Literary Archives - CreativeSonoma.org

Christopher Alexander Audio, Composition, Film, Instrumental, Media, Music, Other, Vocal Christopher Alexander is a songwriter from Sonoma County who performs in a style evocative of the 60's and 70's. He's a poet turned musician who composes music of various genres from blues to psychedelic rock and folk rock to jazz. The subject matter he writes and sings about ranges from the mundane to the fantastical often blending the two in a seamless, mind-bending way.

Tenisha Bernal Children's, Illustration, Literature, Visual Arts

Tenisha Bernal is a children’s book author / illustrator and a former elementary school art docent who taught herself how to draw by recreating her favorite comic strips from the Sunday paper.

Tenisha describes her art as a simple yet fun style for children of any age.

Tenisha is represented by Jen Newens at Martin Literary Management

Dani Burlison Fiction, Literature, Non-Fiction, Other Dani Burlison (she/her) is a mom, writer, teacher, and activist. She is the creator/editor of “All of Me: Stories of Love, Anger and the Female Body” (PM Press, 2019), and the author of “Some Places Worth Leaving” (Tolsun Books, 2020) and “Dendrophilia and Other Social Taboos: True Stories,” a collection of essays which first appeared in her McSweeney's Internet Tendency column of the same name. She is co-editing an anthology about Northern California fires which will be published by Heyday Books in 2023. Dani has been a staff writer at a Bay Area alt-weekly and a regular contributor at Yes! Magazine, Chicago Tribune, KQED, and elsewhere. Her journalism, fiction and personal essays can also be found at Ms. Magazine, WIRED, Earth Island Journal, The Rumpus, Portland Review, Hip Mama Magazine, and in various anthologies and zines. She studied Activism & Social Change as well as Culture, Ecology & Sustainable Community at New College of California and lives on unceded Southern Pomo and Wappo land in Sonoma County, California. You can find out more at daniburlison.com

Mark Bush Audio, Composition, Fiction, Instrumental, Literature, Media, Music, Non-Fiction, Other, Performance Art, Photography, Poetry, Visual Arts, Vocal Musician performer songwriter composer Artist rocKabilly poP coWboy punK jazz PoetrY

Bob Canning Fiction, Film, Literature, Media, Other Although he is a produced screenwriter (Takin it Off!, a direct-to-video comedy, which went platinum in sales), and 17 of his essays appear in “George Lucas’s Blockbusting” (HarperCollins), Bob’s first love has always been theatre. He studied Comedy Writing with Danny Simon (Neil’s brother), Playwriting with Oliver Hailey and Doric Wilson, and musical theatre at Broadway at Sunset and the Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. He was a staff writer for the Walt Disney Studios for 14-1/2 years (and lived to tell about it), and a freelance writer for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for five years. Bob’s plays have won numerous awards, including the 2010 Dr. Henry and Lilian Nesburn Playwright Award, sponsored by the Julie Harris Beverly Hills Theatre Guild for his bio-play, FARINGDON FOLLIES: Nudity, Debauchery and Afternoon Tea. In July 2010, it had an enthusiastically received reading in Faringdon, England, where the play’s lead character, Lord Berners, once lived. The reading took place before 110 people in the produce section of the local Budgens Supermarket, during Sunday business hours, in keeping with the theme of the town’s arts festival, “Celebrating Eccentricity.” (The play was also named a Semi-Finalist in the 2017Austin Film Festival’s Stage Play Category.) Crazy Eddy received unanimous rave reviews at its world premiere at the Little Fish Theatre, San Pedro, CA, and won 1st Place in 3 national playwriting contests. He's a member of the Dramatists Guild.

