“San Francisco's early artists had problems finding ways to make the public aware of their work,” according to art historian Betty Hoag McGlynn in her essay, “The San Francisco Art Association,” published in the book Plein Air Painters of California, The North. “A solution was not found until the San Francisco Art Association was organized in 1871. Some sporadic exposure of paintings had been offered as early as 1851 when local artists were invited to show at the Mechanics Institute Fair. The artists made a valiant effort to help themselves when they formed a California Art Union in 1865; it lasted only two years. A similar San Francisco Artists' Union of 1868 lasted but a year. Finally, in March of 1871, a large number of concerned citizens and artists met at the library of the Mechanics Institute and formally organized the San Francisco Art Association. Its object was ‘the promotion and cultivation of the Fine Arts in the community.’ A large sector of the membership was (and continued to be) non-painters but avid art patrons.

A Thriving Community

Like the San Francisco artists of old, Tri-Valley visual artists also want to connect to the public and to fellow artists as well. That is easily done, thanks to the many nonprofit arts organizations devoted to bringing artists together as well as showcasing their work. Livermore-based Alliance for the Visual Arts (AVA) works to increase the awareness of visual arts in the Tri-Valley area. It supports local arts groups in a variety of ways. They include maintaining a central calendar of regional exhibits and events; managing AVA’s own events, such as the Tri Valley Artist Studio Tour; and promoting eligible visual artists at no charge by giving them space for a gallery of their work on the AVA website. AVA also allows the public to sign up for its newsletter to stay up to date on visual art happenings.

AVA created a website to allow anyone, including artists and the general public, to find out what was happening in the visual arts up and down the Tri-Valley, according to AVA President and visual artist Dennis Baker. “There's not only a listing for the events that occur, such as exhibits, but also places where one can view visual arts, such as local private galleries. Artists can look for calls for art, which are invitations to enter art into a show or competition. They can also discover activities that they might want to join, such as a plein air group, which is a group of people who paint outdoors, in the open air.”

The mission of AVA is to create community by bringing artists together and by connecting those artists to the cities in which they live, Baker says. “We don't charge anyone to join. You simply must be a member of one of the art organizations or live in one of the cities of the Tri-Valley. We have a lot of members from, say, Fremont, who are active in one of the Tri-Valley art organizations. If you live outside the Tri-Valley, and you're participating in one of those, then you can join.”

Support for Artists and Art Lovers

The enormous number of active visual artists in the Tri-Valley might be surprising to non-artists, according to Baker. “In the Tri-Valley, there are probably upwards of about 2,000 artists who practice creativity in the visual arts on a somewhat regular basis. Many of them are professionals who show in galleries and some non-professionals who also participate in shows.” Local artists, both professionals and beginners, can find support and community by joining the Pleasanton Art League; Livermore Art Association; Visual Art Society of San Ramon, which is a new organization; Alamo Danville Artists’ Society; or the Dublin Arts Collective. Some, such as Livermore artist Ozell Hudson Jr., belong to several. Hudson has been a member of the Livermore Art Association and the Pleasanton Art League for more than 12 years and the Alliance for the Visual Arts for over six years.

“These art organizations are special because they are local, inclusive, and offer an intimate creative environment for artists to show their work,” Hudson says. “They offer a great way for the aspiring artist and the hobbyist to experience the process of presenting their art to the public in a professional manner. One of many challenges as an artist is getting your work in front of the public. These art groups are an economical and professional place to start. They are for all artists, from beginners to hobbyists to professionals, and they are very welcoming and non-judgmental in regards to the level of experience or talent.”

Outsiders might be surprised by the diversity and high quality of regional artists and their artwork, according to Hudson, who agrees with Baker that there is an enormous amount of artistic talent in the Tri-Valley. Moreover, these visual artists have diverse backgrounds and work in a mix of different media types. What they share is a passion for creating art. “I feel it is very important for us to find common ground, and for us to share what it means to be human,” Baker says. “Joining one of the art organizations is simply a way to find community in that act of being with others who appreciate and enjoy that endeavor. You will find others who are like minded, you will find teachers, and you will find an immediate support group of people who will cheer you on. You will find ways within each of the organizations to show your work, which is part of fulfilling and completing the circle of what it means to create art.”

Art lovers can look forward to a variety of shows and exhibits throughout the rest of the year. Currently, the Harrington Gallery at Pleasanton’s Firehouse Arts Center is presenting a group exhibition, Colors of Summer, by members of Allied Artists West. This show runs until July 27. A free exhibition called Faces of Our Community: Tri-Valley Non-profits through Photography is open to the public and being shown at the UNCLE Credit Union Art Gallery at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore through August 4, 2024. Textures of Remembrance, at Pleasanton’s Museum on Main until September 28, is presented by the Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network, Exhibit Envoy, and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. Upcoming events elsewhere include the Members Show for the Dublin Arts Collective, which runs between September 7 and October 8 in Dublin, and Flora in Focus at the Livermore Public Library during the entire month of August.

Hudson believes Tri-Valley art organizations add to the overall quality of life for residents. “They help bring artists and the community together through the events and exhibits that take place throughout the year. These groups enhance the community by providing the means to experience fine art locally and for local artists to experience sharing their work with the public.”

For more information about the Alliance for the Visual Arts, please visit www.allianceforthevisualarts.org.

For more information about the Pleasanton Art League, please visit www.pal-art.com.

For more information about the Livermore Art Association, please visit www.livermoreartassociation.org.

For more information about the Alamo Danville Artists’ Society, please visit www.adas4art.org.

For more information about the Dublin Arts Collective, please visit www.dacarts.org.

For more information about the Visual Art Society of San Ramon, please email visualartsociety.sanramon@gmail.com.

Photo by Livermore Valley Arts