Richmond Art Center
Richmond Art Center

Press Release: Lucha Libre, Día de los Muertos, and—of course—plenty of Art-Making Fun

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 5, 2024

Richmond, CA: Richmond Art Center announces two special events to celebrate the fall season with dance, drama, and plenty of art-making fun.

Right Here, Right Now – Sunset Social

Friday, September 20, 5pm-8pm | FREE ENTRY
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA
EVENT WEBPAGE

Let’s gather at sunset for art and community as we bid farewell to summer. Richmond Art Center’s courtyard and galleries will be transformed into a space for celebrating the artists featured in Right Here, Right Now, Richmond with art-making, music, and more.

Meet the Oasis Pro Lucha Libre Wrestlers, and view Anthony Delgado‘s photography capturing them in action. Participate in a Richmond-themed art project led by artist Quinn Keck, and watch live screen printing by Art Hazelwood. Enjoy custom cocktails by The Factory Bar and light bites from local food vendors, all set to a soundtrack by DJ Graham LP.

It’s not often we open our galleries after dark – don’t miss it!

Día de los Muertos: Fall Family Day

Saturday, October 19, 12pm-3pm  | FREE
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA
EVENT WEBPAGE


Join us for a celebration of Día de los Muertos at Richmond Art Center. Our courtyard and galleries will come alive with art-making, music, and a live performance by Danza Azteca Teokalli.

This free event is open to kids of all ages and their families. Artists and activities include a community Mural with Luis García, repujado with Rachel-Anne Palacios, lavender smudge offering, and more.

No RSVP is needed—just bring your creativity and festive spirit!

Accessibility and Parking: Ample free parking is available in the 25th Street lot across the street from Richmond Art Center. The facility is accessible to wheelchair users via the Barrett Avenue entrance, adjacent to a parking lot with six accessible spaces. Parking and Entrance Map

About Richmond Art Center: Richmond Art Center has been sharing art and creating with the community since 1936. Our programs encompass classes, exhibitions, and events at our facility in downtown Richmond, as well as off-site activities that bring free, high-quality art-making experiences to WCCUSD schools and community partners. richmondartcenter.org
 
For more information and images contact:
Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org

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Press Release: Introducing four new exhibitions this fall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 19, 2024

Introducing four new exhibitions this fall

Right Here, Right Now: A Biennial of Richmond Art  |  Sentinels & Saviors
Abi Mustapha: Recent Work  |  The Art of Sumi-e


September 4 – November 21
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 7, 1pm-3pm

Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm
Exhibitions and events are all free and no rsvp is necessary


Richmond, CA: This fall, Richmond Art Center’s galleries will showcase a dynamic range of art, spanning innovative local visions and ideas, to traditional Japanese ink paintings, and beyond.

In the Main Gallery, Right Here, Right Now, Richmond celebrates local artists’ innovative work. Now in its third iteration, this biennial exhibition features new work by Anthony DelgadoArt Hazelwood, e bondErin McCluskey WheelerHelia PouyanfarQuinn Keck, and Taro Hattori, reflecting on Richmond’s history, environment, and vibrant communities.

“As the artists created new work for this show, a theme to emerge is ‘home’ in its many forms—physical, cultural, and emotional,” says Roberto Martinez, the biennial’s curator. “Maybe it’s obvious, but in a rapidly changing city, home is always worth exploring.”

READ MORE ABOUT THE BIENNIAL…

Also opening at Richmond Art Center this fall are three more exhibitions:

  • Sentinels & Saviors: Iconic Avatars presents work by Joell Jones and Kim Thoman, who create space for introspection. Jones’ paintings explore a woman’s journey into self-discovery through pictorial art. Thoman presents abstract steel figures inspired by Chinese Terracotta Warriors, symbolizing guardianship and protection during her illness recovery.
  • Abi Mustapha‘s solo exhibition shares her new series of paintings that fuse portraiture with vibrant botanical landscapes. Mustapha states, “My hope is to elicit a sense of reverence for the magic of our interconnectedness.”
  • Finally, the Community Gallery will feature The Art of Sumi-e, showcasing Japanese ink brush paintings by students from Fumiyo Yoshikawa‘s beginner sumi-e class at Richmond Art Center, along with works by Sensei Yoshikawa herself.

