“Neptune’s Daughter,” sculpted by Benicia artist Lisa Reinertson, is one of many works of art to be featured in Arts Benicia’s “Art of a Community” event, opening tomorrow. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

This year, Arts Benicia celebrates its diamond anniversary. To celebrate 30 years, the organization has several events planned. To kick things off, Arts Benicia will be presenting one of its oldest exhibits starting tomorrow.

“Art of a Community” was first held in 1995 as a way to showcase the works of its talented member artists from Benicia and surrounding areas. Mary Shaw, the exhibitions and programs manager, said 208 pieces will be featured, including some by artists who have been with Arts Benicia almost since its beginning.

“Mike Kendall helped build the walls downstairs of the gallery,” she said. “He’s been an integral part of our organization for almost 30 years.”

Other Benicia artists represented include Nikki Basch-Davis, Carol Dalton, Lesley Jensen, Larnie Fox and even current Arts Benicia Director Celeste Smeland. The pieces come in a variety of forms, including paintings, drawings, collages, stained glass, clay pots, wire pieces and more. Artists come from all over the Bay Area and even the Sacramento and Davis regions.

“This is our biggest response in several years,” Shaw said. “I’m really happy to have had the response that we’ve had. It’s been a challenge to hang because it’s so much work, but we have some really experienced volunteers.”

Shaw said the volunteers are an important part of helping Arts Benicia thrive.

“We could not run this organization without our wonderful volunteers,” she said. “We have volunteers that help us install shows, we have volunteers that are gallery sitters, we’re starting a volunteer docent program that is not just for children’s programs but also for adults. We’re very grateful for all of their support.”

Additionally, “Art of a Community” is a way for the organization to say thanks to its members by giving them exposure.

The opening reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28. New this year is an ekphrastic poetry reading, done in collaboration with members of the Benicia First Tuesday Poetry Group. Local wordsmiths like Thomas Eric Stanton, Peter Bray, Jady Montgomery, Lois Requist and current Poet Laureate Johanna Ely will be coming in to look at the pieces featured, go home, write poems and deliver them at the reading where they will be placed in a binder afterwards. This event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4.

“We’re happy to have the poets participate this year,” Shaw said. “That’s something Arts Benicia wants to do more and more.”

All events will be held at the Arts Benicia gallery, located at 991 Tyler St. Suite No. 114. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays. All events are free and open to the public. The exhibit opens tomorrow and runs through Sunday, Feb. 19. For more information, visit ArtsBenicia.org, email info@artsbenicia.org or call 747-0131.

Other events planned for Arts Benicia in 2017 include a collaboration with the Benicia-Vallejo branch of the American Association of University Women, a juried exhibition on mapping your terrain, its annual Open Studios event and more featured artists and classes.

“Flying Machine Taking on Fuel” by Tracy Cullen is a 3-D work featuring a flying copper airship. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

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