Berkeley Art Center (BAC) is a nonprofit arts organization, community art space, and gallery founded in 1967 and located at 1275 Walnut Street in Live Oak Park, Berkeley, California.[1]

Berkeley Art Center
AbbreviationBAC
FormationMay 7, 1967; 57 years ago (1967-05-07)
TypeNonprofit arts organization
Headquarters1275 Walnut Street,
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Coordinates37°53′07″N 122°16′06″W / 37.885242°N 122.268225°W / 37.885242; -122.268225
Key people
Daniel Nevers
(executive director)
AffiliationsBerkeley Rotary Club
Websitewww.berkeleyartcenter.org
Formerly called
Berkeley Rotary Art Center

History

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The Berkeley Art Center building was built by the Berkeley Rotary Club,[2] and the Arts and Crafts-style building was designed by architect Robert W. Ratcliff.[3][4] It was formally named the Berkeley Rotary Art Club.[2] The rotary club donated the space to the city, and it was run by the Berkeley Parks and Recreation Department until 1979 when the Berkeley Art Center Association nonprofit was founded.[5]

Many of the exhibits at BAC have referenced issues such as California history, social movements, beauty, identity, equity, and community.[6][7][4][8] The first art exhibition opened on May 7, 1967, with the show 6 Figure Painters, curated by Carl Worth and featured Robert Bechtle, Gerald Gooch, Erle Loran, Richard McClean, Boyd Allen, and Jerrold Ballaine.[2]

Artists that have shown at BAC include Chiura Obata (1967), David Huffman (2021),[9] Rodney Ewing (2016),[10] Jamil Hellu (2016),[10] Jan Wurm (2018),[11] Bill Fontana (1985), Mildred Howard (1987),[12] Taraneh Hemami (2004),[13] Carlos Villa (1987),[12] Sylvia Lark (1987),[12] Joseph Goldyne (1987),[12] Kay Sekimachi (2008),[14] Patricio Moreno Toro (1995),[15] among others.

Since September 2018, Daniel Nevers is the executive director, he replaced Ann Trinca.[16][17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Santiago, Chieri (October 12, 1983). "City's Treasure Chest of Art". The Berkeley Gazette. p. 10. OCLC 27723847. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "New Art Shows". Newspapers.com. Oakland Tribune. May 14, 1967. p. 168. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  3. ^ Pimsleur, J. L. (1998-05-14). "Robert Ratcliff". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  4. ^ a b Whiting, Sam (2017-07-07). "50 years of protest photos in 50-year-old gallery". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  5. ^ Phillips, Frances (June 10, 2013). "Jos Sances with Berkeley Art Center Association". Creative Work Fund. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  6. ^ Chun, Kimberly (2016-06-08). "'I Look for Clues in Your Dreams' a tribute to California". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  7. ^ D’Souza, Aruna (2021-04-18). "Asian-American Artists, Now Activists, Push Back Against Hate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  8. ^ Hotchkiss, Sarah (April 6, 2016). "Berkeley Art Center's Agility Projects Support Daring Reflections on Identity". KQED. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  9. ^ Fancher, Lou (2021-09-01). "Pure Forms: David Huffman honors his mother in Berkeley Art Center exhibit". East Bay Express. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  10. ^ a b Hotchkiss, Sarah (April 6, 2016). "Berkeley Art Center's Agility Projects Support Daring Reflections on Identity". KQED. PBS. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  11. ^ "Berkeley Art Center's New 'Wonder Women' Exhibit Showcases Work of 10 Local Female Artists". East Bay Express. 2018-05-23. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  12. ^ a b c d "'About Faces' Celebrates Portraiture, Preserve Interest in Ourselves". Newspapers.com. Oakland Tribune. 22 September 1987. p. 32 (C-3). Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  13. ^ Sacred Spaces: An Exhibition of Installations. Berkeley Art Center. 2004. ISBN 978-0942744125.
  14. ^ Loom & Lathe: the art of Kay Sekimachi and Bob Stocksdale. Baizerman, Suzanne, LeCoff, Albert B., 1950-, Stocksdale, Bob, 1913-2003, Sam & Alfreda Maloof Foundation Gallery, Fuller Craft Museum. Berkeley: Berkeley Art Center. ISBN 9780942744149. OCLC 229195976.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. ^ "Art: Berkeley Art Center". Newspapers.com. The San Francisco Examiner. October 15, 1995. p. 279. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  16. ^ Tuozzolo, Ryan (2018-10-17). "Berkeley Art Center executive director Daniel Nevers talks keeping gallery relevant". The Daily Californian. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  17. ^ White, Daphne (2017-05-16). "Berkeley Art Center celebrates 50 years, but faces an uncertain future". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 2022-03-01.