An Opening Reception for all exhibitions will be held on Saturday, September 7, from 1pm to 3pm. All are welcome to attend.

Richmond Art Center will be open late on Friday, September 20, from 5pm to 8pm for a Sunset Social. The courtyard and galleries will be transformed into a space for celebrating the artists featured in Right Here, Right Now with performances, live art demonstrations, and more. It’s not often we open our galleries after dark – don’t miss it!

Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.

About Richmond Art Center: Richmond Art Center has been sharing art and creating with the community since 1936. Our programs encompass classes, exhibitions and events at our facility in downtown Richmond, as well as off-site activities that bring free, high-quality art making experiences to WCCUSD schools and community partners. richmondartcenter.org

Right Here, Right Now is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.


Top image: Abi Mustapha, Dionaea, 2024, 30″ x 24″, Oil and Acrylic on Canvas
 
For more information and images contact:
Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org
 

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Press Release: Right Here, Right Now, Richmond

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 19, 2024

ANNOUNCING:

Press Release: Right Here, Right Now, Richmond

September 4 – November 21, 2024
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm
Exhibitions and events are all free and no rsvp is necessary

Richmond, CA: Richmond Art Center is proud to present Right Here, Right Now, Richmond. Now in its third iteration, this biennial exhibition celebrates the visionary art and ideas of local artists in Richmond, California.

A year ago, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, seven artists who live or work in Richmond were invited to create new work that expanded their creative practices. These artists are: Anthony Delgado, Art Hazelwood, e bond, Erin McCluskey Wheeler, Helia Pouyanfar, Quinn Keck, and Taro Hattori. The resulting work for Right Here, Right Now, Richmond offers a creative lens on Richmond and the Bay Area’s history, environment, and the experiences of its vibrant communities.

“As the artists created new work for this show, a theme to emerge is ‘home’ in its many forms—physical, cultural, and emotional,” says Roberto Martinez, the exhibition’s curator. “Maybe it’s obvious, but in a rapidly changing city, home is always worth exploring.”

Erin McCluskey and Art Hazelwood respond to the impact of capitalism’s consumerist tendencies on Richmond’s natural and social environments. McCluskey’s micro-plastic mosaic sculptures, made from reclaimed trash collected from the shoreline, reflect the lasting impact that excessive consumption and waste has on our bodies and planet. In a similar spirit, Hazelwood’s gothic prints depict the mechanisms of capitalism as monstrous entities, countered by the hope of community unity overcoming these oppressive forces. 

Set against the backdrop of Richmond’s urban landscape, Anthony Delgado’s photographic documentation of Lucha Libre dramatizes the eternal struggle between good and evil, capturing a visual opera that transcends language and borders. 

Taro Hattori and Helia Pouyanfar open up conversations around home, memory and belonging, centering the refugee experience in our understanding of community. Hattori’s sonic installation created in collaboration with refugees and non-refugees, provides a stage for songs and stories that illuminate our shared human experiences, helping find points of connection and revelation. Pouyanfar’s sculptural works speak to a more intimate conversation, a grappling of the refugee body and its negotiation and reconciliation with place. Through the use of mirrors, drywall and other building materials, Pouyanfar materializes memory and forces us to think about the meaning of home. 

In an exploration of our different experiences and relationships to home, Quinn Keck has woven together words, stories, poems and images of Richmond into a multi-media installation that abstracts, recombines and superimposes personal contributions and archival materials onto each other: deriving and capturing the infinite ideas and profound beauty that come together to evoke a sense of place. 

