STREETRVA
A STREET PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION OF Richmond's GRAFFITI, MURALS, street art, AND STICKER SLAPS.
photos / words / design By MIKE PRENTACE PRENTACE PUBLISHING RICHMOND, VA 23224 2018
Copyright Š 2018 by Michael Prentace All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America First Printing, 2018 ISBN Prentace Publishing 1200 Semmes Ave. Apt. 232 Richmond, VA. 23224 prentacepublishing@gmail.com
photo credit: octavia young fan district, richmond, va.
Introduction this book is supremely inspired by new york city in the 80's. i grew up in virginia beach, virginia as a very small kid during that time, but i always admired the grittiness of nyc. people would say, "but new york is so dirty!" my initial thought was mostly, "wow, that graffiti looks really dope!" i'm definitely not comparing my book to new york graffiti and street art in the 80's. however, that era and mood was the motivation for me going out everyday and taking pictures of street art, murals, and graffiti. photographers like jamel shabazz, henry chalfant, martha cooper, and bruce davidson helped shape my early memories and ideals of art and street culture. i'm forever grateful for their images that continue to inspire and guide my photography today. which brings me to richmond, virginia, my current place of residence. the city has given me so much artistic inspiration, and extremely helped my photography growth. richmond's art scene will forever be recognized as the city that re-energized my love for visual arts. hopefully, the photography within this book supports that fact. this is a book dedicated to street culture. it is deeply inspired by street artist both past and present. including legends like William eggleston, Keith haring, jean-Michel basquiat, and Andy warhol. plus current artist like jerkface, d*face, ed task, the nightowl, and many more. this book contains photography of graffiti, street art & murals, sticker slapped signs, and of course dumpster & phone booth tags. hopefully this is your type of thing. if not, let me challenge your notions, and convince you that this type of street photography has artistic value.
"PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE POWER OF OBSERVATION, NOT THE APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY" - KEN ROCKWELL AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER
**contents** chapter 1. Sticker slaps
chapter 2. graffiti tags / bombs
chapter 3. miscellaneous street s#!t chapter 4. murals
1. chapter 1. sticker slaps
2
** this is one of the first sticker slapped sign
pics i took when i was on my street photography grind. something about the way the sign was angled really pulled me in. after working on the pic in lightroom, i noticed and admired the photo's natural colors. the sign itself along with the blue sky and sticker slaps make this one minimal, but striking in my opinion. i love the peanuts / aqua teen hunger force mash-up stickers on the bottom right side of the sign.
Exit only sticker slaps
newtowne west, richmond, va.
4
6
8
** i'm always on the lookout for interesting
sticker slaps. i found this pole on my way to mojo's philadeli. after picking up my food, i snapped this pic on the way back to my car. the sticker slap of the woman is definitely the most rare one i've seen in richmond. however, my favorite one in this pic is the rva / mia wu-tang logo. i love the green pole juxtaposed against the mostly black and white sticker slaps.
Utility pole sticker slaps
VCU Campus, Richmond, Va.
10
Rva kawasaki slap
manchester district, richmond, va.
** i would see this bike everyday in the parking
lot of my building. i swear it never moved, or at least it seemed like it never moved. i tried taking a picture of it a few times but the weather wasn't working with me. finally, on a clear and sunny day, i was able to snap a pic of it. the green paint job was amazing in person, and of course the rva sticker sets it off just right.
12
** a friend of mine used to live a block away from this
corner store. i walked here on my way for some snacks and a black and mild jazz. when i approached the door i noticed these stickers. technically, these aren't sticker slaps or graffiti. but these entrance door stickers spoke to me in an accepting way. if i had felt nervous about being in this section of town, which i wasn't, i certainly felt at ease after seeing the black lives matter sticker. i certainly appreciate the other stickers as well. i'm all about inclusiveness and diversity.
Equal opportunity signs
museum district, richmond, va.
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
**sticker slapped signs and poles are my
street photography favorites. something about a collage of stickers makes me stop and pay attention right away. i originally came down to shockoe bottom to shoot the bottoms up sign. however, this picture was my best photo of the day. my favorite stickers on this stop sign are the "too indecent" and "bumpin uglies" ones.
East cary sticker slaps
shockoe bottom, richmond, va.
32
Political sticker slap
downtown richmond, va.
