The Richmond Mural Project
The Mexican Muralism movement left a lasting legacy in the artistic world well beyond
Mexico’s borders. This legacy included new techniques, styles, motifs and, perhaps most importantly, the pursuit of open spaces that can be used for human expression. Rivera, Orozco and Siqueiros had ample opportunity to travel and work in different countries, leaving a trail of innovative ideas along the way. Similarly, artists around the world are using public spaces to express their ideas and to reach their viewers. Remarkable examples of this trend can be seen on the streets of several modern cities. From numerous locations in the United States, to Canada, Ukraine or Argentina, murals are appearing with increasing frequency, bringing something new and interesting to their communities. Many muralists today are leaving evidence of their talent in places far removed from their countries of origin. They are rising above borders of geography and barriers of language, to reach individuals having very different cultural backgrounds and lifestyles. Unlike the case with written documents, murals do not need to be translated to different languages to be understood. Their creators can communicate a wide range of idea in the absence of any text, thanks to the seemingly universal language of certain imagery. In addition, many of the murals painted in our modern public spaces are undeniable examples of outstanding artistic technique and beauty. The magnitude of space available to muralists offers them plenty of room to display their artistic skills and imagination. A quick online search will reveal numerous examples of superb murals that compare well with many paintings kept in museums.
For the past several years, in Richmond, Virginia, a city with a rich and sometimes turbulent history, a group of artists from around the world have been gradually modifying the urban landscape by participating in what is known as the Richmond Mural Project. As a person who grew up admiring the beauty of the Mexican murals, I find this mix of large whimsical images against the old, beautiful, red brick-walled buildings in Richmond to be delightful. Whereas many of these images appear to be simply playful decorations, some of them clearly convey a social message that reflects life in our modern urban communities. These messages are not always conspicuous, however, thereby requiring viewers to be active thinkers while they observe the piece.
Despite working in Richmond for some years, it is only now that I have begun learning about the muralists participating in the annual events organized by the Richmond Mural Project. In the process of gathering information for this unit, I discovered that most people I know are unaware of the purposes leading the efforts made by the Project. Intrigued by this lack of information among those who are recipients of this artistic manifestations, I spent many hours searching for answers about this movement. One of the most important sources of information is the Richmond Mural Project’s website, (http://richmondmuralproject.squarespace.com/) from where I copied the following extract,
“The Richmond Mural Project is a yearly event with the goal of creating over 100 murals by world-renowned talent in the first 5 years alone. The recurrence and solidification of the project throughout this time will establish Richmond as a landmark destination for internationally recognized murals and will create exposure for the city, establishing it as a premier art destination. By concentrating a large number of murals throughout the city the project will increase tourism and will bring the much needed “Feet on the Street” which will help local business thrive.”
Whereas the murals in Richmond may add another reason for tourists to visit a city already rich with cultural and historical attractions, not to mention some irresistible Southern cuisine, the message embedded in several of these murals goes well beyond simple visual entertainment. Some of these images strongly suggest certain events, places, characters and situations that are very familiar to many of those who live in or visit Richmond. In my quest to include information in this unit about murals in Richmond that carry a social message, I contacted four important muralists who have collaborated with the Richmond Mural Project. These artists have graciously provided me with authorization to include images of their paintings in this unit, which are protected by copyright laws. Teachers who may want to contact these artists or learn more about their work, can use the links provided at the end of this unit.
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