New public art lands at former dumping ground in Richmond

State of play: "Cardinal Points" is a 7-foot-2-inch steel sculpture by local artist Noah Scalin and now perches at the dead end on South Addison Street near Lamplighter Coffee.

• Local developer Markham Planning, which is building the Parkline townhomes project on the adjacent lot, paid for the piece, gifted it to the city and said it'll cover the cost of its upkeep.
• Their goal was to spruce up the once-neglected site at the base of the pedestrian bridge over the Downtown Expressway.

Zoom in: For artist Scalin, the goal was to acknowledge "the devastating reality of divided communities," a nod to the thousands of local families, many of them Black, displaced when the Expressway was constructed more than 50 years ago, per a new release.

• The cardinal (Virginia's state bird) represents freedom. When viewed from the back, the sculpture emulates the city's street grid.
• Shelves within the bird are meant to encourage community interaction, through "small offerings, book sharing" or "inspirational notes."

What's next: The unveiling is on Friday at 2pm at the intersection of South Addison Street and Apple Alley.