Riverside Art Museum & The Cheech

Free Admission – First Thursday of every month during Riverside ArtsWalk
2025-08-07 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-09-04 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-02 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | Riverside Art Museum + The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, California
Join us on the first Thursday of every month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the Riverside ArtsWalk, a vibrant community event that celebrates the diversity of arts and culture in Riverside and the Inland Empire.
We offer free admission at both Riverside Art Museum (Julia Morgan Building) and The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture as part of the ArtsWalk, which includes many downtown arts destinations.

Riverside Artswalk is hosted by the Riverside Arts Council and sponsored by the City of Riverside and Riverside Downtown Partnership. More information and Artswalk map available here.

Riverside ArtsWalk is supported in part by:

Photo credit: Puma Photography

Vinyl & Rides - Rooftop Edition
2025-08-07 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92501, United States
Join us on the rooftop! DJs will spin their own unique style of vinyl records. Bring the family. Classic car clubs will be showcasing their cars along Mission Inn Street from Lime to Orange Street. Several solo riders will also be present.

Resource Walk and RYC Closet Opening
2025-08-07 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Cheech Center for Chicano Art & Culture, 3581 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, California, 92507, United States
Join the Cheech, RPYA and the various organizations of the Rainbow Youth Collaborative for a resource walk and the opening of the new IE based resource the IE closet, a free series of clothing closets across the Inland Empire. Folks will be able to donate new or lightly used clothes, get to meet the different organizations supporting the closet, sign up for pop events and closet membership and take up to 3 items from the onsite closet.

What tha Font! By Artist Dela Deso - Division 9 Takeover at RAM
2025-08-10 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92501, United States
In this hands-on class, the artist will guide you through the exciting process of designing your own custom fonts. Learn how to develop a signature style that enhances your artwork, builds your brand, and makes your creative voice stand out in marketing and beyond. Perfect for artists, designers, and anyone ready to bring personality to their lettering!

Workshops are free but registration is required as space is limited. (Please arrive on time. Any registrants not arriving within 20 minutes of the start of the workshop will be offered to our standby list.)

**Lunch will be from 12-1:00 during all workshops. Please bring your own lunch or plan to pick up something during the break.

Free Summer Sundays
2025-08-10 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-17 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-24 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-31 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-09-07 12:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Riverside Art Museum + The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, California
Riverside Art Museum and The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture are inviting you to join us for Free Summer Sundays: June 1 – September 7, 2025.

Generous support provided by Art Bridge Foundation’s Access for All program.

Please RSVP for confirmed admission.

Photo credit: Monica Cortez

RSVP

Summer Sundays with Sebraé
2025-08-10 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-08-24 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92501, United States
Summer Sundays with Sebraé! Join Inlandia and Sebraé Harris—AKA Starlite Crystal—at RAM for six alternating Sundays beginning June 15. Experience story adventures and explore the museum with “scavenger quests” to forge together the PAINTING OF PEACE! For kids and their families. FREE. Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside. Meet at 1:00 PM in the Atrium.

Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo. Only the people save the people: A Community Conversation
2025-08-10 13:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Cheech Center for Chicano Art & Culture, 3581 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, California, 92507, United States
In collaboration with A People’s History of the I.E., this panel discussion brings together past exhibiting artists and curators from the Altura Credit Union Community Gallery at The Cheech to reflect on the powerful themes explored in previous exhibitions. Topics included immigration, policing, environmental justice, and other critical issues affecting the BIPOC communities. How do artists and activists use their creative practices on behalf of “the people” especially in this moment of federal attacks on I.E. communities of color? How does past meets present in terms of I.E. histories of violent removals, hyperpolicing, and deportation?

Panelists Duan Kellum, Fidel Chagolla, Michelle Espino, and Denise Silva will share insights into their work, the curatorial process, and the role of community-centered art and organizing in advancing dialogue and social change. Moderated by Carlos Cruz.

