Cityscape: Slices of life and scenes in Richmond
3/22/2019, 6 a.m.
Large, triangular public art stands on the future site of the Historic Fulton Memorial Park at 5001 Williamsburg Road at the foot of Powhatan Hill in the East End. The main element of the unsigned work is a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; it is fear.” Decorative woodprints are on the other two sides, but nothing is attached that explains how the work came to be. The photo makes it seem that the work towers over nearby houses, but that effect came from shooting the work from the ground looking up. The piece actually is as tall as a basketball player. The artwork is the only fixture at the site of the park, which is still on hold. The city accepted bids last year for construction work on the site, but canceled when responses from contractors exceeded the budget. As envisioned, the park would pay tribute to the people of the African-American community in the area that was torn down for urban renewal efforts more than 40 years ago.
