Petaluma Arts Center to showcase ‘Black Artists of Northern California’

Running July 18 to Aug. 24, the next show at the Petaluma Arts Center, “Black Artists of Northern California” will feature the extraordinary works of 28 artists from the South Bay, East Bay, North Bay and Sacramento.

“Only in the last 60 years have Black artists’ ‘’ works begun to regularly appear in American museums, art galleries and collections of Western Art,” states a media release distributed by the arts center last week. “This cultural art movement began when the first enslaved people arrived, whether acknowledged or not. In the 1800s, Joshua Johnson and Robert Duncanson were the first Black Americans to be recorded as artists. Today, Black Art in American art institutions is still only at 2-4% with women of color at 0.5% at the bottom, yet female-identifying artists account for 46.1% of working artists in the United States.”

Acclaimed Petaluma artist Denise Ward is the curator of the exhibition.

“In the 20th century, Dr. David Driskell, Dr. Samella Lewis, Faith Ringgold and many other great Black artists have illuminated us with their exhibitions,” said Ward. “These are my mentors. In 2015, Petaluma Arts Center presented ‘Black Artists on Art,’ curated by Unity Lewis and Trevor Parham, which inspired this exhibition.”

Besides Ward, participating artists include Dr. Orin Carpenter, Michael Granville, Unity Lewis, TheArthur Wright, Patricia Montgomery, Karen Seneferu, Malik Seneferu, Rose Hill, Orlonda Uffre, Shonna McDaniels, Keviette Minor, Jimi Evins, Damon Powell, Donna Gatson, Marlon Beaver, Rena Charles, Netsanet Tesfay, Kim Champion, Jamil Nasim, Ora Clay, Raymond L. Haywood, Hasani Tyus, Mark Heringer, Charles Blackwell.

A number of events are planned throughout the run of the show, beginning with the opening night reception, which will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 18. It is free to the public, with wine and beer available for purchase, and opening remarks from Ward.

A special Artists Reception will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on July 20. With music by The Dorian Mode, and a chance to meet many of the artists. The event is free for arts center members, $5 for nonmembers.

From 1 to 2 p.m., Aug. 11, Writers in Conversation will feature local authors Eirinie Carson and Natalie Baszile. Tickets are $12 for members, $15 for nonmembers.

The show’s closing reception will take place Aug. 24, from noon to 4 p.m. It will feature music by Keenan Webster. Admission is free for members, $5 for nonmembers.

The Petaluma Arts Center is located at 230 Lakeville Street. For information and tickets, visit petalumaartscenter.org.