Time & Tide

John Wehrle

Richmond Art Center

Ongoing – June 14

Gallery Hours:

Wednesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm

I have never worried too much about that expression: Time and Tide Wait for No Man – being a woman. While I’m not a procrastinator (most of the time), I do take my time when it comes to art projects. I manage to distract myself and delay completion. Sound familiar? No. (Lucky.)

One thing is for sure, procrastination and delay are not been issues that plague John Wehrle.

If you’ve ever been to Richmond, you have already met John Wehrle. He is the artist who has painted most of the murals in that city. In 2018, he was proclaimed the "greatest single contributor to public art murals in Richmond" by the Richmond City Council. A dozen years earlier, in 2006, Wehrle received an Arts Leadership Award from the Contra Costa’s Arts and Culture Commission. His murals can be found throughout Northern California: in Dublin, Hayward, Berkeley, Alameda and many other places, including Vacaville State Prison (where inmates joined in creating the work).

He was one of the official muralists for the 1984 Olympics in LA. His murals – interior and exterior – are spread well beyond California. Indeed, Wehrle's interior murals and surviving installations have been internationally collected.

Yet, he has not limited himself to murals. Wehrle is a painter and sculptor, also known for his work as a US Army Lieutenant serving in the Combat Artist Program during the Vietnam War. So, it is time fully appreciate this remarkable artist.

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Time & Tide is the first major exhibition to offer a comprehensive survey of Wehrle’s work. This exhibition narrates Wehrle’s 50-year artistic journey, featuring replicas of some of his murals and gateways throughout Richmond; original paintings and sketches he created as a combat artist, and early studies, sculptures, photographs, and large-scale paintings.

Wehrle’s work is characterized by a unique blend of whimsy, allegory, and playful historical references, creating vibrant public art that responds to local stories and community experiences. His murals are prominent and familiar landmarks in the East Bay’s urban landscape. From the iconic Plunge at the Richmond Natatorium (The Richmond Plunge) and Revisionist History under the I-80 underpass on San Pablo Avenue, to the murals at the Berkeley Transit Plaza, these site-specific, large-scale works capture community histories and inspire a sense of place among East Bay residents.

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Above: One of the murals at the Richmond Plunge and Detail from that mural.
Below: Self-portrait while painting another mural at the Richmond Plunge

Among his most impressive works is "Rising Tide: A Post-Cautionary Tale,” which he began as a Work in Progress as artist-in-residence at the de Young Museum. Don’t worry; you won’t miss it. It takes up most of the back wall at the Art Center. It is impressive; so plan to stay awhile and absorb it.