Mari Capon Acting, Artisan, Arts Administration, Ballet, Ballroom, Children's, Choreography, Dance, Directing, Fiber Art, Fiction, Folk Art, Hip-Hop & Funk, Illustration, Improvisation, Improvisation, Latin, Literature, Media, Modern, Muralist, Music, Non-Fiction, Other, Other, Other, Painting, Performance Art, Poetry, Printmaking, Puppetry, Sculpture, Storytelling, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre, Video, Visual Arts, Vocal Mari has been professionally involved in the arts world for over twenty years. As a child, she was a creative dancer at Virginia Tanner's Children Dance Theater, and she oil painted and sang in choirs. As a teen she acted, and was a make-up artist, poet, essayist, and ballroom dancer, and in young adulthood, she was a tango dancer and professional performing artist as an Art Model for artists working for Disney, EA, and countless Universities, Ateliers, Institutes, and Studios, and especially enjoyed set, costume, and lighting designs for painters and illustrators. Upon realizing that she most enjoyed coaching artists through their process, she began teaching, first creating art curriculum for a K-12 after-school program while becoming bilingual in Peru, before returning to the U.S. to become a certified cognitive movement, creative dance, and preschool music instructor. She began providing, teaching, and consulting for bilingual preschools and Summer Camps, tutoring, and coaching gymnastics, and continued to teach the arts and sports. She also taught inclusive sex education and spiritual development for children at interfaith, non-denominational churches, and facilitated somatic processing, while attending weekly classes in various forms. As an undergrad, Mari authored an Interdisciplinary Arts Curriculum Program for Pre-K through 12th Grade and became credentialed. She will research, publish, and offer her program while continuing to teach Interdisciplinary Arts.

Ron Carter Architecture, Artisan, Audio, Ceramics, Children's, Creative Sonoma Grantee, Design, Directing, Fashion Design, Fiction, Film, Functional Art, Furniture, Graphic Design, Illustration, Instrumental, Interior Design, Jewelry, Literature, Media, Mixed, Muralist, Music, Other, Other, Other, Painting, Photography, Poetry, Sculpture, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre, Video, Visual Arts, Woodworking

My Path... Divergent visions gave rise to my creative present. A present refreshed by art as life and livelihood.

Experiences like the ‘Tubbs Fire’ that hit Santa Rosa serve to strengthen the ‘artist within me’. It foements subjective creative moments that utilize my past, present - and my future as focal lenses. Spontaneously, I chose The San Francisco Art Institute over The Rhode Island School of Design and the School of the Art Institute at Chicago for my formal Art education. I received my BFA in Interdisciplinary Art and Public Art. I’ve studied stone sculpture for 10 years with Master Sculpture-Ante’ Marinovic, one of Croatia’s premier stone sculptors and is considered a Croatian national treasure. I explore the collaboration between artist, media and tool in such a fashion as to give rise to multiple layers of compressed info within each piece I create no matter if it is a purely visual work or an interactive space or environmental art form. For me, art screams out into all aspects of my life. As an artist in western society, dogma and bravado go hand in hand with economic choice. Art is my life. If it’s not nailed down or permanently affixed, it’s in trouble of becoming art resource material. Well, upon further review, even that won’t deter me from considering an objects use in an art piece.

Leilani Clark Literature, Non-Fiction Raised in Hawaii and Los Angeles, Leilani Clark received a bachelor’s in English Literature from the University of California San Diego. She played in indie bands and traveled for a few years, before settling down to teach middle and high school English in New Mexico and Oakland. In 2008, she received an MFA in Writing and Consciousness from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her writing has appeared at The Guardian, Mother Jones, Civil Eats, The Press Democrat, The Rumpus, and other publications. A former staff writer at the North Bay Bohemian, she was a 2014 California Endowment Health Reporting Fellow, and her feature story about a federal crackdown on Northern California cannabis dispensaries won a California Newspaper Publishers Association award. She currently makes her living in nonprofit communications and as the editor of a regional food magazine. She lives in Santa Rosa with her family.

Jason Cool Acting, Architecture, Artisan, Arts Administration, Ballroom, Ceramics, Children's, Choreography, Composition, Crew, Dance, Design, Directing, Equipment, Fashion Design, Fiber Art, Fiction, Film Office, Folk Art, Functional Art, Furniture, General Services, Glass, Hip-Hop & Funk, Illustration, Improvisation, Improvisation, Instrumental, Interior Design, Jewelry, Literature, Media, Mixed, Modern, Multi-Media, Music, Non-Fiction, Other, Other, Other, Other, Other, Other, Other, Other, Other, Painting, Performance Art, Photography, Poetry, Production, Professional Performance, Puppetry, Sculpture, Storytelling, Talent, Teacher/Instructor, Theatre, Visual Arts, Vocal, Woodworking

