So far, for me, it’s been a good enough year — in that nothing really bad has happened (knock on wood). Oh yes, I’ve certainly had worse years than 2011. As a Richmonder, I also have to say, it’s been a much better year than most.

Two happenings, in particular, have made 2011 a year to remember fondly for folks who live adjacent to the fall line of the James River: The Picasso show at VMFA and the Final Four run for VCU‘s Rams.

I wrote “Picasso’s Richmond Period” about the show, “Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris,” which was displayed (Feb. 19 to May 15) at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It was published by Richmond.com (February 18th). Here’s part of that piece:

…An art show to rival this one has probably never been presented in Richmond. So, don’t be surprised by the number of way-out-of-town accents you’re going to hear in Carytown shops and the Fan District’s restaurants over the next 12 weeks.

The impact on this city’s economy is expected to be significant. In the long run, though, perhaps local school children will be the greatest beneficiaries of this chance to see a collection of objects that did much to shape the world’s art history over eight decades — art that most people only ever see in photographs.

It will be interesting to see how many kids’ art shows will have Picasso-influenced pieces in them over the next year. So, don’t scold the sixth-graders for putting both eyeballs on the same side of a face … they will just be having a little fun.

Nyerges said, “An exhibition this monumental is extremely rare, especially one that spans the entire career of a figure who many consider the most influential, innovative and creative artist of the 20th century.”

Since this collection of Picasso (1881-1973) paintings, drawings, sculpture, etc., is showing in just seven cities, worldwide, how did Richmond end up being the only one on the East Coast to have it?

In 1985 the Musée National Picasso opened in a renovated 17th century mansion in Paris. The art in the museum came directly from Picasso’s estate. To settle the inheritance bill with the French government his heirs donated the pieces from Picasso’s collection of his own work. For most of his life he had kept certain favorite pieces.

Now the museum in Paris is being renovated, so to get some of the art out of the way — and to make some money to defray renovation expenses — a traveling show was put together by Anne Baldassari, the Paris museum’s director. She also oversaw the installation of the show at the VMFA. At the media preview (on Thursday morning) Baldassari said, with a decidedly French accent, that she’s a little bit jealous of the display capabilities of the VMFA.

Aside from whatever pull Nyerges has to bring in such an attraction, it seems the Richmond museum’s fancy new look itself — a $150 million upgrade — played a significant role in the decision made in France to include it on the tour…

My article, “Living a Final Four Dream,” about VCU’s five-game streak on the national stage, was published by Richmond.com (April 4th). Here are two excerpts:

…Meanwhile, regarding VCU’s appearance in the Final Four, nobody I know can remember when a college or professional team from Richmond ever played in such an important game in any sport. Perhaps it’s fair to say VCU just overshadowed anything, popular culture-wise, Richmond has ever witnessed.

Coming into the game, the resume of the Colonial Athletic Association’s last team standing read this way: VCU 59, Southern Cal 46; VCU 74, Georgetown 56; VCU 94, Purdue 76; VCU 72, Florida St. 71; VCU 71, Kansas 61.

In those five wins VCU’s players had performed as though they were living in the moment more completely than their expectations-burdened opponents. Butler was different. Unlike those five power conference losers, the Bulldogs didn’t trip over their own hubris. Instead, they executed their plan to deny VCU its three-point shots with utter determination.

Which meant it came down to a gritty, no-blood-no-foul contest with an outcome that was determined by hard-earned shots that fell, and those that rimmed out. In short, Butler was so good that VCU needed to be luckier…

…When I was running errands on Saturday afternoon, before the game, I was in the Grace and Harrison Streets area. It was teeming with people. Most of them, old or young, were wearing VCU gear. Visually, it was amazing. There were temporary stands selling bootleg VCU T-shirts in the parking lots. I could hear a crowd cheering and chanting on Broad Street, a block away. Even the mumblers and panhandlers in front of the convenience store were outfitted in goldenrod and black T-shirts.

After the game, some with a snootful of the spirit of anarchy took advantage of the license in the air. The cops and some elements of the crowd battled, apparently without any serious injuries. Whether any of the firebugs or brick-throwers were students or basketball fans isn’t known at this desk.

However annoying any of that public behavior may seem to a reader, Smart and his team didn’t burn any couches. The only bricks they threw were at the rim in Houston…

As much as I was delighted that during 2011 the Civil War sesquicentennial shows at various local museums educated thousands of locals and tourists about that period of Richmond‘s history, I’m also happy they were somewhat overshadowed.

VMFA’s spectacular Picasso show and the Rams’ March Madness miracle put Richmond on some new maps. As a lifelong Richmonder, it was nice to see my home town being recognized for events that took place since the 1860s, or the 1960s.

– 30 –