Richmond Archives - until suburbia!

Paper bags filled with produce from the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), Urban Tilth

Seed Power and Grow Justice at Urban Tilth, Richmond

December 20, 2024Silvia

When we arrived at the Urban Tilth, an urban farm in North Richmond, we struggled to find the entrance. But after we walked around it was clear we found much more than just a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) produce distribution center and urban farm. Urban Tilth’s vision is to be North Richmond’s farm and a neighborhood anchor for the whole community.

Multiple information signs show the future farm. Here are architectural drawings of a cafe, a native plant nursery, a workshop area, and many more ideas. You can see some of the buildings already in place. It was exciting to see how this idea takes shape. We also met some people working for the CSA. Everyone was passionate about being here. The produce looks great and walking around the old greenhouses we could see the potential.

They are not just organizing a fair food system. They want to transform it into a life-affirming system that creates a healthy, sustainable, and just community. I know they have the power to drive for change.

There are so many ways to become part of this movement. You can support Urban Tilth and get involved as a volunteer, learn about their educational programs, order their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) produce, or donate.

Redefine Contemporary Art at the NIAD in Richmond

December 6, 2024Silvia

‘Art is what you like,’ is a German proverb. When the NIAD Art Center in Richmond proclaims that it redefines contemporary art I wonder if they also had this liberating view of art in mind.

NIAD stands for Nurturing Independence Through Artistic Development and is a progressive art studio for adult artists with developmental disabilities. For more than 40 years this place has given opportunities to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. NIAD artists have been recognized by the Whitney Museum, the Studio Museum of Harlem, and OMCA. They are part of the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, SFMOMA, MADMusée, Belgium, and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami.

I felt the art come to life when I visited NIAD. There were many vibrant pieces, including the Pom-Pom Wallhanging by Felicia Griffin. In addition the space and the people were welcomed us warmly. The only thing I was disappointed about was the fact that the nice outside sitting area didn’t offer coffee, but it invites you to sit down and admire the fountain.

The founding couple, Dr. Elias and Florence Ludins-Katz, believed strongly in the Progressive Art Studio methodology, to focus on acceptance rather than assimilation of artists with disabilities. It also allows the artists to earn from their art sales.

Current Exhibit

From December 7th to the 27th, 2024 More than enough is NIAD’s Holiday Shop. This celebration of community and art is inspired by a collectively written “Abundance Poem”.

NIAD Gallery Hours are from Monday – Friday, 10 am – 4 pm and every second Saturday, 1 – 4 pm.

For the Holiday Season there is a special gallery open hour on December 7th, from 1 – 4 pm. On December 21st, from 1 – 4 pm, there will be a Holiday Spectacular.

You can visit NIAD Art Center at 551 23rd St. in Richmond, CA.

Take a Ferry to San Francisco

July 19, 2024Silvia

I think ferries are a great way to use public transportation. I remember visiting New York City, a much younger me, and enjoying a view of the Statue of Liberty.

In the Bay Area you can see Alcatraz or the Golden Gate Bridge from a distance. And if you want to go to Alcatraz, you have to take a ferry. One of my greatest Ferry outings was with a city friend: we rented bikes; biked across the Golden Gate Bridge; and took the ferry back from Sausalito.

Most of the ports here are used for commuting. You’ll find the schedules serving the working community, most likely not running on the weekends and mid day. But many people take the ferries to visit the city. They do have seasonal sport routes for seeing games at Oracle Park and Chase Center.

The San Francisco Bay Ferry serves the terminals of Alameda, Oakland, Richmond, South San Francisco, and Vallejo. The Golden Gate Ferry will connect Larkspur, Sausalito, Tiburon, and Angel Island. Both of these companies accept Clipper cards and credit card payments. The shortest ferry ride is from Treasure Island to San Francisco. In 8 minutes you can hop over to the artificial island that was created for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. This ferry is not part of the Clipper system and accepts cash and credit cards.

Do you enjoy ferry rides?

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?