Jason Cool/Henson

Raised by musical and artistic tallent. from my grandfather Walter cool.writing and composing set designs on and off Broadway as well as music teacher. He tought me many things about music ,set design ,and writing stories making songs.mom colleen cool was a d.j for many years growing up .her morning talk show won an addy award. experience of the evolution of radio stations format from vinal,reel to reel,8 track,cassette,cd,to digital.learned lots about the insider secrets and politics , selling air time ,being a paid musical artist.and much more.on my dad's side .the "story family." his grandmother had 21 kids .4 sets of twins ,all natural birth!all musicians playing together ofton..on ed sullvon show and groucho marks.this popular family band and I would practice at grandma's regularly. As a kid growing up. i would try many instruments pianos ,drums,accordion ,banjo ,mandolin etc. I have been in theater,loved the arts, music ,writer. open to everything since i was a young kid.arts and music are my life!if i dont know how to do something,i will be honest!i ask,try and will do all things of interest with love !and any collaboration with heart.I Compromise to learn others perspectives because im always learning. preforming on and off stage.jamming with the public.sharing what i know. Learning what others are willing or able to teach.I loved all the music,art,storys,I have been a part of, or experienced 1999 to current over 15 countries I visited. World Share

Toby Daniels Acting, Artisan, Audio, Dance, Design, Fiction, Film, Graphic Design, Illustration, Instrumental, Latin, Literature, Media, Mixed, Modern, Multi-Media, Music, Non-Fiction, Other, Other, Painting, Performance Art, Photography, Sculpture, Teacher/Instructor, Theatre, Video, Visual Arts, Woodworking

Born in San Francisco, I grew up in Lucas Valley (Marin County) 15 years then, lived in Hopewell, New Jersey (between Princeton and Trenton) for 3 years, finishing high school. After graduation, chose to live in Bozeman, Montana (close to Yellowstone National Park and the Big Sky Ski Resort) for 5 years, attending Montana State University, earning degrees.

After obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Business (Marketing Option) along with a Minor in Communication from MSU, I lived in Terra Linda (Marin County) for 6 years, continuing Multimedia studies, working.

In 1999 I moved to central Santa Rosa (Sonoma County, the "Heart of the Wine Country") and lived there for 10 years, attending a quality college for additional post-graduate studies. I broadened my education studying visual media (Computer Art, Applied Graphics, Desktop Publishing, Art, Multimedia, and web design) at Santa Rosa Junior College, while working.

With regards to my 11 years of college studies and two degrees that accompany two certificates (that relate to visual media composition and presentation), I have undertaken a variety of post-graduate studies and working in local businesses, I have expanded my knowledge of various programs that are applicable to corporate establishments and gained additional skill and knowledge of Multimedia and HTML, in pursuit of an occupation that relates to promotion, advertising or marketing.

I enjoyed the opportunity to develop my skills in project coordination, client services, problem solving and negotiating, applying my studies and abilities, seeking an opportunity where my experience, initiative and dedication to both personal and organizational goals will be valued.

Johny Dechemin Acting, Composition, Crew, Dance, Design, Directing, Fashion Design, Film Office, Folk Art, Functional Art, Hip-Hop & Funk, Illustration, Instrumental, Mixed, Multimedia, Music, Other, Other, Other, Other, Painting, Performance Art, Photography, Printmaking, Professional Performance, Sculpture, Storytelling, Talent, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre, Visual Arts, Vocal DJ JOHNY MIX, has a natural charisma, a passion for music, and the ability to connect with people. A top-notch DJ who’s connect with listeners through engaging talk content and social interaction. He plays musical recordings on radio shows, nightclubs, corporates, private and public events. He works for radio stations, presenting programs, talk shows, and chart shows. He ensures musical recordings and advertisements are played on time and also interact with listeners through social media. As a DJ, he is responsible for engaging with listeners, queueing up playlists, presenting commercials, performing interviews, taking music requests, and generating interest in the show. He is a MC at public events and perform meet and greets.

