San Ramon Hosts Inaugural ‘Locals Only’ Art Exhibition

A vibrant and enthusiastic crowd of City of San Ramon residents congregated at the 'Locals Only' arts reception last Friday evening, marking a significant milestone in the celebration of local creativity. Organized by City of San Ramon staff in collaboration with the San Ramon Arts Advisory Committee, Visual Arts Society of San Ramon (VASS), and San Ramon Arts Foundation, this inaugural art exhibition showcased the diverse talents residing within the community.

The corridors of the Dougherty Station Community Arts Center buzzed with activity as attendees eagerly explored the array of artworks on display. Adam Chow, Recreation Supervisor, expressed his delight at the exhibition's quality and the impressive turnout. "I'm immensely proud of our organizers for orchestrating such a successful exhibition and for our arts community’s participation," he remarked "I am also thankful to the sponsors who helped make this event possible."

The Dougherty Station Community Arts Center is the hub of arts and culture in San Ramon featuring visual and performing arts classes, programs, and workshops. The Arts Center also hosts special events, performances, and workshops for arts patrons and students.

The 'Locals Only' selection process involved review by distinguished jurors Ranjini Venkatachari and Shelley Barry, who meticulously evaluated over 160 submissions to curate the final display of over 80 pieces. Riannon Thomas, Recreation Coordinator, was instrumental in ensuring that logistics ran smoothly for both judges and participants. "We were deeply impressed by the caliber of entries and the sheer volume of artistic expression. The City should take immense pride in this exhibition," commented Ranjini, San Ramon Arts Advisory Committee Member and the founding member of VASS.

City of San Ramon Councilmember, Marisol Rubio, was on location to congratulate artists receiving recognition. Award recipients for ‘Local Only’ included:

Best in Show: Stacy Mootoo

Category: Adults 55+
Robert Pearson
Gina To

Indranil Chandra

Category: Adults 18-54
Wing yan fan
Seongmi Seol
Abhishek Nigam

Category: Grades 9-12
Daniela Birkmane
Sora Kim
Olivia Pearson

Category:Grades 6-8
Ishi Singh
Nicolas Buenrostro
Aadya Goswami

Category: Grades 3-5
Miraya mitra
Hailey Ely
Aria Ku

Category: Grades K-2
Niara Gutti
Ritija rappelli
Shreya Mulumudi

Amidst the celebratory atmosphere, guest Arun Raghupathy remarked, "Congratulations to all participating artists. This showcase underscores the significance of providing a platform for artistic expression alongside the prevailing emphasis on STEM in the Tri-Valley region."

The event saw active participation from volunteers, notably those representing VASS and the San Ramon Arts Foundation, with many attendees expressing interest in becoming involved in future endeavors. Student volunteers were also on hand to distribute certificates to all participating artists.

Continuing its run through May 28, 2024, the exhibition remains open to the public at the Dougherty Station Community Arts Center. For further information on upcoming arts events or to explore opportunities for involvement within the local artistic community, visit www.sanramon.ca.gov/arts and on Instagram @visualartsociety.sanramon