On Monday, repairs on Guillermo the Golden Trout, which hangs above the Richmond Art Center on Barrett Avenue, was completed.
A small team replaced two metal scales on the 50-foot-long fish. The repair is in honor of the fish’s 25th anniversary at Richmond Art Center.
This reporter was admitted to the rooftop to get a bird’s eye of the fish sculpture.
Richmond Art Center Executive Director Jose Rivera expressed excitement over the repairs.
“We had been working for months for to get the parts,” Rivera said. “Our team and the City government did a wonderful job to help make this amazing day finally happen.”
RAC Community Engagement Director Amy Spencer noted that once the scaffolding had been put in place, two scales were repaired. One had fallen off and had been lost.
Luckily the artist had a single replacement at her studio. The other one had become bent out of shape, possibly from the wind, and needed to be flattened.
“The replacement scale was the important part…the fish had gone many years with a hole in the middle of it where the missing scale had been,” Spencer said.
Guillermo the Golden Trout embodies artist Andrée Singer Thompson’s ongoing concern with healing and survival. The artist chose California’s state fish – the golden trout – as a symbol of hope, since at the time it had just been declassified as endangered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
“I made it because I was involved in the environment, Thompson said. “I am extremely happy it has lasted so long hanging at the Richmond Art Center.”
It was installed at Richmond Art Center in 1997 as part of Thompson’s ‘Making Waves’ interactive EcoArt installation. Messages of hope from the community are inscribed on the back of the fish’s scales. The eye is made of a metal lampshade. It was made from 800 pounds of recycled metal and is 50 feet long. Guillermo was repainted back in 2008.
On Saturday, Aug. 5, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., a free community party will be held at the Richmond Art Center (2540 Barrett Ave.) called “Go Fish! Celebrating 25 Years of Guillermo, the Golden Trout.”
The RAC states: “Join us for a community party to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Andrée Singer Thompson’s iconic fish sculpture that adorns Richmond Art Center’s building. We’ll be wishing Guillermo, the Golden Trout happy birthday with art-making, games, live music, auction and cake.”
Press Release: Juneteenth Paint and Sip at Richmond Art Center
Saturday, June 3, 4pm-7pm | FREE Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond Event webpage: richmondartcenter.org/paintandsip
Richmond, CA: Paint, sip and celebrate Juneteenth! Artisan Elishes Cavness will guide you through the steps to paint your own masterpiece. No experience necessary.
All materials and light refreshments provided by Richmond Art Center.
This event is for adults 21 years of age or older. Advance registration is required and space is limited. Visit richmondartcenter.org/paintandsip to sign up.
About Richmond Art Center: For over 80 years, Richmond Art Center has served the residents of Richmond and surrounding communities through studio arts education programs, exhibitions, off-site classes, and special initiatives for community-wide impact. Richmond Art Center’s mission is to be a catalyst in Richmond for learning and living through art. richmondartcenter.org
Announcing these family workshops for kids and their grown-ups to make art together.
Ages 5+ welcome with an adult | Ages 12+ welcome solo
La instrucción en español estará disponible.
Registration required. Workshops are available until full. Registered students are responsible for communicating if they can no longer attend the workshop at least one week in advance of withdrawing.
Fabric Marbling
Saturday, June 10, 1pm-3pm
Craft swirling patterns using the ancient art of marbling to decorate a journal, pencil case, and ornament!
Estos talleres familiares son para que los niños y sus adultos hagan arte juntos.
Mayores de 5 años bienvenidos con un adulto | Mayores de 12 años bienvenidos solos
La instrucción en español estará disponible.
Se requiere registro. Las clases están disponibles hasta completar. Los estudiantes registrados son responsables de comunicar si ya no pueden asistir al taller al menos una semana antes de retirarse.
Marmoleado de Tela
Sábado, 10 de junio, 1pm-3pm
¡Crea patrones de remolinos utilizando el antiguo arte del marmoleado para decorar un diario, un estuche para lápices y un adorno!
Teaching Artist Eli Africa captured some amazing caricatures of folk who attended Spring Family Day at Richmond Art Center. Check out his work in this fun video!!
Summer Semester Registration Opens Wednesday, May 3, 10am
Browse art classes now and get ready for summer registration opening on May 3. Summer class listings are posted on our website (don’t worry if the class says ‘Fully Booked’ this will change once registration opens).
Image: New class – Gel Prints into Journals! Create beautiful gel prints and then incorporate them into hand-bound journals. This weekend workshop, July 22-23, is taught by Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez and Anna Kingsley.
Richmond Parkway Bay Trail between Gertrude and Vernon Avenues
On Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, community members gathered at the Richmond Parkway Bay Trail to install the hundreds of painted wooden slats that make up the Fencelines public artwork. The site of the installation – an existing chain link fence – highlights the close proximity between the Chevron petroleum refinery and Richmond residential neighborhoods. For generations, the refinery has polluted the neighboring community’s air, water, land and people.
