Walls Do Talk
Walls do talk…sometimes in very literal ways! As the demolition continues, we are pulling back layers of previous renovations to reveal stories about the people and activities that have inhabited these spaces. From a wall covered in the 1970’s we found “graffiti-like” stenciled images of football players beside a pencil drawing of a very “hip” bearded male (he would be in style today). It also appears that they used to wall to calculate costs for the project!
Walls do talk…sometimes in very literal ways! As the demolition continues, we are pulling back layers of previous renovations to reveal stories about the people and activities that have inhabited these spaces. From a wall covered in the 1970’s we found “graffiti-like” stenciled images of football players beside a pencil drawing of a very “hip” bearded male (he would be in style today). It also appears that they used to wall to calculate costs for the project!
Firmly pasted to another wall was an old typed list of paintings that must have been exhibited in one of the galleries. (The numbers for the locations of the works are still scattered around the room.) While very hard to date, this list provides interesting insight into our important collections and our past exhibitions. From Conrad Wise Chapman to Sara November, the exhibition list shows a distinctive commitment to a broad range of subject matter and artists.
I am sure that as the work continues there will be more interesting stories discovered. (No…we have not found any cash or gold, so gifts to the campaign would be greatly appreciated.)
What hints of this renovation will we leave? As part of our Richmond History Makers celebration this year, we asked our celebrants to leave their own messages to the future. I wonder what people will think about us when these walls are revealed during our next renovation in the future?
By the way, if you want to get out of your house on the December 25th, there will be a Hard Hat Happy Hour at 4:30! You can RSVP to me for more information and let me know you’ll be coming by.With family and friends together for the holiday, it might be interesting to hide a story in your own house for future occupants.
If you would like to help keep us calm and hammering on, you can support the History Center on our secure donation page at /give.
Please have a safe and happy holiday and I’ll touch base with you in the new year!
Bill Martin, Director