Black Artists Featured In Upcoming Danville Exhibition

DANVILLE, CA — The Town of Danville’s Village Theatre Art Gallery has set aside exhibition space for a Richmond Art Center show that features the talents of Bay Area artists who are of African descent.

Danville is providing a satellite exhibition space for the RAC’s 24th Annual Art of the African Diaspora exhibition (formerly titled the Art of Living Black). Co-founded by the late Jan Hart-Schuyers and the late Rae Louise Hayward, The Art of Living Black is a group exhibition showcasing works of more than 150 artists — the exhibition at the Village Theatre Art Gallery will spotlight a number of these artists.

The event is organized by The Art of Living Black steering committee in partnership with the Richmond Art Center. The steering committee is a dedicated group of established Bay Area artists whose mission is to preserve and expand the vision of Hart-Shuyers and Hayward by supporting emerging, mid-career and established artists of African descent.

The Danville exhibition dates are January 16 - February 29, 2020. There is a soft opening set for Thursday, January 16, 2020. During the opening, a screening of filmmaker Cheryl Fabio’s award-winning documentary "Evolutionary Blues" will be held, followed by a Q & A. "Evolutionary Blues" is a documentary about West Oakland’s music legacy.

The gallery will open at 6 p.m. and guests will have the opportunity to take in the exhibition. The film will begin at 7 p.m. followed by a Q & A session with the filmmaker.

A closing reception is scheduled for Thursday, February 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Refreshments will be served, and attendees can enjoy the artworks while live jazz is provided by local musician David Goodlett. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at 925-314-3460 or mnelsonbleier@danville.ca.gov.