You'd have to be blind to miss the action happening just west of Robinson on Cary St.. The old GRTC Bus depot is slowly transforming into something much brighter and more beautiful. And if there was a current mascot for this project, it would be the looming, aged wizard that stands guard over the expansive pop-up art project known as the RVA Street Art Festival.
"I had no set plan whatsoever when I came to the wall, because it's really awkward with all the windows and not much wall space," said Mickael Broth, as he put early coats of bright white paint onto small wooden diamond-shaped blocks. He's the man behind the curtain, as it were - the muralist creating the Wizard.
Broth has been involved in the RVA Street Art festival before, and this year he took on a kind of organizer role, helping bring other muralists to the project. But the project this artist is focusing on today is really a sight to behold.
Broth said he often paints wizards, warlocks, or witches--not from a sci-fi or fantasy angle, but rather "as odd, misunderstood, and persecuted characters." This creation, Broth said, represents him and his circle of friends when they get old: "kind of broken, old men, washed up..."
Though the project isn't finalized yet, keep an eye out for the aforementioned bright orange diamonds, which will be scattered throughout. "It'll symbolize success and prosperity... but we'll see how things work out."
Past the towering figure that welcomes you to the RVA Street Art Fest, numerous murals and sculpture installations dot the once vacant lot. Take a look at some of the works over on our Facebook page.
Visitors will be able to take pieces from the exhibit; Jared Fergeson and his J Fergeson Gallery (http://www.jfergesongallery.com/) have set up a temporary pop-up gallery in one of the old bus-loading depots. The muralist's have been given the opportunity to display some of their smaller works here. "If you see a mural artist you like, you can come in here and see one of their smaller paintings and actually have it in your house," Fergeson said.
The gallery space will be open today from 11-6 and stay open through Sunday. It's been a bit of a whirlwind project for Fergeson--much of the art still hasn't been placed on display as yet. However, this was something they were prepared for, as organizing artists is always a challenge. "Some artists have gotten me their work early, some I'm still waiting on today," he explained. "But that's normal, and it's fine... we're gonna get it done today."
Fergeson gazed over the open lot, sipping coffee and smirking; he's obviously excited about this project. When asked about his favorite work, he looked back at a pair of Hamilton Glass paintings that hung on the bare concrete of the bus depot wall. "(Glass's) art is great no matter what, but I think it looks really good on this old, rough wall." So do we.
