September 10, 2025
By Kathy Chouteau
The Richmond Art Center’s (RAC) fall exhibitions from Sept. 24h through Nov. 20 transcend the viewing of art to invite experiential, tactile and communal encounters with it.
Four exhibitions include Big Feelings, Unsettled Things/Things I Had to Leave Behind, Seeds of Tradition and Ebb and Flow.
“These exhibitions invite people to experience art in ways that go beyond just looking,” said RAC Community Engagement Director Amy Spencer. “Walk into Xinchen Li’s immersive installation, ask Luis Garcia questions about his work at the artist talk, make circle art with The Calling artists.”
An “Opening Reception” for all four exhibitions will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, from 1-3 p.m. Spencer said the reception celebrates the art and artists. “Come mingle, enjoy light refreshments and be among the first to see the shows.”
Lived experience, intuition and consciousness power the art in the “Big Feelings” exhibition in the RAC’s Main Gallery. A collaborative map of Richmond shaped by BIPOC narratives, an expansive print installation with real-world friend advice and a participatory work of 400+ circles radiating feminine energy all combine to transform emotion into material.
Featured artists include Erin Fong, Ayesha Ateekh, Bhagyasshree Ramakrishna and Shivani Vinayak Atre. The Calling activity will include Chantelle Goldthwaite, Yasmin Lambie Simpson and Sheila Metcalf Tobin. A free artist talk and circle-making workshop will be held Saturday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In Unsettled Things/Things I Had to Leave Behind, Xinchen Li’s 3D-printed sculptures of everyday objects convey what she left behind as an international student and recent U.S. immigrant. Li will lead two hands-on 3D drawing workshops Saturday, Nov. 15, at 11a.m. or 1p.m. for $15. She will guide participants to create their own sculptures with biodegradable PLA. Registration is required due to limited space.
Luis Garcia’s solo exhibition Seeds of Tradition weaves portraits, spirit animals and ritual imagery into a visual tapestry. His work honors cultural heritage, ancestral memory and the deep connections between people, nature and spirit. Garcia will guide a free walkthrough of his exhibition on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 12:30 p.m. during the RAC’s Fall Family Day celebrations.
Student work from Ilah Jarvis’s watercolor classes at the RAC, alongside the instructor’s own pieces, are presented in Ebb and Flow. Works in the exhibition range from technically accomplished to charmingly expressive.
“There is going to be some big, bold art on display (think Erin Fong’s The Friendship Project), but the quieter art in the exhibitions will be equally engaging. So I encourage people to take some time to enjoy everything,” said Spencer.
Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Ave. in Richmond.
