Richmond-based artist Daniel “Attaboy” Seifert is fascinated by transition and transience. Both of these fascinations are expressed in his solo show, “Portal,” on view at San Francisco’s 111 Minna Gallery through December.
“If you look up at the stars, we are nothing. An atom on the back of nothing,” Seifert said in a phone interview. Paintings such as Collision, which depict asteroid-like rock formations floating in groupings, speak to his belief of the “beauty and wonderment” of our short time on Earth. In Organica, vividly colored mushrooms and flowers explode from an unknown source. In Anthro Study 1, a multifaceted being appears to reach for … a finger hold? The sun?
And although he spoke about turning 50, and thinking “Do I have 25 good summers left?” with characteristic whimsy, he also disparaged the concept of living every day as if it is one’s last, noting that someone who actually did that would be unbearable to everyone around them.
SOLO SHOW In Attaboy’s acrylic painting titled ‘Organica’ (left) vividly colored mushrooms and flowers explode from an unknown source; ‘Sigh’ consists of 100 silk-screened pieces that Siefert altered. (Photos courtesy of Daniel Attaboy Seifert/111 Minna Gallery)
Another image from the current show, Sigh, consists of 100 silk-screened pieces that Siefert has altered so that each one is different. The spherical character popped into his head one day, he said, and he has enjoyed replicating and re-visioning it.
Siefert’s section of the gallery also features painted cut-outs hanging from the ceiling, “asexually reproducing?” Seifert suggested, and inviting a feeling of “falling up into the sky.”
He spoke about his painting method, saying, “I draw with paint … I make paintings that are complete messes—and then the line comes in and saves the day.” He shares the idea of pop artists, such as Warhol, “looking at things that are really around us. Will we ever see a Campbell’s soup can the same way?”
Influences include Alexander Calder, Maurice Nobel, Eyvind Earle, Dr. Seuss and the futurist Syd Mead, renowned as the creator of “futurescapes” for films such as Blade Runner. A mentor once told Seifert, “If you’re not breathing correctly, you’re not ready.”
PORTAL AT MINNA Paintings such as ‘Collision,’ which depict asteroid-like rock formations floating in groupings, speak to Seifert’s belief of the ‘beauty and wonderment’ of our short time on Earth. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Attaboy Seifert/111 Minna Gallery)
Seifert is also known for inventing what is now a global event: Game of Shrooms Art N Seek. In June 2019, seeking a way to work through depression, he began hiding mushroom sculptures, inspired by ceramic mushrooms created by his grandmother, in public areas. Using social media, he challenged “hunters” to find and then keep them.
The game took off, especially during the pandemic, and mushrooms have been hidden and found as far afield as the South Pole. Atta’s partner, artist Annie Owens, helped devise some of the game’s “leave no trace” rules, including the admonition, “You don’t need to be destructive to be subversive.”
Seifert said, “It’s always different and fantastic. I’m just guiding it at this point.” He added that school groups and art supply stores now sponsor meet-ups before the event. The next “Game” is scheduled for June 14, 2025. He has also created “Shroombots,” articulated, poseable sculptures, viewable on yumfactory.com.
Even before Game of Shrooms, Seifert and Owens partnered on a project with worldwide impact: Hi-Fructose Magazine. In a previous interview by this writer for East Bay Magazine, Seifert said that the idea for Hi-Fructose “started as a dare while we were dating.” They knew starting a new print publication was risky, but couldn’t find coverage of the art they found provocative and inspiring.
So in 2005 Hi-Fructose launched, and has now become sought-after, with both American and European editions. In 2009, “New Contemporary Art” was added to the masthead as a sort of tongue-in-cheek definition of what the publication covers. “[It was] just redundant and absurd enough to make a perfect blanket term for what we like to cover,” said Seifert during the EBM interview.
The magazine remains print-only, and runs no advertorials. Galleries and museums carry it, and this year it was celebrated with a 10-year retrospective, “Turn the Page: The First Ten Years of Hi-Fructose,” which premiered at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. Publisher Abrams Books described the hardcover book, Hi-Fructose: New Contemporary Fashion, published in 2019, as “a stunning visual exploration of the intersection between the worlds of wearable art and fashion.”