Fencelines represents the collective voice of hundreds of individuals and families who, over the past year, gathered at events to paint their stories and messages on the slats, responding to the questions: “What message do you have for the polluting industry here in Richmond?” and “What vision do you have for your community in the future?” The resulting public artwork documents the impact of the petroleum industry; As you travel along this fence you will see messages of hope, unity, and care woven together into a collective monument to the resistance and resilience of Richmond.
Fencelines project is created by Graham L.P., Princess Robinson, and Gita Khandagle, local artists and organizers; inviting participation from Richmond & North Richmond community members and working in partnership with the Richmond Our Power Coalition to envision a just and regenerative future.
Special thanks to Richmond LAND for hosting the Earth Day event on the parkway, and Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez for his participation and support.
Saturday, April 29, 12pm-3pm | FREE Richmond Art Center (courtyard), 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond Event webpage: richmondartcenter.org/familyday
Richmond, CA: Saturday, April 29, 12pm-3pm is Spring Family Day at Richmond Art Center (RAC). Spend your Saturday afternoon with us making art and celebrating the community-voices that demand Richmond residents’ right to clean air. This free, family event features art-making activities, community action groups, spoken word, and music.
Special guests from the frontline of environmental activism in Richmond are the Richmond Our Power Coalition and the FENCELINES project team. Spoken word artist Nyabingha McDowell will perform. And the UC Master Gardener Program will give away sunflowers.
Art-making activities by RAC teaching artists are mobiles with Cristine Blanco, sound art led by STEAM specialist Vince de Jésus, caricatures by Eli Africa, and screen printing by Alice Rice. Plus kids and families can enjoy coloring with recycled crayons, family photo booth, gallery search and find, music by Mueve, and healthy snacks!
Spring Family Day is free, open to all and no rsvp is necessary. Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Avenue in Richmond.
Thank you to the Richmond Arts and Culture Commission for making this event possible.
About Our Event Partners:
Richmond Our Power Coalition: The Richmond Our Power Coalition is made up of local community organizations fighting to keep us in our homes, make sure we have clean healthy air, water, food, transportation, and different ways we can have meaningful work and co-governance that’s inclusive of the most marginalized of our communities. Member Orgs: Urban Tilth, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Communities for a Better Environment, Rich City Rides, ACCE Institute, Safe Return Project, Richmond Progressive Alliance, Cooperation Richmond, Richmond LAND. www.ourpowerrichmond.org/our-members
Fencelines: Fencelines is a community-based participatory art project that invites local folk to reflect on the circumstances of environmental injustice in Richmond, CA. Fencelines is co-created by local artists and organizers – Graham L.P., Princess Robinson, and Gita Khandagle – and members of the Richmond Community. richmondartcenter.org/exhibitions/fencelines
Nyabingha McDowell: Nyabingha Zianni is a transformational speaker, published author, sacred facilitator, and spoken word poet. She is the CEO/Founder of the Sistaaz Heal Network LLC. She is the author of Mastering the Sistaaz Self: To Master the World Around You. A self development non-fiction book that focuses on her story and the process of healing to truly understand the power within. Her mission is to advance the revolutionary healing of Black Women and Black Girls.
UC Master Gardener Program: Since 1980, the UC Master Gardener Program has been extending research-based information about home horticulture and pest management to the public. In exchange for training from the University, UC Master Gardeners offer volunteer services and outreach to the general public in more than 1,286 demonstration, community and school gardens across 53 California counties. camastergardeners.ucanr.edu
Mueve: Mueve (Mueh-Ve) [Spanish for Move] is a Music Producer and DJ from Berkeley, CA.
Accessibility, Parking and Public Transportation: Ample free parking is available in the 25th Street lot across the street from Richmond Art Center. RAC’s facility is accessible to users of wheelchairs via two step-free public entrances. The Barrett Street entrance is adjacent to a parking lot with six accessible spaces. The 25th Street entrance is adjacent to a parking lot with three accessible spaces. Richmond Art Center is accessible by BART, AC Transit, and R-Transit. Parking and Entrance Map
About Richmond Art Center: For over 80 years, Richmond Art Center has served the residents of Richmond and surrounding communities through studio arts education programs, exhibitions, off-site classes, and special initiatives for community-wide impact. Richmond Art Center’s mission is to be a catalyst in Richmond for learning and living through art. richmondartcenter.org
S.P.O.T.S: Supporting Peoples Outlooks, Talents, and Speech
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3pm to 6pm
The painting spot, the gathering spot, the spot light or epicenter of action.
Public art is a powerful tool for community building. This program will introduce young artists to the means to create vibrant community art works. A cohort of twelve young artists (ages 14-24) will learn about different models of community art projects, help to define how the program will local youth, and create a collaborative mural project. Students will learn basic color theory, composition, and painting methods.
CLICK HERE to view the mural created by youth participating in the program in 2021.
CLICK HERE to view the mural created by youth participating in the program in 2022.
