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By Diane O'Neal
When asked where one might enjoy shopping within the city, oftentimes Carytown is the first neighborhood mentioned. But, while Carytown is indeed a Richmond tradition for shopping, dining and experiencing a variety of cultural opportunities, the coming years hold promise of growing competition. Travel just ten blocks east and you will arrive at your new destination. Say hello to River City’s Uptown.
 Located on Main Street between Harrison and Meadow, the Uptown district borders the bustle of VCU. Decades ago, property investor Ed Eck envisioned the potential for this stretch of the Fan to be a spin-off, somewhat, of Washington D.C.’s Georgetown – a neighborhood full of cultural outlets enlivened by the life of academia. Over twenty years later, his vision is becoming reality, as restaurants, coffee shops, nightspots, boutiques and art galleries are making Uptown their home.
While Uptown offers a similar variety of resources like that of Carytown and the Libbie and Grove area, the true distinction that sets Uptown apart is the concentration of Fine Art Galleries located within these few blocks. Rivaling the well-known art walk stretch of galleries on Broad Street, Uptown is dense with high-caliber art designed to target the mature audience. The contemporary installations commonly shown in Richmond’s non-profit gallery spaces are intriguing and significant in the art world, but when it comes to Fine Art, contemporary and otherwise, that is accessible for your home, Uptown is the place to go. Deirdre Nivala, gallery director at Artemis (see directory, page 38), says that the concerns of the businesses in the Uptown district center is providing patrons with the opportunity to own a unique piece of art that they can love forever. Her commitment to the business of art, a trait common amongst all gallery owners in Uptown, comes from her desire to share her passion with others in a tangible way, which at Artemis is made possible by showcasing pieces that range from $5 to $5,000.
Other galleries in the area are equally committed in their goals and standards of art. Jennifer Glave and BJ Kocen, co-owners and directors of the glave kocen gallery, have specific criteria for selecting the artists that they support. Because they take an active role in the careers of their featured artists, they ensure that not only the artwork itself is unique and of high quality, but that prices are fair. They also ensure that that the artist is passionate and sincere about his or her work. Two blocks east of glave kocen, visitors to Uptown Gallery, Richmond’s only artists’ co-op, have the opportunity to buy artwork directly from the artists themselves. Reynolds Gallery is a staple in the Richmond art scene, bringing the work of world famous artists to us for over 30 years.
Each gallery functions on its own schedule for new exhibitions, but generally there are new things to see every two months. The Uptown district also hosts first Friday events, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the featured art in a sophisticated setting alongside artists and gallery owners, without the hustle and bustle that might otherwise detract serious collectors and patrons from such events. The most important element at these Uptown Galleries is simply the art.
When driving down Main Street today, this four block stretch of galleries might not seem to be a thriving cultural arena at first glance, however, with the opening of new businesses and the continued development of the Uptown association, the face of the district is quickly redefining and refining itself. Even now, and more so in the coming months Uptown is becoming and will be recognized, as one of Richmond’s truly great neighborhoods, with its own specific culture and flare. And most important, Uptown will continue to offer us the resources necessary to make art a part of our everyday lives.
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