We’re in the midst of prepping our galleries for our Summer Exhibitions and look forward to seeing you all when we reopen the galleries to the public on June 11. Our workshops and classes will still be in progress. See you for the Summer shows soon!
On May 21, the Richmond Art Center hosted the Contra Costa Racial Justice Coalition community meeting, “Priorities for Racial Justice in Contra Costa County.” This Town Hall meeting to discuss priorities for Racial Justice in Contra Costa County. Great ideas were shared on the criminal justice system, housing and transitional housing, education for youth & job trainings, health, mental health & substance treatment. Introductions on behalf of the Richmond Art Center were presented by our Art in the Community Coordinator Cristina Haley and our Deputy Director Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez. The event was organized by Tamisha Torres of the Safe Return Project and Claudia Jiminez of Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organizations (CCISCO). Supervisor John Gioia and a representative from Congressman Mark Desaulnier’s office joined as well.
Participants discussed the County’s new task force to make the county’s criminal justice system more just and equitable, removing racial bias, and the importance of community advocacy to advance these issue. About 50 community and religious leaders came to learn about the County’s budget and brainstorm priorities that match the community’s needs.
The breakout groups met in our studios. We were pleased to note that some attendees had never been at our Center and remarked on what a beautiful space it was.
Images courtesy of Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez and Healthy Richmond.
THE RICHMOND ART CENTER ANNOUNCES THREE COMPANION EXHIBITIONS FOR SUMMER PROGRAMMING
RICHMOND, CA — MAY 19, 2016 — From June 12 – August 26, 2016, the Richmond Art Center features three distinctive exhibitions in its summer programming: Terry St. John: Close Views & Distant Vistas, the Annual Members Exhibition, and the juried show Our Town. In conjunction with the exhibitions, the Art Center will offer several free public programs including a series of artists’ talks. The opening reception for all three exhibitions will take place at the Art Center on Saturday, June 11 from 5 to 7pm.
In the SOUTH GALLERY—TERRY ST. JOHN: CLOSE VIEWS & DISTANT VISTAS
This exhibition gives the viewer a deep look into the studio life of Bay Area painter Terry St. John. Building figures formed from the air that surrounds them in a space that expands, contracts, and at times, merges with the body, these works present a profound exploration of light and shadow. Maintaining strong ties to Bay Area traditions, St. John has pursued a visual journey investigating his personal view of our world. As represented in his vigorous practice, the paint itself brings forth body or bay, house or hill. The Terry St. John Artist Talk will take place on Saturday, June 18, from noon to 2 pm and is free to the public.
In the MAIN AND WEST GALLERIES: ANNUAL MEMBERS EXHIBITION
The Annual Members Exhibition shares the sights and textures of the diverse work of the Art Center’s members. Four spotlight artists have been invited to exhibit in greater depth: Francesca Borgatta, Susan Spann, John Wehrle, and Erin M. Wheeler. The Members Spotlight talk will take place on Saturday, June 25 from noon to 2 pm and is free to the public.
In the COMMUNITY GALLERY: OUR TOWN
While reflecting on the 80th Anniversary at the Richmond Art Center, the open call for Our Town asked for views, impressions and thoughts on what makes a place unique, what gives a place its identity, what meaning can be drawn from an experience, association, or memory. Gallerist Jack Fischer juried the submissions to conjure a panorama of our town, your town, a better town.
Images (top to bottom):
Terry St. John, Model in Red, oil on canvas, 2014
Rik Ritchey, Refugio Bay Apocalypse V, Acrylic, collage, oil on paper, 2015
John Werle, Trout Chair, For my father, painted wood, found chair, 2013
About the Richmond Art Center: The Richmond Art Center is the largest visual arts center in the East Bay, delivering exciting arts experiences to over 20,000 visitors, students and artists who reflect the diverse richness of our community. The Art Center features hands-on learning, well-equipped studios, traveling Art in the Community programs and contemporary exhibitions in its galleries.
