I took a walk on Belle Island this morning to try to get away from other problems and look what I find on its river rocks:
Fortunately, I have learned to separate the Grateful Dead’s music from some of its more idiotic fans, but honestly, do you really think Jerry Garcia would appreciate this lame tribute in a struggling, urban public park and natural preserve?
These people should be caught, prosecuted, and made to clean up the James RIver Park EVERY weekend for a couple of years. If they are college kids, they should be kicked out of college immediately and if they are high schools students, they should not be allowed the chance to attend college. If they are adults they should be sentenced for a couple of decades of cleaning the park.
Is it not just chalk? it doesn’t look like spray paint. On the bright side, it’s pretty good graffiti.
You really think someone should be kicked out of college or high school for creating imagery? A whole life denied higher education because of a few moments of creativity.
That is harsh and based on what you consider art. You sound like you are ready to be Bill Pantele’s sidekick on the Fan District Associations Party Patrol!
Giant rock band graffiti in a public park and nature preserve?
Yeah, I stand by my judgement. Being kicked out of school and doing public service is much less harsh and costly than the mandatory jail one year sentences which these vandals are currently facing. Higher education, like driving, is a privilege, not a right.
And while I question some of the politics and actions of the ‘Party Patrol’, there’s a reason why it exists- inconsiderate college kids. Its not just the Fan that is experiencing problems.
There’s a way to party and be creative without being disrespectful of parks and neighborhoods.
Hasn’t there been a Dead skull painted there since at least the 90’s?
Oh wait, I thought this was a news blog. Is it not anymore? Now it is a collection of angry rants from the man with the microphone?
Yeah, I am the bad guy here.
Scott,
This reminds me of a scene from a The Big Lebowski:
“Your revolution is over, Mr. Lebowski. Condolences. The bums lost. My advice is to do what your parents did; get a job, sir. The bums will always lose. Do you hear me, Lebowski?” (rich old wheelchair bound Lebowski to The Dude, who retaliated by taking an expensive carpet from the mansion)
I share your frustration with inane public images and I’ve got a mild allergy to hippies. But I’m surprised at the heavy-handed punishments you’re recommending. Wasted flower children adopt parks as their own, like it or not. Maybe you have to smoke a joint to fully appreciate the painting or to sympathize with the mind-set of the artist. I dunno. At least the piece looks like it’s pretty well done. Hasn’t the Dead Head symbol been there in one form or another for years?
Again, being kicked out of college and doing public service is actually mild compared to the harshness and cost of a jail sentence. A friend of mine’s son got arrested for graffiti in a Fan alley and was facing a one year mandatory sentence. I was appalled and asked Councilpeople to intervene on his behalf.
But its time for this City to grow up. We have historic neighborhoods under siege by spoiled vandals. Before it was the park this weekend, it was Hollywood Cemetery, before that it was the ex-Hollywood Grill, before that it was the William Byrd Community House, before that it was neighbors’ houses and sheds. Enough is enough.
We have a beautiful City park and natural resource that is now protected by a conservation easement. Should we really keep allowing it to be defaced by some stupid hippie relic?
There are definitely places for partying and creativity, but I have had it with selfish grafitti.
the cost of never going to college is far greater than the cost of a year in jail. and denying someone education might be the worst punishment for crime. being forced to clean the park seems appropriate, though. although that thing looks pretty badass to me. i wish someone would paint a giant skull on my shed.
“the cost of never going to college is far greater than the cost of a year in jail”
To who? As a taxpayer, I would just as soon not subsidize more graffiti vandals to go to state university and neither do I want to pay for jail. Can’t do without college? Then don’t commit the crime.
Actually every dead show i have ever been too has left a trail of trash, filth and hoodlums in its wake. I doubt Jerry(who shot heroin religiously) really cared one bit. He was too busy nodding out and chasing the lights to worry about the earth.
Oh great, now we can go back to the old debate about Richmond banning the Grateful Dead.
Look, I am just tired of the graffiti, plain and simple.
Because punishments should be based on your irritation level over groups you don’t like and for your convenience.
You think I find any of this convenient?
No, which means it should all be changed to suit your convenience.
