Sculpting History

Art, Power, and the “Lost Cause” American Myth

Within the walls of his studio, Edward Valentine sketched, molded, and cast art that would support the narrative of the Lost Cause. Valentine was an artist, a white man who casually accepted the predominant racist ideas of his time and class.

The exhibition interrogates the Valentine Museum’s history and responds to the contentious conversations around monuments. It reexamines the impact of the Lost Cause myth locally and nationally. In 2020, while Richmond’s Confederate monuments were coming down, the museum undertook an ambitious plan to reinterpret Edward Valentine’s sculpture studio to address these specific issues and the national conversation about America’s complicated history.

The narrative embraces history via multiple perspectives, combining physical display and media-driven experience that is educational and highly emotional. The studio is 640sf with one point of entry. The original wood floors, windows, fireplace, and balcony remain. The walls/ceiling have been repainted. Work also included fire safety, structural and mechanical upgrades.

Community engagement was integral to making this project with input before and at multiple points during the design process. Designing through the lens of community amplified their voices and gave them agency. The ability to exhibit in the actual studio of Edward Valentine, the eminent Lost Cause sculptor, demonstrates how architectural space can affect meaningful storytelling. We show that the process is part of the solution, and respect for DEIA requires a change of methodology, listening, and boldness.