Kirk Demorest Crew, Design, Film, Film Office, Graphic Design, Media, Multi-Media, Multimedia, Photography, Production, Video, Visual Arts

Professional Filmmaker, author, and media creator

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Live-Action Directing/Editing with full scenes DIRECTOR / EDITOR Directing/Editing live-action - Full scenes Robert Weiss: Take A Breath (Documentary) EDITOR Full documentary Healdsburg International Short Film Festival WRITER/ PRODUCER/ EDITOR of promos, trailers, and social media content. Theatrical Trailer Award Presentation (14 mins.) Baobab Productions - VR Entertainment EDITOR - Current project stars John Legend News Story Kirk Demorest, Graphic Designer (marketing /print) COPYWRITER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER Graphics Portfolio - Retail, Print, & Products Laser Tag of Santa Rosa - TV Commercial DIRECTOR / EDITOR TV Commercial Video Graphics Reel - In specific branding styles DIRECTOR / EDITOR Video Graphics - Branding Kirk Demorest, Former Freelance Graphics Reel EDITOR Early Freelance Video Graphics YouTube Channel (1.4 Million Views) DIRECTOR/ EDITOR My personal Youtube Channel (Arthouse Films) Universal Studios: “Curious George” - TV series on PBS EDITOR of 110 Episodes of this 2-time, Emmy Winning Series for Universal Studios/PBS Curious George Disney Studios: "Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas" Feature Film EDITOR of this Disney animated feature film Trailer “Hollywood On Set” - TV Series on TV Guide Channel WRITER/ PRODUCER/ EDITOR of 13 episodes Episode 132 Robodog - Feature Film Starring Ellen Page EDITOR Trailer Short Films - Director/Editor Metropolitan Crush A Girl From Beacon Ridge The Daffodils are Blooming Factory Girls Brunch With A Stranger A Little Class “World of Short Films” - TV Series on PBS Affiliate WRITER/ PRODUCER/ EDITOR - 15 half hours Episode 4 Bodega Bay International Short Film Festival WRITER/ PRODUCER/ EDITOR of promos, trailers, and social media content. Promo #1 Promo #2

Patricia Dines Fiction, Illustration, Literature, Non-Fiction, Other, Other, Painting, Photography, Visual Arts Patricia Dines has been a professional writer, graphic artist, and fine artist since 1992, and since then created on a wide variety of books, newsletters, articles, and more. Her currently featured work is a sacred healing storybook (for people of all ages), called The Goddess Who Forgot That She Was a Goddess. (I mean, who can forget such a thing? But she did!) This Goddess lived up high on a beautiful hill, but didn't see any of it, because of the sadness in her heart. Until one day she received an unexpected invitation to go into the forest.... You're invited to join the Goddess on her healing adventure, and savor the enchanting story, inspired artwork, and weaving of playful and meaningful moments. This timeless and universal tale is presented in a beautiful full-color hardcover book, illustrated with Patricia's original art. Patricia also offers art greeting cards and prints. All of her goodies are available directly and at local stores. To get more information, and find out how to get your own copies, see www.healthyworld.org/GB.

Deborah Eliezer Acting, Choreography, Dance, Directing, Folk Art, Improvisation, Modern, Music, Other, Other, Performance Art, Puppetry, Teacher/Instructor, Theatre, Vocal Debórah Eliezer, writer/performer/professional voiceover is a Core Company member and the Co-Artistic Director of foolsFURY, producing new work, a national festival, internship opportunities and public educational programs. She holds a BA Cum Laude from SFSU and a certificate in Sound, Voice, Music Healing from CIIS. Her latest show, (dis)Place[d], written and performed by Eliezer is a solo tour de force about the Iraqi Jews and contemporary American identity. (dis)Place[d] is currently available for touring. Visit www.foolsfury.org Accolades for (dis)Place[d]:

“Eliezer is an expressive actor, and her story, lyrical and affecting, is one you’ve probably never heard before...She sings haunting, presumably Mizrachi (Jewish Middle Eastern) songs and prayers that send chills up your spine and embodies, with exquisite, dancerly physicality and vocal power (and clothed in a gossamer, enveloping cape), non-human entities such as the land itself."--Jean Schiffman, San Francisco Examiner “As she speaks, she’s wrestling or dancing with something that’s invisible and constantly shape-shifting, always just escaping her grasp.”--Lily Janiak, San Francisco Chronicle

