Exhibition: July – September, 2024 Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 4pm-6:30pm
Richmond City Council Chambers, 440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804
In celebration of the Richmond Art Center’s new partnership with the Richmond City Council, our inaugural Council Chambers exhibition explores the relationships between nature, people, and the built environment—elements central to life in Richmond.
This exhibition features artwork created by the Richmond Art Center’s expansive community, including pieces from our students, teachers, staff, members, and volunteers.
With an 80-year history of serving the people and City of Richmond, our first Council Chambers exhibition pays homage to the vision and legacy of Richmond Art Center’s founder, Hazel Salmi. From the early days when Hazel would bike around town with art supplies in her basket to serve the burgeoning Richmond arts community, to the post-war decision to include an art center with studios and galleries in the Civic Center complex, to our current efforts to educate and empower local artists of all ages—we’re honoring the enduring commitment to the arts shared by the Richmond City Council and Richmond Art Center.
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this exciting new collaboration. More to come!
Exhibition at Richmond Art Center: January 22 – March 22, 2025 Open Studios: Mar 1-2, Mar 8-9, Mar 15-16, 2025 Satellite Exhibitions: Throughout January, February, March and April Artistic Achievement Awardee Talk: Saturday, January 25, 2025, 11am-12:30pm Reception: Saturday, January 25, 2025, 1pm-3pm Closing Reception: Saturday, March 22, 2025, 2pm-4pm
Art Of The African Diaspora is a non-juried group exhibition featuring artwork by artists of African descent. The showcase exhibition is held at Richmond Art Center and is accompanied by self-guided open studio tours and satellite exhibitions throughout the Bay Area. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ART OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
For registration and payment questions contact: Richmond Art Center at 510.620.6772 or admin@richmondartcenter.org
REGISTRATION
Artist Registration
Deadline to Register: Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 11:59pm
Registration Fee: $75
Each registered artist receives:
Opportunity to exhibit 1 artwork at Richmond Art Center:
Available until exhibition is full. There is space for maximum 120 artists in the exhibition at Richmond Art Center. Once we reach capacity artists can still register to participate in satellite exhibitions, open studios and the online listing.
Artist listing in the Art of the African Diaspora catalogue
Opportunity to participate in open studios/satellite exhibitions:
Artists without a space for open studios/satellite exhibitions can request to be offered a space. Artists who do not wish to participate in open studios/satellite exhibitions may choose to opt out at the time of registration (the fee remains the same).
TERMS
Fees: Entry fees are non-refundable.
Photography and Image Use: Richmond Art Center and Art of the African Diaspora reserve the right to use images of submitted artwork, and to photograph the artist, artwork and exhibition for publicity, documentation, and fundraising purposes.
Exhibition at Richmond Art Center:
Delivery of Artwork: Artwork must be delivered to Richmond Art Center on scheduled drop off days: Friday, January 3, 11am-4pm OR Saturday, January 4, 11am-4pm. Artists who cannot drop off their artwork during these times should arrange for someone else to deliver it for them.
Sales: For any artwork sales at Richmond Art Center: RAC’s commission on a sale is 30%; artist retains 70%. Artists may choose to list their work as NFS (not for sale).
Pick Up: All unsold artworks must be picked up on the scheduled days: Saturday, March 22, 4pm-5:30pm OR Monday, March 24, 11am-4pm
Open Studios Participants: If an artist or venue hosts other artists, each artist must be a registered participant of Art of the African Diaspora.
Artist Ads in the Art of the African Diaspora Catalogue
Optional. Artists can upgrade their Art of the African Diaspora catalogue listing by purchasing a discounted ad (view the 2020 Art Of The African Diaspora Catalogue for ad examples).
Deadline to Purchase Ads: Monday, November 18, 2024
Artist Ad Rates:
1/4 page ad $50 – 4 ¾” H x 3 ½ W
1/2 page ad $80 – 4 ¾” H x 7 ¾” W
Full page ad $150 – 10 ¾” H x 7 ¾” W
Terms: 1. Artists must be registered to participate in AOTAD 2024 to qualify for a discounted ad. 2. Ads must be submitted in digital format (pdf or eps file), full color, 300dpi and ad slick/print-ready (to size), 3. Submit ad files online no later than Monday, November 18, 2024 (ad file instructions tbd). 3. Ad payment in full must be received by Monday, November 18, 2024. 4. All sales and transactions are final. 5. The Art of the African Diaspora Steering Committee reserves the right to assign advertising space. 6. 100% of ad funds (less any online processing fees) go to the Art of the African Diaspora Steering Committee, who is solely responsible for producing and publishing the catalogue.
Artist Info Session (at Richmond Art Center): Saturday, August 24, 2024, 1pm-2:30pm | More info…
Artist Info Session (via zoom): Saturday, September 21, 2024, 1pm-2:30pm
Deadline to Register: Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 11:59pm
Deadline for Artist Ad Sales: Monday, November 18, 2024
Artwork Drop Off at RAC: Friday, January 3, 11am-4pm OR Saturday, January 4, 11am-4pm
Artwork Pick Up at RAC: Saturday, March 22, 4pm-5:30pm OR Monday, March 24, 11am-4pm
Artwork Drop Off Location: Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804. Parking is available in the parking lot on 25th Street across the street from the art center. You can enter the building via the gallery entrance on Barrett Avenue or via the loading ramp on 25th Street.