“Inland Carceral Landscape” by HUMBERTO FLORES

Panel Discussion: 1:00PM-2:30PM

Art Activity 3:00PM-5:00PM

PARTICIPANTS:

Moderated by Carlos Cruz (Co-Curator of Uncaged Perspectives)

Michelle Espino @ latinxart.blogs

Fidel Chagolla

Denise Silva @pearmama

Duan Kellum @duan_and_only

Art Forward with Richard May - Navigating Art Education via ZOOM
2025-08-10 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92501, United States
The Master Class Series for Your Creative Career taught by Artist, Educator, Writer and Speaker, Professor Richard Allen May III

NAVIGATING ART EDUCATION (Zoom) Make informed decisions about degrees and training by understanding the pros and cons of various educational pathways (August 10)

Register Below!

Access this workshop via ZOOM:

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83616866094?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 836 1686 6094

Passcode: [REDACTED]

More about the series:

FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ARTISTS where you will earn a certificate.

Participants will need to attend at least four out of the five workshops to earn the certificate.

SUNDAYS THIS SUMMER | 3:00-4:30 PM

Five essential workshops that transform artistic talent into professional success

WHY ARTISTS ARE RACING TO REGISTER:

Stand out from the competition

Network strategically

Save years of trial and error

YOUR PATH TO PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS:

ARTIST STATEMENTS THAT OPEN DOORS (In-Person at Riverside Art Museum) Articulate your vision in language (July 20)

EXHIBITION STRATEGIES THAT WORK (Zoom) Master the unwritten rules for approaching galleries and museums (July 27)

GRANT WRITING FOR ARTISTS (Zoom) Create compelling competitive proposals (August 3)

NAVIGATING ART EDUCATION (Zoom) Make informed decisions about degrees and training by understanding the pros and cons of various educational pathways (August 10)

DIGITAL PRESENCE MASTERY (In-Person at Riverside Art Museum) (August 17)

REGISTER HERE

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Designed specifically for art students, BFA/MFA majors/or graduates, and dedicated artists looking to navigate the business side of their creative careers.

Embrace IE Zine By Artist Frankie Gutierrez (Day 1/2) - Division 9 Takeover at RAM
2025-08-16 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Division 9 Gallery, 3850 Lemon St, Riverside, California, 92501, United States
Zine Creation Kickoff — Saturday, August 16 | 12–2 PM | Division 9 GalleryJoin us for an inspiring introduction to the world of zines! In this hands-on session, you’ll learn the basics of zine-making—what they are, how to structure them, and creative ways to bring your ideas to life. This kickoff gives you a full week to gather images, stories, and inspiration before returning for the full workshop on August 24. Don’t miss this chance to spark your ideas and start building your own mini-magazine!

This is a two-day workshop, you must attend part two on Sunday, August 24th.

Workshops are free but registration is required as space is limited. (Please arrive on time. Any registrations not arriving within 20 minutes of the start of the workshop will be offered to our standby list.)

Agave After Hours
2025-08-16 18:30 - 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92501, United States
This special event combines tequila tastings, delicious charcuterie, music by local DJ Succs2byou, and art materials to really get your creativity flowing.

Tickets are available now. This event is for ages 21+.

Enjoy tequila tastings from labels including: Cabal, Cazcanes, El Cristiano, 53040, Salvadores Mezcal, Riobiri Mexcal, Suerte, Desert Door Texas Sotol, Como Agua, Tequila Gran Diamanté, Broda, El Elope Mezcal and Xolo.

Print Positive By Artist Matthew Luther - Division 9 Takeover at RAM
2025-08-17 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92501, United States
Discover the art of silk screening in this dynamic, hands-on workshop! You’ll learn how to design and create your own custom graphics that can be transferred onto t-shirts, paper, and more. Whether you’re building a brand or just love bold design, this class is your gateway to wearable and frameable art.

Bring your own t-shirts, or totes to print on.

Workshops are free but registration is required as space is limited. (Please arrive on time. Any registrations not arriving within 20 minutes of the start of the workshop will be offered to our standby list.)

**Lunch will be from 12-1:00 during all workshops. Please bring your own lunch or plan to pick up something during the break.

Art Forward with Richard May - Digital Presence Mastery
2025-08-17 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92501, United States
The Master Class Series for Your Creative Career taught by Artist, Educator, Writer and Speaker, Professor Richard Allen May III

DIGITAL PRESENCE MASTERY (In-Person at Riverside Art Museum) (August 17)

More about the series:

FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ARTISTS where you will earn a certificate.

