A monthly theme inspires new conversations and ideas that we otherwise wouldn’t think about. At our virtual events, speakers are invited to share a story around the theme and what it means to them. After a month, we are excited to see the talks and inspiration that are born out of the theme.

Given that these monthly illustrations are at events all around the world, it’s only right that we get to know the illustrator. It is a tradition at CreativeMornings to work with an artist in our community to create an illustration for the monthly theme. For February, we are lucky to announce that the public art project Mending Walls RVA created the theme illustration for Monumental, selected by CreativeMornings/Richmond.

We’re excited to introduce Mending Walls and share some of their rich collaborations and moving murals!

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Artist’s Statement

“As an artist and the photographer of Mending Walls, I was fundamentally interested in creating an image that calls for the engagement of the audience to the same extent as my involvement in the project since it began in 2020.

The Richmond community’s demand for just and social equity for all people in response to the death of George Floyd is reflected by the deposed pedestal that formerly supported Confederate monuments. Drawing inspiration from Mending Walls’ murals Voices of Perseverance and Spirit of Sankofa, I united a raised fist with the letter u in the word “monumental,” and Her Flowers, which utilizes the empty plinth where the Lee Monument once stood. The contrasting yellow of the sun against the black elements illuminates the goodness in the world and also intelligible truths that make it possible for people to gain knowledge and power.

I hope that this work encourages people to remember the magnitude of the incidents in 2020 and continue to move forward in unity to create the change we need in our community.”

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About Mending Walls

Mending Walls is a public art project that brings together public artists from different cultures and backgrounds to create murals that address where we are now in society and how we can move forward through understanding and collaboration. Mending Walls pairs up artists of different backgrounds to create unique connections and give them an opportunity to tell their story collaboratively in an effort to express healing through connection. In addition to the murals, community engagement and collaboration are critical to supporting and sharing the message of the art. Members of the community are invited to engage in the work through volunteering to help paint a mural, attend a civic talk to hear from the artist and community partners about the social issue they are addressing, and through a podcast that goes deeper into the collaboration and lessons learned from the artists. The project’s founder Hamilton Glass created the project in 2020 to address the civil unrest and pandemic raging in the United States. It was a way for him to process it all, and share that opportunity for expression, learning, and understanding with others.

Katrina Taggart-Hecksher – Photographer, Artist of This Month’s Monumental Design Kat Taggart-Hecksher is an artistic movement photographer and graphic designer who has spent more than 30-years mastering her craft. Upon seeing her images, it will become clear; she’s not only passionate about the art of photography, but the art of storytelling as it unfolds through her lens. Kat is honored to be the lead photographer for the Mending Walls Project and designer of the Mending Walls coffee table book.

“It is my goal to live with intent, acceptance, and appreciation of all of our differences – while working to connect this amazing community through art that inspires me to pick up my camera every day.”

In 2018, she combined her artistic passions and launched what she calls a “heart project”, better known as Dancers of RVA. Through this digital platform, Kat has photographed and shared the stories of more than 100 dancers from across Richmond, Virginia. The candid photographs accent the words each dancer writes to explain their journey, struggles, and dreams. The project received area recognition in 2019, earning an RVA Dance Award for Best Digital Content. Her work has been showcased in exhibits at Dogtown Dance Theatre, Chesterfield County Public Libraries, SPARC, and First Fridays – Red Amp Studios. You can also see her photographs and collaboration projects in Style Weekly, RVA Mag, Richmond Magazine, and Virginia Living magazine. Kat is driven to document and capture moments and stories that inspire and remind us all of our humanity and vulnerabilities.

Hamilton Glass - Founder, Mending Walls Hamilton was born in Philadelphia, PA where he spent many years absorbing the arts and culture of the murals and street art in the city, but also the fine art of the art museums where he was often enrolled in classes. He went on to attend Hampton University in Virginia where he obtained a Bachelor’s of Architecture. Despite working in the architecture field for 7 years, his passion for public art pushed him to start a career as an artist. He created his first mural in Richmond in 2011, and since then has had the incredible opportunity to create more than 300 murals around the city. These murals live outside on public and private walls, and inside from corporate spaces to public schools. Public art has always been a big influence and inspiration for Hamilton, because of its power to influence and inspire the surrounding community. With every opportunity he is given to create, he tries to convey a message that connects the art to the community. Using his background in architecture, he designs images that reference architectural drafting practices, which are represented in the sharp lines, scale, and balance of the piece. The bright colors and unpredictable lines and shapes are used to convey energy and movement in each piece.

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Selected Works

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You can follow Mending Wall’s works on Instagram and their website.