Comments on: Mural Will Come Down

By: paul_h

paul_h — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:23:33 +0000

Maybe this could be a site for Happy the Artist to memorialize Ukrops. Happy the Artist Plans Ukrop’s Mural

By: Donna

Donna — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:33:16 +0000

“Another great opportunity to do a Mural for Alb Tech in Richmond Va! Its such a rare thing that some one commissions you to express Yourself on there walls, and for that Im beyond Grateful to ALB Tech. This Mural might come across as sinister or evil but such is the depiction as this recession in my eyes. I wanted to do something that made people cringe and as well as reflect the realness of the current state of the world today. I think its pretty safe to say that 99.9% of people have felt this cloud of stress especially in these current times. You are not alone in these hard times.” From HAM’s website blog re: the mural in question. Internet is a wonderful thing.

By: Donna

Donna — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:20:15 +0000

Look at all the discussion this public art has created! It’s great! Someone thinks it’s about suicide, another thinks it might be political, others don’t understand it at all, some like it, some don’t– people stretching their minds. I like it. But unfortunately, no one has thought to ask the artist his thoughts about his artwork or what his philosophy is behind it. Make art education mandatory in public education! We need it! Go out and create!

By: Captain Scream

Captain Scream — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:19:24 +0000

If you don’t like it, don’t fucking look at it.

BTW- Nobody gives two shits what scott burger and his fucking dipshit wife think about anything. They are the laughing stock of Oregon Hill

It would be a shame if someone broke his precious solar panels wouldn’t it??? :)

By: The Fan in Richmond Virginia | Fan News, Restaurants and Events. -- Fan of the Fan

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:36:15 +0000

[...] much debated ‘offensive’ mural on the back of AlbTech has been replaced with [...]

By: Scott Burger

Scott Burger — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:59:37 +0000

It would be in better taste.

I personally like a lot of edgy art, but that does not mean I want to see suicide largely portrayed on a neighborhood corner.

If a political point was being made, maybe the man should be in uniform, given the suicide rate and Obama’s new Afghanistan surge- not that it would be in any better taste.

By the way, I am hardly one of Richmond’s ‘elite’. In fact, due to my criticism of Center Stage, I am mostly frowned upon by the local ‘elite’.

By: elise haverly

elise haverly — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:36:54 +0000

so if you just remove the gun and replace it with a banana, then this would become acceptable to be in public art..?

the definition of good art isn’t always…”.ohhh, it makes me feel so good and peaceful when I look at that art”
a little discomfort gets the thought processes going, the critical thinking skills moving.

By: Peace

Peace — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:50:23 +0000

Found the artist’s website
http://www.WhosHam.com

By: Liberty

Liberty — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:09:05 +0000

opps it was hamilton glass, looked like one by Ed

By: Liberty

Liberty — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:07:25 +0000

who painted the mural, was it Ed Trask?

By: Jessamyn

Jessamyn — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:34:41 +0000

I was surprised to see this choice of subject matter on the exterior of ALB Tech. While I’m a fan of their contribution to the community – a well-run small business, host of First Friday art and music shows – the mural was a big turn-off for me.

It makes me squirm to see such a high-profile celebration of violence in a community that suffers from gun-related deaths.

Sure, artists have a right to express themselves, but what exactly is this mural trying to say? Shooting yourself in the head is cool?

By: paul_h

paul_h — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:22:08 +0000

What does the Richmond elite have to do with this? This is just a neighborhood squabble and a small one at that.

By: ShaolinSouthDavis

ShaolinSouthDavis — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:52:05 +0000

See the Richmond elite want this city to be creative and artsy, but only the type of creative and artsy THEY like.

By: Scott Burger

Scott Burger — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:44:24 +0000

At least it is a legal mural, and not graffiti. Vandals have been busy in all parts of the City.

The edginess of this art is bound to bring attention to the business, and if that is the sole goal, then it has been a great success.

But I do question the taste of following Sam Moore’s shock advertising model by using an image of a suicide. I have known people who killed themselves this way. Their families suffered greatly.

By: wjodon

wjodon — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:10:42 +0000

Richmond has a really bad case of reality aversion.

By: DB

DB — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:30:48 +0000

I don’t think the Velvet poster exactly went unnoticed.. there was quite an outcry about it, but the owner is a d-bag and refused to take it down. I give kudos to Mr. Bell for respecting his neighboring businesses regardless of whether or not his mural should be an issue.

By: Phil Riggan

Phil Riggan — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:28:02 +0000

I think this is over the top — a violent image that I wouldn’t want my kids to see. I’m a huge fan of artwork like the many great wall paintings that Ed Trask has done, but what separates this from something like Club Velvet is the violent image, a gun to his head.

By: AWms

AWms — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:21:47 +0000

This town is a complete trip….. this piece of ART gets people riled up, but a STRIP CUB OWNER can all out right DISPRESPECT the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES. The Battles that RICHMOND picks just amazes me….. you slap art in face…. and you call yourselves the FAN.