Every year, the Richmond Art Center serves thousands of students through classes and programs taught by professional artists, both onsite at the Art Center and at sites throughout Richmond. The Art Center’s four galleries mount rotating exhibitions that display the works of emerging and established Bay Area artists. Artists such as Richard Diebenkorn, Jay DeFeo, Wanxin Zhang, David Park, Mildred Howard, Hung Liu, Bella Feldman and Peter Voulkos have been showcased here.
The Richmond Art Center originated in 1936, when local artist Hazel Salmi, who worked for the WPA, traversed the streets of Richmond with a suitcase packed with art supplies, eager to teach art to anyone interested. Today, everything at the Art Center continues to breathe life into Salmi’s original vision: That within every person lives an artist.
Please visit the Richmond Art Center’s website https://richmondartcenter.org for a full detail of activities and events relating to these exhibitions.
Contact:
Jessica Parker, Communications/Marketing Director
jparker@richmondartcenter.org
510-620-6780
Download a pdf of the press release.
Thank you for your first round of votes; with your help we made it to the final round! Please take a moment to cast your vote in this final round for both of the following publications!
Parent’s Press: We are finalists for the following categories in West Contra Costa County!
1. Best Art Camp
2. Best Classes and Enrichment (Art)
3. Best Enrichment and AfterSchool programs
4. Best Place to Entertain a Teen
Best of Oakland Magazine 2016: We are finalists in the Best Art Classes category!
Today, everything we do at the Richmond Art Center continues to breathe life into our founder Hazel Salmi’s original vision: That within every person lives an artist. Join the largest visual arts center in the East Bay and help us bring arts experiences to people of all ages.
We have two amazing opportunities in our Jewelry and Metals department! Please check them out:
Attention artists! The Richmond Art Center is hosting an event for interested teaching artists professionals to join our growing team. Please mark your calendar for June 4 from 11am – 1pm to meet our staff and learn more about the teaching opportunities associated with the Art Center.
Blick Art Materials supports the artist community of the Richmond Art Center! They have provided us with a special discount just in time for the annual Members Show. We’re so grateful to Blick for their support.
Please click on the image to get your Art Center discount!
We would like to offer our members a complimentary gallery walkthrough, lead by Exhibitions Director Jan Wurm, on Saturday, May 14, from 2-3 pm.
Please RSVP! Stop by the front desk, call us at 510 620 6772, or email us at RSVP@richmondartcenter.org
Become a member of the Art Center at the Artist Level or higher to submit your work to the 2016 Members Exhibition.
The annual Members Exhibition opens our summer with the sights and textures of the diverse work of our members. The deadline to participate is Sunday, May 22.
Click here for more information about the Members Show and find out how to submit your work.
Dear Richmond Art Center Patrons, Board and staff,
As you know, we’ve been looking forward to the #EastBayGives campaign as a way to engage our community and raise funds to support the variety of wonderful programs the Art Center offers year-round: classes, free events and exhibitions, scholarships for youth and adults, arts education for almost 2,000 WCCUSD schoolchildren through our Art in the Community program and professional development for public school teachers.
The East Bay Gives platform is powered by Kimbia, an online fundraising program based in Austin, TX. Kimbia’s platform ceased to work in the early hours of the campaign and many of our donors were disappointed that they were not able to participate in this online event to support us. This major snafu has impacted numerous “WeGive” campaigns across the country.
We are encouraged by the outpouring of generosity of those who stopped by our “Donation Station” here today at the Art Center, and would like to encourage you to keep us in your giving thoughts by donating to us directly on our website, at the front desk, or in the donation box in our Main Gallery.
Your donations do help to support many important programs here at the Art Center and we thank you for your ongoing generosity.
On behalf of myself and the entire staff of the Richmond Art Center, my thanks and appreciation.
Ric Ambrose
The East Bay Monthly has a feature article on our current exhibition David Park: Personal Perspectives! The article by Lou Fancher gives a deeper personal portrait of Park’s history and his entry into the Figurative Art movement. You can read the entire article online here if you’re not able to pick up a copy.
This unique exhibition is in our gallery until May 23, so please plan on visiting us soon and attending the closing reception on May 22.
The video from our recent event David Park: A Personal Point of View, featuring a presentation by Park’s daughter Helen, gives a family oriented perspective of the artist..