Lastly, e bond presents a series of vibrant mixed media collage prints whose individual but infinite circular forms call for moments of singularity. bond’s work presents a deep exploration of images and words that map connections between our disparate thoughts and experiences, culminating in unity as a singular whole. 

PROGRAM

EXHIBITION
September 4 – November 21, 2024
Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
Admission is free. CLICK HERE to learn about our Art Tours program, including free tours for Richmond youth.

OPENING RECEPTION
Saturday, September 7, 1pm to 3pm | Free
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
Join us for the opening reception of Right Here, Right Now. Also opening are fall exhibitions, Sentinels & Saviors; Abi Mustapha: Recent Work; and The Art of Sumi-e. All are welcome to attend. No RSVP necessary.

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW: SUNSET SOCIAL
Friday, September 20, 5pm-8pm | Free
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
Let’s gather at sunset for art and community as we bid farewell to summer. Richmond Art Center’s courtyard and galleries will be transformed into a space for celebrating the artists featured in Right Here, Right Now with performances, live art demonstrations, and more. It’s not often we open our galleries after dark – don’t miss it!

WATERSHED’S COASTAL CLEANUP WITH ERIN MCCLUSKEY WHEELER
Saturday, September 21, 8am-5pm
Shimada Friendship Park, Peninsula Drive and Marina Bay Parkway

Artist Erin McCluskey will be participating in the 40th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day on September 21, collecting beach litter to incorporate into her mixed media work. Join Erin in finding artistic inspiration while contributing to the cleanup of Shimada Friendship Park’s shoreline. This event is organized by The Watershed Project and County Supervisor John Gioia. Please dress in layers, wear a hat and/or sunscreen, and sturdy closed-toe shoes. Cleanup supplies will be provided, but if possible, bring a bucket, reusable gloves, and a water bottle to help minimize waste. Learn more and register: https://thewatershedproject.org/event/coastal-cleanup-day-2024/

About Richmond Art Center: Richmond Art Center has been sharing art and creating with the community since 1936. Our programs encompass classes, exhibitions, and events at our facility in downtown Richmond, as well as off-site activities that bring free, high-quality art-making experiences to WCCUSD schools and community partners. richmondartcenter.org

For more information contact:
Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org

Above image details (clockwise from top left): Artworks by Art Hazelwood, e bond, Anthony Delgado, and Erin McCluskey Wheeler.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Press Release: Exploring the Impact of Art in Prisons – Panel Discussion and Community Paint Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 3, 2024

The View from Here: Panel Discussion and Paint Day

Saturday, July 13, 11 am |  FREE
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
EVENT WEBPAGE

Richmond, CA: Learn about the impact of art in prisons from formerly incarcerated artists at a special discussion and paint day at Richmond Art Center. This event will feature artists Mwasi Fuvi and Eddie Ramirez, who will be joined by prison art program facilitators Carol Newborg of the William James Association’s San Quentin Prison Arts Project and Phoebe Bachman from Mural Arts Philadelphia at SCI Phoenix.

Panel Discussion: Mwasi Fuvi (Bay Area), Eddie Ramirez (Philadelphia), Phoebe Bachman (Philadelphia), and Carol Newborg (Bay Area) will share their insights as program alumni and facilitators of art programs in prisons, exploring the role of art, the day-to-day of prison art initiatives, and the genesis of their bi-coastal collaboration.

Live Mural Painting: Following the discussion, Eddie Ramirez will demonstrate his mural painting technique, showcasing a design created by artists at SCI Phoenix. Community members are invited to participate in completing the mural (Richmond Art Center will be open until 4pm for painting).

This event is part of the ongoing exhibition, The View from Here, one of KQED Art’s “Not-To-Miss Visual Art” shows of the summer. At Richmond Art Center through August 17, the exhibition features artwork by incarcerated artists from San Quentin and SCI Phoenix, as well as letters exchanged between these artists, highlighting a year-long creative exchange between the two prison art programs. 

