Making the Right Wrong Turn (Richmond, V.A.)

The epitome of Hipsterdom meets college life, Richmond, Virginia is a place meant for the young and the restless. Tattoo parlors line the streets of Carytown, and fedoras and vinyl art are sold by curious vendors by the bulk. I could recommend to you trendy restaurants and hip stores filled with second-hand clothing, but I’m not going to. This story is about how a wrong turn brought my friends and I to the right place.

The three of us were in the car, casually blaring a playlist catered to those 2000s R&B hits, when we arrived in downtown Richmond. As per usual none of us had any clue of where or what we were doing, and frantically opened Wayz in an attempt to become more coordinated human beings. Of course we didn’t locate our position in time, and my friend drove across a bridge that seemed to be leaving the city. Before we could get too far we decided to pull into a gravel parking

lot in front of a building with a large mural and a small sign labeling the location as a Perdue chicken factory. Two guys sat in lawn chairs out front, one with a beard that reminded me of Sam Beam. They watched us curiously as we crawled out of the car and into the daylight of the early afternoon, nocturnal raccoons stunned by the bright sky and spring breeze. Once our eyes adjusted, we glanced around and immediately started walking around.

On the walls of what used to be a cringe-worthy chicken factory were murals stories high, intricate patterns and delicious colors covering brick and metal. When we approached the guy with the Sam Beam beard he explained to us that he was a New York artist currently living in Richmond and that this was his studio and gallery. Behind the studio still remains a Perdue silo where chicken feed is stored. We were invited to see some work later that evening, but turned it down since we had to leave Richmond early that evening. Rust and overgrown weeds melded beautifully with the vibrant, popping colors of the murals that breathe new life in one of the more unexpected of places, which can most likely be attributed to the Richmond Mural Project.

My advice to you? Drive around Richmond, not just to Carytown or to the hot university spots and bars. That one turn down a wrong road could lead you to another awe-inspiring mural that the Project has brought to light. If you don’t have time to just casually drive around, check out the Project site:

http://richmondmuralproject.squarespace.com/

Want to visit the studio I mentioned? Drive to 4 Manchester Rd, Richmond, VA 23224. I didn’t catch the artist’s name, but even a quick walk around is definitely worth it.

#Richmond #Virginia #RichmondMuralProject