an exhibit of photography opening tonight. 

Lauren Danley is a surprising woman in a surprising place.  She’s got tattoos on her arms, a bandana on her head and a big smile on her face as she turns up the music and gets down to work at her company  – Metal, Inc.