With foolsFURY, Eliezer has created and performed in world premieres: ”The Unheard of World,” by Fabrice Melquiot, “Faulted,” by Angela Santillo, “Port Out Starboard Home,” with Sheila Callaghan, Monster in the Dark, with Doug Dorst, “The Devil on All Sides,” by Fabrice Melquiot, “All You Can Eat,” by Steven Morgan Haskell, and “The Jensen Files” by Ben Yalom. Eliezer directed and choreographed “The Seeing Place”, by Elizabeth Spreen and Debórah Eliezer. Choreographic credits include: Boxcar’s “The Speakeasy”, FoolsFURY’s “Port Out, Starboard Home,” “Monster in the Dark,” Charles Mee’s “Big Love,” Shakespeare’s ”Twelfth Night,” and foolsFURY’s adaptation of Don Delillo’s play, “Valparaiso.” Incubator Series performances include: Lucinda Otto’s “Threshold,” Mia Rovegno’s “The Apartment,” Doug Dorst’s “(R)Evolution X,” and Angela Santillo’s “Sera.” Eliezer has also worked with Golden Thread (SF/Cairo), Woman’s Will, The Puppet Players, Marin Shakespeare, Antenna Theater and TJT. She was the Co-Artistic Director of Eclipse Dance Theater from 1996-2002. As a professional voiceover, you may have heard her voice in over 25 Leapfrog Toys, Sims 2, 3 and 4 video games or numerous radio ads. Eliezer teaches throughout the Bay Area, and maintains a private coaching practice. She produces weddings, workshops and retreats, at Venado Retreat, a 33-acre artist retreat center. For more information, visit Venado www.venadoretreat.com

Kate Foley-Beining Improvisation, Instrumental, Mixed, Music, Painting, Printmaking, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre, Visual Arts, Vocal I am a musician, artist, and professor of German Language and Literature. Music: I am a singer, performing the works of Joni Mitchell, backed by a jazz trio. I have developed music enrichment programs for elementary schools in Healdsburg and Geyserville where I have taught vocal music for over 10 years. Working with children in music is its own reward and I am aware of the rare good fortune I have to also be paid to do it. I am a classically-trained pianist, currently pursuing challenging selections from the repertoire of Schubert, Chopin, Liszt, and Bach. Art: Sight-size realism is the method I use in painting my oil still lives. I would call my work domestic realism since my favorite subject matter is my 1940s era chrome coffeepot in which my domestic surroundings are reflected around me as I paint. Decay, in the form of rusted objects and old leather books, is set against the sharp convex images reflected in the chrome globe, offering a visual irony that I find endlessly intriguing. I have shown and sold my pieces in juried shows. Language and Literature: I am an adjunct professor of German with an emphasis on women writers in German literary history. My doctoral research, using a feminist literary perspective, was published in my book The Body and Eucharistic Devotion in Catharina Regina von Greiffenberg's Meditations. Teaching German brings me joy and of course my college students are constantly engaged in music, art, and theater as they become speakers of German

Ernesto Garay Literature, Poetry, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth Ernesto Garay is a poet, performer, teacher, and social justice activist. Ernesto is a bilingual teaching artist, offering residencies to students in grade 4-12. Mr. Garay holds two Masters Degrees: one in Comparative Literature and the other in Ethnic Studies. He is a poet in Residence at Creative Sonoma, California Poets in the Schools, and Azures Acres, teaching poetry as a form of healing to children, teens and adults living with intersectional vulnerability in schools and organizations in Sonoma County. Currently Mr. Garay is finishing his book of poetry: Reverberating Voices. It speaks about the experience of immigration, racism, healing the spirit, displacement and love while living in San Francisco, California, Mexico, Nicaragua and El Salvador during Central American Civil Wars of the 1970s and 1980s. His poetry has been published in the DI-VȇrRSέ-City Anthology of the Austin International Poetry Festival, Pterodáctilo, La Revista, The Ethnic Studies Journal and Desde el Epicentro. Mr. Garay has also performed and read his poetry in the Bay Area for venues such as MAPP (Mission Arts and Performance Project), Mama’s Art Café, and the University of California at Santa Cruz. He’s also read his poetry in North Bay venues like the Salon for the Arts, the Arlene Francis Center, the De Turk Round Barn, the Finely Center, the Sonoma County Museum, and in Southern California, at the Pitzer College at Claremont University. He is passionate about justice and advocating for the Latino immigrant community. Immensely creative and accomplished, he inspires us and moves among us with unfailing humility, generosity and grace.

