‘TAP Into Transit Day:’ a whimsical way to showcase art, access and action
RICHMOND, VA — A typical Wednesday afternoon in Shockoe Bottom turned into something special with TAP Into Transit Day. At Main Street Station, people were welcomed by local celebrity Nutzy, a woman in a cardboard bus costume and a man making balloon giraffe hats. But the star of the show was a colorful GRTC bus with a DJ inside and custom street art on the exterior and interior, where attendees were able to add their own art.
Nico Cathcart | Taken by Paint Louis Photographer
“The more we can focus on public service like free transportation — that’s super punk rock, that’s super awesome and I’d love to see more positive action like this in the community,” said Nico Cathcart, a muralist and painter who’s been making art locally for about two decades.
Cathcart instantly meshed with the city after being introduced to the punk scene by friends.
“I come from the punk rock, do-it-yourself community,” she said. “The combination of art and music was a big thing for me, so I just fell in love almost immediately.”
Cathcart contributed the art piece “Scuffle Town” for the event. The name of the title is a nod to Avail, a leading Richmond-based hardcore band.
Silly Genius (L) at TAP Into Transit Day in Shockoe Bottom.
According to Cathcart, it was a collaborative effort with All City Art Club, which is run by Silly Genius, one of the few local artists responsible for the art on the event’s GRTC bus. The other muralists involved were Chris Visions and Davi Leventhal, close friends of Cathcart and Silly Genius.