Iconography, history and a 21st century vibe seamlessly combine in “Creativity In Color” featuring paintings by Rhonel Roberts. The first in a series of exhibitions showcasing contemporary artists at the Presidio Theatre Performing Arts Center, co-presented by 111 Minna Gallery, opened with a well-attended splash on Feb. 12.
Calling the event a “wonderful celebration” of his work, Roberts, in a recent phone interview, said, “It was awesome to be in this remarkable, historic venue, to be the first artist represented by 111 Minna, for it to be during Black History Month. The crowd was vibrant, with people I knew and didn’t know.”
Roberts’ influences range from French Impressionism to LeRoy Neiman to vintage Art Deco posters to Black American folk art. His subjects and styles include well-known Bay Area locations and architecture, iconic jazz musicians, landscapes and street scenes, portraiture and compelling “BoutCotton” and African American collections.
Describing his work, Roberts, who grew up in and around Stockton and worked for Lockheed Martin and in other tech jobs before establishing a design and fine art studio, says, “Color is the bridge I use to encounter, engage and interact with my audience.”
He adds, “I use color in all my work to unearth or expose who we really are and to accept who we are. We are then less ambivalent about the differences between us. If color is the essence of what I bring to a room, what is my passion? I’m confident as a creative person with a God-given gift that I bring a celebration and love expressed through painting, music, interior design, fashion and other things. Artists can be compartmentalized. I open the door in so many ways to exercise and share my gift.”
“Creativity In Color” includes pieces celebrating iconic Bay Area images. Roberts, a 35-year San Francisco resident, says, “I’ve got the Golden Gate Bridge, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Painted Ladies, the Presidio Theatre, Sutro Tower, a cable car, and an added neighborhood one of the Marina Green ….where the Yacht Club is, and a lot of boats are berthed.”
There also are large scale paintings of Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Thelonious Monk and Hugh Masekela.
The Masekela image, which was used for the 2011 Fillmore Jazz Festival poster, perhaps summarizes the diverse influences and energy in this show that launches the Minna Gallery-Presidio Theatre series. As a teen and music lover, Roberts was enraptured after seeing the South African trumpeter playing live. The portrait explodes with color.
“It’s like a clarion call to come together, saying, “Hey, I’m here.’ I stepped out of my comfort zone with this painting, and it released me to use color more vividly. It’s saying, ‘Stop the craziness and confusion and get on the radar to celebrate beauty.’”
Roberts, whose exhibition is in the lobby and lower level of the Presidio Theatre, says he was not aware of its rebirth as a performing arts center until hearing about it from a person who worked at the Presidio. Completed in 2019, the two-year, $40 million project was underwritten by Peggy Haas. Originally a movie theater, the 1939 Spanish Colonial Revival-design building in the heart of the national park, vacant since 1995, was transformed into a 600-seat, state-of-the-art theater offering live performances, films, lectures, educational programming, art exhibitions and special events with the goal of reaching a broad audience.
Similar dual-purpose emphasis and a long history in the Bay Area exemplify 111 Minna’s interest in collaborating with the theater. For more than 30 years, the recently renovated gallery and event space has hosted exhibitions, live music, seminars, product launches, board meetings, wedding receptions, corporate gatherings and more. Its inviting artwork and sophisticated, relaxed atmosphere draw both newcomers and people with shared interests.
“Creativity In Color” is on view through May 2025 and accessible with ticketed entry on performance days at the Presidio Theatre Performing Arts Center, 99 Moraga Ave., Presidio of San Francisco; visit presidiotheatre.org.
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