Artist Bio/CV and Statement (optional): When you drop off your artwork you may bring in a printed artist bio/CV (1 page) and artist statement (1 page) if you would like them to be included in the artist binder.
Insurance: Richmond Art Center will provide fine art insurance for all artwork while at Richmond Art Center only. This insurance does not cover artwork in transportation to and from RAC.
Artwork Loan Form: When you drop off your artwork at the center you’ll be asked to sign an artwork loan form (we will have this prepared for you). If you need to change your artwork information or contact details you can edit this on the form.
Packing Material: We cannot store your artwork packing material for you. Please be prepared to take it with you after you drop off your artwork
Sales: Artists may list their work for sale. Richmond Art Center’s commission is 30%. The artist retains 70%.
Installation Ready: Before you bring your artwork to the gallery check that it is: – Labeled with your full name (on the back for 2D work, underneath for 3D work) – Ready to hang with any appropriate hardware: hanging wire, d-rings, etc. – Any glass is clean and free of fingerprints – Work on paper should be framed
Artwork Size Requirements:
– Wall-hanging artwork may not exceed 40 inches high and 40 inches wide (including the frame) – 3D artwork may not exceed 40 inches in any dimension
Through 8/17 This season, the Richmond Art Center is showcasing several exhibitions’ worth of artworks. The View From Here and Taking Liberties highlight pieces from incarcerated or formerly incarcerated creators, while the Richmond Open Studios Preview exhibition showcases the talent of the city’s own artists ahead of the event. richmondartcenter.org.
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA
Unique, Handmade Gifts by Local Arts & Crafts Vendors
Ceramics Studio Sale
Free Art Activities
Community Partner Pop-Ups
Raffle
Food and Drinks
Be a vendor! Local artists, artisans, crafters and makers are invited to apply to be vendors at the Holiday Arts Festival. This shop-local event is a great way to expose your work to an audience of 1,000+ who appreciate hand-crafted gifts. There is no application fee and first-time vendors to the Festival are encouraged to apply.
Join the HAF vendor mailing list to be notified when applications for the 2024 festival open.
Eduardo Ramirez, a Philadelphia-based mural artist, was incarcerated for 27 years in a Pennsylvania prison for a crime he did not commit. Since he was exonerated in November, Ramirez has found solace in making and teaching art in his community.
“When a person creates, there’s a sense of pride in the act of creating, regardless of what the final product looks like,” he said.
His art is on display through Aug. 17 at the Richmond Art Center in an exhibition called “The View From Here.” The exhibition features 24 incarcerated artists from the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution Phoenix. It came together through letters exchanged between men at the two prisons about creating art and communicating their thoughts into something tangible. It is being presented by the San Quentin Prison Arts Project in collaboration with Mural Arts Philadelphia and also was on display in Philadelphia in March.
“They were creators,” Ramirez said of the people he worked with during his time in prison. “They were much larger than the worst mistake they ever made in their lives.”
What: “The View From Here” art exhibition
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday until Aug. 17
Where: Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave.
Cost: Free
Some of their letters are also on display at the exhibition, representing those who are unable to visit their own showcase. One letter reads, “I am in a beautiful art program here at San Quentin, I am in all the art classes hahaha. Remember that you have entered the realm of ‘timelessness’ with the art you’ve done.”
Carol Newborg, program manager at the San Quentin Arts Project, emphasized the artists’ absence in the exhibition space, saying the system imposes “cruelly long sentences” despite its contention of rehabilitation.
The collaborators wanted to make the artists’ presence felt, which includes their letters as well as songs that hold personal meaning for them.
“As you walk around and look at the art, you can hear the music that was selected by the artists,” said Amy Spencer, community engagement director at the Richmond Art Center. “You are seeing their work but you’re also hearing something that they helped shape as well.”
Ramirez is one of the few artists who is out of prison and the only one who will be able to attend the exhibition. He chose the track ‘Cha Cha Cha’ by MC Lyte released in the late ‘80s to go with his painting titled “Radiohead.”
The artists came up with the exhibit’s title, wanting to convey what prisoners think of the outside world and what the public thinks of prisons.
“A lot of people in society have their preconceived notions of what prison life is like. And that’s because they’ve never been to prison,” Ramirez said. “The reality is that a person’s life is multifaceted and multilayered, and ‘The View From Here’ gets at that.”
The exhibition creates a space for dialogue between the public and the incarcerated. Richmond Art Center is also organizing a panel discussion on July 13 with Ramirez and artist Mwasi Fuvi, whose work is not part of the exhibition, alongside facilitators of the two prison art projects, Newborg and Phoebe Bachman. It will be followed by a mural painting workshop with Ramirez, where the community is welcome to help complete a mural designed by artists from the Pennsylvania prison.