Participants will need to attend at least four out of the five workshops to earn the certificate.

SUNDAYS THIS SUMMER | 3:00-4:30 PM

Five essential workshops that transform artistic talent into professional success

WHY ARTISTS ARE RACING TO REGISTER:

Stand out from the competition

Network strategically

Save years of trial and error

YOUR PATH TO PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS:

ARTIST STATEMENTS THAT OPEN DOORS (In-Person at Riverside Art Museum) Articulate your vision in language (July 20)

EXHIBITION STRATEGIES THAT WORK (Zoom) Master the unwritten rules for approaching galleries and museums (July 27)

GRANT WRITING FOR ARTISTS (Zoom) Create compelling competitive proposals (August 3)

NAVIGATING ART EDUCATION (Zoom) Make informed decisions about degrees and training by understanding the pros and cons of various educational pathways (August 10)

DIGITAL PRESENCE MASTERY (In-Person at Riverside Art Museum) (August 17)

Register Here

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Designed specifically for art students, BFA/MFA majors/or graduates, and dedicated artists looking to navigate the business side of their creative careers.

Arts Activity: Creative Button-making
2025-08-23 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | California
Come inside where it’s cool for an all-ages and abilities arts activity— creative button making inspired by our exhibition, Amalia Mesa-Bains: Archaeology of Memory, which closes August 31, 2025.

Printed interpretative guides will also be available.

Photo credit: Carlos Puma Photography

Pachuco Ball 2025
2025-08-23 18:00 - 2025-08-24 00:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Perris Fairgrounds Pavillion, 18700 Lake Perris Drive, Perris, CA
An evening of dinner, raffle prizes, and dancing with a live band.

In collaboration with Cultura Con Llantas. Find them on Instagram and Facebook.

Buy Tickets / Become a Sponsor

Embrace IE Zine By Artist Frankie Gutierrez (Day 2/2) - Division 9 Takeover at RAM
2025-08-24 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92501, United States
Unleash your creativity and learn how to make your very own zine! In this inspiring workshop, you’ll explore layout design, content creation, and a variety of fun, DIY methods for printing and binding your zine. Whether you’re telling a story, sharing your art, or expressing your unique voice, this is your chance to turn ideas into a pocket-sized publication.

Workshops are free but registration is required as space is limited. (Please arrive on time. Any registrations not arriving within 20 minutes of the start of the workshop will be offered to our standby list.)

**Lunch will be from 12-1:00 during all workshops. Please bring your own lunch or plan to pick up something during the break.

Talleres with Martha Gonzalez and Quetzal Flores
2025-08-24 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Cheech Center for Chicano Art & Culture, 3581 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, California, 92507, United States
Learn in community as we continue our Son Jarocho workshop series! This Son Jarocho workshop, guided by Martha Gonzalez and Quetzal Flores, will dive into the songs (sones) called, “El Coco” and “El Colas”

In this 3-hour immersive workshop, participants will learn the basic chord positions, verses, and dance steps. Gonzalez and Flores will also provide more complicated combinations for advanced students!

Son Jarocho is more than music—it’s a living tradition that brings people together through shared rhythm, storytelling, and dance. No experience necessary, bring your curiosity and an open heart! This workshop welcomes everyone interested in connecting with this beautiful cultural expression.

Be part of a tradition that has united communities for generations. We ask that folks stay for the full 3 hours. Open to all ages and experience levels. Bring any instruments you’d like to share in the musical conversation.

About Quetzel Flores

Growing up in social movements as the son of grassroots organizers, Quetzal Flores inherited an undying accountability to community struggles. Since 1993, he has worked as the founder and musical director of the Grammy® Award-winning East LA Chicaná rock group, Quetzal. Through the combined practice of activism and artistic expression Flores identifies as a Chicaná Artivista. With over twenty years of experience in arts practices in community settings his work is rooted in engaging the proactive imagination of communities in struggle. Flores has been instrumental in cultivating the translocal dialogue between the fandango movement in Veracruz MX and Chicaná/Latiná US communities and is the co-founder of Seattle Fandango Project and FandangObon. He currently serves as the Southern CA Program Manager for the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA), a statewide folk arts and cultures grants and advocacy organization. He also sits on the Advisory Board for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory

