The East Bay enclave of Emeryville is a bastion of art and artists and a designated California Cultural District, one of fourteen throughout the State. Since 1987 the Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition had served as the yearly event to gather and celebrate this dynamic arts community. 2021 is a milestone year, not only for the 35th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, it is also the 30th anniversary of the city’s Art in Public Places Program, the 15th year of the City’s Public Art Purchase Award, and Emeryville’s 125th year as an incorporated city.
“Emeryville is home to hundreds of artists and musicians working in traditional mediums as well as the digital, film, performance, and literary arts,” said Sharon Wilchar, arts advocate and exhibition coordinator. “Our little corner of the Bay has become well known for its creative community and we are proud to acknowledge this with our annual celebration.”
First held in 1987, this exhibition was initially conceived as an event to recognize the city of Emeryville’s active and visionary partnership with the 45th Street Artists’ Cooperative. In the beginning the group of artists worked closely with the redevelopment director for the City of Emeryville. The Cooperative was able to purchase its warehouse with the aid of a Redevelopment Agency loan and the City played a major role in stabilizing the live/work environment so vital to its creative community. While the concept of the Exhibition began as a celebration of this partnership (and some of the original artists from the Co-op will show new work this year) it quickly expanded to embrace the entire artist population of Emeryville. Now any artist who either lives or works in Emeryville can submit their artwork for consideration for the Annual Exhibition.
The City of Emeryville has continued to demonstrate its rich affiliation with its arts community through the Art in Public Places Program, initiated 1991. Through this 30-year program, the City has commissioned a range of exciting art works for the public realm. There are currently over 50 publicly-owned art works in Emeryville and over 200 art installations available to the public in private development.
Also celebrating an anniversary this year is the Public Art Purchase Award, which began in 2006. This marks the 15th year in which the Emeryville Public Art Committee will purchase a piece of artwork from the Annual Art Exhibition. The City has been building a permanent art collection that is housed in City Hall, and in Emeryville’s Senior Center, Police Station, Fire Station, and Center of Community Life, believing that art improves the experience of being in City facilities, while also creating a connection with its large and vibrant arts community.
Each year a panel of Bay Area art professionals selects the pieces for the Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition though a jury process. The result is a carefully curated group show featuring the works of artists and craftspeople that live or work in Emeryville, reflecting the city’s great creativity and diversity. The exhibition is open to artists of all media and includes paintings, sculpture, photographs, prints, ceramics, textiles, video, and literary arts.
“Some bright new artists will be showing this year as well as exciting new works from some of the artists who have exhibited in the past.” said Kathleen Hanna, exhibition curator and juror. The other 2021 jurors are Jan Watten, founder and curator of Gray Loft Gallery in Oakland, and Rory Padeken, curator at San José Museum of Art.
Contributing artists this year include painters M. Louise Stanley, Foad Satterfield, Rachel Kalman, T Tanchelev, and Linda Lee Boyd; clay artists James Morris, Cuong Ta, and Bill Schwob; photographers Susan Scott, Michael Teresko, Ronald Davis, and Jeannie O’Connor; printmaker Kazuko Watanabe; Ann Holsberry, Laura Rifkin, and Erin Fong working in mixed media; sculptors Ken Kalman, Courtney Sennish, and Cheryl Coon; textile artist Susan Avila. Most works in this large 35th Annual Art Exhibition are for sale.
“Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg and Archduke Franz Ferdinand”, by Rachel Kalman, oil on canvas, 30”x 26”, 2019
“Eight by Eight”, by Mari Andrews, steel wire, mica, 12”x 15”x 0.25″, 2020
“Sea Forest 4 & 5”, by Ann Holsberry, diptych, cyanotype and embroidery on silk ,114˝x90˝x.02˝, 2020
“My Covid Wall”, by Cheryl Coon, part 4 (homage to Ruth Asawa), plastic, aluminum, 144”x96”x24”, 2021
“Emeryville is synonymous with art – as this city is home to many extraordinary artists,” said juror Jan Watten. “This is evident in the great depth and astonishing array of art that was submitted this year. I was very impressed with the caliber of work entered and was delighted to be involved in the selection process.”
