Tony Harris knows how to throw a party.
In 2007 Harris orchestrated a 10,000-plus gathering of Richmonders in Carytown to ring in the New Year. And in 2008 he ramped up those numbers to 23,000 people, resulting in a legendary New Year’s Eve party that gridlocked nine blocks of Carytown and still has RVA talking to this day.
Despite Harris’ success, the famed New Year’s bash hit opposition in the years to follow. True to his nature, however, Harris didn’t back down. In fact, he found a way to regroup, reenergize, and plan an even larger celebration that will come to fruition this year on Brown’s Island.
To understand the making of this year’s event, called RVA NYE 2015, you must first understand what makes Harris tick.
Over the years, Harris, who is the founder of RVA Magazine, has demonstrated an unwavering work ethic that has earned him the title, “Harbinger of the RVA Movement.” He has pursued his magazine through bad breakups and broken friendships, and along the way he became a father. He has worked unforgiving and tiresome positions at local restaurants while grinding out more than 80 issues in an eight-year span. For his efforts, RVA Magazine is widely known as a publication “For Richmond artists by Richmond artists.”
Harris, who has a graphic design degree from VCU, first cut his chops on Chow On Me, his foray into publishing with his former employer, Sticky Rice. “It was something different from Richmond’s conservative publications — a hodgepodge of design, art, and fanfare,” Harris says. It wasn’t until he was pulled from the kitchen at Sticky Rice one day to see several patrons reading his work did he realize he was on to something.
When Harris’ partners wanted to expand the magazine to other markets, he resisted, insisting that Richmond possessed untapped potential. He says that he felt a sense of responsibility and loyalty, as well as urgency, to build a platform for Richmond’s fledgling underground art scene. To meet this unrealized demand, Harris launched RVA Magazine in 2005 with the goal of becoming the premier platform for underserved artists.
“I heard ‘RVA’ dropped outside of a show. Something they used to say in Richmond during the 80s punk scene. It was edgy and contrasted the conservative attitude so prevalent in Richmond at the time,” Harris explains. “I drew something up, flipped the R because it looked more Batmanish. People liked it; therefore, it stuck.”
But RVA Magazine only came to life after a series of earth-shattering events happened to Harris in a single year: His estranged father was murdered, his long-time girlfriend left him, and he was fired.
“At some point, I realized it’s not worth wasting your life, so I took the $20,000 my father left me, paid off some loans, and began the mag,” Harris says.
“From night shifts, to drinks, to designing until dawn broke, the mag grudged on, never missing a month for the first five years. We began by selling sponsorship by bundling print ads with events. At one point, we were doing 14 events a month.”
Harris says that the magazine eventually outgrew the onslaught of event promotions transitioning toward bigger and more profitable events, like RVA Magazine‘s hallmark weeklong, Halloweek.
While the magazine’s events were hailed as the best around from the participant level, the larger goal at hand was always to build a platform for artists.
“Richmond would not have been able to shed its own murky and prideful past without amplifying the voices right now; by interpreting our art and artists as the people’s voice and needs,” Harris says.
It was this line of thinking that led Harris to spearhead the Richmond Mural Project in 2012 alongside D.C.’s mural behemoth, Art Whino, with the goal of painting 100 murals. And with 70 murals to date, Harris’ vision is well underway.
“My favorite part about the Richmond Mural Project is that now I have internationally renowned artist friends all over the world. And they are telling their friends, ‘look out for Richmond.’ And they’re right. We are doing big things.” With big things currently happening, it was with great excitement that friends were able to convince Harris to host a New Year’s party for RVA this year. After a six-year hiatus from hosting such festivities, Hayden Fisher and Jimmy Budd, founders of RVA Fashion Week, and John Sacs, sound and lighting wizard for high-profile events, pulled Harris out of retirement. Harris agreed to lead the charge for this year’s bash, but with one demand: The event must be massive.
When the group began discussing plans for Brown’s Island early this year it quickly became clear that NYE RVA 2015 would not only be massive, but it would be something that Richmond has never witnessed. To begin, a $40,000 cube comprised of soft LED lights was designed. The cube will set into motion a crescendo of lights, music, and graphics (designed by Harris) during the final moments of 2014.
A free event for those 18 and older, RVA NYE 2015 will benefit the Reggie/Pamela Williams Foundation and M.A.Y.A Foundation. Jack Lauterback and Melissa Chase will serve as hosts on the main stage with performances by Doddie, Mass FX, Soulpower, Trill Bill, and more. The event also offers VIP opportunities; private, heated tents; food vendors; and beer trucks. Harris says that he anticipates 10,000 people in attendance.
While the cube, and the event at large, is designed for all of RVA, one can’t help but hope that Harris revels in the moment and enjoys what he has created. The tradition that he started years ago will surely play out on a grand stage this year with a host of surprises that only Harris and team can deliver.