# Event Details - **Event Name**: Short Film Screening + Director Q&A — Painting Ourselves Into Society - **Event Start and End Date**: Sun, 26 Jul, 2026 at 05:30 pm – Sun, 26 Jul, 2026 at 06:30 pm - **Event Description**: Join Empowerment Avenue Executive Director Rahsaan "New York" Thomas for a free screening of a documentary short.About this EventJoin Rahsaan "New York" Thomas, Executive Director of Empowerment Avenue, for a free screening of a documentary inspired by the exhibition "Painting Ourselves Into Society," co-curated with artist Orlando O. Smith at the Berkeley Art Center in 2024. This groundbreaking exhibition featured eight system-impacted artists and explored the theme of re-entering social consciousness through art. The documentary highlights Smith's journey in bringing the project to life and shares the stories of two additional artists. Stay for a live Q&A with the director after the screening.?️ Free but RSVP highly suggested (limited seating)? July 26, 5:30 - 6:30 pm?Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut Street, Berkeley CA 94709.Sliding Scale: 0$-$25 We warmly welcome your generous support for this community partnership with a suggested donation of $10–$25. You can donate here. Your contribution helps support creative opportunities for artists and our community.ABOUT EMPOWERMENT AVENUEEmpowerment Avenue is a non-profit 501(c)(3) founded by Rahsaan “New York” Thomas and freelance writer Emily Nonko while Rahsaan was incarcerated at San Quentin State Pr*son in Marin County, California. Rahsaan paroled in February of 2023 and now serves as the Executive Director.‍Our approach includes building inside-outside partnerships based on distinct themes and support services. We currently have three active tracks. Writing for Liberation supports journalists, writers and poets. Visual Arts for Liberation supports visual artists. Film for Liberation, our newest track, builds power through documentary storytelling in collaboration with currently and formerly incarcerated people. Rooted in collective liberation, this track grows from the impact of Rahsaan’s Friendly Signs and Adamu Chan’s What These Walls Won’t Hold — continuing the work of transforming narratives and reclaiming our stories from inside and beyond the walls. Now Empowerment Avenue works with currently incarcerated filmmakers to bring their stories to the screen.ABOUT THE BERKELEY ART CENTERBerkeley Art Center (BAC) is a hub for artisitic exploration and community building that champions work by Bay Area artists and curators. Located in Live Oak Park in North Berkeley, we make contemporary art approachable at an intimate scale while serving diverese communities through exhibitions and artist-conceived events, workshops, and programs. Since its founding in 1967, BAC has exhibited work by important local figures such as Enrique Chagoya, Mildred Howard, Jung Lui, Jim Melchert, Taraneh Hemami, Lava Thomas, David Huffman, and Carrie Mae Weems, among others.Gallery Hours: Thursday - Sunday, 12 - 5 pm.Interested to learn more about what's happening at BAC? Click here! - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/berkeley/short-film-screening-director-qanda-painting-ourselves-into-society/100001993052217835 - **Event Categories**: art, entertainment, fine-arts, exhibitions, literary-art, nonprofit, workshops, storytelling - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 1 hour - Location: Berkeley Art Center - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 28.52, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Berkeley - **state**: CA - **country**: United States - **location**: Berkeley Art Center - **lat**: 37.884503 - **long**: -122.268191 - **full address**: Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut Street, Berkeley, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Short Film Screening + Director Q&A — Painting Ourselves Into Society - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/629a154363523366e3048fe13303ae6e63060b8c75e0d3eb51b15d906adb6629-rimg-w1200-h600-dcf2f2f2-gmir.jpg?v=1783357403 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Short Film Screening + Director Q&A — Painting Ourselves Into Society being held? - **A:** Short Film Screening + Director Q&A — Painting Ourselves Into Society takes place on Sun, 26 Jul, 2026 at 05:30 pm to Sun, 26 Jul, 2026 at 06:30 pm at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut Street, Berkeley, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Short Film Screening + Director Q&A — Painting Ourselves Into Society? - **A:** Short Film Screening + Director Q&A — Painting Ourselves Into Society is organized by Berkeley Art Center. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Short Film Screening + Director Q&A — Painting Ourselves Into Society is ideal for art lovers, collectors, creatives, and anyone inspired by visual arts, installations, and exhibitions. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Berkeley, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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