Meet Emily Smith, this week’s guest editor! Emily, as many Richmonders know, is the Executive Director of 1708 Gallery, one of our favorite nonprofit contemporary art spaces that you can find on Broad Street in the Arts District. As part of the arts community, Emily is constantly inspired by the visionary and talented artists here in the River City and is heartened by the camaraderie that exists across Richmond’s arts organizations of all sizes. She is married to an artist and is mom to a 12-year-old who bounces between drawing manga and playing soccer. Read on for Emily's tips about the many ways to explore and celebrate this place we all love to call home.
Take it away, Emily ...
Different Layers
One of my family’s favorite things to do is hike some of the lengthy sections of the James River Park’s trail system. Sometimes this means the 6-ish mile loop starting from the Belle Isle parking lot and walking west along the North Bank Trail – passing Hollywood and Riverview Cemeteries, walking below the Japanese Gardens at Maymont, crossing the Nickel Bridge, and wandering through the lush woods along the Buttermilk Trail down to Reedy Creek and back to Belle Isle. I especially like the mash up of urban and environmental as you glimpse the river between the parked rail cars covered with the most amazing graffiti. It’s like an outdoor gallery.
Or we start at Ancarrow’s Landing and follow the Richmond Slave Trail to 14th Street, walk along the floodwall to the T. Pott bridge, continue down the Canal Walk through Shockoe and back across the Mayo Bridge.
To me, these walks really capture what makes Richmond Richmond. At any given moment, you experience a dozen different layers of our past, present and future. You are reminded of the complexities of the city from its cultural strengths to the sorrowful moments in its history.
This is an unfair question! Between places I loved to visit before COVID, places I regularly get coffee from (looking at you Quirk, Lift and now Birdie's) and the ridiculous number of places we’ve ordered takeout from in the past 22 months, this post could be lengthy.
However, I will name one! At some point during the pandemic Jamaica House opened its new spot on Broad Street across from 1708. I wasn’t in the office much at that point and so hadn’t yet eaten there (and am sorry to say I hadn’t been to its previous location) when a friend in Charlottesville mentioned that she would drive to Richmond with the sole purpose of getting takeout. On this strong endorsement I gave it a try and yes, the food is that good. I go between the curry and jerk chicken either as a main dish or with a bowl but the curried veggies are also fantastic.
First of all, everyone should spend this weekend visiting ALL of the shops in the Arts District. There are SO many. The neighborhood might be called the Arts District because of the galleries and art organizations but friends, our retail neighbors are every bit as artful. Plus, you can pick up Jamaica House takeout when you’re finished.
I’d also like to point out some of the amazing makers, and supporters of makers, in our community. At the top of the list is People Via Plants, a ceramic studio run by Valerie Molnar and Matt Spahr. They make the most amazing planters and mugs – each one is as functional as it is lovely. The Ludo Mug is my current favorite. Trust me, it holds a lot of coffee. You can find them on Instagram and at markets across the city. And BONUS, they regularly share proceeds with community groups and nonprofits.
Also supporting our talented community of makers is Alma’s on Brookland Park Boulevard. Artists Sarah Mizer and John Henry Blatter’s gallery and shop features exhibitions and a smartly curated selection of craft-based jewelry and home goods. They also offer a quarterly subscription service, called Form and Function, which is a great avenue for meeting new artists and artisans.
1708 Gallery is one of the longest running arts nonprofits in the country. We got our start – and our name – when a group of VCU arts faculty decided to run their own art space and found a good spot at 1708 E. Main Street in Shockoe Bottom. 40 plus years later, we are now located on Broad Street but continue the work started by our founders to give artists as much freedom and support as we can so that they can make artworks that matter to you. And we’re excited to share that we’ve just purchased our building and will be developing an artists-in-residence program on the 2nd and 3rd floors!
