Event: Saturday, April 13, 12pm-3pm
This special event was organized by Meres-Sia Gabriel, Life-Changing Writing, for children of the Black Panther Party to share their stories.
We’re honored to be nominated for “Best Art Gallery” in the East Bay Express’s BEST OF THE EAST BAY 2024 ballot.
Please consider voting for us, it’d be much appreciated.
Congratulations to the students who won Artistic Achievement Awards for their artwork in the 58th Annual WCCUSD Student Art Show!
Top image: Lourdes Mendoza Ramos, Untitled, Watercolor and ink, John F. Kennedy High School
The Richmond Artist Residency offers one community-responsive artist a dedicated studio for 8 months, $8,000 artist stipend, opportunities to teach, exhibit, take classes, and develop strategies for community-based arts programming.
Weblink: https://www.kqed.org/arts/13957410/visual-art-guide-summer-2024-galleries-museums
By Sarah Hotchkiss | May 13, 2024
[Excerpt]
Every year, it’s a struggle to whittle this list down to a select few. There’s simply so much happening in art spaces across the Bay Area. For 2024, I’ve plotted out an ideal summer, full of inventive gallery shows, exciting museum exhibitions and local artists getting the attention they deserve, all in venues spread across the region.
…
July 3–Aug. 17, 2024
Richmond Art Center
Over the past year, incarcerated artists at San Quentin and Philadelphia’s State Correctional Institution (SCI) Phoenix have exchanged letters — but not through ordinary means. Using their arts programs (the William James Foundation and Philadelphia Mural Arts) as intermediaries, letters were scanned, emailed and printed out to facilitate a creative exchange. The results in this group show includes both imagined and literal views (of daily prison life, of a landscape seen through bars), alongside some of those letters. Art can transport us to other places and into others’ experiences, the show argues, but that is true for both the makers and viewers of that work.
Need camp? We have a few spots left this summer in camps focusing on zine-making, animation and more!
Last week in the “Women in Ceramics” class, students drew inspiration from the renowned artist Toshiko Takaezu. They created hollow orbs using Takaezu’s technique of paddling large closed-form pots until they achieved a “rounder than round” shape.
Further emulating Takaezu’s approach, the students then suspended their work in hammocks outside in the courtyard. (Local sculptor John Roeder’s statue looked on.)
Takaezu said of her work, “People ask, why are you doing the same thing? So I usually try to tell them I’m trying to get a perfect piece. And what is a perfect piece? And if I had it would I know it? And I’m sure I’ve gotten some that are perfect, and yet I don’t want to admit that because then I would stop. So I keep on saying “I’m going to make a perfect piece.” And that’s what I’m striving for.”
Thank you, Toshiko Takaezu, for inspiring us to keep striving also.
“Women in Ceramics” is taught by artist Colleen Garland @colleenandclay. There are a few spots left in Garland’s “Evening Handbuilding” class starting on June 13.
With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to Michael Stephens, a grant-writing extraordinaire whose wit, wisdom, and unwavering dedication to nonprofits enriched the lives of many. Michael passed away peacefully last week in Oregon, leaving behind a legacy that spans decades and touches countless people.
A longtime resident of Point Richmond, Michael’s career in grant writing spanned nearly 50 years. His expertise and passion for the arts were evident in his work with the Taos, NM Museum, Cal Shakes, The Berkeley Rep, Stagebridge, Opera Parallele, and Richmond Art Center, to name just a few. His efforts were instrumental in securing funding for these organizations during extremely challenging times.
I had the pleasure of working closely with Michael at Stagebridge and Richmond Art Center, where his presence was indispensable. His brilliance shone through in his work, but it was his humor and lovable curmudgeon ways that endeared him to all who knew him.
Michael is survived by his son and grandchildren in Austin, Texas. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. As we reflect on his life and legacy, let us remember Michael for the laughter, light, and love he brought into the world of nonprofits and all who benefited from it. Rest in peace, dear friend.
José Rivera, Executive Director
Top image: Michael Stephens (right) with Sadie Harmon
During our 2024 Membership Drive, we’re hosting a class giveaway. Five randomly selected individuals will win a free class of their choice during the fall 2024 semester.*
HOW TO ENTER:
Winners will be announced in July 2024!
*TERMS: Members who join or renew in May or June 2024, as well as donors who contribute over $40 during May or June 2024, are eligible to win. Winners to be announced in July 2024. Winners must redeem their free class during the fall 2024 semester. Classes are available until full. Not applicable to workshops.
By Kathy Chouteau
The Richmond Art Center (RAC) is offering opportunities for a residency for one special artist and board positions for those wishing to support local art.
The Richmond Artist Residency enables an “emerging or mid-career artist to pursue their creative work, while also engaging with the community in Richmond,” according to the RAC. The center is additionally seeking community-minded folks who live or work in Richmond to serve three-year terms on its Board of Directors in support of its work.
Richmond Artist Residency
Applications for the artist residency are due by Friday, May 24. The residency runs from October 2024 to May 2025 and comes with an $8,000 stipend, 250 square foot dedicated studio for 8 months and opportunities to teach, exhibit, take classes and develop strategies for community-based arts programming. The selected artist will also receive competitive hourly rates for their teaching time.
Those who have a strong connection to Richmond and who are bilingual in English/Spanish or English/Mandarin are especially encouraged by the RAC to apply for the residency, as well as artists who are open to learning the best practices for community engagement. The center is being supported by the National Endowment for the Arts to make this opportunity possible. Learn more and apply here.
Board of Directors
A variety of volunteers are sought, including people who live/work in Richmond, are artists, love the RAC, have accounting/bookkeeping expertise, legal experience, are experienced fundraisers and other leaders who may want to become president/VP someday.
Board meetings are typically held on Zoom or in-person and its members help the RAC as ambassadors at evening and weekend events, by contributing their knowledge and expertise and supporting the center financially as is possible. Learn more here and reach out to jose@richmondartcenter.org to indicate your interest along with a brief bio, if possible.
