"Giants" launch ignites RVA
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Some Richmond-area students got the surprise of a lifetime yesterday: a private preview of the new "Giants" exhibition — and a pep rally with celeb power couple Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz.
Why it matters: If you were within 100 miles of VMFA, you probably heard the kids screaming.
State of play: The Grammy Award-winning artists were in town for the kick-off of their exhibition, "Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys," which opens Saturday at VMFA.
- On Tuesday night, Beatz and Keys were at the VMFA for a $100-a-head preview party.
- And yesterday morning they were back, to the extreme delight of high school students from Henrico Center for the Arts, Highland Springs Thomas Dale, Varina, RPS and Cristo Rey.
Fun fact: The fantastic All-City RPS Drumline played as the couple took the stage — and entertained museum attendees stuck outside. (👀 The fire alarm inside went off ahead of the event.)
💭 Karri's thought bubble: The faces of those powerful student drummers as they played for Grammy-winning musicians was priceless. Proud, fierce and so many tears (mostly Karri's).
🖼️ "Giants" opens Saturday and runs through March 1 ($12).