Event Details:

  • Date: Saturday, July 13, 2024
  • Time: 11am start (the mural painting will begin at approximately noon)
  • Location: Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
  • Admission: Free and open to the public. No RSVP is required.

About Richmond Art Center: Richmond Art Center has been sharing art and creating with the community since 1936. Our programs encompass classes, exhibitions, and events at our facility in downtown Richmond, as well as off-site activities that bring free, high-quality art-making experiences to WCCUSD schools and community partners. richmondartcenter.org

About William James Association’s San Quentin Prison Arts Project: The William James Association promotes work service in the arts, environment, education, and community development. Our work has been primarily centered around transformative arts experiences in nontraditional settings, serving men and women in and after prison and high-risk youth. Acting on the conviction that the fine arts enrich, heal, and unite communities, the William James Association has brought exceptional artists into prisons throughout California and other states since 1977. williamjamesassociation.org/prison-arts-project

About Mural Arts Philadelphia: Mural Arts Philadelphia is the nation’s largest public art program, dedicated to the belief that art ignites change. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary with the theme Roots & Reimagination, Mural Arts has united artists and communities through a collaborative and equitable process, creating over 4,300 artworks that have transformed public spaces and individual lives. Mural Arts aims to empower people, stimulate dialogue, and build bridges to mutual understanding through projects that attract artists from Philadelphia and around the world and programs that focus on youth education, restorative justice, mental health and wellness, and public arts preservation. Popular mural tours offer a firsthand glimpse into the inspiring stories behind Mural Arts’ iconic and unparalleled collection, earning Philadelphia worldwide recognition as the “Mural Capital of the World.” For more information, call 215.685.0750 or visit muralarts.org.

Top Image: Keith Andrews, Fishing from a Hole in a Wall, 2023, Acrylic on parachute cloth. Philadelphia Mural Arts at SCI Phoenix

For more information and images contact:
Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org

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Press Release:  Announcing ‘The View from Here’ and ‘Richmond Open Studios Preview Exhibition’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 3, 2024

ANNOUNCING:
Summer Exhibitions at Richmond Art Center

July 3 – August 17, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 29, 1pm-3pm

Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm
Exhibitions and events are all free and no rsvp is necessary

Richmond, CA: Artists living and working in Richmond, as well as incarcerated artists, will present their artwork at Richmond Art Center in two new exhibitions opening this summer

In the Main Gallery, San Quentin Prison Arts Project and Philadelphia Mural Arts present The View from Here, an exhibition featuring artwork by incarcerated artists from San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and Philadelphia’s State Correctional Institution Phoenix who participated in a creative exchange over the past year. The theme – The View from Here – emerged from the artists’ communications, exploring life inside prison and the realms where their minds wander beyond its gates.

A Panel Discussion and Paint Day featuring alumni and facilitators from both prison arts programs will be held on Saturday, July 13 starting at 11am. Following a panel discussion, former program participant Eddie Ramirez will showcase his mural painting technique – community members are invited to join in the process!

Also opening at Richmond Art Center this summer is the Richmond Open Studios Preview Exhibition. In its second year, this event will bring together nearly fifty artists in Richmond who are opening their studios to the public during the weekend of August 17-18. The Preview Exhibition offers visitors an advance showing of work by participating artists, allowing them to plan their self-guided tours throughout different Richmond neighborhoods in August. Richmond artists are also being hosted at ar.ti.fact Gallery, NIAD Art Center, and Richmond Art Center. Richmond Open Studios is an independent project of the Visual Artists of Richmond, an all-volunteer, fiscally-sponsored group based in Richmond.

An Opening Reception for both The View from Here and the Open Studios Preview Exhibition will be held on Saturday, June 29, from 1pm to 3pm. All are welcome to attend.

Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.