DYNAMIC DUO Atta’s partner, artist Annie Owens, is co-founder of Hi-Fructose Magazine and Game of Shrooms; her art, including ‘Nocturne’ (right) will soon be showcased at the Nielson Arts Gallery in Berkeley. (Left photo by Franklin Avery and Katy Castro; right image courtesy of Annie Owens)
Despite all this, Seifert said, up till now he has been puzzled by lack of recognition in his “backyard,” Richmond. But this will be remedied starting in January, when the latest version of his ever-evolving exhibit “Upcycled Garden,” first seen at Oakland’s UMA Gallery, will open at the Richmond Art Center. The RAC describes it as “a sculptural diary of consumption.” As his website says: “While beautiful and organic on the outside, when many of the sculptures are flipped over, you can see a visual diary of consumption (gluten-free pizza, Covid tests, light bulb and Amazon boxes, etc.) that is used to create them.”
A local exhibition, opening Feb. 1 at the Nielson Arts Gallery in Berkeley, will also showcase Owens’ elegant and often mysterious work. In an email, she said, “The new work [will] reflect my inner monologue around womanhood, and all the changes a female body undergoes (because yay menopause!). [The work will also reflect] accepting that I never quite fit with social standards as a ‘quiet’ person.”
She added, “and finally [the work reflects] ‘Where do I fit as a mixed-race person in a culture that is finally beginning to openly discuss race, privilege and prejudice.’”
Daniel ‘Attaboy’ Seifert exhibit, ‘Portal,’ showing through Dec. 31 at 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco. (With the ‘Here Comes the Howellman’ exhibit of Jay Howell’s work.) 415.974.1719. 111minnagallery.com
‘Upcycled Garden,’ showing Jan. 22-March 22, 2025 at Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., Richmond. Opening reception Jan. 25 1-3pm. 510.620.6772. richmondartcenter.org‘Annie Owens: New Work,’ showing Feb. 1-28, 2025 at Nielsen Arts Gallery, 1545 Solano Ave., Berkeley. 510.525.8968. nielsenarts.com
TOP IMAGE: Daniel ‘Attaboy’ Seifert, co-founder of ‘Hi-Fructose’ magazine and the Game of Shrooms, exhibits his art at San Francisco’s 111 Minna Gallery through December. (Photo by Franklin Avery and Katy Castro.)
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Art for a turbulent era: At a time when it’s hard not to focus on the tension, strife, controversy and bad mojo swirling around, here’s an exhibit illustrating how the key to serenity lies within each of us. “Sentinels & Saviors: Iconic Avatars,” on display at the Richmond Art Center, features work by Oakland-based artists Joell Jones and Kim Thoman, who encourage viewers to “pay closer attention to themselves, their thoughts and their feelings.” Jones, who works with a variety of media, shows paintings here. Her colorful, abstract and ethereal works of various sizes represent different facets of herself as she invites viewers to visit the “unknown world” in which her images take life. “I have painted a woman engaged in a struggle for transformation and my paintings portray her as a fluid, shape-shifting creature adrift in liminal environments,” Jones says. Thoman’s large, steel figures, in a sense, stand guard over Jones’ works, each with an oil painting on canvas at its center. She compares her works to Chinese Terracotta Warriors designed to offer protection in the afterlife. “When I was recovering from a serious illness, I decided I’d like an army of bodyguards for protection in this life,” she says. “Sentinels & Saviors” is on display through Nov. 21 at the Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., in Richmond’s Civic Center Plaza. The Center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. On tap this Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. is “Make Your Own Avitar at Fall Family Day” led by Jones and Thoman. Admission is free. More information is at richmondartcenter.org.