If by my convenience you mean that graffiti criminals warrant more fitting punishment, then, sure, you got me. How dare I ask for a change in the status quo.
There are certainly alternatives to committing crimes against parks, businesses, and neighborhoods…
Hands On Greater Richmond is looking for folks with artistic skill that would be interested in volunteering to help us design and outline wall murals for group volunteer projects at schools and community centers in Mid-June. There may be a small stipend available depending upon the scope of work.
If interested please contact: Vanessa Diamond, HandsOn GR Director vdiamond@handsongr.org
or call 804-330-7400 xt 129
I agree that painting the rock is graffiti, but that rock has become somewhat of a landmark for kayakers on the river.
I can’t quote the source, but I believe that section of Hollywood rapid is know the the paddling community as “Dead Rock.”
This doesn’t make the graffiti right, but it has become an icon.
Here is the reference, from the James River Park System Page.
http://www.jamesriverpark.org/activities-whitewater.htm
Striptease & Stripper
(Class III-) These linked rapids are just downstream from the painted “Grateful Dead” rock on river right and just upstream from Hollywood Rapid. Striptease is a hydraulic formed by water washing over a ledge that protrudes from the right, off rocks located about 200 ft. from the shore. It is best run just to the left of the foamy water while working right to avoid Stripper, which is a large pour-over rock in the middle of the channel. Run to the right of Stripper rock. Extra caution is needed here due to the close proximity to Hollywood Rapid. Rescue from capsize has to be immediate to prevent swimmers from getting beaten on the rocks below Hollywood. Major caution needed above 6.5 ft.!
Thanks. I certainly understand (and to a tiny extent, appreciate) that it has become an icon, but maybe its time for a better one that does not give the impression that graffiti is alright in a public park.
The graffiti vandals hands should be cutoff!
I’m not sorry dude, your argument that removing educational opportunities is an intelligent “punishment” is pathetically misinformed and irresponsible. Sounds like YOU NEED some education about the effects of educational barriers.
Call him an angry man with a microphone if you want but he is the only person I see picking up trash in the neighborhood on a regular basis.
Scott atleast cares enough about the city to practice what he preaches. I may not agree with all he says, but he backs it up. There are 200,000 plus folks in this city. Only what, a hundred, give a complete damn about it. Scott is definetely one of them. I have no problem with the ‘Dead Rock’ but i’m glad Scott lives in RVA.
I agree. I know you care about the environment, Scott. Now let’s work on caring about the people that inhabit it, as well.
Maybe they should be thown off the Tarpeian Rock on over the quarry. That would teach them.
You are a fucking douche bag scott, do you seriously think that for painting a beautiful mural people should be sentenced to jail time? or kicked out of school? are you fucking retarded?……. if you really care so much then go down there yourself and wash it off asshole. The police are always down at belle isle anyways and they haven’t done anything about it. Its not just some random drawing or anything inappropriate at all. Its an ode to one of the greatest bands this world has ever heard and you obviously have a big ass dick in your ass for thinking that its messing up the park. Not going to school has the potential to ruin someone’s future, all you’d be doing is creating more delinquents spray painting more shit. Once again, you must not be very smart or are upset you didn’t graduate college, i don’t know what your deal is but somethings wrong with you. Painting a rock with a beautiful mural is a far cry from defacing a cemetery or someone’s house moron. Grow up dude, stop hating hippies, we rule.
i know this is your blog but what does the state of dead rock in belle island have to do with oregon hill news?? and dude if you seriously think not letting someone go to college as a punishment is lighter punishment than a year in jail you’re crazy. i would much rather go to jail for a year and come out and go to college and make 5,6,or 7 figures for the rest of my life, than not going to college at all. its people like you that ruin this city. trippin over little stuff instead of looking at the big picture. instead of worring about paintings on a rock and how that will devalue the historic city why not concentrate on promoting the city and your neighborhood to revilaize the empty builds, save the historic ones, and lower city tax so people can afford to live and have buisnesses here. that will help our historic city. not getting rid of “vadals”. give the youth things to do places to express their art freely and in a tourist friendly way. that will save our city. not waste the courts time and line the budget with blackmail money. pay the fine and it wont be on your record. stick to reporting your neighborhood.