About Richmond Art Center: Richmond Art Center has been sharing art and creating with the community since 1936. Our programs encompass classes, exhibitions and events at our facility in downtown Richmond, as well as off-site activities that bring free, high-quality art making experiences to WCCUSD schools and community partners. richmondartcenter.org

Top image: Jeffrey A. Isom, Bridge to Freedom, 2023, Oil on canvas board, San Quentin

For more information and images contact:
Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org

 

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Press Release: Spring Family Day celebrates light and new beginnings through art

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 18, 2024

SPECIAL EVENT

Spring Family Day

Celebrate Light and New Beginnings through Art!
Saturday, April 27, 2024, 12pm-3pm | FREE
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond
Event webpage: richmondartcenter.org/familyday

Richmond, CA: We’re gathering on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 12pm to 3pm, to celebrate light and new beginnings through art-making at Spring Family Day. Come join the fun!

Family Day offers a variety of drop-in art-making activities to celebrate the season. Make Spring Equinox affirmation cards with artist Shani Ealey, or print from the sun exploring cyanotype processes with Vivianna Carlos. Other activities are lantern making with Julia La Chica, and a community mural led by Maggie Burns.

Visitors can also listen to live music by Jazz and Soul, and enjoy sliders by Artisan Kitchen. Inside our galleries, the WCCUSD Student Art Show features a jumbo interactive coloring-in wall by Eli Africa.

This free event is open to kids of all ages and their grown-ups. No rsvp is necessary. Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Avenue in Richmond.

Accessibility and Parking: Ample free parking is available in the 25th Street lot across the street from Richmond Art Center. The facility is accessible to wheelchair users via the Barrett Avenue entrance, adjacent to a parking lot with six accessible spaces. Parking and Entrance Map

For information about Spring Family Day visit: richmondartcenter.org/familyday

About Richmond Art Center: For over 80 years, Richmond Art Center has served the residents of Richmond and surrounding communities through studio arts education programs, exhibitions, off-site classes, and special initiatives for community-wide impact. Richmond Art Center’s mission is to be a catalyst in Richmond for learning and living through art. richmondartcenter.org

For more information contact:
Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org

Top Artwork: Family Day participants in 2023 work on a community mural project led by Luis Garcia
Above Photos: Visitors to Richmond Art Center work on our jumbo coloring-in wall by Eli Africa.

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Press Release: Spring Exhibitions at Richmond Art Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 26, 2024

ANNOUNCING:
Spring Exhibitions at Richmond Art Center

April – June 2024
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm
Exhibitions and events are all free and no rsvp is necessary

Richmond, CA: Spring exhibitions at Richmond Art Center shine a light on the beautiful, ongoing cycle of teaching, learning and growing through art.

In the Main Gallery, the 58th Annual WCCUSD Student Art Show is a classroom-teacher curated exhibition celebrating the creativity of over 300 of their students. The artists come from 13 district schools across El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Hercules, Montalvin Manor, Pinole, Richmond, and San Pablo.

Also opening are Home Show and Art Blooms Here, two exhibitions representing artwork by both teachers and students working in the studios at Richmond Art Center, and embracing the creativity thriving at home in our organization. 

These three exhibitions will open on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. A reception for the WCCUSD Student Art Show will be held on Tuesday, April 16, from 5pm to 6:30pm. Additionally, a reception for Home Show and Art Blooms Here is scheduled for Thursday, April 18, from 5pm to 7pm. All are welcome to attend!

Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.

