Arts and culture
It was opening night. The air was buzzing with excitement. As Kim Thoman and Joell Jones scanned the room, they took a moment to take in their success. What they saw was not just a populated art gallery, but a room full of family, friends, art lovers and Richmond residents who were eager to celebrate their artistry and creative journeys. In early September, the Richmond Art Center unveiled ”Sentinels and Saviors: Iconic Avatars,” an exhibition featuring the work of Thoman…
Dipping his brush into light blue paint, Peter Bakke filled numbered panels with the color. The sea was taking shape Saturday on the long wall in front of him, where dozens of other volunteers were applying shades of blue with careful strokes. Working all morning and much of the afternoon, the crew was the last of six to paint pieces of a mural called “Seeds to Harvest,” which stretches across 88 panels on a soundwall separating Richmond’s Parchester Village from…
Eduardo Ramirez, a Philadelphia-based mural artist, was incarcerated for 27 years in a Pennsylvania prison for a crime he did not commit. Since he was exonerated in November, Ramirez has found solace in making and teaching art in his community. “When a person creates, there’s a sense of pride in the act of creating, regardless of what the final product looks like,” he said. His art is on display through Aug. 17 at the Richmond Art Center in an exhibition…
There’s a skill to jumping double Dutch. The feet have to move fast, almost instinctively, to the rhythmic patter of ropes hitting concrete. At 12, Ah-Miya Miller has it down. “The thing I like about jumping rope is that it keeps my body moving and keeps us in shape, and when you get the rhythm, you can see it’s not that hard,” she said. “It makes me feel excited to know that a crowd is watching me perform double dutch.”…
When the Richmond Art Center lost its biggest donor last year, Executive Director José Rivera said he was worried about the future. “Over many years, that donor contributed $100,00 annually, making him the most significant benefactor in the center’s history when considering the cumulative sum of his contribution over time,” he said. “We lost him since last year he closed out his foundation.” For a while, it wasn’t clear how the RAC would make up that shortfall. But things are…
In an arena where they’re often in the shadows, Black artists are creating spaces to recognize and celebrate their talent. For the 28th year, the Richmond Art Center will present the “Art of the African Diaspora” exhibition, later this month. AOTD gives local artists of African descent a way to share their work with the community and each other. The showcase, which will run from Jan. 24 to March 16, will feature 160 Bay Area artists working in a variety of…
When Donté Clark talks about poetry, his entire demeanor shifts. His cheekbones rise to reveal a knowing smile, and his whole body hums and bobs and bounces as he speaks. In these moments, it feels like he’s on the verge of breaking out into verse. Clark, an award-winning spoken-word poet from Richmond, hopes the passion he brings to his craft rubs off on his audience. Since April, he’s led bi-monthly poetry workshops for boys at John A. Davis Juvenile Hall…
The atmosphere was joyous at Veterans Hall in Richmond Saturday, where more than 100 people celebrated Native American culture with drumming, singing, crafts, food and the traditional dancing contest. This year’s 13th Annual Richmond Contest Powwow was held during Native American Heritage Month and on Veterans Day, which organizers saw as an opportunity to honor the many native people who have served in the military. “It is great that we are finally being recognized,” said Jordan Wilson of Stockton, whose…
Saturday’s bleak forecast in Richmond may have meant fewer parkgoers than usual at Point Pinole, but the dreary skies didn’t seem to faze Eileen Hazel and her band of 14 vocalists. Bundled in their winter coats, they carried on with the “Sing with the Season” event. The crew came prepared. Many brought chairs, some brought snacks, and some sat on picnic blankets. When everyone found their place, Hazel began what would be her first time leading a song circle, a…