RICHMOND -
Hamilton Glass wants Richmonders to reflect upon their place in a new economic era. He's using powerful imagery to accomplish his goal.
Glass, who goes by the name, "Ham," debuted a mural two weeks ago on the back of a Fan office building which depicts a man in a suit, holding a gun to his head.
The artwork is entitled, "Recession 09."
"The piece basically speaks to everyone," explained Ham. "Though it is a little eerie, it's supposed to make everyone feel unified in this recession."
Provoking thought and contemplation was Ham's stated goal. He also managed to rouse the interest of a couple of bed and breakfast owners down the street, however, who have demanded Ham and his backer, Adam Bell of ALB Tech, remove the work.
"We were threatened," noted Bell in an exclusive interview with CBS 6. "No legal action was actually taken, but the threat was made. Instead of going down that road, I've decided to concede."
The proprietors of "The Miller House Bed and Breakfast" did not grant CBS 6 an interview, but did affirm their charge that the piece be removed by December 1.
Bell, who runs a computer repair and web development business on Main Street, commissioned Ham to adorn his building with multiple spray-painted murals.
Bell wanted to blend his business operations with a platform for burgeoning artists, and he chose Ham to decorate ALB Tech.
"The point [of the artwork] is not, if you're a businessman, to take your life," quipped Bell. "The point is to think about the reality of your situation, and bring it to the forefront."
Ham, meanwhile, expressed surprise at the demand from the Miller House owners.
"It's America, and you're free to express yourself the way you are here," said the Philadelphia native. "It's not vandalism, it's a commission piece, and it's my expression."
CBS 6 legal analyst Todd Stone noted that Ham is protected by the first amendment of the constitution, which extends to non-verbal forms of communication like art.
As long as the work doesn't contain obscenity, defamation, or a call for violence, Stone explained, it cannot be forcibly removed from a public venue.
"This is not the type of thing, in my opinion, that the courts would ever conclude incites violence," added Stone. "And it's certainly not obscene or defamatory."
Bell and Ham will be replacing the mural with another piece by December 1, but Ham asserted, "I will still express myself."
Glass, who goes by the name, "Ham," debuted a mural two weeks ago on the back of a Fan office building which depicts a man in a suit, holding a gun to his head.
The artwork is entitled, "Recession 09."
"The piece basically speaks to everyone," explained Ham. "Though it is a little eerie, it's supposed to make everyone feel unified in this recession."
Provoking thought and contemplation was Ham's stated goal. He also managed to rouse the interest of a couple of bed and breakfast owners down the street, however, who have demanded Ham and his backer, Adam Bell of ALB Tech, remove the work.
"We were threatened," noted Bell in an exclusive interview with CBS 6. "No legal action was actually taken, but the threat was made. Instead of going down that road, I've decided to concede."
The proprietors of "The Miller House Bed and Breakfast" did not grant CBS 6 an interview, but did affirm their charge that the piece be removed by December 1.
Bell, who runs a computer repair and web development business on Main Street, commissioned Ham to adorn his building with multiple spray-painted murals.
Bell wanted to blend his business operations with a platform for burgeoning artists, and he chose Ham to decorate ALB Tech.
"The point [of the artwork] is not, if you're a businessman, to take your life," quipped Bell. "The point is to think about the reality of your situation, and bring it to the forefront."
Ham, meanwhile, expressed surprise at the demand from the Miller House owners.
"It's America, and you're free to express yourself the way you are here," said the Philadelphia native. "It's not vandalism, it's a commission piece, and it's my expression."
CBS 6 legal analyst Todd Stone noted that Ham is protected by the first amendment of the constitution, which extends to non-verbal forms of communication like art.
As long as the work doesn't contain obscenity, defamation, or a call for violence, Stone explained, it cannot be forcibly removed from a public venue.
"This is not the type of thing, in my opinion, that the courts would ever conclude incites violence," added Stone. "And it's certainly not obscene or defamatory."
Bell and Ham will be replacing the mural with another piece by December 1, but Ham asserted, "I will still express myself."
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
