ChArt Outdoor Initiative seeks to beautify Charleston (updated with video)

Update August 2:

We just spotted this Q & A interview with ChArt founder Geoffrey Michael Richardson on Youtube, posted by user UrbanFishNetwork.

In the video, Richardson talks about the inspiration, people involved, and future plans for the outdoor art initiative happening in West Ashley's Avondale neighborhood. Check it out above.

First reporting:

The ChArt Outdoor Initiative, led by Lava Salon co-owner Geoff Richardson, has one mission: to bring art to all the nooks and crannies of Charleston, beginning with West Ashley's Avondale community.

Richardson has been an active member of the Avondale community since 2006, and he believes it's the ideal area for an intensive mural project.

It all started in 2009 with the Avondale Point Mural Competition. Local artists were challenged to submit works meant for the Children's Cancer Society Thrift Store's tower. The winner was Ed Hose and his mermaid mural.

And now, ChArt is back in action, on track to decorating Avondale's dark corners. Its next project is a full-color mural of a woman painted by legendary local artist Ishmael.

Want to know the ins and outs of ChArt's plans? The Charleston City Paper has a great story; read it here.