New art exhibits get a boost from wrestlers Sept. 20
A group of wrestling celebrities will help promote some new exhibits at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave.
On Fri., Sept. 20, members of the Oasis Pro Lucha Libre Wrestlers will be at a Sunset Social sponsored by the art center.
The free event is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the art center. It will also feature photographs of the wrestlers taken by Anthony Delgado as well as custom cocktails from The Factory Bar and music from DJ Graham LP.
The new works will be on display until Nov. 21. The art center galleries are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Coastal Cleanup Day is Sept. 21
You can help beautify the Richmond shoreline at an event next weekend.
The local group will meet at Shimada Friendship Park, 79 Harbor View Drive, at 9 a.m. They will pick up litter and other trash between 9 a.m. and noon.
Volunteers are advised to wear a hat and sunscreen. They are also asked to bring a bucket, reusable gloves and a water bottle.
Artist Erin McCluskey will be doing her part. She will be picking up beach litter for material to incorporate into her mixed media work.
Top image: Members of the Oasis Pro Lucha Libre Wrestlers group will be at the Richmond Art Center on Sept. 20. Credit: Anthony Delgado
Dive into mixed media and exhibit your work in our galleries
We love showcasing student artwork! Create some mixed media magic in these fall classes and see your work featured in our galleries this winter.Learn more…
Oceanic Adventures with Acrylics and Mixed Media
Thursdays, 10am-12:30pm, September 12 – October 17 Teaching Artist: Jennifer Linderman Capacity: 11 Students
Immerse yourself in a magical underwater world as you learn to paint a vibrant array of sea creatures using acrylics and mixed media techniques.
Tuesdays, 10am-12:30pm October 1 – November 19 Teaching Artist: Jennifer Linderman Capacity: 11 Students
Unleash your inner flower power with the possibilities of pastels. We’ll use floral arrangements to explore techniques to make different pastel media sing.
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.’ ”
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.
Loom alert! Two new weaving classes added to our fall class lineup
Weaving Curious: An Intro to Floor Looms
Thursdays, 5:30pm-8:30pm, September 26 – November 14 Teaching Artist: Laurie Kelsoe Capacity: 6 Students
This class will introduce students to the joys of weaving. Students will learn how to weave basic weave structures and how to read a pattern. Students will also learn how to wind a warp, dress their loom, as well as basic color theories. This class is perfect for absolute beginners, or students wanting to start from scratch with a refresher course on the technical side of weaving on floor looms.
Floor Loom Weaving 102: Techniques for Beginner to Intermediate Students
Thursdays, 12pm-3pm, September 26 – November 14 Teaching Artist: Laurie Kelsoe Capacity: 6 Students
Floor Loom Weaving 102: Techniques for Beginner to Intermediate Students Dive deeper into weaving! This class is for students who have taken at least one floor loom class and know how to dress a loom. Students will choose their own patterns and designs, and are encouraged to explore different weaving techniques including pile, soumak, and weft interlocking.
Richmond, CA: Richmond Art Center announces two special events to celebrate the fall season with dance, drama, and plenty of art-making fun.
Right Here, Right Now – Sunset Social
Friday, September 20, 5pm-8pm | FREE ENTRY Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA EVENT WEBPAGE
Let’s gather at sunset for art and community as we bid farewell to summer. Richmond Art Center’s courtyard and galleries will be transformed into a space for celebrating the artists featured in Right Here, Right Now, Richmond with art-making, music, and more.
Meet the Oasis Pro Lucha Libre Wrestlers, and view Anthony Delgado‘s photography capturing them in action. Participate in a Richmond-themed art project led by artist Quinn Keck, and watch live screen printing by Art Hazelwood. Enjoy custom cocktails by The Factory Bar and light bites from local food vendors, all set to a soundtrack by DJ Graham LP.
It’s not often we open our galleries after dark – don’t miss it!
Día de los Muertos: Fall Family Day
Saturday, October 19, 12pm-3pm | FREE Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA EVENT WEBPAGE
Join us for a celebration of Día de los Muertos at Richmond Art Center. Our courtyard and galleries will come alive with art-making, music, and a live performance by Danza Azteca Teokalli.
This free event is open to kids of all ages and their families. Artists and activities include a community Mural with Luis García, repujado with Rachel-Anne Palacios, lavender smudge offering, and more.
No RSVP is needed—just bring your creativity and festive spirit!
Accessibility and Parking: Ample free parking is available in the 25th Street lot across the street from Richmond Art Center. The facility is accessible to wheelchair users via the Barrett Avenue entrance, adjacent to a parking lot with six accessible spaces. Parking and Entrance Map
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
Richmond Art Center features pro wrestlers, upcycled art and more
By Kathy Chouteau
September exhibitions at the Richmond Art Center (RAC) will see artistic inspiration derived from a variety of extraordinary sources, including Oasis Pro Lucha Libre wrestlers and Coastal Cleanup Day.
