The Richmond Art Center  is celebrating its 75th Anniversary with "Arts Alive! 75," a series of events and exhibits running through September, 2011. Established in 1936 as part of the Works Progress Administration, the center offers a broad range of art education, exhibits, and in-school programs. Many well-known artists started their careers as students, teachers, or exhibitors at the RAC.

"Our yearlong celebration invites those who recognize the vital importance of our mission to come together to keep the Richmond Art Center strong for the next 75 years," said Nancy Servis, Executive Director for the RAC.

The year began with "The Art of Living Black 15th Anniversary Exhibition" (TAOLB), see above.

The Anniversary Benefit Gala, Arts Alive! 75, will be held on Saturday, March 26th, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. The evening includes a landmark exhibition in the 6,000 square foot Main Gallery, "Beyond Tradition: Art Legacies at the Richmond Art Center," featuring the work of recognized artists such as Nathan Oliveira, Tom Marioni, Roy De Forest, Jay DeFeo, William T. Wiley and many more. The celebratory evening will also feature live music, performance art, a ceramics demonstration, wine tasting, cocktails, and hors d'oeuvres. Silent and live auctions will offer Bay Area adventure packages and works by prominent California artists.

Award-winning CBS 5 News Anchor Dana King, who is also a painter and sculptor, will emcee the gala.

Benefit Gala Tickets are $75.00 per person, or $125.00 for two (a single purchaser is required). Tickets can be purchased at the RAC or online. Cocktail attire is encouraged. All proceeds directly benefit the RAC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and a portion of the ticket price is tax deductible.

In the fall, The RAC Remembers in September will offer a reunion to all those associated with the Richmond Art Center throughout its 75 year history. Students, teachers, staff, volunteers and supporters are invited to attend a celebration on Saturday, September 24th (details to be announced).

Saturday, April 2nd

10:30 am to 11:16 am

Calling All Richmond! It's coming, the new, improved, all organic, "5^th Annual Richmond Silly Parade," Saturday, April 2, from 10:30 to 11:16 at the corner of 23^rd and Macdonald Ave. in downtown Richmond, California.

Come march with us, or line the sidewalk, and EOL (Enjoy Out Loud).

Building on the success of the city's Cinco de Mayo,  Juneteenth, and Home Front festival events, the Richmond Silly Parade welcomes all Richmond neighbors and neighborhoods to parade in the street and get in touch with your inner silly.

Originally conceived as a take-off on marching parades, the Richmond Silly Parade has transformed itself into a celebration of our city's imagination, verve, diversity, pride and purpose. 

Last year's marchers, lead by La Raza Car Club, included the Boy Scouts, Rosie the Riveters, the Senior Citizen Dry-Water Swim Team, Denzel Washington, Purple Hula Hoopers, pets in costume, pet owners in costume, umbrella gymnastics, soccer teams, saxophone players, "La Rondella del Sagrado Corazon", Mother Earth, and the Jennifer Lopez Look-alike Bicycle Consortium.

This year, for the "5^th Annual", we're hoping for giant puppets, gospel groups, a baby brigade, kids in Halloween costumes, stilt-walkers, floats, more giant puppets, and people just like you along with your friends, domino club, union brothers and sisters, support group, etc. 

Remember everyone can participate.  All you need are a prop and an idea (for example, flyswatters or cell phones.)  For inspiration, check out "The "4^th Annual Richmond Silly Parade" video on YouTube.  Parade photographs are posted at "fletcher oakes silly parade", or Google, the "Doo Dah" parade of Pasadena, CA.

For information, more ideas and registration, email richmondsillyparade@gmail.com or telephone Michael Beer at 235-5519 (not after 10:37 p.m.).

Contra Costa College

2600 Mission Bell Drive

Sunday, April 10^th

11:00 am to 2:30 pm

Tickets $35 in Advance call 510-235-7800 ext. 4408

$40 at the Door

Contra Costa Culinary Arts Program is hosting its 4th Annual Food & Wine Event.  This is one of the college's grand student exhibitions!  Over 40 popular Bay Area restaurants and wineries will serve-up their best foods and wines.  The event is filled with fun and excitement including an old fashion cake walk, a silent auction and a tree of abundance.

Each year this event gets bigger and better.  CCC anticipates over 500 guests from throughout the Bay Area and beyond who will enjoy tasting, drinking and listening to live music and performances.

All guests will receive an engraved souvenir wine glass and plate.  Donations are tax-deductible and all proceeds benefit the Culinary Arts Scholarship Program.

Salesian High School 

2851 Salesian Avenue

Saturday, March 19th 

5:30 pm 

For ticket information, contact Officer Hernandez at (510)520-1703

This Crab Feed is unique - you also have your choice of chicken and steak.  And remember, this is for our students!!  

Proceeds help fund the Leonard Garcia, David Haynes & Brad Moody College Scholarships, all fallen officers from Richmond Police Department.  Scholarships are awarded to local high school seniors who wish to pursue a career in criminal justice, law, First Responders (EMT, fire & police) and the medical field. 

from the desk of Chris Treadway

The federal government officially acknowledged last week what a dedicated group of volunteers has known for years: The S.S. Red Oak Victory is one of America's treasures.

That recognition came in the form of a $700,000 grant from the federal Save America's Treasures Grant Program that is a major step toward getting the historic ship out of the water at its Port of Richmond berth and into dry dock for long overdue work on its hull.

The grant is the highest award possible from America's Treasures, a program administered by the National Park Service that awards funds "for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and nationally significant historic structures and sites."

Getting the 67-year-old ship into dry dock has been at the top of the want list for the nonprofit Richmond Museum Association, which owns and operates the Red Oak, one of the key sites in the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park.

"It's a dream come true." said museum association President Lois Boyle, who was informed of the award in a call from Congressman George Miller, D-Martinez. "It's going to do all of the hull and all the sea valves.

"We have to match it and we will be appealing to the public for any size donation to help with the match," she said. "We will be engaged in an all-out campaign to acquire the match."

A combination of funding or in-kind services can be used to meet the match level, "but a certain percentage has to be in cash or we can't pay the bills," Boyle said. "We have a $350,000 commitment in funds and services, a little over $100,000 of that in cash."

Maritime firms Manson and Foss "have been very supportive" of the restoration effort, she said, adding, "They want the ship to sail."

Miller authored the legislation that authorized conveying the ship to the museum association and it was moved in 1998 to the Port of Richmond, where volunteers have worked on aspects its restoration and updating to operate as a public attraction.

The entire project had been threatened, however, because the ship remains in the Bay and the hull continues to deteriorate. The "Statement of Severity of Threat to the Historic Property" submitted with the grant application notes that the present situation endangers not only the historic ship, but also to the Bay environment as toxic materials disintegrate into the water.

Once the matching amount is raised the ship will be put into dry dock in San Francisco, where the hull will be completely cleaned, repaired and painted. Other work will include opening and cleaning valves, repairing the ship's turbine generators to Coast Guard requirements and below deck painting and repairs.

To learn more about the effort and the matching portion of the grant, contact the Richmond Museum of History at 510-235-7387 or Lois Boyle at 510-232-6593.