Vote for Richmond Art Center
Vote for Richmond Art Center!
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.
Bravo to the WCCUSD students honored with Artistic Achievement Awards!
WCCUSD Student Artistic Achievement Awards
Congratulations to the students who won Artistic Achievement Awards for their artwork in the 58th Annual WCCUSD Student Art Show!
ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
- Adrian Salmoran, Richmond High School
- Rose Yerian, Pinole Valley High School
- Valeria Rodriguez, John F. Kennedy High School
- Quin Savage, Pinole Valley High School
- Jose Guzman, De Anza High School
- Ira Quimora, De Anza High School
- Tyson Williams, El Cerrito High School
- Meghan Reisbord, El Cerrito High School
- Lourdes Mendoza Ramos, John F. Kennedy High School
- Caylee Patterson, Betty Reid Soskin Middle School
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Jirah Jabla, Montalvin K-8
- Suzie Rassinoux, Fred T. Korematsu Middle School
- Ronard Abesamis, El Cerrito High School
- Raheru Allen, Hercules High School
- Dani Hermosillo, DeJean Middle School
- Lydia Icabalceta, Vista High School
- Brian Perez, Helms Middle School
- Gorety Valdivia Gomez, El Cerrito High School
- Ashley Belen Torres, Pinole Valley High School
- Liana Soriano, Pinole Valley High School
Top image: Lourdes Mendoza Ramos, Untitled, Watercolor and ink, John F. Kennedy High School
10 days left to apply! Richmond Artist Residency
10 days left to apply! Richmond Artist Residency
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.
KQED Arts: Your Guide to This Summer’s Not-To-Miss Visual Art
Weblink: https://www.kqed.org/arts/13957410/visual-art-guide-summer-2024-galleries-museums
KQED Arts
Your Guide to This Summer’s Not-To-Miss Visual Art
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.
…
‘The View from Here’
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.
Summer Art Camp for Kids – a few spots left!
Summer Art Camp for Kids
Need camp? We have a few spots left this summer in camps focusing on zine-making, animation and more!
Inspired by Toshiko Takaezu
Inspired by Toshiko Takaezu
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.
In Memoriam: Michael Stephens, Brilliant Grant Writer to Many
In Memoriam: Michael Stephens
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
Win a free class!! 2024 Membership Drive
Win a free class!!
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:
- Sign up or renew as a Richmond Art Center member in either May or June 2024 to enter.
- Already a member? No worries. Any donation over $40 made during May or June 2024 will also automatically enter you into the drawing.
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.
Richmond Standard: Richmond Art Center seeks applicants for artist residency, board
Richmond Art Center seeks applicants for artist residency, board
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.
Richmond Art Center is looking for new Board members
Join Our Board
If you are passionate about art and the community then joining our board might be for you!
Richmond Art Center’s board plays an important role in supporting and guiding the organization. Different individual board members bring different experience, skills, knowledge and connections to their Board work.
Read Richmond Art Center’s Mission, Vision and Values.
Who We Are Looking For
- People who live and/or work in Richmond, who are community-minded and thoughtful about how Richmond Art Center could better serve the community in and around Richmond
- Artists and others who know and love Richmond Art Center
- People with accounting/bookkeeping expertise with the potential to serve on the board finance committee and/or as board teasurer
- A lawyer (for the general knowledge and issue-spotting ability lawyers tend to have)
- People who can help us raise money for Richmond Art Center
- Leaders with the potential to be board vice president and president in the future
What can you expect?
Board members attend board meetings (mostly held via Zoom, sometimes in-person), act as ambassadors at select evening and weekend events, give of their expertise and wisdom and make a personal financial contribution to the extent that they can. A Board member’s term is three years, with a two-term limit. Service on the Board of Directors is unpaid.
To volunteer / apply:
Contact jose@richmondartcenter.org who will forward to the chair of the board nominations committee.
A CV/resumé/brief bio would be appreciated but is not necessary.
Top image: Eli Africa’s interactive mural in the WCCUSD Student Art Show 2024
