By Kathy Chouteau
As the summer fast approaches, the Richmond Art Center (RAC) has announced four new exhibitions being presented at various intervals during June through August that it said will “shine a spotlight on artists with vital stories to share.”
The summer exhibitions will include: “Collective Care Is Our Best Protection,” “The Eastern Shore: Works by J.B. Broussard,” “Women Weaving Stories” and “Emmy Lou Packard: Artist of Conscience;” here’s the scoop on what you need to know about the upcoming RAC lineup.
Heading to the RAC’s South Gallery June 22 through August 20 will be the “Collective Care is Our Best Protection” exhibition, which will feature “a group of women artists who are at the forefront in activating public consciousness through muralism and printmaking. Two large, portable murals will be part of the exhibition: The first, painted by Elaine Chu and Marina Perez-Wong from Twin Walls Mural Company, while the second one is painted by Keena Romano, Leslie Dime Lopez, Vanessa Agana Espinoza Solari and Yazmin Shi Shi Madriz, per the RAC. Favianna Rodriguez’s collages and prints will also be on display along with the murals. A reception will be held Sat., June 18, from 2-4 p.m.
Slated for the RAC’s West Gallery June 8 through July 23 is the exhibition, “The Eastern Shore: Works by J.B. Broussard,” a solo exhibition by the artist that will include “a selection of bronze sculptures, drawings and paintings that honors the legacy and expressions of freedom of the great 19th century abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass,” according to the RAC. J.B. Broussard’s exhibition is a facet of Art of the African Diaspora: Luminaries and is one of four solo exhibitions of artists who have participated in the RAC’s Art of the African Diaspora. A reception will occur Sat., June 18 from 2-4 p.m., while an artist talk will take place Sat., July 9 from 12-1 p.m.
“Women Weaving Stories–Mujeres Tejiendo Historias–Eje xuj nchachmon qa o che ex tuj” will be on display in the RAC’s Community Gallery now through August 20. The exhibition will shine the light on a recently released art zine created by members of Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA)—which RAC said is “an organization of Latina and Indigenous immigrant women with a dual mission of promoting personal transformation and building community power for social and economic justice.” The exhibition is presented in Mam, Spanish and English per the art center. A reception will be held Sat., June 25 from 2-4 p.m. and a Collaborative Learning Circle will take place Sat., July 30 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
The fourth summertime exhibition, “Emmy Lou Packard: Artist of Conscience,” is set for the RAC’s Main Galley June 22 through August 20 and will “[explore] the life and work of Emmy Lou Packard (1914-1998), a remarkable artist known for her paintings, prints and murals, as well as her activism,” per the RAC. Packard counted Diego Rivera as a mentor and worked as his principal assistant on his Treasure Island mural for the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1940 (which can currently be seen at SFMOMA). Learn more about Packard’s exhibition via a previous article by the Standard here. A variety of events are planned surrounding the exhibition: A reception Sat., June 18 from 2-4 p.m.; a demo, “How Emmy Lou Packard Made Her Prints,” Sat., July 16 from 12-2 p.m.; a panel on “Rebel Art: Emmy Lou Packard’s Legacy,” Fri., July 29 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; a film screening of “Rivera In America,” Thurs., Aug. 11 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.; and a Closing Reception featuring the Great Tortilla Conspiracy, Sat., Aug. 20 from 12-2 p.m.
The aforementioned summer exhibitions and related events are free admission and open to community members. The Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Ave. in Richmond; gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more about the RAC here.