About Richmond Art Center: Richmond Art Center has been sharing art and creating with the community since 1936. Our programs encompass classes, exhibitions and events at our facility in downtown Richmond, as well as off-site activities that bring free, high-quality art making experiences to WCCUSD schools and community partners. richmondartcenter.org

For more information and images contact:
Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org

 

Images: (Top) Artwork by Cashel Shaughnessy, student at Fred T. Korematsu Middle School; (above left) Artwork by Colleen Garland, Teaching Artist at Richmond Art Center; (above right) Artwork by Jen Kelly-DeWitt, Student at Richmond Art Center

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Press Release: Artists Announced for Richmond Biennial Exhibition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 21, 2024

ARTISTS ANNOUNCED FOR RICHMOND BIENNIAL EXHIBITION

Right Here, Right Now, Richmond
Third Richmond Biennial of Art
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
Exhibition Dates: September 4 – November 21, 2024

Richmond, CA: Richmond Art Center announces the seven artists selected to present work in Right Here, Right Now, Richmond. In its third iteration, this biennial exhibition celebrates local, visionary art and ideas through commissioning new artwork from artists who either live or work in Richmond, California.

The 2024 RHRN artists are Anthony DelgadoArt Hazelwoode bondErin McCluskey WheelerHelia PouyanfarQuinn Keck, and Taro Hattori.

The Biennial exhibition will be presented at Richmond Art Center and curated by Roberto Martinez. It will run from September 4 through November 21. Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804. This program is funded, in part, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

e bond makes digital spaces by day, handmade books by night, hangs out with trees on weekends and
writes something close to poems in the spaces between. Under the studio name roughdrAftbooks, she makes one-of-a-kind artists books, printed matter and abstract drawings that merge and blur the boundaries of art, craft, design and poetry. e holds a BFA from Moore College and an MFA from Mills College. ebondwork.com, @eisroughdraft

Anthony Delgado is a Californian by birth and by nature. His starting point in art was as a painter, attending UMASS in Amherst, and Cal for degrees in Fine Art. After working in graphic design for over 30 years, photography is now Delgado’s principal artistic pursuit. His recent work focuses on capturing the “decisive moment”, when animate and inanimate, emotion and action combine to form a singular image. www.anthonydelgado.com

Taro Hattori is an interdisciplinary artist who has shown his installations and socially engaged projects nationally and internationally. His recent work often creates relationships between physical sculpture and space with people with a specific socio-political background through their performances, conversations and singing. He is currently teaching at CCA the chair of Sculpture and Individualized Programs. www.tarohattori.com

For over 35 years Art Hazelwood has created politically charged prints, working with dozens of organizations from arts organizations to unions to grassroots movements. He taught printmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute where he founded the San Francisco Poster Syndicate, which brings together political poster makers to work with activists. UC Santa Cruz Special Collections has established an archive of approximately 300 of his political prints. www.arthazelwood.com

Quinn Keck is a multidisciplinary artist working across traditional printmaking, painting, and digital mediums to create dialogues on the human experience. Instead of portraying just the physical form of people, places, and objects, Quinn abstracts layers to discuss identity, memory, perception, and grief – exploring the absurdity of making patterns in a chaotic world in their work. www.quinnkeck.com, @running.from.the.silence.press

Erin McCluskey Wheeler, born and raised in, and current resident of, Richmond, CA,  is a mixed media artist, writer, curator, and teacher. Erin is a studio facilitator at NIAD Art Center in Richmond and teaches online with 92NY. Erin holds a BA in studio art and art history from Beloit College, and an MFA from California College of the Arts in writing. erinmccluskey.com@erinmwheeler

Helia Pouyanfar was born in Tehran, Iran, and immigrated to California in 2014. Inspired by her cultural background, her architectural sculptures and research endeavors to illustrate and investigate the permanently transient state of the refugee body and its negotiation and reconciliation with Place. She received her BA from University of California, Berkeley and her MFA from University of California, Davis. heliapouyanfar.com,
@heliapouyanfar

About Richmond Art Center
Richmond Art Center has been sharing art and creating with the community since 1936. Our programs encompass classes, exhibitions and events at our facility in downtown Richmond, as well as off-site activities that bring free, high-quality art making experiences to WCCUSD schools and community partners. richmondartcenter.org
 
For more information contact:
Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org

 

