RAC celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day through artmaking
October 9, 2023
By Mike Kinney
Dozens of community members and their families celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day through artmaking at the Richmond Art Center on Saturday.
It was part of the art center’s annual “Fall Family Day,” a fun, free event that invited the local community to get a taste of the RAC’s offerings while celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
The event enlisted families to work on a community mural facilitated by muralist Luis Garcia. In other activities, the Native American Health Center of San Francisco held a powwow reading corner. Printing, knitting and leaf activity sessions were offered, and families could also contribute to a photographic portrait series by Anne Wolf and Lisa Levine.
DJ Freddie J of Hotmixx Entertainment provided guests with the best RB and jazz fusion, and tamales were served at a popular food pop-up.
The spirit of Indigenous Peoples’ Day was definitely here today; I am glad people had a chance to come and celebrate it with us,” said visitor Dee Brown, a Native Lakota.
Added Ruby Johnson, another guest, “My family really enjoyed helping to paint the community mural, it gives me a real sense of how important art is to our community.”
Kathy Driskill said it was her first visit to the RAC.
“And I had such a wonderful time being with the community celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day with arts and culture! I can’t wait to come back here next year,” Driskill said.
On Saturday we celebrated Indigenous Nations across the Americas at our annual Fall Family Day event. Hundreds of folk came to Richmond Art Center – in Huichun, the unceded territory of the Lisjan-Ohlone people – to make art, share in community, and honor the contributions and culture of Indigenous people.
Thanks to all our partners, artists and participants who made this event so much fun!
Special Thanks: Luis Garcia, Native American Health Center, Andrés Cisneros-Galindo, Tiffany Conway, Anne Wolf and Lisa Levine, DJ Freddie, UC Master Gardener Program, Tamales Tamazula
RAC Receives Special Recognition from the State of California
Adrianna Jackson, District Director for Senator Nancy Skinner, visited us recently to present Richmond Art Center with a Certificate of Recognition for our Greenhouse Live Youth Art Showcase.
We’re so proud to receive this commendation!
Image above: Stu212 founders, Jeremy Phillips and Ron Armstrong Jr, Adrianna Jackson, and RAC’s executive director, José Rivera.
Richmond Art Center is proud to announce we recently received a Community Ties Giving Program grant from Union Pacific Railroad! 100% of grant funds will support needs-based Art Boost scholarships for children, teens and adults to enroll in classes for free.
Thank you Union Pacific for helping us continue to keep art accessible in our community!
Image: RAC’s executive director José R. Rivera with Union Pacific Railroad’s Peggy Ygbuhay
Greenhouse LIVE, on Friday, September 22, was an amazing evening of music, poetry, dance and art! We also launched Richmond Art Center’s new mural, “Epic Struggle / Battle Royal”.
Thanks to all of the amazing artists for gracing us with your talents:
Spoken Word: Rozell the Bard @rozellthebard; Anizha aka Spoken Soul @its.anizhas.world; Tajanique Bell, and special guest Donté Clark @donblak Music: Lai’Jhon Hawkins @laijhonhawkins Dance: Auseon Wakefield Visual Art: Belle Garcia
S.P.O.T.S Mural: Martin Cabrales, Yahir Garcia, Mariella Gutiérrez, Israel Macedo, Jonathan Paz Pureco, Carlos Poblano, Giselle Reyes, Sebastian Vela (and program lead artists Keena Romano @lamakina510 and Fredericko Alvarado @frederickoalvarado)
Thank you to City of Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez @richmondmayoreduardo and Adrianna Jackson, District Director for Senator Nancy Skinner @senatorskinner for attending and your continued support of the youth in our community.
Thanks to Stu212 @stu212 for your partnership, hard work and dedication to this event.
Finally, thanks to everyone who showed up in support of Greenhouse Live!
Event Date: Sunday, December 3, 10am-5pm Vendor Application Deadline: Monday, October 2, 11:59pm
Local artists, artisans, and makers are invited to apply to sell their work at the Holiday Arts Festival. This shop-local event is a great way to expose your work to an audience of 1,000+ who appreciate hand-crafted gifts.
There is no application fee and first-time vendors to the festival are encouraged to participate.
Special Guest Donté Clark to perform at Greenhouse Live!
We’re excited to announce poet, actor, and community activist Donté Clark will be a special guest at Greenhouse Live! Donté is a former poet laureate of Richmond and youth mentor. And fun fact, his portrait is part of the ‘Keep Richmond Beautiful‘ mural at Richmond Art Center.
Greenhouse LIVE: Youth Art Showcase
VISUAL ART | SPOKEN WORD | MUSIC Friday, September 22, 5pm-8pm | FREE Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA
Greenhouse Live is a youth talent showcase and open mic event that calls for justice in response to the environmental crisis. Featured performers are spoken word artists Anizha aka Spoken Soul, Damien Rozell Pope Jr, and Tajanique Bell. Singer Lai’john Hawkins will perform, and visual artist Belle Garcia will present work. With special guest poet, actor, and community activist Donté Clark!
Greenhouse Live is presented in partnership with Stu212.
To perform in the Open Mic: Sign up on the day of the event at 5pm. The first 5 sign-ups are guaranteed to perform, with additional artists if time allows. Plan to do up to two songs/poems (limit stage time to 5-8 minutes, time permitted).
Richmond, CA: Greenhouse Live is a youth talent showcase and open mic night featuring music, spoken word and visual art that calls for justice in response to the environmental crisis. This free event is happening at Richmond Art Center on Friday, September 22, from 5pm to 8pm.