About Martha Gonzalez

Martha Gonzalez was born and raised in East Los Angeles and is a Chicana artivista (artist/activist) musician, feminist music theorist and Assistant Professor in the Intercollegiate Department of Chicana/o Latina/o Studies. Gonzalez has an undergraduate degree in Ethnomusicology from UCLA and a PhD in Feminism from the University of Washington, Seattle. A Fulbright (2007-2008) and Ford Fellow (2012-2013) she has published extensively on Chicaná music popular culture, and music as social movement.Her academic interest in music has been fueled by her own musicianship as a singer/songwriter and percussionist for East L.A’s Quetzal for over 20 years. Quetzal has made considerable impact in the Los Angeles Chicano music scene. The unique blend of East Los Angeles sounds as well as the social justice content in the work has sparked dialogue and theoretical work among various artist communities, culture theorists, and scholars across the country, Mexico and Japan. The relevance of Quetzal’s music and poetry work has been noted in a range of publications from dissertations to scholarly books.

Palabra at The Cheech
2025-09-04 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Cheech Center for Chicano Art & Culture, 3581 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, California, 92507, United States
Palabra @ The Cheech is a series that celebrates the wonderful tradition of floricanto, poesía, and the spoken word. Join us for this open mic poetry series co-hosted by Donato Martinez, featuring poets Anthony Blacksher, Peter Lechuga, and Angeliza Yañez. Doors open at 6pm.

About the poets…

Dr. Angélica M. Yañez

Dr. Angélica M. Yañez is a professor, poet, and dedicated advocate for Indigenous wisdom and cultural education. She holds a doctoral degree in Ethnic Studies from UC San Diego and is an advisor to several student groups such as M.E.Ch.A and a spoken word and writing group on her college campus. A traditional Aztec Dancer, she honors the legacies of her Indigenous ancestors through dance and ceremony, bridging academic and cultural spaces with her work. As the founder of The Ancestral Teachings Institute, a learning hub for cultural education and Indigenous wisdom, Angélica is deeply committed to preserving and sharing ancestral knowledge. She is the author of Roots, her debut chapbook. Her poetry has appeared in Latina: Struggles and Protests in 21st Century USA, Volume 2, LitStack, Sunshine/Noir III, The San Diego Poetry Annual, Flowersong Press, and Writing in a Woman’s Voice, and has been featured by Planned Parenthood. Angélica can be reached through info@ancestralteach.com and visit her website ancetralteach.com to learn more.

Anthony Blacksher/Dr. Ant Black

Dr. Ant Black is a poet, professor, and vinyl collector whose work bridges spoken word, social justice, and sonic culture. He holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies with a focus on Africana Studies, and his research explores the historical and cultural impact of performance poetry. He chairs the Sociology and Ethnic Studies department at San Bernardino Valley College, where he helped establish the annual John Trudell poetry reading. A veteran of the national slam scene, Ant led the San Diego Poetry Slam team to five national competitions—including a historic finals stage appearance in 2013—and has performed on TVOne’s Verses & Flow. He publishes with the San Diego Poetry Annual, serves on the board of the San Diego Entertainment + Artists Guild, and performs with bkSoul, a spoken word and dance collective dedicated to justice, spirit, and liberation. When he’s not teaching or writing, he’s likely crate-digging—listening for freedom in every groove.

Peter Lechuga

Peter Lechuga is a Chicano wordsmith, guerilla organizer, romantic, PlantBasedgod, and Karaoke King. As director of the non-profit, LionLike Creative Education, he teaches future generations the power of poetry, while creating a safe space for them to express themselves and become published authors. He is the co-founder and editor of the quarterly ILL Poetry Anthology, published by Curious Publishing. His work has been shared on college campuses, city halls, and has been published in various literary journals, anthologies, and zines. His poetry collection, Myth Opportunities, published by Daxson Publishing, and the collaboration chapbook Billionaires for Breakfast are available now. When not reading, writing, or molotoving the mic, he can be found hiking in the mountains, spitting freestyles.

