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Press Release: Richmond Art Center Presents Fall 2016 Exhibition Program in Conjunction with 80th Anniversary

THE RICHMOND ART CENTER PRESENTS FALL 2016 EXHIBITION PROGRAM IN CONJUNCTION WITH 80TH ANNIVERSARY:
MAKING OUR MARK and MARKING NEW PATHS

In conjunction with its 80th Anniversary, the Richmond Art Center will present two important companion exhibitions that celebrate the legacy of the Art Center as well as look to the future of art and emerging artists in the Bay Area.  

RICHMOND, CA — July 22, 2016 — In celebration of its 80th anniversary and continuous service to the Richmond community and the greater Bay Area, the Richmond Art Center is preparing a major 2016 Fall exhibition, Making Our Mark. From September 13 through November 12 in three galleries, the exhibition will highlight 14 established and nationally known artists who have supported, and enriched the programs and exhibitions at the Art Center over the years. Included among these artists who reflect various philosophies and media (painting, ceramics, fiber, sculpture, and photography) are Christopher Brown, Squeak Carnwath, Enrique Chagoya, Lia Cook, Allan deSouza, Mildred Howard, James Melchert, Hung Liu, Richard Misrach, Richard Shaw, William T. Wiley, and Wanxin Zhang. The opening reception for these exhibitions will take place on Saturday, September 10, from 5-7 pm.

Consistent with the Art Center’s history and mission — to give voice to new artists and open the galleries to new visions, the Art Center has requested that each of these invited artists identify a younger artist whom they have taught or mentored, or whose work they believe should be shown and promoted. The works by these 28 artists represent both current and future generations of artistic voices.  

The Art Center has given many artists their first major exhibitions, helping establish the careers that have supported these artists to become the core of the Bay Area art community — exhibiting, teaching, mentoring, and lighting a path for emerging artists. For today’s younger artists, Making Our Mark presents one of the first major showings of their work. This exhibition places the work of these fresh voices in a historical context with the Art Center.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalog of artwork and interpretation by the Director of Exhibitions, Jan Wurm. The complete list of artists included in Making Our Mark are Dru Anderson, Megan Atherton, Christopher Brown, Ethan Caflisch, Squeak Carnwath, Enrique Chagoya, Lia Cook, Sofia Córdova, Yvette Deas, Allan deSouza, Nathan Dollarhite, Michael Hall, Scott Hewitt, Mildred Howard, Hung Liu, Nicholas Makanna, Bruce McGaw, James Melchert, Richard Misrach, Kate Nartker, Deborah Oropallo, Shari Paladino, Johanna Poethig, Richard Shaw, Ehren Tool, Mary Hull Webster, William T. Wiley, and Wanxin Zhang.

In conjunction with the exhibition Making Our Mark, the Richmond Art Center has also invited Allan deSouza, Professor and Chair of the Department of Art Practice, University of California Berkeley, to guest curate an exhibition, Marking New Paths, in the Community Gallery. The exhibition will include 12 current MFA candidates presenting new works under the self-directed organization of the student cohort.

A number of talks by the artists and art critics regarding the work in the exhibition are planned during the course of the exhibition. The Del Sol String Quartet will also perform in the galleries, interpreting the work through their music and will conduct workshops for elementary, middle, and high school students. Please visit the Richmond Art Center’s website http://richmondartcenter.org/events/ for a full detail of activities and events relating to these exhibitions.

The Fall exhibitions are sponsored by BLICK Art Materials, Mechanics Bank, Jacobs & CO,  and Susan and Steven Chamberlin.

About the Richmond Art Center:

The Richmond Art Center is the largest visual arts center in the East Bay, delivering exciting arts experiences to young and old alike who reflect the diverse richness of our community. The Art Center features hands-on learning, well-equipped studios,  Art in the Community programs and contemporary exhibitions in its galleries.

Every year, the Richmond Art Center serves thousands of students through classes and programs taught by professional artists, both onsite at the Art Center and at sites throughout Richmond. The Art Center’s four galleries mount rotating exhibitions that display the works of emerging and established Bay Area artists. Artists such as Richard Diebenkorn, Jay DeFeo, Wanxin Zhang, Hung Liu, William Wiley and Peter Voulkos have been showcased here.

The Richmond Art Center originated in 1936, when local artist Hazel Salmi, who worked for the WPA, traversed the streets of Richmond with a suitcase packed with art supplies, eager to teach art to anyone interested. Today, everything at the Art Center continues to breathe life into Salmi’s original vision: That within every person lives an artist.

Contact:

Julie Sparenberg
Communications Manager
julie@richmondartcenter.org
510-620-6772

Download a PDF of the press release.

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