Art | Events | About | Thanks & Credits | Curator & Jurors | Donors | Press Release

Director’s Statement

In a box in my office marked “give to Sharon/original documents” sits an aging piece of newsprint dated November 5, 1987: the front page of the Chronicle Datebook with a feature story “Emeryville Puts Artists on a Pedestal”. The article announced the very first Emeryville Annual and the address made me smile. It seems we have come full circle from Marketplace Warehouse to Public Market Emeryville, at the very same spot on Shellmound Street.

Thank you to Mark Stefan, City Center Realty Partners and to Lauren Krause, Oxford Properties Group for saying “yes” to Emeryville Celebration of the Arts with their generous donation of the exhibition space at Public Market Emeryville. Thank you to the onsite City Center Real Estate Services team of Kassandra Kappelos, Jordan Stefan, Dylan Gallagher, and Romu Iancu as well as Tara Hardesty, Lisa Radden, and Maureen Futtner, of The Marketing Method Group. It is an understatement to say this is not the Market of 36 years ago! So many exciting things are happening in the continuing transformation of the Marketplace project.

Board members Ken Schmier, Frances Gaston, Linda Boyd, Kava Massih, Pam Mendelsohn, and Albert Repola all enthusiastically offer their individual skills to progress our goals. Appreciation to Nasser Azimi and the hospitality of his Café Rack for our volunteer kick-off event in September and to Board members Linda and Pam for all of the volunteer coordination. Ken Schmier generously dives in with equipment, supplies, and know-how wherever needed. On opening night, gratitude to John Bauters and our volunteers behind the bar for our fundraiser with Frances Gaston and Lorrie Warner as ticket masters. They are joined by Linda Boyd and Aimee Kalnoskas ringing up art sales and Kathleen Hanna pouring champagne for our donors at the preview. So much great work goes on behind the scenes to coordinate our annual event. From artwork installation assistance to a month’s worth of gallery-sitters, volunteers are essential to the exhibition and all in support of the artists who are the real stars.

Curator Kathleen Hanna spent days this summer with fellow jurors Kimberley Acebo Arteche and Emebet Korn thoughtfully reviewing all the entries for the 36th Annual and then directed her considerable skills to the tough task of transforming yet another new site. Publicist Genevieve Antaky continues to bring fresh concepts to our public engagement and Suzanne Anderson-Carey’s design creatively highlighted our art, dance, and poetry. A gift to me to work with these talented professionals. Thank you!

Deep appreciation for our generous donors, a thank you to Emeryville City Council members for your continued support of Emeryville Celebration of the Arts and to Community Development’s Chad Smalley and Amber Evans, to Sheri Hartz, and Analisa Garcia, and always to K. Jamall Hudson Public Works Supervisor and his great crew.

As we await the Emeryville Center for the Arts. a new opportunity may be just around the corner for a year-round, small-scale venue for artists and community, a satellite to the Center ... stay tuned. But in the meantime, step into the 36thAnnual.

Sharon Wilchar

Credits

Emeryville City Council

Mayor John J. Bauters
Vice-Mayor Ally Medina
Council Member Scott Donahue
Council Member Ally Medina
Council Member Courtney Welch

Emeryville Celebration of the Arts Board of Directors

Ken Schmier, Chair
Frances Gaston, Vice Chair
Linda Lee Boyd
Kava Massih
Pam Mendelsohn
Albert Repola

Director & Project Coordinator

Sharon Wilchar

Art Exhibition Operating Committee

Linda Lee Boyd
Frances Gaston
Kelly Grace
Kava Massih
Pam Mendelsohn
Albert Repola
Ken Schmier
Gwen Souza

Director & Project Coordinator: Sharon Wilchar
Curator: Kathleen Hanna
Publicist: Genevieve Antaky

Graphics & Website Design: Suzanne Anderson-Carey Website Programming: Linda Lee Boyd
Printing: Autumn Press



Emeryville Celebration of the Arts, Inc.
P. O. Box 8126, Emeryville, CA 94662
(415) 999-7932 | EmeryvilleArts@gmail.com

© 2025 Emeryville Celebration of the Arts, All rights reserved.
No images may be reproduced without written permission from the artist.