Division 9 Takeover at RAM: Panel and Concert
2025-09-07 12:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92501, United States

Tinta y Resistencia: Poster Making and Wheat Pasting Workshop with César García
2025-09-07 12:30 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Cheech Center for Chicano Art & Culture, 3581 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, California, 92507, United States
In this workshop, led by Cesar Garcia @zuaycreatex and Sarah Vasquez @sevyarte you will learn how to design and print a poster using linocut-inspired techniques with foam sheets. You can choose from pre-made designs or create your own. You’ll also be guided through the process of wheatpasting your finished piece. No prior experience is necessary! Space is limited to 30 participants per session, so be sure to arrive early.

There will be two sessions:

Workshop #1 12:30PM – 2:00PM

Workshop #2 2:30PM – 4:00PM

Roots to Belonging: Artist Talk & Anthology Release
2025-10-02 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Cheech Center for Chicano Art & Culture, 3581 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, California, 92507, United States
Join us for an engaging evening exploring the creative journeys and community impact of the artists behind the Roots to Belonging workshop series. This special program will delve into the artists’ intentions, the significance of their chosen mediums, and the ways in which they continue to engage with community narratives beyond the workshop setting.

The event will also include a critical conversation on the importance of visibility and representation for Chicanx/Latine artists, highlighting the historical challenges they have faced in gaining recognition within mainstream art spaces. We will explore the significance of representation for artists and the role of art in capturing cultural identity and contemporary issues.

The event will also feature the launch of the Roots to Belonging anthology, with contributors reading from their work and limited copies distributed to participants and community members.

Free Admission - First Sunday of every month
2025-10-05 12:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Riverside Art Museum + The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, California
First Sundays is a community day in the arts & culture district of downtown Riverside.

Featuring activities for all-ages, the event takes place every first Sunday of the month from 1 to 4 p.m.

As part of First Sundays, Riverside Art Museum (Julia Morgan Building) and The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture are both free and open to the public from 12 to 5 p.m.

No tickets are necessary.

Talleres with Jose Ledezma “Agua”
2025-10-05 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Cheech Center for Chicano Art & Culture, 3581 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, California, 92507, United States
Learn in community as we continue our Son Jarocho workshop series! This Son Jarocho workshop, guided by Jose Ledezma “Agua”, will dive into the song (son) called, El Toro Zacamandú.

In this 3-hour immersive workshop, you’ll learn about its Afro-Mexican history and participate in the song’s unique characteristics. Participants will review lyrics and use a variety of instruments such as jaranas, tarima, pandeiro and marimbol. Instruments will be provided and are welcomed.

Son Jarocho

Discover the vibrant rhythms and melodies of Son Jarocho, the folkloric music from Veracruz, Mexico. Participants will learn the jarana (guitar), jarocho rhythms and the rhythmic feet-stomping zapateado dance that is integral to the culture. Through collaborative playing, this workshop will connect participants to a centuries-old musical tradition that celebrates life and cultural resistance.

We ask participants to stay for the full 3 hours. Open to all ages and experience levels.

Jose Ledezma “Agua”

Jose Ledezma “Agua” is a cultural arts educator, multi-instrumentalist, folklorist, poet, mask maker, and community organizer. With over 20 years of experience teaching in the San Bernardino & Redlands Unified School Districts, Montessori schools—as well as at community centers across California—Agua has dedicated his life to preserving and sharing cultural traditions through the arts.

In 2009, he founded MiLPA, a collective rooted in community empowerment through cultural music and artistic expression. Milpa began by bringing live musical presentations into the neighborhoods of San Bernardino, creating accessible and vibrant cultural experiences for local residents. Milpa has also recorded various albums and has shared their music with the world.

Agua also established the Multi-Cultural Music Tree, a dynamic program that blends music, storytelling, “instrument petting zoos”, and mask-making to offer rich, multicultural presentations. MCMT has reached hundreds of school assemblies, community events, and concerts, sparking creativity and cultural awareness in audiences of all ages.

Driven by a deep passion for tradition and education, Jose Ledezma “Agua” continues to inspire and uplift through the transformative power of the arts.

ARToberfest Online Art Auction
2025-10-09 12:00 - 2025-10-18 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | California
Riverside Art Museum and Art Alliance present an Online Art Auction, an unprecedented opportunity to bid on fine art pieces from well-established local artists! Online bidding will start on October 9 and conclude during the upcoming Art Alliance ARToberfest celebration on Saturday, October 18th. Use the link below to access the auction where you will be able to create an account, view the art and start bidding TODAY!