“i would much rather go to jail for a year and come out and go to college and make 5,6,or 7 figures for the rest of my life, than not going to college at all”
Right, so don’t do graffiti and stay in school.
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Wont someone think of the rocks? come off it dude… its a rock. a rock. I can understand getting upset about spraying the side of someones house or business but this is a rock.
Yes, a rock in a scenic, natural area in a public park.
The steal-your-face has been there for a decade or so. Feels more like folk art, but I see your point.
This person just retraced and embelished the original drawing n dead rock , a local landmark for 20+ years. I guess no one has ever asked Scott to meet them at dead rock. There is a huge difference between mindless spray paint and a conceived homage to The Greatful Dead. For sure they are by no means a band I am interested in, but the rock is a part of our river and represents the diversity of our city.
I know what it is. I do question its value as I believe it encourages graffiti in what is now a protected park.
And the stupidity continues…Now there is a “Misfits rock”.
Soctt-I see your point that the paint on the rocks at Belle Island is unsightly, but you’ve taken quite a beating for this. How is your blood pressure? Sometimes, we have to pick our battles.
I am fine. I picked this topic for a reason.
Some things get grandfathered in and this is one of them. Ever seen the pictographs in the southwest? American Indian graffiti is now archeological history.
I agree with scott. I call it oregon hole why because the majority of the people living there are the fans majority of trouble.
Have any facts to back that up, Dave?
I thought not.
it’s obvious to me that scott is totally right about this. if it’s OK to paint a dead rock, then why can’t i go out to the river and paint a Rites of Spring rock, in honor of the best 80s band out of DC? and then, every one of you goes out and paints a rock in honor of each one of your favorite bands. then, all the rocks are covered in bad art (believe me, it will be bad). so from your lovely view in oregon hill, you’ll see many colorful rocks, which sounds kind of nice, perhaps, but seriously, it won’t be. does that make more sense now?
if the community hangs out there, they can decorate it.
Has anyone heard that the dead played a show across the river and came to rock and painted it them selves and the guy that works for the park helped them
it’s oil paint. not spray paint. idiots. it is artwork and is the only “graffiti” that is allowed to be on the island. even the park officials accept it. And, that rock has had a smiliar greatful dead skull on it for several years! they are only given about 5ft by 6ft space. anything beyond that is painted over. it is repainted every so often when the paint starts to crack and peel.
So this is a public mural condoned by the James River Park system? I guess I missed the sign.
Is this in the James River Park Easement that protects the park as a natural area?
So if I come down and paint my appreciation for 50 Cent or Tellytubbies, or local groups like GWAR or Cannabis Corpse it will get painted over?
Forgive me, but it seems like mixed messages to me:
http://hillsandheights.org/2009/09/03/james-river-park-graffiti-clean-up/
Get a life. You took a walk by the river to get your mind off things that were getting to you & then 1 piece of artwork sends you over the edge. Gee, I’d hate to know what brought you to take that walk in the first place. Art is art whether it’s urban or not. You have no appreciation of artistry. My boyfriend painted it with his friends, and every year different people paint over it to preserve it. There was even an article in the times dispatch a year or two ago about it as something people have said they enjoy seeing while at the river. Get over yourself!
There is a Misfits rock? That’s awesome. Dude, Dead Rock has had that skull on it for YEARS. I heard the park system lets them do it, If not why is it there all year, but paint over the rest of the graffiti almost immediately? BTW you sound like a straight up Douche Bag.
Scott, im sorry you seem to be so offended by someone’s artistic work. but if you think that taking away their education will be a sufficient punishment, you are stupid. that would only add to the amount of people that destroy and make rva look like it isnt a wonderful place to live. and if you dont like it, you should pack your bags and move buddy.
and also, that dead head has been there for years getting painted over and over again so nothing will change.
actually sir, you couldnt be more wrong. how can you sit and talk for someone else. actually the grateful dead on on of their tours partied on what is now known as ‘dead rock’ and it has been a legend ever since and im sure the whole group would love that for over 30 years the dead head has been religously painted on there. graff is an art, you a spoon fed prisoner of the state. peace