Mural Proposed for 21st Street Pedestrian Tower

The three pedestrian towers in the area are great in that they allow safe and legal access across the railroad tracks and folks can get to the river. They are however ugly, blocky pieces of architecture. The Texas beach staircase was helped last year by a mural project jointly sponsored by City of Richmond Parks and Recreation, VCU Painting and Printmaking Department, Friends of the James River Park, and James River Hikers, students from the VCU Painting and Printmaking Department. In total there are 30 murals painted on the tower.

If everything goes according to plan at tonight’s Public Art Commission meeting the southside will be getting it’s own staircase mural by artist Mac Wood who received a CultureWorks Grant. The plan is to paint the 21st Street Tower that is used by thousands to get to the James River Park

More on Mac from the staff report on the project. The staff report also recommends approval of the project.

Mac Wood has experience working with Richmond muralists Will Davenport and Ian Hess, and public art experience working with Joshua Wiener on the metal rings by the Potterfield Bridge. He also has experience removing invasive vines with the Friends of James River Park. Throughout the conception of this project, the artist worked alongside members of the James River Park System particularly Bryce Wilk, park superintendent, who reviewed the design to ensure it stays true to the vision of the Park’s Master Plan and assisted in talking to volunteer organizations who will help priming the tower. The Friends of the James River and the James River Hikers—stakeholder organizations at the Park—have also been engaged in the development of this project.