Baltimore artist GAIA has returned to RVA again this year to contribute a piece to the 2013 Richmond Mural Project. Having previously worked with us for the G40 Street Art Festival last year (his piece is on a wall at 11 W. Grace St), we already knew that GAIA was an excellent artist and all-around rad dude, so it’s great to have him back in town to do some more painting.
Baltimore artist GAIA has returned to RVA again this year to contribute a piece to the 2013 Richmond Mural Project. Having previously worked with us for the G40 Street Art Festival last year (his piece is on a wall at 11 W. Grace St), we already knew that GAIA was an excellent artist and all-around rad dude, so it’s great to have him back in town to do some more painting. We had a chance to ask GAIA a few quick questions this afternoon before he got started painting. Here’s what we talked about.
GAIA’s 2012 G40 mural
What do you think of Richmond?
GAIA: I’m not going to be here long enough to tell you anything about my experience in Richmond. I usually try to spend a good amount of time not working in a city so I can really take it in. That’s something I have really neglected doing when I come to Richmond, just because it’s never worked out that way. Richmond is beautiful. It has a very interesting and contentious history that I would love to work with more.
Because of the nature of this festival, anything that gets close to being controversial or explores a history… they only want historical things that are not contested. Like tubing down the river, versus talking about this being the seat of the confederacy and heritage vs hatred…
[GAIA’s friend interjects:] The trolley cars.
GAIA: …and justification of a place and what that means politically. And how that changes the demographic, and then how that actually changes the face of Richmond. The larger VCU gets, the more liberal this place will become, the more almost-nullified its past will be and the more of an aesthetic experience it will be, versus an actual cultural value.
So, I don’t really know Richmond. I’d like to spend a lot of time wherever I go. The most I explored was going up to M Street, putting up a couple posters, then we dipped last year. I don’t really know much about Richmond.
What is the theme of your mural?
GAIA: It’s the John Smith monument facing backwards, looking out at the water. Versus looking at John Smith. And then it’s going to have a floating ship in the sky. I honestly have not spent that much time to develop a concept, because I have already developed so many mockups for this wall. This is the eighth idea that I’ve had. I was like, “Look, dude, if this is not gonna work out, here’s a fuckin’ simple-ass thing that no one should have any problem with.” It fulfills the quote-unquote “historical” nature of something that you would want, but it also doesn’t get too deep into anyone’s skin. But it is very much about the endless frontier. That is America, the urban frontier or the actual Native American landscape.
What’s next?
GAIA: Today and tomorrow will be day of painting. I will use a roller, then spray paint afterwards. I leave on Friday.
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GAIA will be here for the rest of the week, painting on a wall that faces W. Main St at the beginning of the 2100 block, right across the street from Sidewalk Cafe. He’ll be working quick, but if you get the chance, go by and check out what he’s doing. And check out a previous interview we did with GAIA back in 2011 right here.
Stay tuned for more news of the Richmond Mural Project, right here at RVA Mag.
