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I live in the Richmond Metropolitan Area, a pretty and delightful button in the middle of Virginia which, like most east coast US cities dating to the American Revolution, leans heavily toward Yankee-Doodlism in its marketing. That may not be the best term, though, since as the one time "Capital of the Confederacy" Richmond also tends to highlight the Rebel Yell. This is particularly true in the arena of public statuary. It's a complicated and sensitive topic. For my part, I have two thoughts. The first is that the Civil War and the subsequent ugliness - from Jim Crow to today's nervous tiptoeing around various race related room filling pachyderms - are all part of America's history. Secondly, the statues of various confederate generals are all works of art, irrespective of whether the person depicted is honored or abhorred by the observer. 

For these reasons, I place myself in the group contending that, for the most part, the statues should remain but be reinterpreted. And not just as a one time exercise, but in an ongoing study of who we are. I also love the idea of adding new statues to the public square, artfully honoring the dignity and pain associated with African American contributions to the American story.

A somewhat unofficial kick-off to this possibility exists in "Rumors of War," a magnificent statue created by artist Kehinde Wiley which now graces the entrance of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on the newly renamed Arthur Ashe Boulevard. A dreadlocked black man wearing a hoodie, jeans, and basketball shoes sits astride a powerful stallion and stares resolutely and proudly to the future. It is an astoundingly beautiful piece of art, an expression of the most honest of convictions.

With respect to artistic ability, I openly acknowledge that my work is to Kehinde Wiley's what paint-by-numbers is to a Rembrandt. Notwithstanding, I endeavored to honor this ray of Richmond sunshine with my own painting. I hope you enjoy it. More to the point, I hope it inspires you to get to the VMFA to experience Rumors of War yourself.