“The selected artworks represent a tiny sliver of the immense artistic talent that is found in Emeryville, I was delighted to see the incredible range of artworks submitted,” commented juror Rory Padeken. “All the artists who put forth their work for consideration are to be commended for their steadfast pursuit of their art.”
Along with the impressive collection of visual art, the 35th Annual Exhibition includes a celebration of the literary arts. Emeryville’s former Poet Laureate Sarah Kobrinsky will lead a poetry writing workshop and reading, with poems inspired by the collection of works on display. The poetry workshop and reading are open to the public.
For more than three decades the Annual Exhibition has been installed at a different location, each year donated by an Emeryville business. Last year during the challenges of 2020, the Exhibition was presented online only. This year, for the 35th Annual Exhibition, CenterCal Properties, LLC has generously offered the use of a 14,000 square foot space, conveniently located at the north end of the Bay Street Emeryville shopping district.
“We are hopeful that, with this large space, we will be able to adhere to the current protocols andchallenges of social distancing,” continued Wilchar. “We are cautiously moving forward with plans for the live exhibition and opening night reception, yet understand we may need to be flexible. We encourage the public to check our website for the most up-to-date information regarding covid restrictions and guidelines.”
For details about the 35th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition and Opening Night Reception please visit www.emeryarts.org
About Emeryville Celebration of the Arts, Inc.
The mission of the non-profit Emeryville Celebration of the Arts, Inc. is to foster an appreciation of the arts and artists of Emeryville, and to promote the city as a culturally vital and progressive center for living and working. The Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition continues to support this mission by providing a free public venue, open to all, to experience the rich diversity of artistic expression of those who live and work within the city of Emeryville.
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CALENDAR LISTING – ART EXHIBITS:
What: Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition Celebrates 35 Years
Celebrating art and artists in Emeryville for 35 years, this large group show features more than 200 pieces of artwork by 87Emeryville artists. The exhibition is open to artists of all media and includes paintings, sculpture, photographs, prints, ceramics, textiles, video, and literary arts.
The East Bay enclave of Emeryville is well known for its active and diverse arts community and this juried exhibition serves as the city’s annual celebration of its thriving collective creativity. Each year a panel of Bay Area art professionals select the pieces for the annual exhibition. The result is a carefully curated group show featuring the works of artists and craftspeople that live or work in Emeryville. Now in its milestone 35th year, the exhibition continues to uncover emerging talent, along with new work by established artists.
The Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition is sponsored by Emeryville Celebration of the Arts, Inc.. Independent curator and exhibition designer Kathleen Hanna is curator and juror. The other 2021 jurors are Rory Padeken, curator for the San José Museum of Art, and Jan Watten, founder and curator of Gray Loft Gallery, Oakland.
When: 35th Annual Art Exhibition is Open Thursdays through Sundays 11am – 6pm, October 2–31, 2021
Opening Night Reception 6pm, Friday, October 1, 2021
Cost: FREE – donations encouraged
Where: Bay Street Emeryville
5690 Bay Street, Emeryville, CA
Public Info: www.emeryarts.org or 510/652-6122
CALENDAR LISTING – ART OPENINGS
What: 35th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition
Opening Night Reception
Celebrate 35 years of art and artists in Emeryville. Meet the artists and get the first look at the artwork on display in the 35th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, a juried show of 87artists and craftspeople who live or work in Emeryville. Music by The doRiaN Mode: Vintage Jazz & Blues; no-host bar raises funds for the Emeryville Youth Art Program.
When: Opening Reception, 6 -9pm, Friday, October 1, 2021
Cost: FREE – donations encouraged
Where: Bay Street Emeryville
5690 Bay Street, Emeryville, CA
Info: www.emeryarts.org or call 510/652-6122
