Nonprofit gives color to local alleys
Arts in the Alley: painting on walls, except legal
Arts in the Alley has garnered attention from as far as Beijing, where organizer Jeanine Guidry was asked to plan their own similar project.
Danielle Elliott
Staff Writer
Arts in the Alley is a grassroots non-profit that works to beautify parts of Richmond. Volunteers spend a weekend cleaning up an alley and then paint murals on the previously graffiti-ridden walls. The organization has already redone two locations in Richmond and one in Beijing, China.
Jeanine Guidry is the spearhead of the operation. She started the organization three years ago out of a desire to give back to the community and leave a lasting positive effect.
“We (Greg Collins and I) had thought for awhile we’d like to do something to impact our community positively in a more lasting way,” Guidry said, “I remember there were a lot of people saying the city should do this or do that to try and fix up parts of downtown.”
Greg Collins, a VCUarts graduate, painted a mural in Shockoe Bottom along with his classmates close to 15 years ago. Guidry fell in love with the idea of art in the streets.
“We decided to take art out into the community to try and make it a little bit better and a little more beautiful and take it outside of the gallery to where people can see it and touch it,” Guidry said. “What if we host an art festival? What if we paint murals? What if we find an alley that really needs some care?”
The organization has always been family friendly. The first alley that was restored featured a children’s mural which has now become a part of every alley project.
“We paint grass and hills and sky; any kids that come by can put their hand prints on this field, and we create flowers and tulips out of it,” Guidry said. “It just shows that everyone can be a part of it.”
Arts in the Alley has gained attention from other cities as well as other countries. Guidry and her band, The Offering, were invited to Beijing for a cultural exchange, where they asked her to help plan an event of their own.
“I told them about Arts in the Alley, and we put it together in Beijing. It was all different but it was all the same,” Guidry said.
Working to better the community and bringing people together to create a greater sense of community has been the goal for Guidry.
“People aren’t used to people doing something because they want to make a difference without another agenda,” Guidry said. “I think a lot of people when you ask them to come give their time, and you explain to them that everyone can help – you don’t have to be an artist, people will come.”
Guidry has a solid team of around 15 people and the organization is currently funded out of pocket or through donations.
“We’re doing a few grant proposals. We want to do two more this year, one near VCU and one in Church Hill,” Guidry said.
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Photos courtesy of Jeanine Guidry
