Point Richmond a hub for Art of the African Diaspora satellite exhibits

By Kathy Chouteau

Downtown Point Richmond will be a hub of activity surrounding Art of the African Diaspora (AOTAD) satellite exhibits, including an “Artists’ Panel” Saturday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. at Kaleidoscope Coffee featuring several participating artists.

“We are thrilled to feature the Art of the African Diaspora exhibits now in Point Richmond for our fifth year,” said Richmond Public Library West Side Branch Librarian Susan White. She added that, “For the afternoon, we’re celebrating the Art of the African Diaspora satellite exhibits at five locations.”

The afternoon will include artist talks and walks featuring exhibition participants. Start the downtown adventure by checking out the AOTAD artworks in the Point Richmond Post Office windows at 104 Washington Ave. Then stroll across the street to catch artist Irene Bee Kain at 1:30 p.m. at the Linda Drake Gallery at El Sol Restaurant, 101 Park Pl.

At Kaleidoscope Coffee’s 2 p.m. “Artists Panel,” Malcolm Ryder will moderate while fellow artists such as Anita Carse, Jo Williams, Eugene Young, Kiki Robbins, Gwen Elliot and Nadir Robbins comment on their backgrounds, their artmaking process, and what inspires them most, according to White. Find the coffee shop at 109 Park Pl. in the Point.

Nearby, a “Meet the Artists Reception” welcoming all those participating in AOTAD—including artists Malcolm Ryder and Simone Nia Rae—will be happening at 3:15 p.m. at the Richmond Public Library West Side Branch, located at 135 Washington Ave. The library, which partners and collaborates with numerous local organizations, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and will also celebrate the music and rhythm of Kalimba King at 11 a.m.

At 4 p.m. that afternoon, a “Reception and Artist Talk” by artists Yusuf Ssali and Raymond L. Haywood is happening at the Point Richmond Gallery at 145 West Richmond Ave.

AOTAD is a Bay Area wide exhibition, including open studios, that spotlights artists of African descent. It has grown from its organizers—Jan Hart-Schuyers and Rae Louise Hayward’s—collective vision at the Richmond Art Center, which hosted the premier exhibition 29 years ago. Today, the main exhibition runs at the Richmond Art Center through March 15.