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’.
Richmond Art Center Wins GOLD for ‘Best Art Gallery’ in 2024 East Bay Express Reader’s Picks
Thank you to everyone who voted for us. We’re honored to receive this award and excited to share the spotlight with our neighbor, NIAD Art Center (Silver). The arts in Richmond are truly thriving!
Expand the Visibility of Your Business in the Art of the African Diaspora Catalogue!
Ad Deadline: Monday, November 18, 2024
Major exhibition at Richmond Art Center
Event Founded in 1997
100-140 artists participate annually
20-30 satellite exhibitions and open studios
Featured speaker events, special receptions, artist talks, live performances
Reaches an annual audience of over 10,000 Bay Area residents
Advertise in the Art of the African Diaspora Catalogue: The Catalogue is a 30+ page full color catalogue published and distributed in conjunction with Art of African Diaspora. 3,000 copies will be printed in January 2025 and distributed to arts and community venues throughout the Bay Area. PDF AD SHEET
Mail to: Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
Checks must be received by the ad deadline.
Terms:
Total catalogue circulation: 3,000
The Steering Committee reserves the right to assign ad space.
All sales are final.
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.
Our FY2023-2024 Impact Report highlights our key achievements over the past year, and I’m happy to share that it’s a story of bigger, better, and brighter.
The organization is in a solid position at the start of the new fiscal year, though not as strong as pre-COVID. While the FY2023-24 budget was originally planned with a deficit, our effective fundraising efforts enabled us to close the year with a budget surplus. We successfully renewed key grants, including those from the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, and Lesher Foundation, and forged an important new partnership with the Richmond City Council. Additionally, we’ve seen increased support from the community through individual donations, memberships, and volunteer involvement. But this is a never-ending, ongoing effort.
This progress we’ve made is a testament to the dedication of our staff, board, volunteers, donors, and partners. We look forward to building on this momentum over the next year and beyond, ensuring visual art can continue to thrive in Richmond while bringing joy to all those we serve.
Showcase Your Business at the 2024 Holiday Arts Festival
Promote your business to a creative crowd who wants to shop local!
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
62nd Annual Holiday Arts Festival Sunday, December 8, 10am-4pm Every year, the Holiday Arts Festival welcomes over 1,000 visitors to shop for one-of-a-kind gifts from local arts and crafts vendors, savor delicious food and drinks, and engage in art-making activities for all ages. The Festival’s gift sale takes place from 10am to 4pm at Richmond Art Center, located at 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond. Learn more…
SPONSORSHOP LEVELS
HAF BFF: $5,000+
Friend of the Festival: $500+
SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS
Name featured on event marketing: flyers, web graphics, etc. (if secured before publication)
Clickable link in one e-newsletter (11,000+ subscribers)
Logo on Richmond Art Center’s website and social media
Acknowledgment on event signage
SPONSORS over $5,000 are also invited to table at the event
To sponsor the Holiday Arts Festival, click the button above to contribute through our MightyCause platform, and select ‘HAF Sponsorship’ as the designation.
Richmond Art Center is a 501c3 non-profit. Your donation is tax-deductible as allowed by law. (Tax ID 94-6104204)
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT
José R. Rivera, Executive Director jose@richmondartcenter.org, 510.620.6777
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
