Director’s Statement

Welcome to Art & Culture month, a new initiative of Rotten City Cultural District, Emeryville, City of Art & Innovation, and all the District Partners including Emeryville Celebration of the Arts. Our 39th Annual serves both as a kick-off for this art-filled month with our opening night and also as the closing of the month’s activities with our ekphrastic poetry readings afternoon.  

An enormous thank you to Oxford Properties Group, owners and managers of Public Market Emeryville, for their generous donation of a remarkable space for the show. Their on-site team of Andrea Kirkpatrick, Hailey Mamizuka, and Allison Miller have been incredibly supportive as we transform the site. We love 5905 Shellmound Street!

Our Board, Operating Committee, and 150+ artists and volunteers all work together to bring us to opening night and take us through the month!  Such a large exhibition requires an enormous amount of work and coordination behind the scenes. This year was particularly challenging and all stepped up their game 120%. We could never have brought you the 39thwithout this extra push. Special recognition this year to volunteer extraordinaire Kristin Peterson whose energy made our opening night a great success Thank you to our Board and Operating Committee’s Pam Mendelsohn, Linda Boyd, Gwen Souza, Ken Schmier, Albert Repola, and Kava Massih. All simply at-the-ready for whatever might be needed.     

Publicist Genevieve Antaky and Graphic Designer Maureen Halligan, such a pleasure to work with these two creative professionals. Curator Kathleen Hanna worked miracles (again) designing and installing this large, diverse selection of artwork in collaboration with Assistant Exhibition Designer Alison McLennan. They both generously took on additional tasks this year. Jurors Suzy Locke and Jeff Nathanson brought their decades of experience to reviewing over 700 artworks this summer. Grateful to all!

Thank you to Emeryville City Council members, Emeryville’s Public Art Committee, and Public Works for their continuing support. Gratitude to Rotten City Cultural District with a thank you to team ABG Art Group tasked with energizing the District. RCCD collaborations have allowed us to expand our offerings to artists and fueled the opening of our Gallery 4509 during Art & Culture Month.

While our thanks-yous could go on and on, let’s turn to the heart of why we do it all: the remarkable creative community of artists in our small but dynamic city.  Step into their world as you enjoy this year’s exhibition.  After you’ve enjoyed the opening night reception, please come back again and again throughout the month of October ... ‘cause we’re not shutting down!

Sharon Wilchar