East Bay Times: Richmond Art Center has opened a new exhibit
East Bay Times
Snapp Shots: Richmond Art Center has opened a new exhibit
Cont.
Richmond: “Sentinels & Saviors: Iconic Avatars” is a new exhibition on display at the Richmond Art Center now through Nov. 21 (richmondartcenter.org/exhibitions/sentinels-saviors), featuring the work of Oakland artists Kim Thoman and Joell Jones.
They say their goal is to encourage viewers to pay closer attention to themselves, their thoughts and their feelings. Neither artist is engaged in psychoanalysis or art therapy, but both bodies of work can be seen as avatars allowing for inner work of the heart and mind — a common theme of the two artists.
Jones’ large grouping of small paintings, called “Saviors,” invites you to follow her imagery as she connects to her unconscious.
“Those early months of the (COVID-19 pandemic) lockdown were used for self-exploration,” she says. “Pretending to be on a Buddhist retreat — something I had always wanted to do but never seemed to find the time — I spent the days observing my thoughts.
“Gradually, I became aware of a hidden pattern of behavior, a pattern unconsciously hardwired since childhood.”
Thoman’s art works, called “Sentinels,” integrate steel sculptures with oil paintings. They evolved from her wanting what she calls “protection” when she was recovering from uterine cancer, and the works were conceived during her chemo treatments.
“It was while my body was being wasted (and also ‘cured’) by the chemo, I felt the need for help to maintain my energy, a positive mood, a willingness to keep moving — all I’m putting in the category of ‘protection,’ ” she says.
“I never felt the effects of the cancer but was shocked at the ‘scorched earth’ aspect of chemo. I knew, of course, that chemo wasn’t going to kill me, but honestly there were days I didn’t care.
“But I don’t mean to complain. I’m one of the lucky ones. I know many have it much worse, and I’m 10 years cancer-free. I hope my ‘Sentinels’ might shine a light on others who also struggle with medical issues and, sometimes, the effects of the ‘cure.’ ”
Martin Snapp can be reached at catman442@comcast.net.
Image: Kim Thoman’s “Sentinel No. 6” is one of the art works on display in “Sentinels & Saviors: Iconic Avatars,” a new exhibition at the Richmond Art Center.
