Body as Agent: Changing Fashion Art is an exhibition in response to the 1983 landmark showing of wearable art the Richmond Art Center, Poetry for the Body: Clothing for the Spirit. Body as Agent: Changing Fashion Art updates that exhibition, displaying many of the original artists and adding new artists and new notions, with more than 30 artists participating.
The field of wearable art has expanded and grown. Wearable art still features chic clothing and accessories but has the added vibrations of upcycling – the use of castoff or reused elements and materials – enhancing the visual vocabulary of the artists. This exhibition of California artists further expands notions of clothing to include works of art with garment forms serving as metaphors for social, political and cultural issues as found in painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. An accompanying catalog will be produced for the exhibition.
Public Programs:
Opening Reception: Sat, Sep 12, 5 – 7 pm, free
Sewing in the Gallery with Ellen Hauptli and Chere Mah: Sun, Sep 13, 1:30 – 3 pm, free
Expect an exhilarating arrangement of artwork, media, and styles in our annual, nonjuried members show. Nearly 200 pieces of artwork will be showcased, including works by spotlight artists Edythe Bresnahan, Jan Martin, and David Yoas who were recognized for their ingenuity and visual voice at last year’s annual members show. This year’s show will also include a selection of works by our former Studio Art Director Kato Jaworski.
This annual exhibition showcases and celebrates the diverse work being created in the Art Center’s traveling Art in the Community program, which brings our teaching artists and after-school art programs to middle and elementary schools, community centers and the Richmond Public library.
Please join us at our special reception on Saturday, May 9 from 3 to 5 pm for the families of the 1,200 students we’ve taught this past year. The reception will start with musical performances by Downer and Grant Elementary students. Refreshments will be served. The reception is free and open to the public.
The Richmond Art Center is proud to host the only annual exhibition in the Bay Area to exclusively feature regional artists of African descent. This year’s exhibition will feature over 75 local artists, including work by the 2014 Jan Hart-Schuyers Award winners: Yolanda Holley, Atiba Sylvia Thomas and Lawrence Buford.
The Art of Living Black was founded 19 years ago by the late sculptor Jan Hart-Schuyers and late painter Rae Louise Hayward after their realization that black artists were not being represented by galleries in any significant way. This year’s exhibition will showcase a broad range of works by more than 75 artists from throughout the Bay Area.
Artist Talks Sat, Feb 7 , noon – 1:30 pm
Artists: Valerie Brown-Troutt, Will Johnson, Karen Oyekanmi, Atiba Sylvia Thomas and Jim Dennis. Moderated by Stephen Bruce.
Artist Talks Sat, Feb 14, noon – 1:30 pm
Artists: Dania Frink, Alix Magloire, James Knox, Julee Richardson, Hilda Robinson, Arthur Norcome. Moderated by Raymond L. Haywood
The Art of Living Black Open Studio Sat, Mar 7, 11 am – 5 pm
A unique opportunity to meet a selection of artists and purchase their work in our main gallery.
Artists featured in the 19th Annual The Art of Living Black: Latisha Baker, Doug Blanc, Timothy Bluitt, Lorraine Bonner, Cedric Brown, Marguerite T. Browne, Stephen Bruce, Lawrence Buford, Melanin Buford, Sydney “Sage” Cain, Claude Lockhart Clark, Duane M. Conliffe, Courageous, Kelvin Curry, Bill Dallas, Paula de Joie, Jim Dennis, Cheryl Patrice Derricotte, Gene Dominique, Ann Edwards, Jimi Evins, Dania W. Frink, Anjuelle D. Floyd, Naomi Floyd, Donna Gatson, Delores Gray, Renata E. Gray, Nannette Y. Harris-Jones, Idris Hassan, Raymond L. Haywood, Karla E. Higgins, Rutlandra K. Hodges, Saida Hogan-Nassirruddin, Yolanda Holley, Rae Louise Hayward Hopkins, Will Johnson, Virginia Jourdan, Dana King, James Knox, Grason Littles, Howard Mackey, Gale Madyun, Alix J. Magloire, Cheryl Mitchell, Khaleedah & Ansar Muhammad, Arthur Norcome, Karen Oyekanmi, Patricia Patterson, Marcus Lorenzo Penn, Patricia Perry, Raife & Margree Pickett, Damon Powell, Leslie Printis, Gwendolyn Reed, Ashlei Reign, Justice Renaissance, Julee Richardson, Bernadette Robertson, Hilda C. Robinson, Joseph Robinson, Jan Hart Schuyers, Malik Seneferu. Angela D. Allen Simms, Bertrell Smith, Douglas Stewart, Atiba Sylvia Thomas, Bryan K. Thomas, Tomye, Milton Tuitt, LaQuita Tummings, Karin Turner, Valerie Brown-Troutt, Orlanda Uffre, Paula Vaughan, Nile J. Washington, Thearthur Wright, Shante Young