Richmond Archives - until suburbia!

Acknowledge Local Art, Richmond Art Center

June 3, 2022June 3, 2022Silvia

It’s not just local art at the Richmond Art Center. But the nod to local artists are clear in the two large exhibition rooms. The main gallery shows well-known artists that have a connection to the Bay Area. Currently, until June 4th, this is Dewey Crumpler: Crossing. A take on the impact of the global shipping industry, with large scale collages, drawings, and paintings. There is also one sculpture, I almost missed, but really was my favorite! Multiple dragons crashing into and out of shipping containers.

The West gallery honors local artists. Right Here, Right Now: A Biennial of Richmond Art is a collection of eight Richmond artists ( Adrian Delgado, AJ Serrano, Daniel Ballesteros, Heather McAlister, Janet Lipkin, Jeff Maylath, Karen Seneferu, Melanin Buford). This exemplary exhibit ends on June 3rd, 2022 but the idea will be part of the Art Center’s biennially showcase.

The West galleries new exhibit The Eastern Shore, of artist J.B. Broussard opens June 8th till July 22, 2022. Broussard’s work centers around bronze sculptures of Tubman and Douglass shared with earlier charcoal drawings, sculptures, and paintings reflecting the Black experience. The opening reception will be together with Emmy Lou Packard: Artist of Conscience on June 18th, 2022.

When I spoke with the attendant she was very excited about the upcoming exhibit of Emmy Lou Packard. Packard was a student of Diego Rivera and has worked at the Kaiser shipyard’s newspaper, Fore ‘n’ Aft, in Richmond. She is well-known for her linoleum prints. The exhibit will be on view from June 22 till August 20th. This will also be accompanied by some events.

Mark your calendars:

Opening Reception: Saturday, June 18, 2pm-4pm

How Emmy Lou Packard Made Her Prints (demonstration): Saturday, July 16, 12pm-2pm

Rebel Art: Emmy Lou Packard’s Legacy (panel discussion): Friday, July 29, 6pm-7:30pm

Film screening of Rivera In America: Thursday, August 11, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Closing Reception with The Great Tortilla Conspiracy: Saturday, August 20, 12pm-2pm

All events are free and open to the public. No RSVP needed.

Gallery Hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm at 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804. The Art Center asks for a $5 donation.

Have you been to the Richmond Art Center?

Quilt for Fun

May 10, 2019October 27, 2023Silvia

I don’t quilt. In fact I have a love/hate relationship with my sewing machine. Don’t ask, it’s complicated.

But the other day I went into a place that might change my mind about quilting. Bay Quilts is in an industrial park in Richmond. They are a fabric store and art gallery; and they hold workshops. Bay Quilts also manages to spin a community around their store.

The extensive selection on fabric was mind blowing. Many colors to brighten up your day. One of the helpful staff members asked me if I needed anything. I declined, “just looking at these.”

“Oh, let me show you something.” she said conspiratorial, and I followed her to the far corner of the store. I was blown away by the color pallete that was presented to me in these fabric bolts (bales). All I could say was: “Pure joy.” and my store fairy agreed: “Yes, pure joy.”

A handmade fairy overlooking Bay Quilts store, Richmond.

They also have interesting handmade fairies for sale, and other things related to sewing. If you really don’t want to sew yourself but like one of the quilts in the current exhibit, you, of course, are welcome to purchase that (assuming it is for sale).

Their current quilt show is called “Wooly Wanderings” by Jennifer Landau and runs until May 28th, 2019.

Are you a quilter?

Let’s not forget the Rosie’s

September 30, 2016Silvia

We can do it! The image of the woman in a blue worker outfit, flexing her biceps, was for me always a symbol for equal rights in the workforce.

Little did I know that this was a propaganda poster in World War II to get the women in to substitute for the men and outproduce war materials. About six million women would prove that they could do what was considered men’s work, like welding and riveting.

The Rosie the Riveter Museum in Richmond does a great job remembering the Rosies, their accomplishments in welding and other jobs, it also mentions new achievements like day care. But they also talk about some lesser popular subjects like race inequality and the housing crisis.

Richmond got chosen to be the National Park Memorial for Rosie the Riveter because of the large Kaiser shipyards building warships, where a lot of Rosie’s worked.

On Fridays you can see some Rosies (and a Roger) gladly explaining what it was like for them.

Do you know any Rosie’s?