Accepted into Château Orquevaux
Sometimes it takes betting on yourself, even when people question your dreams. Virgillette “Vee” Adams is known in Milwaukee for her dancing skills. In 2018, she won a social media dancing contest, where she had the opportunity to dance alongside music legend Chaka Khan. She’s performed all over the city, and she refuses to put herself into a box of one creative genre.
Adams is a model, painter, poet, and whatever her creative heart tells her, and her heart told her to apply for the Château d’Orquevaux Artists & Writers Residency. She was recently accepted into the program for her drawing and painting skills and will spend two weeks in France.
She randomly came across the residency application and just went for it.
“I left it where it was at after applying, not expecting anything. When I got accepted, I was ecstatic. Immediately thought of my inner child. The younger me who would’ve dreamed of hopefully doing something like this, and just so proud of myself,” said Adams.
During her residency, Adams plans to try new art mediums and techniques and connect with other artists while exploring the area.
“I want to soak in every moment and still allow flexibility when needed. One of my dreams has always been to see the world. To spend time creating while seeing the world is a dream come true,” she said.
According to the site, all program residents will receive a private bedroom, an artist’s private studio, writer salons, and a private chef.
Creativity is Endless
Since a child, Adams has loved the feeling of moving her body to dance. And just like all her creative talents, Adams was never classically trained as a dancer, but that never stopped her.
Eventually, Adams’ uncle bought her sketchbook that she took everywhere with her. Sometime within this era, is when she also got into poetry. Years later, after college, Adams began modeling.
“Just let it go [and] let it manifest,” said Adams. “I never know how it’s going to be perceived.”
She used to worry about what people would think about her because of her many creative avenues, but she’s putting herself and her passions first.
“At my age, this is where people stop. I’m never stopping,” said Adams. “I don’t care how long it takes.”
Nyesha Stone founded Carvd N Stone in 2017 to cover positive news while attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Stone has a B.A. in Journalism. She has raised over $30,000 to award grants and scholarships. She has also been featured in ESSENCE and worked with the American Black Film Festival.
