Jars

The end of the year is fast approaching and I have not been keeping up with this blog. Earlier in the year I showed a work in progress for an upcoming (now past) show. You can read the original post here: upcoming show. I am happy to say the painting shown was sold, as did several others. Here was the final version of the painting.

Smith River

I was going through my photos from this year and thought I'd share a little painting made this summer on the Smith river. This was painted on site while wading in the river and sipping cold beer... This piece and the act of painting it does not serve any grand purpose in my career as an artist. This was painted for no other reason than enjoying life and stopping to observe a small sliver of time. Unfortunately I didn't paint too much more. Although fortunately it was because I was enjoying my time with friends and family

Prints for sale

Up Coming Show

Im going have some work on display at a little gallery in San Pablo, Ca.

If you're in the Bay Area, come check out a great group show. The opening reception is Saturday Aug 28th at 1pm. Here's more info: GALLERY


And here's what's on the easel now. A work in progress....

Awhile back in Mexico I stumbled across this great roadside vendor selling pickled olives, peppers, vegetables, and honey. Everything was displayed on old rickety whitewashed shelves in recycled glass jars. Great colors and shapes! I love the patterns and colors the repetitive display made. 

iPhone sketch

Just a little sketch I made using my phone. That furry face is my cat, Snuggles.


-- Post From A Tiny Screen

Art for the People

Every year the City of Richmond, in collaboration with the Richmond Art Center and the Richmond Arts & Culture Commission engages the community in a public art program appropriately titled, the Neighborhood Public Art Project. The Neighborhood Public Art Project [NPA] serves as a vehicle for the community to actively participate in public art. By collaborating with Neighborhood Councils, Non Profits, community groups and professional artist, the NPA project is able to produce work that sparks dialogue and encourages the community to share in the experience of the creative process.

This year’s NPA project is a continuation of the 2009 project. Due to the scope of the 2009 NPA, the project was extended to encompass 2010. The current NPA project is in collaboration with renowned muralist, Judy Baca. Judy is the founder of SPARC (The Social And Public Art Resource Center). The Richmond Art Center, in partnership with the City of Richmond, commissioned Judy and her team at SPARC to create a mural (site TBD) that engages the community and represents the diversity of the city. The project is being coordinated and managed by local artist, Eduardo Pineda. The central theme of the piece is one of empathy and of understanding. Bellow is a glimpse of the process thus far.

Early last year Judy was invited to Richmond. Judy gave a wonderful presentation about her organization and her process. This also gave the NPA Committee the opportunity to propose our plan for a mural to Judy

One of the exciting things about Judy and her approach is her ability to work with various groups within a community and the ability to spark a dialogue amongst members of the community. Through a series of workshops, Judy is able to actively engage the community. The workshops are intended to gather resources for the mural and to interact with the community allowing for their voice to be heard in the creative process. During the workshop, participants are given a presentation, there’s a group discussion, and exercises are conducted.

Here are some photos taken at the first workshop at the Nevin Park Community center. This workshop involved the residence of the neighborhood and guest from Richmond’s Native American Wellness Center.

Here, Judy Baca interviews Betty Reid-Soskin at the Richmond Art Center. The interview was not planned and was an organic, impromptu event. After meeting, Judy was captivated by Betty’s vast knowledge of Richmond’s history as well as her warm and delightful demeanor. Betty agreed to an interview and delighted us all with her wit, knowledge and insightful views on Richmond, politics and the world.

Later that day, two more workshops were conducted. Here is a photo of the youth workshop with participants from SEAYL and the RYSE Youth Council

2009 Year End Review

Since I did not post much (anything) after January last year, I thought I would share a little with a year-end review and update.

2009 started off good with some work with an old friend, John Wehrle, as a mural painter [assistant]. I worked on his mural in Richmond Ca on MacDonald ave. John is an amazing artist and muralist with an impressive body of work around the west coast. I had a great time working with John and his crew on such a great project.

Following the mural gig, I took a road trip to Seattle to display some paintings at Café Javasti. I had a 6-week showing of about a dozen pieces. Café Javasti is a wonderful place to grab a latte or a delicious crepe while you view some amazing art from emerging artist. The show was well received and I got great feedback from people regarding my work. I am looking for gallery representation and hope to have another show in the near future. And I am currently working on a new series of urban observation paintings. These will be urbanscapes painted from locations throughout the Bay Area with a few from the North West as well as LA. I will be posting updates of my work as I develop the paintings.

The most exciting news for me in ’09 was my involvement with the Richmond Art Center [RAC]. As of March 2009, I have been a member of their Board of Directors. It is an honor and a privilege to serve on the board of this great institution. The Richmond Art Center was founded in 1936 and is one of the longest continuously running nonprofit art organization on the west coast. The center is a gem. The RAC encourages active engagement in the visual arts through exhibitions, workshops, classes, events, and outreach programs. With its 25,000 square foot facility, amazing staff and teachers, the RAC serves the community with sincerity and passion for the arts. The RAC has been a part of my life in one form or another for over 15 years. I was first introduced to the RAC as a child when I took several drawing and painting classes. Later, I would become involved in a community outreach program as a teen. It was during this time that my role as a volunteer expanded and my appreciation for the center grew. The RAC played an integral role in my life as a young man and inspiring artist. Now, as an adult and an emerging artist, I am thrilled at the opportunity to give back to the RAC by serving on the board. Over the past several months the RAC has given me the opportunity to work on many projects and meet many wonderful people. I look forward to another year on the RAC board.

The year ended with the RAC Holiday Arts Festival.

This is a wonderful event held at the RAC every year in December. There are activities for children, music, food, a silent auction and amazing handmade goods sold by local artist. I had the privilege of having two of my pieces up for the auction. It was an honor to have my pieces accompanied by the work of such a diverse and talented pool of local, emerging and established artist. Both my pieces sold, which is always welcomed as an emerging artist, but more importantly, the proceeds benefit the programs at the RAC. I am thankful to the people that purchased my work, not only for their interest in my work and their appreciation for original art, but also their contribution to the center.

** FUN RAC FACTS: to help those of you unfamiliar with the RAC get a grasp of its extremely rich history and impact on the Bay Area art world, I wanted to share two interesting facts about the Richmond Art Center:

1) In 1962 the Richmond Art Center, along with the now defunct Everett Ellin Gallery in L.A., were the first west coast galleries to show the work of Jasper Johns in a solo show.

2) 1968-71 Tom Marioni worked as curator of art for the Richmond Art Center