According to Alan B. and Renne Emiko Brock-Richmond, their new exhibition — their first solo collaborative show — has been a decade in the making.
“It’s a culmination of our lives together,” said Alan, who has been married to Renne for 10 years and has lived in Sequim for five.
“The Little Things” features eight mixed-media series, all falling under the broad theme of examining the small things in life that have great impacts.
“We found that these things that tend to have a huge affect are small,” Renne explained. “A pat on the shoulder, a butterfly landing on a flower just right … that can make your day.”
The couple said they both began their artistic journeys at a young age: Renne, who studied costuming in college and has a master’s degree in the psychology of color, said it began at age 3 when she began telling her mother exactly how to make her clothes. For Alan, who was born into a musical family — his father was involved in radio and television — it began at the same age, when he received his first drum set.
The couple said they have done a few group exhibits together, but “The Little Things” really gave them a chance to work together.
“It’s funny because we always end up at the same place artistically but from opposite ends of the spectrum,” Alan said, explaining that Renne is more intricate and detail-oriented in her work, while he prefers to be minimal.
The exhibit’s series includes “One-Inch Ethics,” which the couple created to make artwork more approachable to the public.
“People often ask, ‘Is artwork affordable, accessible?’” Renne said. “We wanted to do something that was the most accessible.”
To reach their goal, the couple created buttons with words such as “respect,” “empower” and “reciprocate” on them — the buttons will be available at their exhibit.
Alan also used his musical talents to create music to be played in a part of the gallery.
“I try to include a soundtrack that provides a moment, an experience for people,” said Alan, who describes his sound as “electronica.”
For “Superpowers,” Renne used her years of study in color psychology to create superpowers in specific colors.
“I’m always emphasizing for people to wear colors to show who they are,” said Renne, who favors bright reds and oranges. “Red is powerful, coral is energetic, green is humanitarian, cyan is creative.”
Renne designed images on fabric for each color as a way to show the superpower in everyone.
For the “Better than Breadcrumbs to Find Your Way Home” series, Renne used a favorite childhood story to create artwork.
“The Hansel and Gretel story has always struck with me,” explained Renne, who said for years she’s collected white pebbles, symbols of the breadcrumbs Hansel and Gretel used. “It’s a series about essentially coming back home.”
For Alan, the 10-years-in-the-making exhibit feels like a sort of homecoming in itself and a tribute to his relationship with his wife.
“It’s nice to be able to do a semi-retrospective,” he said. “It gives us a chance to see how our threads come together. Finally, we’re at a point where we have something behind us.”
Small works of wonder
Who: Sequim residents Alan B. and Renne Emiko Brock-Richmond
What: “The Little Things,” the couple’s first solo joint exhibit featuring several mixed-media series
When: July 1-30, reception from 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, July 5
Where: Sequim Museum and Arts Center, 175 W. Cedar St.
Contact: For more information, contact the Brock-Richmonds at 460-3023
