Join us for a special reception on Sunday, March 6, 12pm-4:30pm for Art of the African Diaspora 2022! Mix and mingle with exhibiting artists, enjoy art and music, and let’s celebrate 25 years of the Bay Area’s Black Artists Exhibition at Richmond Art Center.
Space is limited, RSVP required, don’t forget to reserve your space!
Live Music by Sean Norris
Gathering During a Pandemic: Because of the Covid-19 pandemic we are organizing the reception a little differently this year. To maximize social distancing and the flow of people through the galleries, folks are invited to sign up for ‘timeslots’ to ensure spaces do not get overcrowded. Our courtyard will be open for mingling and refreshments, and gallery numbers will be monitored. Mask wearing is required.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Art of the African Diaspora in 2022.
Due to the surge in Covid-19 cases we are postponing on-site classes for the safety of everyone involved for a few weeks. Students enrolled in in-person actvities will receive updates about their classes.
Exhibitions
New winter exhibitions are scheduled to open on January 20, 2022. To prevent the spread of Covid-19, mask wearing and signing a waiver/tracking form are currently a condition of entry to Richmond Art Center. Only a limited number of visitors will be allowed in our galleries at one time. Read more about our Covid-19 Prevention measures here: richmondartcenter.org/about/covid/
Gallery Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 10am-2pm
Please check our website for updates and before you plan a visit to Richmond Art Center – things could change suddenly!
For any questions please email admin@richmondartcenter.org
My family’s path from freedom in Africa to enslavement and emancipation in the American South and on to Civil Rights activism in Richmond, CA
Join us for a special presentation by Patricia Mapps, From Africa to Richmond, on Monday, February 28 at 7pm. Through archival research, oral history, and DNA, Patricia has traced her ancestors to Africa and uncovered a story of enslavement, emancipation, the decision to purchase and live on the land they “tamed” when enslaved, their transition to farm laborers then to farmers, and Civil Rights activism in Richmond.
In this special online event, Patricia will share the story her research has uncovered in a presentation which will be followed by a Q&A session.
About Patricia Mapps: Patricia Mapps was born in Martinez, CA, and lived and attended school in Richmond, until her family moved to a home in San Pablo. Her mother and father were among the throng of migrants moving to the Bay Area in the 1940s, and became active in early civil rights’ struggles at Richmond.
Patricia attended Walter T. Helms Junior High School and Richmond Union High School, graduating in the top 1% of her class. She was a student at Reed College in Portland, OR, and became an IBM Computer Systems Engineer, working with the company for more than a decade. Later, she opened a consulting firm providing technical support for IBM Mainframe users.
Today, Patricia lives in Berkeley with her husband, Patrick Salmon. Upon retirement, she began researching her family history. She is now a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.
Top Main Image: Patricia Mapps’ Graduation Portrait from Richmond High School; Background Image: Patricia Mapps’ Family Tree. Graphic design/image production by Ann Miller. Images Courtesy of Patricia Mapps
Cover image: Detail of a color study by Rebeca Garcia-González for a large-scale mural to be unveiled at RAC in 2022. Rebeca is also teaching Fundamental Drawing this winter.
Thank you for being an important part of Richmond Art Center’s vibrant and creative community. We really appreciate your generosity — especially now when your continued financial support is so vital to keep Richmond Art Center running.
For 85 years Richmond Art Center has been sharing and nurturing creativity in Richmond, CA. We are the largest visual arts center in the East Bay, a showcase and hands-on learning center that gives wide-ranging audiences the opportunity to create, see and learn about art. And this last year was momentous. After an eighteen month closure of our facility due to Covid-19, in September we successfully reopened for classes, exhibitions and some fabulous community events (see below for some highlights of 2021).
But these successes came at a cost. Richmond Art Center continues to take a financial hit with reduced enrollments, limited capacity for community activities, and shortened gallery and studio hours. We have ambitious plans for 2022, but with Covid-19 numbers currently increasing, we know we need to be poised for whatever comes our way.
Your donation, whatever the amount, will support our efforts to sustain our current activities, develop new programs, and be ready to tackle our next challenge.
We look forward to seeing you back at Richmond Art Center in 2022. Until then, we hope you stay safe and well.
With gratitude,
José Rivera Executive Director
Carlos Privat President, Board of Directors
Thank you to our community who came together in 2021 to…
Make our facility sparkle with renovated galleries & public spaces!
Run in-person, online & off-site classes for over 1,300 students!
Present 5 in-person exhibitions, 6 online exhibitions & 6 artist talks featuring over 350 artists!
Expand our scholarship program & free classes (30% of students took a class for free)!
Bring hundreds of people together safely in our courtyard for special events celebrating local art & artists, Día de los Muertos, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day!
Begin an artist residency with print collective Liberación Gráfica!
Plus so much more… and we ask for your help to keep going!
About: Pretty Fun Designs creates jewelry that reflects an eclectic mixture of frivolity, power and elegance. The items are consciously designed, hand-assembled, and energy-charged. Feel & look great wearing Pretty Fun Designs.
Pretty Fun Designs will be a vendor at the Holiday Arts Festival from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, December 4 at Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond.
Julia Beery will be a vendor at the Holiday Arts Festival from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, December 4 at Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond.
About: I combine hand blown glass and wood to make unique creations. I use wood sourced from tree jobs and that I find on hikes. Some pieces I carve and/or burn for desired effect.
Eyes for Trees will be a vendor at the Holiday Arts Festival from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, December 4 at Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond.
