Former Solano student finds her niche in the Vallejo artistic community
Sarah Dowling
March 2, 2011
Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Lifestyle, On campus
If you happen to make your way into Panama Red Coffee Company located in downtown Vallejo on a Tuesday or Friday morning, you will encounter artist Evelyn Rincon displaying and selling her art to local passersby and commuters.
“Evelyn’s good, she’s really talented… she’s a good local artist and we love her here, she brings more to our store,” said Panama Red employee Tai Leifi.
Rincon said that one day she drew a picture inside Panama Red of the menu posted above the cash register and decided to give it to the owner, who turned out to be a supporter of the arts. He asked Rincon if she wanted to show her art in the Cupping and Tasting room in the back of the store in May of last year, which she did for three days titling her temporary gallery, “Evelyn Rincon: Lifetime Collection”. Since then, Panama Red has served as a platform for Rincon to reach out to the Vallejo community and sell her art.
Directly to the right of the cash register, Rincon pushes two tables together and drapes a table cloth over each one. On top of the table she displays her works: paintings of different sizes, bookmarks, and homemade jewelry. Rincon sits on a stool behind her art, attentive to the questions that customers may have about her work.
“The whole crew that works here is awesome.” Rincon said, “They are like a little family and they support artists like me and that’s totally huge.”
Rincon is trying to stay committed to showing her art in Vallejo, and feels that people in other cities have more opportunities to learn about art and wants to give the Vallejo community the chance to learn as well.
Rincon grew up in Vallejo and attended Solano Community College, where she took art classes including ceramics, which she found to be very therapeutic.
“I really haven’t had any bad experience with any art instructors since they always say the same thing: art is never right or wrong, it is in the eyes of the viewer, and they all taught me that and that is what I walked away with.” Rincon said.
Throughout her time in school, Rincon had to work in various professions to support herself in tough times, but work was unfulfilling because she could not focus on her art.
Rincon decided that she was going to make her passion her profession.
She said, “I am focusing full-time on my art, and I cannot say anything good about it financially, but as far as me feeling good and positive, I’m not stressed, I’m not in a commute… art keeps me alive, really. It keeps me grounded. I am able to communicate my fantasies about how the world should be a little better.”
The majority of Rincon’s art focuses on the environment. Rincon is passionate about preserving the planet and being a voice for animals and individuals who are not able to communicate for themselves.
“I tend to talk about the overuse of oil consumption and the overuse of our environment… I think the environment around us is the most important. The ground we walk on- we couldn’t be here unless the ground we walk on is taken care of.” Rincon said.
She says she tries to convey specific messages in her work and sometimes people don’t understand it, but “some people get it right away, and to me that feels better than actually selling it… I feel like I’ve passed on a message and made people more conscious about what’s going on around them” Rincon said.
Rincon can be found every Tuesday and Friday morning from 6 a.m.-12 p.m. at Panama Red, located on 289 Mare Island Way in Vallejo.
