RICHMOND, Va. — GRTC has teamed up with local artist Silly Genius to spray paint one of its buses, turning it into a rolling work of art ahead of the organization's annual Tap into Transit Day.
The free community event returns July 14, running from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Main Street Station. It will feature rider stories, a silent auction, local food trucks and more.
Ashley Potter, communications manager for GRTC, said the painted bus is meant to highlight the connection between the arts and public transit.
"We will be transforming this bus into a moving art piece throughout the community and really what we want that to do is just showcase that partnership between the art community and transit and how important those things work out," Potter said.
Silly Genius, who has been building a following as a visual artist in Richmond, said his approach to the bus mural blends styles.
"Somewhere in between planned and freestyling. I just put it down, the line works, and then this is sort of just a guide, and then I kind of fill in the space as I go," Silly Genius said. "You want to take your surroundings into account, so I'm playing around with placement. Like, where are people going to be seeing this from? Where should I place this element?"
The artist said he expects to complete the mural within a week and described the project as an extension of a tradition of public art that is accessible to everyone.
"It travels, there's no barrier to entry," he said.
He also said he liked the project as a source of hometown pride.
"Just doing something cool for Richmond," he said.
The Tap into Transit Day fundraiser supports keeping bus fare free in Richmond. GRTC buses have been fare free since March 2020, the beginning of the COVID pandemic.
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