Beatnik is sad to announce the untimely demise of one of our current artists exhibited in the gallery this month, Ed Rivera.
There will be a memorial service for Ed here in the Beatnik Gallery, Monday November 14th at 6pm for those who would like to come pay there respects and honor a great Sacramento artist.
Ed Rivera, or "Eddy" as his friends called him was a long time Land Park resident and retired Sacramento Police Department officer. He had drawn much attention for his mural on the exterior wall at the front of Sacramento State University’s Lassen Hall.
Rivera also painted murals for the Washington Neighborhood Center at 400 16th St. and the Legal Aid Society at 920 9th St. in Sacramento and Boalt Hall at the University of California, Berkeley.
After attending Sacramento City College and Sacramento State.
Rivera attended the prestigious San Francisco Art Institute for three years.
While at the art institute, he studied under renowned artists such as Richard Diebenkorn, Elmer Bishoff, Nathan Oliveira, James Weeks, Julius Hytofsky and Frank Lobdell.
Ed Rivera was the first assistant Benny Barrios had in his gallery, which ran 27 years.
Rivera enjoys music, rich culture, and attending many community events.
Ed Rivera spent much time working with youth from the Washington Neighborhood Center. He served as a mentor, and attended many field trips and camping adventures with them. His service to his community is an example of community pride.
Rivera participated in the Voices Ahora show at The Art Foundry Gallery; where he showed his prized Aztec Chieftain in 1999.
His 2000 collection spans the decade and includes landscapes of Old Land Park, which included prized views of Tower Theater, McClatchy High School, and Taylor’s Market. These neighborhood jewels were proudly displayed on the monthly cover of Sacramento’s Inside Magazine.
“For me, art is like breathing. You have to breathe. You have to do art.”- Ed Rivera
Rest in peace Eddy.
