Eighteen teens from Richmond and San Pablo will unveil the two large murals they collaboratively designed and painted during a community celebration on Thursday, July 31 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm in the Marina Bay neighborhood of Richmond.
The murals are the culmination of a free eight-week summer class, part of the Richmond Art Center’s traveling Art in the Community programs, and sponsored by Topline, a business accelerator program which started in Richmond in June. The murals grace the entrance of its 40,000-square-foot building, which Topline’s founder, Allan Young, calls the biggest incubator co-working space in the East Bay.
“This mural project has been both a wonderful way to engage and build community and generate pride amongst the teens,” says Richard Ambrose, Richmond Art Center Executive Director. “The murals are a lasting piece of public art that the teens, the business community and the entire city can be proud of for years to come.”
“We learned how to use metal the right way, how to form it, but in a safe way.”
That’s how a middle school student described what he learned in the Metal Arts class at our newest site, DeJean Middle School. Our traveling Art in the Community program continues to expand and we are now at eight unique sites.
This spring, we are set to bring a variety of art-making programs all across Richmond. Instructor Rachel Schaffran will teach two STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) classes at Lincoln Elementary and Helms Middle School.
Students at DeJean Middle School will paint a mural with artists Suzanne Czerny and Nichole Talbott and at Portola Middle School, teens will screen- print with teaching artist Monica Gyulai. Students at Grant Elementary will be making beautiful metal objects with Holly Carter.
At Nevin Community Center, students will learn ceramics from Kiki Rostad, and at Shields-Reid Community Center, they will create mosaic embellishments with instructor Daud Abdullah. At the Richmond Main Public Library kids will listen to works of children’s literature and make art with Irma Vega Bijou.
Constructing a city with recyclable materials at the Richmond Public Library main branch.
This amazing season will conclude with Jessica Regalado leading families through several art-making experiences at two Youth Enrichment Strategies (YES) camps.
If you are interested in bringing our Art in the Community programs to your group or school?