Featured performers are spoken word artists Anizha aka Spoken Soul, Damien Rozell Pope Jr, and Tajanique Bell. Singer Lai’john Hawkins will perform, and visual artist Belle Garcia will present work.
Greenhouse Live will also celebrate the launch of Richmond Art Center’s new mural, Epic Struggle / Battle Royal. This mural was created throughout the summer of 2023 in a youth public arts program that explored ways in which to combine muralismo, technology, advocacy and storytelling.
To sign up to perform in the open mic section of the evening, youth should contact Kimberly Ross at kimberly@richmondartcenter.org and provide their name, and art sample/s (poetry, music or artwork) as attachments or links.
Greenhouse Live is free, open to youth ages 16 to 24, and no rsvp is necessary. Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Avenue in Richmond.
This event is presented in partnership with Stu212, a non-profit providing music therapy, health and wellness programs, financial literacy, and mentorship for youth. www.stu212music.org
Artist Bios
Damien Rozell Pope Jr: Rozell the Bard is a poet raised in Richmond who is still relatively new to the poetry scene. Their poetry comes from experiences seen, heard and felt. Their goal every performance is to deliver something that resonates with someone, somewhere in the crowd.
Tajanique Bell: Tajanique Bell aka Tajvelani was born and raised in San Diego and is a poet who has been writing poetry for over ten years. In addition, she is a recent graduate from Baker University in Kansas and has broken multiple records during track meets during her career.
Lai’john Hawkins: Lai’jhon Hawkins is an American singer, producer, song writer, dancer, and sound engineer from Oakland California. Lai’jhon Hawkins has a diverse musical background ranging from R&B, trap, to EDM and reggae. Lai’jhon Hawkins also plays the piano and the drums.
About Richmond Art Center
Accessibility, Parking and Public Transportation: Ample free parking is available in the 25th Street lot across the street from Richmond Art Center. The facility is accessible to wheelchair users via the Barrett Avenue entrance, adjacent to a parking lot with six accessible spaces. Richmond Art Center is accessible by BART, AC Transit, and R-Transit. Parking and Entrance Map
History and Programs: 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
PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA Lunes, 11 de septiembre de 2023
Día de la familia de otoño
¡Celebra el Día de los Pueblos Indígenas!
Sábado 7 de octubre, 12pm-3pm | GRATIS
Richmond Art Center (patio), 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond
Nos reuniremos el sábado 7 de octubre, de 12pm a 3pm, para celebrar el Día de los Pueblos Indígenas a través de la creación artística.
El Día Familiar de Otoño contará con un mural comunitario con Luis García y el Powwow Reading Corner con el Native American Health Center. También habrá muchas actividades artísticas con los artistas Andrés Cisneros-Galindo, Tiffany Conway, Alice Rice, Anne Wolf y Lisa Levine. Los visitantes también pueden disfrutar de juegos, refrigerios y música de DJ Freddie.
El evento gratuito está abierto a niños de todas las edades y adultos. No es necesario confirmar su asistencia. Richmond Art Center está ubicado en 2540 Barrett Avenue en Richmond.
Accesibilidad, estacionamiento y transporte público: Hay un amplio estacionamiento gratuito disponible en el lote de la calle 25, adyacente al Richmond Art Center. Usuarios de sillas de ruedas pueden entrar por la entrada de Barrett Avenue frente al Centro, donde hay estacionamiento con seis espacios accesibles. Se puede acceder al Richmond Art Center mediante BART, AC Transit y R-Transit. Mapa de estacionamiento y entrada
Para obtener información sobre el Día Familiar de Primavera, visite: richmondartcenter.org/familyday
Acerca de Richmond Art Center: Durante más de 80 años, Richmond Art Center ha prestado servicios a los residentes de Richmond y las comunidades circundantes a través de programas de educación artística en estudio, exhibiciones, clases externas e iniciativas especiales para lograr un impacto en toda la comunidad. La misión del Richmond Art Center es ser un catalizador en Richmond para aprender y vivir a través del arte. richmondartcenter.org
Para más información contacte a: Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org
Imágenes:
Luis Garcia, Creciente (The Rising), 2022 Día de la familia de otoño en 2022
Richmond, CA: We’re coming together on Saturday, October 7, 12pm-3pm, to lift up and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day through art making.
Fall Family Day will feature a community mural with Luis Garcia and Powwow Reading Corner with the Native American Health Center. And, of course, lots of drop-in art activities with artists Andrés Cisneros-Galindo, Tiffany Conway, Alice Rice, Anne Wolf, and Lisa Levine. Visitors can also enjoy games, snacks, and music by DJ Freddie.
The free event is open to kids of all ages and their grown-ups. No rsvp is necessary. Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Avenue in Richmond.
Accessibility, Parking and Public Transportation: Ample free parking is available in the 25th Street lot across the street from Richmond Art Center. The facility is accessible to wheelchair users via the Barrett Avenue entrance, adjacent to a parking lot with six 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
For more information and images contact: Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org
Top Artwork: Luis Garcia, Creciente (The Rising), 2022 Above Photos: Fall Family Day in 2022
Special Thanks: Luis Garcia, Native American Health Center, Andrés Cisneros-Galindo, Tiffany Conway, Anne Wolf and Lisa Levine, DJ Freddie, UC Master Gardener Program, Tamales Tamazula 