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Press Release: 61st Annual Holiday Arts Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 24, 2023

SPECIAL EVENT

Holiday Arts Festival: 50+ Arts and Crafts Vendors Announced

61st Annual Holiday Arts Festival
Sunday, December 3, 10am-5pm | FREE ENTRY
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA

Event Weblink: richmondartcenter.org/haf

Richmond, CA: Richmond Art Center has announced over fifty arts and crafts vendors will participate in the 61st Annual Holiday Arts Festival. The festival features a marketplace of unique designs, artisanal products, and handmade merchandise that spotlight the creative talents of Bay Area makers. The 61st Annual Holiday Arts Festival will take place on Sunday, December 3, 10am-5pm, at Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA. Admission to the festival is free.

At this much loved festival, visitors can shop locally-make holiday gifts that support independent artists and small businesses. Items on offer in 2023 include hand-bound sketchbooks, 3D papercut art cards, handcrafted leather dog collars, and “mapkins” (organic linens featuring vintage maps). Artisanal goods will include gourmet chocolates, and handmade natural skincare products.

“The Holiday Arts Festival is one of our favorite fairs. We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new people.”

– Nancy Northern, Hats and Spats & Tinybully Knits

“I am so excited to be participating in the Richmond Art Center’s Holiday Arts Festival! I’ve been a long-time attendee who has dreamed of one day being an exhibitor. I create pieces using a variety of metals and stones, including river/beach rocks and fine gemstones.”

– Roxanne Gomez, Morning Cup Designs

Each year, a highlight of the festival is the Ceramics Studio Sale; the best deal on handmade, beautiful and usable ceramics in the Bay Area. All items are made by Richmond Art Center’s students, teachers, and friends.

Other activities at the festival include live caricatures by artist Eli Africa; free art-making activities to DIY your own cards and gift wrap paper; a raffle of donated items from local artists and businesses; the opportunity to buy artist designed Richmond Art Center totes and t-shirts; and Richmond community partner pop-ups. This year participating organizations being featured at the festival are: NIAD Art Center, The Latina Center, Native American Health Center, and Asian Pacific Environmental Network.

For information about the Holiday Arts Festival visit:
https://richmondartcenter.org/haf

Participating Vendors: Adrianna Gluck, Art of the African Diaspora, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Atomic K Designs, Bea Hartman Ceramics, Bird vs. Bird Designs, Brick Factory Designs, CeramicsByRegina, Chris Granillo Art, CMC Designs, Confetti This Lifestyle Boutique, Coralxpression, EGChu Handcrafted, Elishes Cavness III, Em’pirean Artwear, Eyes For Trees, Girls Curls Jewelry, Hats and Spats & Tinybully Knits, HK Ceramics, HollyPapercuts, Illustrations by SENDY, Iris Chiu Art, JenniferLindermanArt, Jenny Windler Jewelry, Kristi & Keena are Friends, Langfordcraft, Larry Craighill Ceramics, Lauren Ari, Leticia Javier, Liberación Gráfica, LSK Designs, Marisa Burman, MegParkesFinds, Menmin Made, Moon & Leaf, More With Less, Morning Cup Designs, Native American Health Center, NIAD Art Center, OntheQ, Pretty Fun Designs, Rebeca’s Art Prints, RYSE, S for Sparkle, S.Beaubrun, Shrine Jewelry, Skincare by Feleciai, The Latina Center, The Weekend Store, The Xocolate Bar, Untitled Cloth, LLC, Valerie Brown-Troutt, Vreni Michelini Castillo, Wiggle & Woof, and YKS Ceramics… and more to be announced!

“I love the feeling of community at the Richmond Art Center. I always enjoy the camaraderie of the vendors and the enthusiasm of the patrons at the Holiday Arts Festival.”

– Suzane Beaubrun, S.Beaubrun

“The Holiday Arts Festival gives artists like me the chance to sell handcrafted items and art to East Bay residents in a very joyful environment. It doesn’t get better than this!”

– Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez, Rebeca’s Art Prints

Accessibility, Parking and Public Transportation: Ample free parking is available in the 25th Street lot across the street from Richmond Art Center. The facility is accessible to wheelchair users via the Barrett Avenue entrance, adjacent to a parking lot with six accessible spaces. Richmond Art Center is accessible by BART, AC Transit, and R-Transit. Parking and Entrance Map

About Richmond Art Center: For over 80 years, Richmond Art Center has served the residents of Richmond and surrounding communities through studio arts education programs, exhibitions, off-site classes, and special initiatives for community-wide impact. Richmond Art Center’s mission is to be a catalyst in Richmond for learning and living through art. richmondartcenter.org

For more information contact:
Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org

Press Release: Greenhouse Live Youth Art Showcase

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 13, 2023

SPECIAL EVENT

Greenhouse LIVE: Youth Art Showcase

An environmental justice art activation featuring local youth talent!

Friday, September 22, 5pm-8pm | FREE
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond
Event webpage: richmondartcenter.org/greenhouselive

Richmond, CA: Greenhouse Live is a youth talent showcase and open mic night featuring music, spoken word and visual art that calls for justice in response to the environmental crisis. This free event is happening at Richmond Art Center on Friday, September 22, from 5pm to 8pm.

Featured performers are spoken word artists Anizha aka Spoken Soul, Damien Rozell Pope Jr, and Tajanique Bell. Singer Lai’john Hawkins will perform, and visual artist Belle Garcia will present work.

Greenhouse Live will also celebrate the launch of Richmond Art Center’s new mural, Epic Struggle / Battle Royal. This mural was created throughout the summer of 2023 in a youth public arts program that explored ways in which to combine muralismo, technology, advocacy and storytelling.

To sign up to perform in the open mic section of the evening, youth should contact Kimberly Ross at kimberly@richmondartcenter.org and provide their name, and art sample/s (poetry, music or artwork) as attachments or links.

Greenhouse Live is free, open to youth ages 16 to 24, and no rsvp is necessary. Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Avenue in Richmond.

This event is presented in partnership with Stu212, a non-profit providing music therapy, health and wellness programs, financial literacy, and mentorship for youth. www.stu212music.org

Artist Bios

Damien Rozell Pope Jr: Rozell the Bard is a poet raised in Richmond who is still relatively new to the poetry scene. Their poetry comes from experiences seen, heard and felt. Their goal every performance is to deliver something that resonates with someone, somewhere in the crowd.

Tajanique Bell: Tajanique Bell aka Tajvelani was born and raised in San Diego and is a poet who has been writing poetry for over ten years. In addition, she is a recent graduate from Baker University in Kansas and has broken multiple records during track meets during her career.

Lai’john Hawkins: Lai’jhon Hawkins is an American singer, producer, song writer, dancer, and sound engineer from Oakland California. Lai’jhon Hawkins has a diverse musical background ranging from R&B, trap, to EDM and reggae. Lai’jhon Hawkins also plays the piano and the drums.

About Richmond Art Center

Accessibility, Parking and Public Transportation: Ample free parking is available in the 25th Street lot across the street from Richmond Art Center. The facility is accessible to wheelchair users via the Barrett Avenue entrance, adjacent to a parking lot with six accessible spaces. Richmond Art Center is accessible by BART, AC Transit, and R-Transit. Parking and Entrance Map

History and Programs: For over 80 years, Richmond Art Center has served the residents of Richmond and surrounding communities through studio arts education programs, exhibitions, off-site classes, and special initiatives for community-wide impact. Richmond Art Center’s mission is to be a catalyst in Richmond for learning and living through art. richmondartcenter.org

For more information contact:
Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org

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Richmond Art Center
2540 Barrett Avenue
Richmond, CA 94804-1600

 

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