Window displays in Shockoe Bottom celebrate Black history

Throughout the month of February, visitors to Richmond's Shockoe Bottom will have a chance to take a trip back in time and see what everyday life was like for Black Richmonders of the past. 

An outdoor art exhibit entitled “Portals” will be on display in the windows of 20 Shockoe Bottom businesses, all located in or around the 17th Street Market, in celebration of Black History Month.

Led by the Department of Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, the exhibition features large-scale photos of Black Richmonders from the early 1800s to the 1980s. 

Installer Rebecca Phillips said she got the idea for this exhibition from a similar project in Philadelphia, and Richmond’s businesses and property owners were quick to jump on board. 

“We couldn’t have done it without their support,” Phillips said.

Shockoe Bottom was chosen because of its abundance of empty windows and its rich history around the African American community, she said.

“There are so many businesses in the Bottom that make this area unique and vibrant, and I want them to thrive,” she said. “I have a great boss who let me run with the idea and we have had great support from Venture Richmond to help cover costs.” 

All of the photographs on display were curated from photos in the collections of The Valentine or Black History Museum. Each photograph also features a QR code that goes to the project's website.

In a series of striking photographs, viewers can see glimpses of the daily lives of African American Richmonders. Phillips said the exhibit showcases the lives and legacies of normal Richmonders, not just famous ones. 

In the window of Misfit Tattoo, there is a photo depicting woodcutters in Shockoe Bottom. In another window, there’s a photo of a man standing in a tobacco field on Monument Avenue which stands in stark contrast to the mansion-lined Monument Avenue we know today.

“The photos are of everyday people in Richmond and Central Va.,” Phillips said. “I wanted to capture daily life, so it really feels like a glimpse into the past.” 

“We do have one famous Richmonder, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who influenced music in a huge way, but we don’t hear about her a lot,” Phillips said. “We also have some local Richmond artists featuring their artwork like Carren Clarke and Ron Stokes.”

Phillips said she hopes this exhibition will inspire important conversations about the past and our connection to it. 

“I hope to hear, ‘Wow, I haven’t been down here in a while, I’m so glad I came,’ and I want people to realize we all have more in common that we don’t, even with people from the past,” she said. 

The exhibition is free and self-guided. It’s on display through Feb. 26.

Vendor chosen for Shockoe Institue project

Team Henry Enterprises has been chosen to construct the Shockoe Institute, an educational facility located at Main Street Station and funded by an $11 million grant from the New York City based Mellon Foundation.

"Our team understands the profound significance of this site, and we are committed to executing this project with the utmost care, precision, and respect it deserves," said Devon Henry, President and CEO of Team Henry Enterprises, in a press release.

The goal is to open the Institute in 2026.