Short Pump’s rich history, including an 1850s map, a scene from Deep Run School and the short-handled pump that gave the community its name, is reflected on a new mural at Short Pump Park.
The painted work by Untitled Mixed Media also touches on Henrico County’s history, including Pocahontas and other Indigenous people. The images are part of an artistic refresh of three decorative walls near Pump Road as well as the walkway around them.
“You will see Henrico as we have known it through multiple centuries,” said Julian Charity, assistant director of the Division of Recreation & Parks. “No matter which part of the wall you’re looking at, you’re going to see something different. And it gives you so much of a greater opportunity to engage with Henrico’s history just by being in one of our parks.”
The curved walls are sloped blocks of mortar and cement measuring about 1 foot in width and between 5½ and 7 feet in height. Installed in 2018, they originally included mosaics that focused on coal mining and other aspects of the community’s history and evolution.
Officials recognized an opportunity to incorporate new imagery while planning repairs to address moisture wicking in the walls and other damage. The mosaics were mounted on the park’s picnic shelter, and artists were invited to present proposals based on a preliminary concept for the mural. Spencer Bishop, who works as Untitled Mixed Media, was selected.
“Spencer blew us away,” Charity said of the Richmond artist. “He took that basic concept that we had, and he made it come to life. We want people to engage with history at their own level in places where you may not necessarily suspect history to be. We love to interpret history in every acre of our parkland.”
The mural at Short Pump Park comes after one was unveiled in August as part of the renovated Three Lakes Nature Center. Recreation & Parks is working to incorporate more art at its sites and to even create “art trails.”