Humboldt has a reputation for boasting towering Redwoods and a dramatic coastline. However, looking beyond that, it is hard to miss its colorful underbelly. No matter where you explore, it is clear that art is abundant here.
The Redwood Art Association (RAA) is Humboldt’s oldest art organization and one of our leading art galleries. The RAA works to serve and support Humboldt’s local artists through activities including workshops, lectures, and competitions.
Arcata Arts Institute (AAI) students Alina Smith, Tripp Dillon, Malia Wolven, Clyde Sundeen, Mala Livingearth, Mason Goldsworthy, and Canela Zuleta Harper won awards at the RAA’s recent exhibition: Humboldt Youth Exhibition 2025. Senior Alina Smith won “Best in Show” with her oil painting “Piece by Piece.”
Smith explores being trans through this painting. “[It’s about] the feeling of all the hatred that society puts in you, and how it feels to try to get rid of that,” Smith said.
Winning this award was important to Smith. “It’s very hard to be trans in America and kind of [in] the world. Having that recognized by some kind of institution is very nice,” she said. “It makes me happy that my experience resonates with other people.”
Senior Clyde Sundeen and sophomore Mala Livingearth, 3rd place winners, agreed that seeing their art exhibited in a physical space was validating. “It made me feel like people were seeing my art, and it was getting some recognition from the community,” Livingearth said. She hadn’t expected her watercolor painting “Look Closer” to win anything. She wouldn’t have submitted the piece if it weren’t for encouragement from her AAI teachers.
Teachers and community members alike take their role of encouraging students to create seriously.
“The art teachers here are all so lovely,” Smith said. “Mrs. Mauro is a big inspiration to me and is always very supportive.”
Additionally, Arcata High’s art students find inspiration in Humboldt’s unique scenery and active art community.
“Living in Humboldt inspires me to create art,” Livingearth said. “It just has a lot of personality, and you can show a lot about where you live and your community [through art].”
Livingearth, Sundeen, Goldsworthy, and Smith all cited the impact the murals covering Eureka have on Humboldt’s art community. These large-scale paintings bring local artists together and breathe an artistic life into the city’s buildings.
“I think that a lot of artists are really drawn to here,” Clyde said, talking about Humboldt’s unique environment. “It’s just very clear that art is everywhere here,” Livingearth said.
Smith also mentioned the Kinetic Sculpture race as another example of the extent of Humboldt’s art community. This local race brings together artists of all ages from across Humboldt to exhibit their creations over Memorial Day weekend.
“I think that [the Kinetic Sculpture Race] is just one example of how art-focused […] Humboldt is, and our willingness to come together over artistic things,” Smith said. “I think that a lot of places have art scenes, but they’re very private […] Stuff like the Kinetic Sculpture Race is so public and community-oriented.”
In Humboldt, organizations including the RAA work to make art accessible to everyone by putting on free galleries, organizing community events, and offering our local artists financial compensation for their work through competitions like the Humboldt Youth Exhibition. Next time you’re out, keep an eye out for the influence our artists have on the community—they’re all around you!