MEET THE ARTISTS

Helen Bell https://www.helenlbellstudios.com/

Planning a career in advertising, Helen Bell…
Planning a career in advertising, Helen Bell pursued double majors of Art and English at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel), continued her studies at the Maryland Institute of Art and was awarded a scholarship of one year to the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences (now Savannah College of Art and Design) in Savannah,Georgia. Her art has varied over the years to include oil painting, printmaking, metal sculpture and assemblage as well as mixed media works. Commissions include Sheraton Raincross Hotel, Ronald McDonald House, March Air Reserve Base, Redlands National Bank and multiple private commissions. Her work was chosen for the corporate rental program of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Solo Exhibits include Rizzoli International, South Coast Plaza, Zola Fine Art, Los Angeles, EOS Gallery, Redlands, Sandstone Gallery, Laguna Beach, Riverside Art Museum (two, one contemporary, one plein air) and Mission San Juan Capistrano. Her quick pick plein-air titled “Julia’s Door” was highlighted for the 80th anniversary of the museum’s architectural gem in posters and giclées. The artist is a juried member of the National Association of Women Artists founded in 1889 and the California Art Club founded in1909. The artist is included in “Who’s Who in the West” and “The California Art Review.” Her contemporary work is represented by the A Gallery, Palm Desert, California.

Chick Curtishttps://chickcurtis.com/IG @charles.curtis.54

I think I was born to make art and learn about it…
I think I was born to make art and learn about it. Maybe to teach it as well. I started painting when I was 50. With no formal art training at that time I have had to rely on enthusiasm and endurance to gain enough knowledge to create the kind of imagery in my mind on canvas. I can’t begin to voice all that is in my mind. Suffice it to say, what you see in my art is a glimpse into my consciousness and sensibility on a continuing basis. People, ideas, irony, intimacy, anachronism, connection and subtle humor. The human form is one of the most intriguing, wondrous and complex subjects I can think of. It houses our essence. I love to interpret the life force within through the form on the outside. The only the thing extraordinary about my art is that it’s not really mine. It’s a gift that is passing through me without any choice on my part. I just learn about it, develop it, and enjoy it. I thank all my fellow artists and my family for their inspiration and guidance in helping me find more ways to express what I see and feel through my art.

Sant KahlsaIG: santkhalsaartist

Sant Khalsa is an artist and activist whose work develops…
Sant Khalsa is an artist and activist whose work develops from a mindful inquiry into complex environmental and societal issues. Her artworks are internationally exhibited and published, as well as collected by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Getty, National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh, Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, and UCR California Museum of Photography, among others. She was honored with the California Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship Legacy Award (2023-24). Her artworks are published in many books including two monographs, Sant Khalsa: Crystal Clear || Western Waters (Minor Matters, 2022) and Sant Khalsa: Prana – Life with Trees (Griffith Moon, 2019) and compilations including Wild Visions: Imaging and Imagining the American Wilderness (Yale University Press, 2022), Photography and Environmental Activism (Routledge, 2022), Embodied Forest (ecoartspace, 2021), In the Sunshine of Neglect (Inlandia Institute, 2018), and Altered Landscape: Photographs of a Changing Environment (Skira/Rizzoli, 2011). She recently curated the Getty supported PST ART: Art & Science Collide exhibition Desert Forest: Life with Joshua Trees at MOAH Lancaster and co-edited the book of the same title. She is a Professor of Art, Emerita at California State University, San Bernardino, and lives in Joshua Tree.

Matt Lutherwww.matthewluther.comIG @cmatthewluther

Matthew Luther is a multimedia artist working in Riverside
Matthew Luther is a multimedia artist working in Riverside, California. His studio work ranges from printmaking to video and draws inspiration from landscapes and everyday nuances. His artwork often explores the human relationship to nature and the connection of visual imagery to memory. Luther’s work is a playful approach to illusion and surface. Photographs are used in combination with printmaking techniques to create paintings that investigate concepts of abstraction, memory, human ideology, and digital consciousness in connection with nature. Original paintings and prints are scanned at a high resolution, reframed, altered, printed, and then finished with gold leaf, paint, or screen-printed imagery on top of the printed surface. Matthew is originally from Virginia and studied art in Oregon and Wisconsin. Along with international exhibitions in China, Italy, and South Korea, Luther has been a visiting Artist-in-Residence in Iceland, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

Donna Morinwww.donnamorin.comIG: @donnamorinart

It was September first, 1939, the beginning of World War II. I was born…
It was September first, 1939, the beginning of World War II. I was born August 29, 1939. In my young life, I found safety behind blackout curtains, busy with coloring books and cutouts.

