The History of the El Sobrante Art Guild:
The El Sobrante Art Guild (ESAG) is a group of artists and crafts-people who come together to share ideas, sell their art and handmade crafts, and to support the guild’s mission of furthering the artistic education of the community and supporting art education in local schools.
The El Sobrante Art Guild currently has over fifty different members located in Benicia, Concord, Napa, as well as in West Contra Costa County.
In the late 1960s, many artists lived in the El Sobrante area. One of the first people to acknowledge and encourage that talent was librarian Elizabeth Grant, who in 1968 invited some of these artists to display their work in the El Sobrante Library. Added to this was the enthusiastic support of New York Art dealer Mr. Ralph Huston. He recognized the top quality work of local artists and made annual trips to purchase artwork to sell in his well known gallery. Mr. Huston urged his long time friend and artist, Thelma Hester, to organize an Art Guild.
In early 1969, Thelma Hester placed an ad in the local newspaper inviting interested individuals to show their art work at an “Outdoor Art Festival” at Olinda School. This was the first local art show featuring only local artists. Thelma was overwhelmed by the response and she opened her home for the first organizational meeting of what would become the El Sobrante Art Guild. At the meeting they elected officers: President, Hazel Watne; Public Relations, Pearl Johnson; Treasurer, Mary Forbes; and Membership Chairman, Thelma Hester. Within one year, over 160 artists and craftspeople had joined the new Art Guild. At that time, membership dues were 25¢ per week! Due to the size of the membership meetings were moved to the El Sobrante Library.
The Guild continues to be appreciative of the energy, ability, and interest of these founding members. In addition to this list, we add thanks to our Charter Members: Grace Benson, Eleanor Bretz, Rose Hahn, Dolores Hertzberg, Almon “Bud” Larsh, Naomi Stahl and Iris Warwick.
The El Sobrante Art Guild’s first organized show featured ten artists using a garage for their sale. In later years, the shows have featured wine tastings, bake sales, raffles, displays of student artists, holiday shows, and seasonal shows. Guild members have displayed their fine art in banks, hospitals, businesses, galleries and libraries. Many awards and prizes have been awarded to members of our Guild.
The El Sobrante Art Guild created the first set of bylaws for the organization in 1972. In 1979 the guild incorporated , becoming a tax exempt 501(c)3 non-profit organization. (The federal tax identification for tax purposes is 94-2519723.)
The early success of the guild’s shows allowed them to donate a percentage of the earnings to several local causes and charities. In 1973, the El Sobrante Art Guild created a Scholarship Awards program for the old Richmond Unified School District Junior and Senior High Schools and Contra Costa College. The Scholarship Award program continues today in West Contra Costa Unified School District Middle and High Schools. For over four decades, the El Sobrante Art Guild has donated to the Scholarship Award program. The Scholarship Program awards cash prizes to youth artists and to youth art programs.
The El Sobrante Art Guild continues to bring local artists together guiding them into the future with integrity, unity and service.
The El Sobrante Art Guild (ESAG) is a group of artists and crafts-people who come together to share ideas, sell their art and handmade crafts, and to support the guild’s mission of furthering the artistic education of the community and supporting art education in local schools.
The El Sobrante Art Guild currently has over fifty different members located in Benicia, Concord, Napa, as well as in West Contra Costa County.
In the late 1960s, many artists lived in the El Sobrante area. One of the first people to acknowledge and encourage that talent was librarian Elizabeth Grant, who in 1968 invited some of these artists to display their work in the El Sobrante Library. Added to this was the enthusiastic support of New York Art dealer Mr. Ralph Huston. He recognized the top quality work of local artists and made annual trips to purchase artwork to sell in his well known gallery. Mr. Huston urged his long time friend and artist, Thelma Hester, to organize an Art Guild.
In early 1969, Thelma Hester placed an ad in the local newspaper inviting interested individuals to show their art work at an “Outdoor Art Festival” at Olinda School. This was the first local art show featuring only local artists. Thelma was overwhelmed by the response and she opened her home for the first organizational meeting of what would become the El Sobrante Art Guild. At the meeting they elected officers: President, Hazel Watne; Public Relations, Pearl Johnson; Treasurer, Mary Forbes; and Membership Chairman, Thelma Hester. Within one year, over 160 artists and craftspeople had joined the new Art Guild. At that time, membership dues were 25¢ per week! Due to the size of the membership meetings were moved to the El Sobrante Library.
The Guild continues to be appreciative of the energy, ability, and interest of these founding members. In addition to this list, we add thanks to our Charter Members: Grace Benson, Eleanor Bretz, Rose Hahn, Dolores Hertzberg, Almon “Bud” Larsh, Naomi Stahl and Iris Warwick.
The El Sobrante Art Guild’s first organized show featured ten artists using a garage for their sale. In later years, the shows have featured wine tastings, bake sales, raffles, displays of student artists, holiday shows, and seasonal shows. Guild members have displayed their fine art in banks, hospitals, businesses, galleries and libraries. Many awards and prizes have been awarded to members of our Guild.
The El Sobrante Art Guild created the first set of bylaws for the organization in 1972. In 1979 the guild incorporated , becoming a tax exempt 501(c)3 non-profit organization. (The federal tax identification for tax purposes is 94-2519723.)
The early success of the guild’s shows allowed them to donate a percentage of the earnings to several local causes and charities. In 1973, the El Sobrante Art Guild created a Scholarship Awards program for the old Richmond Unified School District Junior and Senior High Schools and Contra Costa College. The Scholarship Award program continues today in West Contra Costa Unified School District Middle and High Schools. For over four decades, the El Sobrante Art Guild has donated to the Scholarship Award program. The Scholarship Program awards cash prizes to youth artists and to youth art programs.
The El Sobrante Art Guild continues to bring local artists together guiding them into the future with integrity, unity and service.