** like the 2016 presidential election, this sticker slap is one i will never forget. there were plenty of these satirical sticker slaps all over richmond. i found this one off of broad street downtown. at first, i thought it was kind of funny. but what i thought was a joke, became a cruel world reality. Although i campaigned and voted for Hilliary Clinton, my sole inspiration was trying to avoid a Donald trump administration. guess that didn't work.
34
2. chapter 2. graffiti tags / bombs
36
38
40
42
44
Tagged up red door
fan district, richmond, va.
** tagged doors are definitely my thing.
when i spotted this red door in the fan district, i had to snap a photo of it. the color of the door drew me in. it was bright red with mostly white tags, WHICH there are plenty of. ONE tag here stickS out the most. i'll let you discover it on your own.
46
48
Red bombs
manchester district, richmond, va. graff. artist credit: rsee & aker
50
Red dumpster tags
fan district, richmond, va.
** MY love FOR multitagged doors AND
dumpsters IS ONE I CAN'T EXPLAIN. I WILL SAY THAT MY ATTRACTION TO THE red door IS SIMILAR TO this red dumpster. IT was begging to be photographed. the way it pops off the page, and almost blends in perfectly within this fan district street SCENE is beautiful.
52
** these dumpster tags always reminded me of our high school yearbooks where everyone signs the back pages. this probably explains why i'm so drawn to them. typography and lettering are essential to a graffiti tag. dumpsters like this one illustrate the skillful yet bare boned elements of graffiti.
Blue dumpster tags
en su Boca, scott's addition, richmond, va.
54
56
GRaff. artist credit: no type (below + opposite)
jackson ward district richmond, va.
58
GRaff. artist credit: onset manchester district, richmond, va.
GRaff. artist credit: posum manchester district, richmond, va.
GRaff. artist credit: jawso manchester district, richmond, va.
60
GRaff. artist credit: posum, jawso, & maybe fan district, richmond, va.
62
GRaff. artist credit: acres & maybe manchester district, richmond, va.
64
GRaff. artist credit: gzee scott's addition, richmond, va.
** while taking this shot in scott's addition, i
noticed some movement in the window of the graffiti. it made me nervous, and i froze for ten seconds. there was definitely someone in there. nothing happened, so i continued to take a few shots. i thought the lettering was dope.
66
** this was a gloomy day, and i remember almost
getting hit by a car trying to take this highway underpass picture. there wasn't a sidewalk, and I didn't have a zoom lens. i dangerously ran across the street when there was no traffic, and quickly snapped the photo. a few cars beeped loudly as they flew past. I didn't care or move until i got a good shot.
graff. artist credit: LIVE & HOWER East End, Richmond, Va.
68
3. chapter 3. miscellaneous street s#!t
70
**the first time i saw this artwork happened
while i was driving by it on my way to ellwood thompson's local market. at first glance i thought this was an ad for something. i came back later and saw that it was abstract street art. i'm a huge fan of street and abstract art. i love when artist combine the two.
Abstract street art
fan district, richmond, va.
72
74
76
78
The gallery by round two storefront
downtown richmond, va.
80
Stairway to wherever ..
Manchester District, Richmond, Va.
82
Eat good grow great court
oregon hill richmond, va.
84
Hoop dreamin'
manchester district richmond, va.
86
88
90
4. chapter 4. murals
92
muralist credit: sir james l. thornhill (below + opposite page)
jamerican market and restaurant/take out jackson ward district, richmond, va.
94
unknown muralist manchester district, richmond, va.
MURALIST CREDIT: INKTEN + CLOGTWO FAN DISTRICT, RICHMOND, VA.
96
MURALIST CREDIT: JERKFACE OREGON HILL, RICHMOND, VA.
98
FAN DISTRICT, RICHMOND, VA.
100
** it was interesting to witness bernie sanders' run for president. it was even more interesting to see this mural go up in scott's addition right around the time of his rise. i was a fan of both the mural and the vermont senator. some of his opinions and views were my kind of left. r.i.p. to the idea of our first socialist president.
MURALIST CREDIT: THE NIGHTOWL Scott's Addition, Broad Street, richmond, va.
102
MURALiST CREDIT: JAMES BULLOUGH BROAD STREET, RICHMOND, VA.
** this is one of my favorite murals in
richmond. i saw the artist painting this as i passed by on my way to work. it still amazes me how he illustrated this image. i had to shoot this from the opposite side of the street while there was no traffic. having the people in the frame adds to the scale of the massive mural.
