You may have seen the Knitorious MEG in action around town.
She has been a stripper in Richmond for the past 15 years. It is usually a loose pole that folds into a shredded sleeve. Or more ambitious, like a rainbow-striped bench in Byrd Park.
A love bomb from Knitorious MEG on Riverside Drive.
Or his love bombs, the twisted hearts on abandoned post-its that pop up all over town.
"My goal is to have 150 love bombs in Richmond by Valentine's Day," Knittorius said by phone last week.
Knitorious MEG is a street artist whose work is temporary and can be removed without damaging existing structures. He prefers to remain anonymous. Which made the launch of his first exhibition, Lovers Lane, now open at the Louis Ginter Botanical Garden, a bit difficult, but not impossible.
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"As a resident of Richmond, I follow his street art in the community," said Beth Ann Booth, exhibition manager for Louis Ginter. “Every time I see one of the love bombs, it brings me joy and happiness. "How cool would it be to have an experience like that in the garden?" I think.
"I usually shoot everyone. I've had offers. I like to do what I want. But I have a weakness for herbs. They came at the right time," Knitorius said.
A love bomb from Knitorious MEG at the Science Museum of Virginia.
Knitorious grew up in the Tidewater/Hampton Roads area. She moved to New York for a while, then returned to Richmond and began learning to knit with friends. They became a spinning bomb group called K1D2, as the saying goes, "One shirt, two drinks."
“I'm not sure what we've been through. We loved how different it was then," says Knitorius. Then life happened, people in the band got married, left, but Knitorius continued.
He admires the graffiti scene in New York City and often takes photos of the street art he sees.
"I know love bombs best. I feel like they're very special to Richmond," Knitorius said. "When I started 15 years ago, there were a lot of downs. Poles galore. Now you're going to see a lot less free tokens.
She feels drawn to the rough neighborhoods of the city. Damaged areas that seem to need love. It remained within the city limits.
"The more vulnerable the country is, the better. I like places where you don't normally find a lot of street art," Knitorius said. His friends and their kids are always on the lookout, sending pictures of empty poles or cool places to drop bombs.
A cannonball bomb on the MEG deck at Mayo Bridge.
Knittorius has some of the best places to visit in the city. When she feels like it, she puts the ladder in the car and drives off into the darkness, ready to defuse the bomb.
Knitorious, who grew up in Tidewater, was inspired by the Purple Lady of Suffolk. There was no graffiti or street art in Tidewater back then, but there was the Purple Lady.
love bomb no. 53 (Canal Street)
"He was a mysterious person. No one knew much about it. He wears a purple turban from head to toe. Everyone knows his house. It was a purple house. "You'd see him walking down Route 17 with a big purple bucket and painting as many telephone poles as he could," Knitorius said.
"The mystery of publications and the mystery of this image. She brought something very unusual and unique to a rather formal setting. I am grateful for it," said Knitorius. "I don't know why I do it, but I know she's a part of it.
I liked that we don't know much about him. You can make your own budget. That's why I like to keep a little secret," he said.
Knitorious writes about the Purple Lady on her blog https://kninoriousmeg.com making purple yarn pumps in honor of the Purple Lady. The Richmond-based artist was shocked when she started receiving emails and text messages from people who had seen the Purple Lady and were wondering about her.
"I would say that I am more connected to The Purple Lady than to my work," says Knitorius.
Knitorious MEG will present its first exhibition at the Louis Ginter Botanic Gardens, Lovers Lane, until March 31.
Knitorious kept his identity a secret. She was invited to participate in this year's RVA Street Art festival, where she loved fur. And now the Louis Ginter Botanic Garden is taking over part of Lovers Lane with a series of spin bombs.
"Knitorious adopted a mask for Covid. I have never seen them without a mask.” Lewis Ginter Booth recounts the early days they met to plan the exhibit at Lewis Ginter's.
"I don't want to give away any spoilers. There's love bombing somewhere in the garden," Booth said. "Our guests are excited to come and enjoy this experience for themselves."
Lewis Ginter will be presenting a 'Love, Garden' theme for February and March, a love lane by Knitorious MEG, as well as a huge backyard bird count where visitors are invited to count birds on Saturdays and a bonsai display with more than 25 bonsai. fruits.
And keep an eye out for new Knitorious love bombs rolling around town in the coming weeks.
"Decades of love bombs have passed. I'm at 140 now but I want to hit 150 by Valentine's day. Valentine's time is when I work," said Knitorius.
29 photos from The Times-Dispatch archives
In year
In 1963, Virginia Polytechnic Institute associate entomologist JM Amos demonstrated the molecular trap. Although moles are not the main enemy of gardeners, their paths are often used by other rodents that eat roots or plant bulbs.
This November 1971 photo shows a monument in eastern Henrico County commemorating the flood of the "Terrible Year 1771" in Richmond. On the other hand, the monument mentions the year 1772 and contains an inscription of Ryland Randolph in memory of his parents.
In August 1953, members of the Junior Girls' Club of Monacan were seeking volunteers for an upcoming blood drive at Tuckahoe Elementary School in Henrico County. Ms. Allen J. Carter Calling Prospective Customers, Ms. William F.