Richmond Art Center preps for ‘Día de los Muertos: Fall Family Day’
By Kathy Chouteau | October 15, 2024
The Richmond Art Center (RAC) is diving in to the spirit of the season with a free-admission “Día de los Muertos: Fall Family Day” Saturday, Oct. 19 from 12-3 p.m.
The center’s courtyard will come alive with art activities, music and a live performance by Danza Azteca Teokalli, which is presented in partnership with Arts Contra Costa County (ARTSCCC).
Activities offered up that day by the RAC will span the gamut from a Community Mural with Luis García (@luismayanx) to Repujado with Rachel-Anne Palacios (@devikaspalacio) to DIY Smudging with Vane Hernandez to Make Your Own Avatar with Joell Jones and Kim Thoman and Día de los Muertos Coloring Pages. DJ José Ruíz (@mundomuzik) will spin the tunes. The RAC’s galleries will also be open for viewing and a Gallery Search and Find activity.
Volunteers are still needed to help out with the event. Interested parties can learn more and sign-up here.
The RAC is located at 2540 Barrett Ave. in Richmond; RSVPs for the event are not necessary.
Location: Richmond Art Center (courtyard and galleries), 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
Each year, Richmond Art Center hosts our annual Fall Family Day, a free celebration open to the public with art activities, food, and live performances. This year’s event will celebrate Día de los Muertos and is happening on Saturday, October 19, from 12pm to 3pm.
To make this event a success, we rely on the support of amazing volunteers. Volunteers help set up booths, assist Teaching Artists, serve food, and greet visitors. We still need volunteers for this year’s event and would love to have your support!
HOW TO SEE THE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS & SIGN UP
Click the IVolunteer button below
Scroll Down to the section titled ‘Fall Family Day’
Read through positions and time slots and find the one that works for you
Thanks to a generous donor, if you donate by October 31, 2024your donation will be MATCHED—dollar for dollar—up to $10,000!
In spring 2025, Richmond Art Center will present Time and Tide, the first major exhibition showcasing Richmond-based artist John Wehrle’s 50-year career. Curated by Jeff Nathanson, the exhibition will feature replicas of Wehrle’s landmark Richmond murals, like The Plunge and Revisionist History, as well as original work from his time as a Vietnam War combat artist.
Can you help us bring this exhibition to life? Please consider making a donation to support Time and Tide.
Thanks to an anonymous supporter, donations made before October 31 will be matched dollar for dollar.
Click the button below to donate online, or contact José R. Rivera at 510-620-6777 or jose@richmondartcenter.org.
Together, let’s celebrate John Wehrle’s art and legacy.
As a 501c3 non-profit, Richmond Art Center depends on your financial contributions to achieve our mission. Your donation is tax-deductible as allowed by law. (Tax ID 94-6104204)
It was opening night. The air was buzzing with excitement. As Kim Thoman and Joell Jones scanned the room, they took a moment to take in their success. What they saw was not just a populated art gallery, but a room full of family, friends, art lovers and Richmond residents who were eager to celebrate their artistry and creative journeys.
In early September, the Richmond Art Centerunveiled ”Sentinels and Saviors: Iconic Avatars,” an exhibition featuring the work of Thoman and Jones, two East-Bay artists and longtime friends. At 1 p.m on Saturday, the artists will be on hand to give walk-through tours of the exhibit.
On opening night, people admire artist Kim Thoman’s work. (All photos courtesy Richmond Art Center)
Having both migrated to the East Bay in their youth, Jones and Thoman have seen the area and its art scene through many seasons. Like many other creatives, they often draw inspiration for their artwork from their personal philosophies, experiences and day-to-day lives. Thoman, for example, drew from memories of a grueling battle she fought against uterine cancer almost 10 years ago.
“It was very scary,” Thoman said. “The way I handled it was that I didn’t cry for myself. I never once cried for myself until it was over, and I was cancer free. And then I had some really good, serious cries with my husband.”
Thoman’s abstract, mixed-metal figures have a steel frame with a hollow opening in which fit an oil-painted canvas. These structures are meant to resemble Chinese terracotta warriors. During her treatment, Thoman recalled the terracotta warriors that would be buried with Chinese emperors to protect them in the afterlife.
