vol. 286 / ConnectionExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 286 / Connection
Meet this week’s guest editor, Hamilton Glass. Before he became one of Richmond’s most recognized public artists, Hamilton spent years shaping spaces through architecture and design. That experience still informs his work today, as he continues to create art that connects people, stories, and community.
One of the things Hamilton enjoys most is creating projects that lift up and reflect the voices of Richmond. In 2020, he founded Mending Walls RVA, a project born out of the civil unrest and pandemic that were gripping the country. It became a way for him to process current events and create a platform that encourages empathy and connection through collaborative public artwork. His goal has always been to use art as a healing tool that connects, uplifts, and inspires the people around him.
Over the past year, Hamilton has taken an important step in his artistic journey by building a new studio space dedicated to personal and exploratory work. While public art remains an important part of his practice, Hamilton is now creating space to explore new directions and experiment with different mediums that reflect his personal interests and creative vision. His new studio serves as both a place of focus and discovery, where he can push boundaries, take risks, and create art that feels true to his identity as an artist.
This week, Hamilton joins us as guest editor to share his tips for exploring, celebrating, and connecting with this creative place we all love to call home.
Check out more from Dr. Gibson in her new podcast series, The Six Lessons of From The Wiz to Wakanda: Afrofuturism in Pop Culture. In this series, Dr. Gibson traces the history of the movement and introduces listeners to the writers, artists, and creators who revisit the past as they build new visions for the future. From the work of pioneering Black writers like W. E. B. Du Bois to the blockbuster Black Panther films and beyond, Afrofuturism emerges as an ongoing cultural project that grows stronger and more multifaceted with each new generation of creators.
Vitals:
The Art of Storytelling: Afrofuturism and Pop Culture / Thursday, October 9, 2025, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. / Richmond Public Library (Main Branch), Gellman Room, 101 E. Franklin Street
Manchester Murals
In early 2025, the Manchester Alliance and Hull Street Merchants, with funding from the service district administered by Venture Richmond, launched a mural project for Hull Street. The goal was to enhance the vibrant public art scene in Manchester while also addressing blight and graffiti and uplifting local businesses.
As part of this effort, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Matt Lively on one of three new murals taking shape along Hull Street this year at 927, 1211, and 1437. The other murals are being created by S. Ross Brown, and by Ross Trimmer of SureHand Signs with Mickael Broth, also known as Nightowl. These pieces join other great works by Silly Genius and Art City Art Club that have appeared on Hull Street in recent months.
It’s inspiring to see so much creative energy coming together on Hull Street this year. Each new piece adds to the story of a neighborhood that continues to grow, connect, and celebrate its community through art.
Vitals:
Hull Street (Manchester), murals located at 927, 1211, and 1437 Hull Street / Follow along here for updates
Trust Building/s Empatica
Trust Building/s is a collaborative community mural project by Alfonso Perez Acosta and Noah Scalin, created in partnership with Mending Walls and One Small Step (a StoryCorps project). Inspired by their collaboration on the 2020 Mending Walls mural project, artists Acosta and Scalin have reconnected to explore the power of interdependence and intersectionality. Together, they are continuing this conversation with the community by producing a series of four new murals, each based on one of the meaningful pillars of trust building: Consistency, Reliability, Honesty, and Empathy.
To create each mural, the artists are working directly with teams of participants from the One Small Step project. One Small Step brings together strangers with different political views for facilitated conversations — not to debate politics, but to better understand one another as people. This partnership allows past conversation participants another opportunity for dialogue and connection, aligning with the goals of the artists and the mission of Mending Walls.
The first of the four mural projects was completed in May of this year at 1118 Main Street. Trust Building/s is now at work on its second installation, Empatica, located at 211 N. 18th Street.
Vitals:
Murals at 1118 Main Street and 211 N. 18th Street / Mending Walls RVA
More about Hamilton:
As Hamilton continues to evolve as an artist, his focus has turned toward creating more personal and introspective work that reflects his individual vision and growth. His new studio has become a place of exploration, a space where he can experiment freely, and test new ideas.
While public art remains an important part of his practice, this chapter represents a return to the studio, where process and reflection guide the work. Along the way, he's inviting others into this next stage. Hamilton is actively seeking to connect with collectors and collaborators who value meaning, connection, and bold personal expression in contemporary art. Whether through his studio explorations or through custom commissions, he’s excited to build relationships that continue his lifelong pursuit of art that brings people together.