An Opening Reception will kick off the month of exhibitions at the RAC this Saturday, Sept. 7 from 1-3 p.m. in an event that’s free to attend. The afternoon of art will include Right Here, Right Now, Richmond—showcasing the work of Anthony Delgado, Art Hazelwood, e bond, Erin McCluskey Wheeler, Helia Pouyanfar, Quinn Keck and Taro Hattori. The exhibition celebrates the visionary art and ideas of local artists in Richmond, according to the RAC. Also up for exploration will be Sentinels & Saviors, Abi Mustapha: Recent Work and The Art of Sumi-e. An RSVP is not necessary for the Opening Reception.
Next up, on Friday, Sept. 20 from 5-8 p.m. will be a rare chance to not only mingle with the aforementioned Right Here, Right Now, Richmond artists after dark, but also meet the Oasis Pro Lucha Libre wrestlers who are the photographic subjects of Anthony Delgado’s exhibition. Adding to the revelry will be a Richmond-themed art project led by artist Quinn Keck, cocktails from The Factory Bar, light bites from local food vendors and a soundtrack by DJ Graham LP. Admission is free and RSVPs aren’t needed.
Inspiration for art is everywhere, you just need to find it. Driving home this point will be artist Erin McCluskey Wheeler, who invites the community to join her at the “40th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day” Saturday, Sept. 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Shimada Friendship Park in Richmond to collect beach litter to use in her mixed media artwork. “Join Erin in finding artistic inspiration while contributing to the cleanup of Shimada Friendship Park’s shoreline,” said the RAC. Registration is required.
Are you interested in participating in Art of The African Diaspora? New artists, as well as past participants seeking a refresher, are invited to attend a zoom info session to learn about the 2025 program. Read the artist guidelines and come prepared with your questions.
Note, this info session is hosted by the AOTAD Steering Committee. If you have questions please contact them at aotadexhibition@gmail.com (Richmond Art Center is closed 8/31 for Labor Day Weekend).
Two exciting programs launching this fall. First, join me in welcoming Andres Serrano as our new artist-in-residence. Andres, a lifelong Richmond resident, brings a ceramics practice that explores themes of queerness, home, and culture. Additionally, the third iteration of the Right Here, Right Now, Richmond Biennialwill open in our main gallery, showcasing the talents of seven local artists.
Both the residency and the biennial are made possible through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. We are immensely proud to receive this national recognition for programs that uplift and celebrate local artists.
Are you a local artist or a creative at heart? I encourage you to explore our fall offerings—whether it’s by signing up for a class, applying to participate in the Holiday Arts Festival, registering for Art of the African Diaspora, or just getting messy at Fall Family Day. We hope that Richmond Art Center can support and inspire your creative journey.
Looking forward to seeing you soon,
José R. Rivera
Top image: e bond installing her work with assistance from fellow exhibiting artist Erin McCluskey Wheeler. Come see their work when ‘Right Here, Right Now, Richmond’ opens on September 4.
Hello Richmondside readers. Here are some highlights of things to do and know this coming week and beyond. Monday is Labor Day so you can expect city and other government offices and banks to be closed. If you’re looking for something for fun to do over the long weekend, head to Baltic Kiss in Point Richmond where you’ll find a five-day lineup of music and comedy. Later next week, you can view inspiring artwork, attend a neighborhood meeting or learn about fraud prevention.
For additional events, check our calendar and be sure to add your own listings as well.
Community-based exhibits open Sept. 4 at Richmond Art Center
Four new exhibits open Fri., Sept. 4 at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave.
The works will be on view from Sept. 4 to Nov. 21. The art center galleries are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. An opening reception will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thur., Sept. 7.
The “Right Here, Right Now” Richmond-inspired exhibit features artists Anthony Delgado, Art Hazelwood, e bond, Erin McCluskey Wheeler, Helia Pouyanfar, Quinn Keck and Taro Hattori.
Much of the artwork reflects the Richmond community and some of the issues it is facing such as trash along the shoreline and the experiences of refugees.
An exhibit of two artists’ works designed to help inspire as well as guide people through turbulent times also opens that day at the Richmond Art Center’s South Gallery.
The “Sentinels & Saviors: Iconic Avatars” exhibit showcases two Oakland artists, Joell Jones and Kim Thoman with a goal to “remind us to pay attention to our inner lives and those avatars or symbols of our own choosing that can be our signposts giving guidance and encouragement,” according to the art center.
Jones’ work captures her “adventure into her unconscious or inner self.” It is “made safe” by Thoman’s work that portrays “guardians standing strong.”
A work by Oakland artist Joell Jones on view starting Sept. 4 at the Richmond Art Center.
“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 said in a press release.
Thoman’s work was inspired by her recovery from cancer.
“I decided I’d like an army of bodyguards for protection in this life,” Thoman said.
Also opening are “Abi Mustapha: Recent Work,” by Sierra Leonean/American contemporary artist Abi Mustapha of Santa Cruz, and a student showcase of Japanese ink brush paintings from Fumiyo Yoshikawa’s beginner sumi-e class at Richmond Art Center. Sumi-e is a traditional East Asian painting technique that uses black ink (sumi) on paper.
