"Art Passages" Showcases Artists from Five County Arts Organizations

Concord Art Association is pleased to be participating in the first Countywide art exhibit to be shown at the County Administration Building in Martinez, CA. Art Passages is curated by Jenny Balisle, founding director of ARTSCCC, the official arts association of Contra Costa County, and features three artists from five County arts organizations. The five organizations are CAA, Visual Artists of Richmond, Alamo Danville Artists' Society, Art Guild of the Delta, and Martinez Arts Association. CAA is represented with works by members Lisa McElroy, Sharon Petersen, and John Nakanishi.

At the opening reception, May 16, artists from all five organizqations got to meet each other for the first time since the show went up at the beginning of April. It was a unique experience to mingle with so many local artists and find out what their associations are up to. CAA has been around the longest, at 65 years, and Visual Artists of Richmond is the newest, established in 2023. Future ARTSCCC shows will include more organizations throughout the County.

A highlight of the reception was when Sharon Petersen, whose painting, "Remembering Armando’s" (inspired by the legendary gone-but-not-forgotten Martinez music venue) got to meet Armando's owner Roy Armando Jeans for the first time. He had heard about this painting over the years as it was shown locally and he wanted to see it in person. Those who frequented his intimate local club will be glad to hear that Roy is planning on reopening in Martinez in 2025.

Art Passages is on display until July 1, 2024, at the County Administration Building (1025 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553). Open Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Work by John Nakanishi, Lisa McElroy and Sharon Peterson in Art Passages.

Move views from the show.

You can find out about current CAA shows on the Exhibits page.