“What the heck,” she thought. “I’d like a bodyguard or guardians in this life. And so I made these sentinels/bodyguards.”
“Saviors & Sentinels: Iconic Avatars”
Artists: Joell Jones and Kim Thoman
Where: Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave.
When: Through Nov. 21
Cost: Free
What else: Walk-through tours with the artists at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5
Jones, who has always had a keen interest in spirituality and symbology, drew inspiration from a winged symbol that came to her repeatedly while she was mediating in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, one that she dubbed “Savior.” Throughout her paintings, each variation of this winged creaturerepresents a different aspect of her identity, and the evolution of these figures depict the struggle that women face in society. At the core of her work is a desire for freedom.
“I’m putting out this message that if we want to get freer, then we need to engage with ourselves,” Jones said. “You know, explore, go deeper.”
Although there are similarities between the two portions of the exhibit, Amy Spencer, the Art Center’s community engagement director, appreciates how they differ.
Joell Jones’ work lines a wall at the Richmond Art Center.
“You see the way the show is installed, it’s literally a face-off,” Spencer said. “You’ve got Kim on one side of the gallery and Joell on the other. And the work, while there are elements to the pieces that are similar, as a whole, it’s this huge contrast. These big, heavy, sort of almost intimidating war sculptures on one side by Kim, versus on the other side, Joell’s work is just so light and lyrical.”
The exhibit, in the Richmond Art Center’s South Gallery, is free and open to the public from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, until Nov. 21.
A space to explore, buy and make zines at the Holiday Arts Festival!
Sunday, December 8 | Free Admission
Zine Zone: 10am-4pm
Cut + Paste Workshop: 11am-2pm
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA
Guess what? There’s going to be a Zine Zone at this year’s Holiday Arts Festival! This vibrant space celebrates zinemakers and indie artists who, through their creativity, remind us to stay connected to the arts, community, healing, and social justice. The Zine Zone will feature guest artists Alex Martinez, Avy Jetter, and Flood Tide Zines, along with a free, drop-in zinemaking workshop, and plenty of community zinesters.
Friendly reminder, we ask everyone entering the Zine Zone to wear a mask. If you forget yours, don’t worry—we’ll have extras available.
In spring 2025, Richmond Art Center will present Time and Tide, the first major exhibition to offer a comprehensive survey of the work of Richmond-based artist John Wehrle. This exhibition will narrate Wehrle’s 50-year artistic journey, featuring replicas of his murals and gateways throughout Richmond, as well as original paintings and sketches he created as a combat artist during the Vietnam War. Curated by Jeff Nathanson, Time and Tide will showcase over 40 early studies, sculptures, photographs, and large-scale paintings, supported by public programs, a print catalog, and online content.
We need your help to bring this ambitious project to life!
Wehrle’s murals, like The Plunge and Revisionist History, are Richmond landmarks. This exhibition will offer a unique chance for both long-time fans and new audiences to appreciate his complete body of work. But we need the community’s support.
Your donation, any amount, will help us:
Publish a 40-page full-color catalog with new essays and interviews
Offer public programs such as panel discussions, youth art tours, and a family day
Provide Spanish-language materials to ensure accessibility
To donate, CLICK HERE (select ‘John Wehrle Exhibition’ as the designation) or contact José R. Rivera at 510-620-6777 or jose@richmondartcenter.org. Any contribution, large or small, will make a difference.
Together, let’s celebrate John Wehrle’s art and legacy.
Discover the expressive potential of pastels. Working from various floral arrangements, students will explore techniques that bring their artwork to life. Each week, instructor Jennifer Linderman will provide a range of pastels for students to experiment and play with. Beginners welcome.
Students in this class will also have the opportunity to exhibit their work in our galleries. The Across Land and Sea exhibition will feature artworks from Jennifer Linderman’s fall classes—’Oceanic Adventures with Acrylics and Mixed Media’ and ‘Floral Expressions in Pastels’.
