“Artists have a responsibility to use their art to affect and effect,” said local artist, Nico Cathcart Schroeder.
“Artists have a responsibility to use their art to affect and effect,” said local artist, Nico Cathcart Schroeder.
This attitude can be seen in her latest work painted on the backside of the now-empty building that used to be a bar known as The Triple. The mural, picturing a large, brightly colored whale with a monocle and a patterned army of moon jellyfish, was created by Schroeder “in hopes that when a person passes it in the sea of grayness that is Broad Street, it will bring a smile to their face.”
The work, known as “Sir Harold, The Great of Splashington,” was a year-long project that required a 20-foot ladder and lots of courage, according to Schroeder. Scaffolding was not an option for Schroeder because of the terrain on the roof of the building.
“It’s the highest mural I have worked on, and there were some windy days,” she said. “Not for the feint of heart, for sure.”
Climbing up and down the back of the building with paint brushes and cans in hand was done purely to offer the people of Richmond, “an escape from the mundane,” said Schroeder.
“I choose to use my artwork to bring positivity into the viewer’s life,” she said.
And that is exactly the effect of her latest work.
Schroeder has been painting her whole life and holds a dual BFA in painting and ceramics from State University of New York at Cortland. She came to Richmond six years ago for a First Friday exhibition where Schroeder claims she fell in love with the city.
Showing off and on with different galleries since her move, Schroeder’s first solo mural work was the Street Art Festival’s paint off, to which her latest work, Sir Harold, would have been proud, as she made quite the splash earning her a major spot at the festival.
“Right now I am working as a graphic designer for K2 Awards and Apparel,” said Schroeder. “Graphic design is such a wildly different field than the traditional arts. It keeps me structured.”
However, Schroeder’s work can currently be seen at Chop Suey bookstore as part of the Twin Peak’s Art show. Her work can also been seen as part of the upcoming project called “Find Art Doors,” by Art on Wheels , a non-profit organization she has worked with in the past that uses art as a form of healing to those who could benefit from it.
“They are having 40 doors painted by artists, organizations and schools,” she said. “Each door will have a painting on one side, and a story of homelessness on the other.”
Richmond is an incredible city filled with incredible artists, according to Schroeder who is excited to see more female muralists iintroducing their talents.
“I think the upcoming year is going to prove to be amazing, between the Street Art Fest’s return, and the Welcoming Walls Project, and Art on Wheels Find Art Doors,” Schroeder said.