Kelly Gray Creative Sonoma Grantee, Fiction, Literature, Non-Fiction, Other, Poetry, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth Kelly Gray (she/her/hers) lives in Northern California on unceded Coast Miwok and Kashaya Pomo land. She writes about what she knows or is trying to know; parenting, eco-grief, mental health, dead things, monsters, prophetic animals, relationships to self and others, and rural life. She comes from a background in union organizing, birth work and reproductive justice, & is a certified UC California Naturalist and trained raptor handler, all of which informs her writing. Gray is the author of Instructions for an Animal Body (MoonTide Press, 2021), Tiger Paw, Tiger Paw, Knife, Knife (Quarter Press, 2022) and the audio chapbook My Fingers are Whales and Other Stories of Cetology (Moon Child Press, 2021). She is the recipient of the 2022 Neutrino Short-Short Prize from Passages North and has been a finalist for Best of the Net, nominated for Pushcart Prizes and Best Short Fiction. Her writing appears or is forthcoming in Northwest Review, Passages North, Menacing Hedge, Newfound, Pithead Chapel, Atticus Review, trampset, Literary Mama, and other incredible journals & anthologies. Currently, she is the Outreach & Assistant Editor at Bracken Magazine.

Ehme Haas Artisan, Audio, Ceramics, Fiber Art, Jewelry, Literature, Media, Mixed, Multi-Media, Music, Other, Painting, Poetry, Sculpture, Visual Arts, Vocal e.h.me is a multi-medium, hungry fArtist currently beginning an exploration of the play between place and perspective with mobile-inspired, found object suspended sculpture. an imported local of the Russian River area with a tendency toward forest frolicking, she is inspired by birth cycles and bridges, plastic bags caught in tree boughs, fermentation and regeneration. she seeks to convey a sense of the beautiful wonder within even the 'ugly' parts of experience. create(or) de(con)struct

Jackie Huss Hallerberg Literature, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Youth Jackie Huss Hallerberg is a Sonoma County Poet-Teacher for California Poets in the Schools and also serves as its Board President. She holds several academic degrees (including a teaching credential) and teaches in an experiential manner. During the past three years, she has brought poetry to over two thousand Sonoma County students ranging from K-12 in a variety of settings including public and private schools, Valley of the Moon Children’s Home, and summer arts camps. She is especially interested in reaching at-risk students who might be underserved in their communities. Jackie’s poetry has been featured in many publications. Her chapbook, Along Poetic Lines, and CD, Poems of Motherhood, were self-published. She is a member of the Squaw Valley Community of Writers.

Elizabeth Carothers Herron Literature, Non-Fiction, Other, Poetry Elizabeth Carothers Herron www.elizabethherron.net is the Poet Laureate of Sonoma County 2022-2024 www.elizabeth-herron.com for "Being Brave" (poetry Project). She is the author of two collections of poetry with a third forthcoming in January 2023 from Fernwood Press; four poetry chapbooks, a book of short fiction, and articles on art and ecology. Her writing appears currently in a half-dozen literary magazines, including Arroyo, West Marin Review, Lindenwood, Free State Review and Reflections. Her prose has been published in Ions, Orion, Parabola, Jung Journal and Center for Humans & Nature’s “Questions for a Resilient Future” (www.humansandnature.org). The San Francisco Small Press Traffic Award, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Foundation for Deep Ecology and the Mesa Refuge for writer’s have all supported her work. She has been nominated three times for a Pushcart Prize in Poetry. Her history of collaborative work includes sculptor Bruce Johnson’s Poetry House project and his Santa Rosa Junior College library pieces, book arts broadsides, and over a decade of plein-air and gallery performances with dancers, visual artists and musicians. Her professional memberships include the International League of Conservation Writers, the Authors Guild, Poets & Writers, and PEN (Poets Editors and Novelists). She lives on the Atascadero in the Russian River watershed.

Christine Hourscht Children's, Illustration, Mixed, Painting, Visual Arts

Living in a small town in California, Christine Renee Hourscht is surrounded by nature’s beauty.

She likes to hike among the trees, admiring flowers, birds, and other animals. She is also enchanted by the ocean, lakes, insects, sky, and fresh air. It fills her with colorful inspiration.

As an artist, Christine is passionate about the beauty of life and lives in gratitude. Her artwork portrays this with whimsical movements, shapes and colors. Her philosophy is to “Live to love” and “Every breath we take is precious.” Her artwork is a way to share moments in time.