The event and exhibit are free to attend.
(Photos: “Fishing from a Hole in a Wall” by Keith Andrews; “Bridge to Freedom” by Jeffrey A. Isom, photographer Peter Merts. Courtesy of Richmond Art Center)
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
About the Program: The Youth Artist Xchange is a series of free summer intensive classes. The program gives middle and high school students, as well as young adults (up to 24 years), in-depth, hands-on arts learning experiences in our studios led by professional artists.
How to Join:
Prospective students are invited to complete a short online application to let us know their arts interests and class preferences.
Available classes are listed below (click the LEARN MORE button to see the class schedules)
Dreams of Liberated Futures: A Zine & Printmaking Series
An intensive six-week summer class (with 12 sessions) for 8-12 youth (ages 14-24) that combines hands-on visual arts learning with storytelling. Taught by artist Shani Ealey, the class is rooted in traditional African Indigenous wisdom to provide inspiration for students to explore visual storytelling through zinemaking.
Learn the art of storytelling through filmmaking! Participants will explore the language of creating visual narratives using professional filmmaking processes. From storyboarding and directing to shooting and editing, students will gain hands-on experience in crafting their own short movies. All materials and tools are included. This class is a youth space for ages 13 to 17.
“Bewildered Cleo” is by Richmond, CA., artist Sara Sunstein. Credit: Sara Sunstein
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Art viewed with a black-light flashlight and a creative take on crocheting are among works on display starting next week when the Richmond Art Center opens its preview of pieces by artists participating in the Visual Artists of Richmond Open Studios event this summer.
The Open Studios Preview Exhibition, July 3-Aug. 17, showcases work by 42 of the 48 participating Open Studios artists. Visitors can use the preview to decide which studios they’d like to tour during the official event, Aug. 17-18. An opening reception will be held at the Richmond Art Center from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday.
North and East resident Sadiqeh Agah’s gouache and watercolor paintings/mixed media, including pieces depicting food from local restaurants and coffee houses, will be featured at RAC during the preview and at NIAD Gallery during Open Studios.
North and East resident Sadiqeh Agah’s gouache and watercolor paintings/mixed media pieces are inspired by food from Richmond restaurants and coffee houses. “Raymond’s Pizza” will be featured at Richmond Art Center during the Open Studios preview and at NIAD Gallery during Open Studios. Courtesy of Sandiqeh Agah
“We moved here in November 2020, and I’m delighted I’m still getting to know Richmond,” Agah said. “I feel so supported (as an artist) living here. It’s been very motivating.”
Sara Sunstein has worked in clay, collage, papier-mâché, and mixed media for decades. Some of her pieces, including “Bewildered Cleo,” will be on view Saturday Aug. 17 at RAC. The Richmond Annex resident also creates crocheted “tape boxes” from cassette tape. She credits RAC classes as a source of inspiration.
“I haven’t shown in forever,” she said.
Visual Artists of Richmond Open StudiosPreview/Exhibition
WHAT: See works by artists who will open their studios to the public later this summer.
WHEN: Opening reception is 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave. Preview runs July 3-Aug. 17. Open studio tours are Aug. 17-18.
INFO: A map of Open Studio locations will be posted on the Richmond Art Center website and will be available at the opening reception.
Oil painter/sculptor/mixed-media artist Ozi Magaña moved to East Richmond Heights two-and-a-half years ago and will show one piece at RAC and open his home studio during the tour weekend. “From the Ashes” is one of his “black-light reactive” paintings, and the artist plans to supply a black-light flashlight, allowing viewers to experience it. He’s discovered an underground Richmond arts scene since moving to the city.
“There’s a warmth here…it’s like a mini-Bay Area in its diversity,” he said.
Credit: Courtesy Ozi Magaña
JANIS HASHE
Janis Hashe, a journalist for 30 years, writes about the arts.
What I cover: I cover performing and fine arts and other community news for Richmondside.
My background: I have been a professional journalist for 30 years and a freelancer since 2020. My work has appeared in Sunset Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, the Atlantic Journal Constitution, The Tennessean, Monocle, and the East Bay Express and East Bay Magazine.
Current Members are invited to vote to elect new Board Members at our Annual Members Meeting
At the Annual Members’ Meeting meeting there will be a ballot to elect new members to the Board of Directors. There will also be a vote to make amendments to Richmond Art Center’s By-Laws. All current Richmond Art Center members are invited to vote. The meeting will happen at Richmond Art Center on Saturday, June 29, 2024 starting at 12pm.
PROSEPECTIVE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBERS
Richmond Art Center’s Nominating Committee and Board of Directors have nominated each of the following seven people for a three-year term on Richmond Art Center’s Board of Directors, beginning July 1, 2024. Biographical information is available HERE. You may vote for up to seven candidates.
Amy Feitelberg
Amy Zheng
Cristina Saavedra
Dawn Gonzalez
Sandra Kozma-Kennedy
Tia Foss
PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE BY-LAWS
At the meeting there will also be a vote to make amendments to Richmond Art Center’s By-Laws. The proposed amendments are HERE.
