Richmond: Irrelevant since 1865. Acrylic on canvas. 48in x 60in. 2011.

This is the sign that started everything. I had been thinking about some acquaintances’ baffling affinity for the Confederacy. [Despite them being Polish Catholics from Philly, and, you know because the Confederacy was straight-up turrible.] I was thinking how part of their affection, despite all of them being incredibly intelligent non-racists, was due to their residency in Virginia. This lead me to think about Richmond and the history of Richmond. The dig about the city being irrelevant isn’t necessarily directed toward the city and it’s role in the Civil War, however, it is also a shot at the cigarette companies who have headquartered there for years. The “home of” section would have read with a logo of Phillip Morris but it is “officially erased” by a square of grey paint, much like you would find in cities’ anti-graffiti campaigns, as if the city itself is trying to get over its past as the capitol of King Tobacco. Furthermore, VCU is painted over the logo of the University of Richmond as if the city was officially recognizing the fact that VCU has surpassed the once-great university. It seemed appropriate in my mind for VCU (which has a fantastic Art program) to be part of a painting, plus, the last time I was in Richmond (to see an MFA exhibition) I had a waiter who, as a graduate of the University of Richmond, looked down on VCU (despite the fact that he was a waiter) and was a total arrogant elitist prick.