Jen Hyde Creative Sonoma Grantee, Literature, Media, Non-Fiction, Other

Jen Hyde is a writer, editor, and storytelling expert. Her essays have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Longreads and elsewhere.

A 2016 finalist for the Creative Capital Grant in Literature, and Jen has received fellowships from Yaddo, The Millay Colony, and the Asian American Writer's Workshop. Most recently she has been a 2023 scholar at the Sonoma County Writer's Camp and a 2023 Creative Sonoma ACE grantee. She is currently at work on a memoir about chronic illness and Chinese diasporic identity.

Sarah Hylton Artisan, Creative Sonoma Grantee, Improvisation, Mixed, Other, Painting, Sculpture, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth Expressive Artist and Arts Facilitator specializing in a whole person-centered approach for creating art. An avid painter, dancer and ceramic sculptor; often found dancing while painting. Sarah’s paintings have been featured in galleries, juried exhibits and are in private collections. She is currently represented by Lori Austin Gallery in Sebastopol, CA. She began receiving awards as a child for her original artwork though has always resonated with the outsider and naïve artist. She is a self-taught artist and process oriented. After raising her artistically talented son, as an only parent, she is whole heartedly devoting herself to her own creative process and arts based restorative community projects. She is a 2020 Creative Sonoma Pop Up Art Grant recipient. Her current projects include the Hexagons Of Dignity Tapestry and the Art Tent. The community mural installation on the Art Tent is postponed due to Shelter In Place.

Amanda Janik Literature, Non-Fiction, Other, Performance Art Amanda Janik (yes, going for third person here, folks) lives in Sonoma County and spends her days writing, editing, proofreading, posting, cooking, drinking, saying 'no' to children, and trying to figure out who or what is pecking her chickens' eggs apart. A Cultural Ambassador for Out There Santa Rosa, Amanda's writing has also been published in The Sun Magazine, on Chacos.com, Silver Birch Press and throughout the Sonoma County Visitor's Guide, to name a few. She has also read her personal writing at Get Lit!, Lit Crawl, Lyrics & Dirges and more. In 2015 Amanda brought the hit stage show Mortified - which also has a documentary on Netflix and a popular weekly podcast - to Sonoma County. When not producing the local chapter, she can still be found performing on Mortified stages in San Francisco, Oakland, Portland, Los Angeles and New York, with more to come. She has participated on behalf of Mortified at SF SketchFest, SF ImprovFest, and at private events she's not allowed to talk about.

Maya Khosla Film, Literature, Media, Poetry Maya Khosla is the Poet Laureate of Sonoma County for 2018-2019 and is working on The Local Legacies Project. Her new poetry book, “All the Fires of Wind and Light,” is forthcoming from Sixteen Rivers Press in 2019. Maya’s previous wildfire and fire safety films have made an impact on communities and non-profit groups across California and other parts of the United States. In 2016, 2017, and 2018, rough-cut and final versions were screened and/or discussed at over 60 venues, including a public event held at The Sitting Room (October 14th, 2017, during the Sonoma Fires), where Firewise and related materials were presented along with a poetry reading. The poems were inspired by traditional herbs used to enhance the body's ability to treat smoke exposure. The screenings and post-film discussions resulted in a sense of hope, joy, and also immense public support for our natural areas that are rejuvenated by wildfire. Immediately after the October 2017 fires, KRCB Public TV aired parts of Firewise, Maya's ongoing film project, and they recently aired her first fire film, Searching for the Gold Spot: The Wild After Wildfire (night of August 7th, 2018). The powerful visuals in the film have inspired a new perceptions about our natural areas, brought an understanding about focused fire protection measures and leaving natural wildfires in the wild to their natural processes to dramatically reduce risks to homes - as been shown by thousands of case studies. A trailer for one of the fire films can be seen at https://conbio.org/publications/scb-news-blog/fire-works. Maya’s work has been supported by grant-awards from Patagonia, The Sacramento Audubon Society, Fund for Wild Nature, and Environment Now. Maya has since written essays devoted to post-fire forests, including “Forests Rebound on Their Own “Faith in Rejuvenation” and “Pioneers of the Post-Fire Forests.”

CREATIVES