Hamilton Glass, Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k Launch All In Together 10k Mural Project
Richmond, VA – Richmond-based artist Hamilton Glass, one of the creators of the ‘All In Together’ community art project, is partnering with the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger for a public mural project in conjunction with this year’s race on April 23. Community members are invited to participate in the project, and work got underway today during a special kickoff event held at Sports Backers Stadium. Glass was on hand to help guide the process and engage with participants. During the kickoff event, Sports Backers also offered a group yoga session
and group run that highlighted several works that were part of the ‘Mending Walls’ project that Glass helped create.
In the 10k All In Together project, participants will take a coloring page or two and illustrate it in a way that represents their own individual expression by adding color, sketches, writing, painting, or collaging to the pages. Each coloring page is a small section of a greater and larger image which has been designed by Glass and aims to celebrate the unity and inclusion of the active community in Richmond. Each finished mural will be made up of 64 coloring sheets and will be assembled by Glass. Sports Backers is excited to display the completed murals at the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k Health & Fitness Expo on Thursday, April 21, and Friday, April 22.
“I believe in the power of art and its ability to bring people and communities together. This mural project will be a great opportunity to engage with people and work together to create something special,” said Glass. “I strive for my work to carry energy and momentum and there are a lot of similarities with running and active living, so it’s great to tie all that together with a community event like the 10k.”
Mural Pages can be Downloaded Online or at Picked Up at Community Locations
In addition to the kickoff event, community members can download and print pages to design and submit through the website www.allintogetherva.com, and they will also be available for pick up during YMCA 10k Training Team group runs on Saturdays and Sundays and at select 10k sponsor locations throughout the Richmond region.
Glass has also collaborated with Sports Backers to create the design for this year’s 10k participant t-shirt, and elements of that design can be seen in the event finisher medal as well.
“We are really excited to continue our partnership with Hamilton Glass as we build the excitement for the return of the 10k on April 23,” said Meghan Keogh, race director for the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger. “This is a unique project and a great way to share the vision of community engagement through public art and active living.”
Glass and fellow Richmond artist Matt Lively originally created the All In Together project to unite the community through collaboration and provide a creative outlet for self expression. The initial phase in 2020 began with a series of coloring pages that were ultimately part of a larger design assembled by Glass and Lively into a mural.
The Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k returns to its traditional in-person format in Richmond on April 23, and the completed mural will be revealed closer to the event date. Registration is open for this year’s event at www.sportsbackers.org, with a price increase set for March 1. The 2022 10k has a registration capacity of 20,000 participants, and the event is over 50 percent full.
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About Sports Backers
With a key message of Let’s Go, RVA, the mission of Sports Backers is to inspire people from all corners of our community to live actively. A non-profit organization, Sports Backers is dedicated to producing nationally recognized quality sporting events and programs that motivate residents and visitors alike to be more active, supporting youth running and fitness programs, and advocating for safe and connected networks of bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Learn more at sportsbackers.org.