Eligibility: This seven week class is for youth ages 14-24 who live, work or study in Richmond.
Stipend: Each student will receive a $250 stipend for their work at the completion of the program.
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3pm to 6pm from June 13 to August 3, 2023
Instructors: Fred Alvarado and Keena Azania Romano
This class welcomes Spanish speakers and is an inclusive bilingual space. El Artista Maestro habla Español.
S.P.O.T.S: Supporting Peoples Outlooks, Talents, and Speech
Aprenda cómo el arte público es una herramienta poderosa para crear comunidad. Una grupo de doce artistas jóvenes (de 14 a 24 años) creará un proyecto de mural colaborativo en el Centro de Arte de Richmond este verano con los artistas Fred Alvarado y Keena Azania Romano. Los estudiantes que completen el programa recibirán un estipendio de $250 por su trabajo.
Horario: Martes y jueves, de 15:00 a 18:00 horas del 13 de junio al 27 de julio de 2023
Ubicación: Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
Elegibilidad: para jóvenes de 14 a 24 años en Richmond
Large-scale public art installation confronts Chevron refinery in Richmond, accompanied by major exhibition at Richmond Art Center
FENCELINES // PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION April 22 – June 3, 2023 @ Richmond Parkway between Vernon and Gertrude
FENCELINES // EXHIBITION April 5 – June 3, 2023 @ Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804 Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm
FENCELINES // COMMUNITY EVENTS Earth Day Installation @ Richmond Parkway: Saturday, April 22, 10am-4pm (Community Remarks at 3pm) Spring Family Day @ Richmond Art Center: Saturday, April 29, 12pm-3pm Artist Talk @ Richmond Art Center: Saturday June 3, 12pm-1:30pm Artist Talk @ Richmond Art Center: Saturday June 3, 12pm-1:30pm Closing Reception @ Richmond Art Center: Saturday June 3, 2pm-4pm
Richmond, CA: The Fencelines Project centers circumstances of environmental injustice through a public artinstallation along the Richmond Parkway, where an existing fenceline separates Richmond residential neighborhoods from the Chevron petroleum refinery. For generations, this refinery has polluted the community’s air, water, land and people.
The art installation encompasses painted slats, milled from locally reclaimed trees, placed on the fence itself and adorned with ribbons animating the direction of the wind. Over the past year at community workshops in Richmond hundreds of individuals and families have recorded their stories and messages on these slats, documenting the impact of the petroleum industry on many lives and together forming a collective monument to resilience.
“We are here, we want to be seen, and we are lending our hand to make all of these initiatives work to end pollution of our communities.”
–Princess Robinson, Community Organizer and Fencelines Co-Creator
A Fencelines public art installation event will happen on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22. Community members are invited to meet at Richmond Parkway between Vernon and Gertrude Avenues to install the painted slats. This event will take place between 10am and 4pm, with a program of remarks from community organizers, artists and poetry happening at 3pm.
A large-scale exhibition and free community events at Richmond Art Center accompany the Fencelines public art project, offering opportunities for community participation and designed to amplify the work of local environmental justice organizations.
The Fencelines exhibition in the main gallery at Richmond Art Center features an immersive collective portrait of project participants and a sculptural fence installation featuring community-painted slats. The gallery space hosts workshop tables where visitors can participate by making their own piece of the project and include their portrait in the digital archive of the project. The exhibition also features picket signs from local actions for climate justice, and video and audio projects that highlight Richmond stories of confronting the harms of the refinery presence here. A special conversation with the project’s co-creators and closing reception will be held on Saturday, June 3. The talk will occur between 12pm and 1:30pm, and the reception will run from 2pm to 4pm.
On Saturday, April 29, 12pm-3pm, Spring Family Day is happening at Richmond Art Center. Kids of all ages and their grown ups are invited to spend an afternoon making art and celebrating the community-voices that demand Richmond residents’ right to clean air. This family event will feature art-making activities – including an opportunity to paint a fence slat to be added to the Fencelines installation – community action groups, spoken word, and music. Special guests will be the Richmond Our Power Coalition.
The exhibition and events at Richmond Art Center are free, open to all, and no rsvp is necessary. Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Avenue in Richmond.
Fencelines is funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency.
About the Project Team: Fencelines is co-created by local artists and organizers –
Graham L.P., Princess Robinson, and Gita Khandagle – and members of the Richmond Community working in partnership with the Richmond Our Power Coalition to envision a just and regenerative future.
About Richmond Art Center: For over 80 years, Richmond Art Center has served the residents of Richmond and surrounding communities through studio arts education programs, exhibitions, off-site classes, and special initiatives for community-wide impact. Richmond Art Center’s mission is to be a catalyst in Richmond for learning and living through art. Richmondartcenter.org
For more information contact: Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org
Top image: Excerpt from Fencelines: Richmond Collective Portrait, courtesy of Graham Laird Prentice & Gita Khandagle