In May 1963, Florence H. Rose describes registration procedures for students Joan Voss and Harold Costley at the Richmond Youth Employment Center on Ninth Street downtown. In July of that year, the center, operated by the Virginia Employment Commission and the Richmond Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations, helped employ 9 percent of Richmond's youth.
In August 1968, garbage was dumped on a street in downtown Richmond. The "Battle of '68" campaign, which lasted eight days in late June and early July, mobilized a cleanup force of 150 city workers and made progress in seven areas. But the Richmond Advertising Club has planned a follow-up call for city residents to join the fight against waste.
July 1959 Tredegar Co. A worker assembles parts at the company's new plant on Courthouse Road in Chesterfield County. One of the company's jobs at that time was the processing of rocket stabilizers.
In February 1961, Adrian Price, a senior at Westhampton College in Richmond, was preparing to teach geography. She was recently named "Best Dressed" by a school affiliated with the University of Richmond.
In 1944, Mrs. Alfred Adkins of Gordo, Alabama, and her two daughters visited the Travelers' Aid Society in Richmond on their way to Williamsburg, where her soldier husband was stationed. The company was a founding member of the Richmond War and Community Fund and provided travel assistance to military and civilian personnel.
In March 1990, a young bagpiper was part of a St. Patrick's Day parade on West Broad Street in Richmond.
In March 1954, 8-year-old Perry Sinickson climbed an owl with a little help from instructor Stuart Felvey. They were at the Deep Run Pony Club in Goochland County, a new horse program for teenagers and the first of its kind in Virginia.
In November 1964, St. Catherine's students Cindy McDonough (left) and Rosie Kemper (right) are escorted to class by teacher Lucille Tang Liu. Liu, the junior high school librarian and French and Chinese history teacher, was from China and moved from Montreal to Richmond to become one of several international teachers.
In June 1966, 8-year-old summer camper Larry Harris explored the water facilities at Camp Thunderbird, a YMCA that opened that year in Chesterfield County. More than 50 years ago, the Boy Scouts ran Camp Shawandasee there.
In December 1947 TE Burton Jr. examining a patient at his doll hospital on Forest Hill Avenue in Richmond. Burton, an employee of the State Highway Department, was a part-time chief surgeon at the toy hospital he escaped from. She got into the restoration business when her two daughters found antique Chinese dolls they desperately needed for a job. Burton averaged about 10 patients a week, with a busy period during the holidays.
In October 1982, Tim Smith observed the growth of banana clusters at Highland Springs. His father, George, started growing banana bushes 10 years ago after a friend gave him a plant. The plant was grown and multiplied into 89 banana trees, from 6-inch seedlings to 18-foot trees. (George Smith said he did not eat the fruit, but grew it because he thought it was a beautiful plant.)
In June 1973, retired Bishop John J. Russell filled Sacred Heart Cathedral in Richmond for a service celebrating the 50th anniversary of his ordination.
In April 1985, Blanche Whittaker used the elevator for the last time at Central Fidelity Bank in downtown Richmond. Whittaker had been retired for more than three decades and was believed to be the city's last manual elevator operator. With his departure, the bank plans to switch the elevator to automatic control.
In December 1991, the Westover Hills Neighborhood Association held a dedication ceremony for the newly erected bronze markers on the center line of Westover Hills Boulevard in south Richmond.
In August 1989, Joe Coppola (right), owner of Coppola's Deli, and manager Bill Gerloff carefully assembled a 40-foot Italian hero at the Carytown restaurant. The sub giant calls for three boxes of tomatoes, 50 pounds of sausage and 15 pounds of provolone cheese. The sandwich is made for the Carytown Watermelon Festival, and customers can buy a 5-inch for $5.
In November 1965, Richmond Mayor Morrill M. Crowe cut the ceremonial ribbon to mark the start of Eastern Airlines passenger service from Byrd Field in New York. The flight's pilot, Captain Ardy Tyler, and flight attendant Margaret McLaughlin retrieved the tape.
In November 1961, Senator John J. Wicker flew to Boston dressed as a settler and delivered papers to the governor of Massachusetts and a live turkey, two years before Virginia celebrated its first Thanksgiving in 1619. Pilgrims carrying Plymouth .
In January 1972, Reverend Constantine Dombalis, head of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saints Constantine and Helena, at the beginning of his visit, sprinkled holy water on the foreheads of two parishioners and blessed the house for the 300 parishioners.
Since July 1954, Mrs. Arthur Franklin resided at 221 E. Main St. in Richmond. He worked on a show at Jeters, his jewelry store. Founded in 1888, the store was a supplier of saddles and bridles for the New York sporting goods house Abercrombie & Fitch. In A key customer in the 1950s was Colonial Williamsburg, which furnished its horses with tools and other accessories made by Jetters strictly in 18th-century design.
In September 1975, handler Bobby Barlow exhibited a champion Hill Hudson sled dog, which was named best in dog show at the Virginia Kennel Club in Richmond. On the left is Judge George C. Ehmig and on the right is Program Director Lawrence W. Bracken Jr.
In October 1959, an overflowing Rivanna River flooded the Albemarle County Fairgrounds, delaying the opening of the carnival. The pelican, part of the wildlife exhibit for the event, was dry and tents and vehicles were in several feet of water.
In the 1960s, the Artmobile was essentially a traveling exhibit for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The updated version, a museum and classroom on wheels, is expected to park in schools, nursing homes and community centers.
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