During my youth, women of my era were directed to roles of wife, mother, teacher, nurse. Although I wanted to build a life of art and design, I was discouraged by parents and friends. I married, raised a family and continued my education, eventually arriving with an MFA mid-life.

My professional art practice began late moving into a Los Angeles downtown loft. Simultaneously I worked at LACMA and began adjunct teaching Drawing and Painting at various colleges and universities. However, it was the passion for painting and collage that never left my heart. I continue to work daily at my art practice in my home studio.

Outside of professional endeavors, I enjoy my family including great-grandchildren. I believe in the restorative power of nature. Walking my dog Winsor daily, I gather inspiration from my surroundings.

Mark SchooleyFB: Mark Schooley

For over fifty years Mark Schooley has…
For over fifty years Mark Schooley has been creating and exhibiting his artwork. His work has been exhibited both locally and internationally.

Schooley is one of the founders of the non-profit Riverside Community Arts Association in Riverside, California. Their activities primarily take place at the RCAA Gallery in downtown Riverside. Over the last thirty-six years the RCAA has organized over 700 exhibits and events in the Inland Empire, as well as Riverside’s eight international sister cities.

Mark’s artwork is a fusion of art history involving the exploration of abstraction and figurative visions.

Katrin WieseIG: @katrin.wiese

My work is about people and imagination…
My work is about people and imagination, that wonderful humanity that gets happy just looking at a color or the expression on a face. My paintings have been exhibited in solo and group shows across the country. My painted sculptures have been featured in the museum shops of MOCA, Walker Art Center, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, The Menil Collection, Boise Art Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Museum, among others. I’ve taught art at CSUSB, Redlands University, La Sierra University, Mira Costa College, and RAM.

Debi Varviwww.debivarvistudio.com IG @debivarvistudio

I’m a multidisciplinary artist in the heart of Riverside…
I’m a multidisciplinary artist in the heart of Riverside, California. I love the meditative rhythm of color pencils, the spontaneity of watercolors, the electric current of line work, the anticipation of pulling the print off an etched plate, and the intimacy of a henna application. The strange and unusual, the weird and bizarre delight me. My educational journey has included college courses, private instruction, workshops, and the university of YouTube. I’ve been fortunate to be featured in several group shows, had a couple of solo shows, and am currently working towards several gallery shows for later this year, and in 2026.

Jesus Cruz, Jr.https://www.cruzprints.com/

I am an artist specializing in creating fine art prints…
I am an artist specializing in creating fine art prints using the linoleum cut process. My prints are created with the traditional technique of using knives to carve blocks of linoleum. My style is identifiable by my use of thick and solid fields of ink. The prints often combine figurative and abstract elements with a clean and crisp look. Many of the cuts create different degrees of gray and black imagery.

Ed GomezIG: @edgomezdotcom

Ed Gomez is an artist, educator, curator, and co-founder…
Ed Gomez is an artist, educator, curator, and co-founder of the MexiCali Biennial. Based in Los Angeles and San Bernardino, he has co-curated transnational, artist-centered exhibitions since the Biennial’s founding in 2006. He co-directs the MXCL BNL LAB, the Biennial’s new research and exhibition space, and hosts the PARA/normal Borders podcast. His work has been shown nationally and internationally, including at HilbertRaum (Berlin), Galeri MOD (Istanbul), and Centro Cultural Paso del Norte (Ciudad Juárez). He is coeditor of MexiCali Biennial: Art, Actions, and Exchanges Since 2006, a forthcoming publication marking the project’s twenty-year history. Gomez is a Professor of Art and Design at California State University, San Bernardino. He holds a BFA from Arizona State University and an MFA from Otis College of Art and Design.