104
** i love this vcu campus mural. it's
located directly across the 7-11 i used to buy gum and tea from between classes. i tried a couple of times to get this one without cars at the bottom, but i found that damn near impossible. either way, i had to get a shot of the strawberry girl.
"Moonshine"
MURALIST CREDIT: ETAM CRU VCU CAMPUS, RICHMOND, VA.
106
MURALIST CREDIT: EVER VCU Broad Street, Richmond, Va.
** this is my second favorite vcu campus
mural. which can be found off of broad street on the side of club mansion. i always think different things when i look at this mural. all of which probably have nothing to do wtih the true meaning behind it. however, it's nice to come up with my own hypothesis. the colors on this one are amazing.
108
brockie mural / muralist credit: austin fitch manchester district, richmond, va.
110
Mike's mural muse
muralist credit: marka27 downtown richmond, va.
** i remember driving by this mural while my girlfriend
was in the car. i pulled over, and was about to hop out to snap a pic of it. before i could unbuckle my seat belt, my girlfriend suggested we come back tomorrow so she could take a pic in front of it wearing her head wrap. the next day was freezing cold, but i was determined to make get at least one shot. we only spent a good five minutes out there, but i was able to get some really nice shots. this is one of the many dope pictures that we shot together .
112
Foo dog patio mural
fan district, richmond, va.
Dilligraf tattoo mural
southside richmond, va.
114
Nothing lasts forever mural
Muralist CREDIT: D*FACE DOWNTOWN RICHMOND, VA.
116
Girls! girls! girls! mural
muralist credit: herrsuite Museum District, richmond, va.
118
Welcome to Richmond
MURALIST CREDIT: SODAPOP NORTHSIDE RICHMOND, VA.
120
** this mural is huuuuge. all of my
attempts to get it in one shot failed. the time of day was all wrong, and the sun was shining in my eyes as i tried to capture this mural. i eventually had to chop this bad boy down into sections. i ended up using this shot because i loved the intense angle. it almost looks 3-d.
MURALIST CREDIT: GAIA MONROE WARD DISTRICT, richmond, va.
122
Taboo mural
MURALIST CREDIT: MIGUEL DEL CUADRO SOUTHSIDE RICHMOND, VA.
** i pass by this building every time i go grocery
shopping on the southside of richmond. those familiar with the area should also be familiar with this mural. it's very whimsical nature is almost contradictory to the contents inside. i assume there is meaning that can be drawn from the mural itself. i tried several times to take this picture. i finally got it on the third attempt. i had to get up early in the morning to achieve this look and shot.
124
** another one of my favorite murals in the
city. the way it was painted is simply amazing to me. However, this was a hard subject to frame. i found myself standing in the middle of the street trying to get the right composition. after several attempts, i came up with this final version. i love how the colors of the mural work harmoniously with the red bricks.
Nina Simone mural
muralist CREDIT: ED TASk Whisk Bakery Shockoe Bottom, Richmond, Va.
126
Muralist CREDIT: DAVID FLORES DOWNTOWN RICHMOND, VA.
** i tried several times to get a picture of this
mural, but every time i would arrive there were cars parked in front of it. until one glorious saturday while i was on my way to virginia beach. i noticed there were no cars, so i pulled up, hopped out, and took the pic. after four attempts i finally got it. snoopy is one of my all-time favorite cartoon characters.
128
** david flores' work can be seen
throughout richmond. i'm always excited when i discover his art around the city. this was probably the second one i located. it just happens to be in my area of town, which makes this one special to me. i love the contrast between the woodstock birds and the gray bricks.
MURALIST CREDIT: DAVID FLORES MANCHESTER DISTRICT, RICHMOND, VA.
130
Fat dragon chinese kitchen mural
Scott's Addition, richmond, va.
** i keep telling myself "i'm gonna eat here
someday." but i still haven't. i imagine the food being really good. especially since their building mural is so dope. the illustration is so great, that i had to stop and stare at it for a while before i took the picture. this is easily one of the illest painted dragon murals i think i've ever seen.
132
INSTAGRAM.COM/ MPRENTFILMPHOTO BEHANCE.NET/ MIKEPRENTACE FLICKR.COM/ MIKEPRENTACE PINTEREST.COM/ MPRENTFILMPHOTO twitter.com/ mikeprentace mprentfilmphoto @gmail.com prentacepublishing @gmail.com
