Book launch party Saturday at Kaleidoscope for 'The Devil's Pipeline'

   POINT RICHMOND - A book launch party to celebrate publication of The Devil's Pipeline - the third eco-thriller novel by Point Richmond resident Michael J. Fitzgerald - will be held Saturday,  from 2-4 p.m. at Kaleidoscope Coffee, 109 Park Place.
     The open-to-the-public event will include a brief presentation by Fitzgerald about the novel, a reading from The Devil's Pipeline, copies of the novel for sale and a book signing.
     Kaleidoscope will have coffee, other beverages and snacks for sale.
     The Devil's Pipeline chronicles the crusading work of Jack Stafford, an investigative columnist whose writing focuses on the environment and particularly the energy industry. Stafford's work - and that of fellow journalists - was also the focus of The Fracking War (2014) and Fracking Justice (2015).
     "Fitzgerald’s novel may be fiction, but the conflict between big energy companies and grassroots
defenders of land, water, and a livable planet is very real," Point resident Steve Early says. Early is  author of Refinery Town: Big Oil, Big Money.

AOPR Holiday Faire set for December 8

   POINT RICHMOND - The annual Arts of Point Richmond Holiday Faire will be held Saturday Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
     The event will be at the Point Richmond Community Center, 139 Washington Street.
     The public is invited to come by to chat with local  artists and authors as well as browse their paintings, drawings, books, photographs, cards and other artwork on display.
     Many of the items will also be for sale and would make good gifts for the holiday season.
     In addition, AOPR will be providing homemade cookies for attendees.

Evening of films Friday at Bridge ArtSpace

   RICHMOND - The Richmond Arts and Culture Commission and local filmmaker Hector Ortiz will present two short films Friday at the Bridge Storage and ArtSpace film studio, 23 Maine Ave., Richmond.
     The theme of the films is "The Upstanding Immigrant." The event runs from 7-10 p.m. A discussion of the films will follow the screening.
     Ortiz won a RACC mini-grant to complete his film, "Announcement." The film focuses on how the end of the DACA program impacts one Dreamer's family.
     A second short film, "The Perfect Immigrant" by local filmmaker Javier Lopez Quintana will be shown also. Quintana is submitting the film the Sundance project 1234 program,
    Ortiz's first film is one in a proposed series titled "In the Shadows" about the lives of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
     He is a 2014 graduate of Contra Costa Community College's digital film program.
     For more information about the film, follow this link: Upstanding Immigrant.

'Winning Richmond' a review of Lt. Gov. candidate Gayle McLaughlin's book

   RICHMOND, Calif. - Winning Richmond (Hardball Press, 2018) by former Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin is often compared to another book about the city, Refinery Town (Beacon Press, 2017) by Point Richmond resident Steve Early.
     While both books cover much of the same historical ground, detailing the influence of the Richmond Progressive Alliance in changing the politics of the city, they come at it from different angles with different writing styles, offering sometimes different perspectives on the same issues.
     Refinery Town offers a hard charging look at the city, politics and progressive change, penned by an author with an outsider-journalist narrative style. (LINK: Refinery Town)
    Winning Richmond is a softer, personal look at how the RPA and progressives in the community were able to break the stranglehold of Chevron on local politics and McLaughlin's emergence as a progressive city leader.
     (LINK: Winning Richmond)
   

Gayle McLaughlin

 It's no accident that this book came out early this year in her run for Lt. Governor of California on the June primary ballot.
     Winning Richmond is as much memoir as political history. McLaughlin talks at length about her upbringing, family life and events that brought her to California. She was assisted bringing the book to publication by Diana Wear of Point Richmond, an RPA member, activist and professional editor.
     The book offers an abundance of details about the rise of the progressive movement offering plenty of author insights about the inner workings (and infighting) of city politics.
     Since the book came out earlier this spring, most of the reports are that it generally pleases McLaughlin's progressive allies - and gives fits to her political opponents.
     But regardless of political stripe, there is something for everyone in Winning Richmond.

Sculpture display in Post Office windows

   POINT RICHMOND - Sculptures by Richard Black are on display until the end of April in the Point Richmond Post Office windows.
      Black has an art studio in Richmond - Brickhouse Sculpture - where he offers weekly classes.
      The sculptor served in the U.S. Army and came to San Francisco to study fine art at the Academy of Art University. He found his passion in sculpture and won multiple awards at AAU as a figurative sculptor.
     After he graduated with the BFA, he and his wife moved to Richmond and opened their shared art studio.
     For more information about the artist, check out his website RICHARD BLACK or call 802-363-6579.

Arts of Point Richmond artists' reception and exhibit today at Kaleidoscope Coffee

   POINT RICHMOND - Arts of Point Richmond is having an artists' reception and exhibit of their work today at Kaleidoscope Coffee, 109 Park Place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
     The title of the exhibit is Recent Photography and Works on Paper with featured artists George Tomberlin and Betsy Kellas. 
     AOPR says that "George Tomberlin is a photographer who delights in paying attention to ordinary things that become 'accidentally beautiful, visually puzzling, or emotionally touching.' Many of these photographs in were taken in Point Richmond. 
     "Betsy Kellas explores the intersection of visual and psychological space. She is presenting monotypes from two series, Troubled Waters, and Barriers and Boundaries, and one monotype titled “They are a lot of fun to shoot” in response to the recent horrors at a Florida school."

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Arts of Point Richmond (AOPR) is a volunteer association established to enrich the community by support, appreciation, and exposure for the arts. AOPR provides exhibition opportunities for members and creates events organized by an active coalition of artists. AOPR was established in 2008 and currently has over 80 members. For more information, visit the Arts of Point Richmond website here: AOPR.