Karen Kauffman IG: @karen_kauffman_art

Southern California artist Karen Kauffman was born in Minneapolis…
Southern California artist Karen Kauffman was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She spent part of her childhood living in a remote Cree Indian village in Canada. The profound beauty there instilled a deep appreciation for nature, which has strongly influenced her art. After moving to Southern California, Kauffman went on to study art and design at Art Center College of Design and California State University, Fullerton.

Kauffman works primarily in acrylic on large wood panels, and also works with printmaking, which allows her the freedom and spontaneity of expression for her gestural abstractions.

Kauffman’s work has been exhibited in the Netherlands, Poland and the Czech Republic. Her work is recognized regionally with exhibitions in Palm Springs, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas.

Denise KraemerIG @kraemer.denise

Denise Kraemer of Riverside is a native of the Inland Empire…
Denise Kraemer of Riverside is a native of the Inland Empire. She served as the Education Curator at the Riverside Art Museum in Riverside, California for 3 years, where she organizes the adult education programs, monthly lecture series and member critiques. Kraemer curated the printmaking exhibition Pressed at the Riverside Art Museum and has worked with the museum’s “Monothon” workshop and exhibition for 4 years. Kraemer received her BA in Art from California Baptist University and her MA in Art at California State University San Bernardino.

Kraemer had a solo exhibition at Riverside Art Museum, worked with the Arts Connection and Mil-Tree in Joshua Tree, Ca, juried the Ink & Clay show at Cal Poly Pomona. She also teaches workshops at Division 9 gallery and Riverside Art Museum, and is a retired professor at Riverside Community College and California State University at San Bernardino.

Lisabeth MertinsIG: @lisabethannm

Lisabeth Mertins is a life-long artist beginning…
Lisabeth Mertins is a life-long artist beginning in the 1980s as a staff illustrator for newspapers, magazines and children’s books. In 2009, returning to school, she found a passion for printmaking and ceramic works leading to selling pieces in galleries. Currently, you can find her work at Chemer’s Gallery in Tustin, CA where she is a represented artist.

Sue Mitchellwww.suemitchellart.comIG: @suekeckmitchell

Sue Mitchell, co-founder of Riverside Personnel…
Sue Mitchell, co-founder of Riverside Personnel, recently retired after 45 years. Sue serves on the board of the Riverside Art Museum (RAM) and is the founder of “The 52 Project” at the museum. Sue had dabbled at taking art classes for 50 years. In 2012, she decided to take a 52-week sabbatical during her 60th year around the sun, and concentrate on a lifelong dream of becoming an artist. She started by developing and journaling an exhibition concept. This led to her writing an exhibit proposal following the guidelines she found on RAM’s website. Her two-gallery concept was accepted and her exhibition “52” opened on her 61th birthday. During the exhibition, Sue was in residence spending a lot of time interacting with visitors and one of the things she discovered was she was not alone in her desire to explore her creative dreams. Sue’s second proposal to RAM was “The 52 Project”, a user-friendly way for busy people to be more artful on a regular basis. A unique feature of the program is that they teach basic proposal writing and all of “The 52 Project” members are able to submit a proposal for a mini exhibit. The submittals are juried and 8-10 proposals are accepted each year. The 52 Project just started its tenth year. Over 425 people have participated and 101 mini exhibitions have been juried in and exhibited at RAM.

John David O’Brienwww.johndavidobrien.com

Born into a military family in Sagamihara, Japan…
Born into a military family in Sagamihara, Japan, John David O’Brien was raised in many cities in the USA and later a significant portion of his life in Italy. With an MFA in studio art from the University of Southern California, an AA.BB. degree from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, Rome, a Magistero degree from the Istituto Statale D’Arte di Urbino, Urbino, Italy he was qualified as a Master Printer by the Calcografia Nazionale (National Etching Institute) in Rome, Italy. He creates new and site specific artwork for gallery/project exhibitions which he has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in Los Angeles, Rome and New York among other locations, in venues ranging from commercial galleries to artist-run spaces, and non-profit institutions. He has received numerous public art commissions and was the recipient of a California Community Foundation Artist Fellowship, a City of Los Angeles Artist Grant and a Fulbright Research Grant.
