Thursday, May 14, 2015

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point


You might not know this about me, but I'm a big fan of history and am especially fascinated by abandoned buildings.  I also get pretty excited about street art.  In both cases, the bigger, the better.  In 2012, more than a dozen artists took part in The RVA Street Art Festival, where they painted huge murals on the exposed walls of the massive abandoned power plant.  If you ever want to lure me into a trap, the scenario presented in the previous sentence is probably a good start. 

Built in 1899, the former Virginia Electric and Power Co. hydroelectric plant has been empty and unused since it closed in 1965. It's located on the Haxall canal -  part of Richmond's stunning Canal Walk.  The canals in Richmond were originally designed as part of a bigger system meant to ship freight from the coast to the Ohio River. It was never finished, and most of it was eventually converted into railroads. In the 1970s, there was a renewed interest in what was left of the canals and a chunk of it was restored.

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point
The view of the canal and the power plant from a foot bridge.

It took me a long time to actually get to the power plant to see the murals because of living in a different state and then other excuses, but I finally went last weekend and took a bunch of pictures.  It was even more magical than I'd imagined.

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point | Yeti Crafts
 Owl By Jeff Soto

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point | Yeti Crafts
A mural about how the heart and soul of our city smells bad by Hamilton Glass

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point | Yeti Crafts
El Kamino

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point | Yeti Crafts
Hense

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point | Yeti Crafts
Chris Milk Hulburt

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point | Yeti Crafts
Installation by Mark Jenkins

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point | Yeti Crafts
Vizie and Dalek collaboration (Left) and My personal fav by Pose (Right)

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point | Yeti Crafts
Chair Sculpture by Susan Whittier, Mural by Art 180

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point | Yeti Crafts
Richard Coleman

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point | Yeti Crafts
Chris made a friend.

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point | Yeti Crafts
Still giddy after a long day of tromping around Richmond with my camera.

RVA Street Art: The Power Plant at Haxall Point | Yeti Crafts
Richmond by Bill Pickett

There is so much amazing street art in Richmond.  I have more to show you guys, so stay tuned!

You can see all of my RVA Street Art posts here.

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