Artists | CreativeSonoma.org

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.

Andrew Cedeño Acting, Music, Performance Art, Theatre, Vocal - Sonoma State University graduate with a bachelor’s in Vocal Performance - Private voice/piano teacher at Music to My Ears in Cotati - Hybrid baritone and countertenor

Krysta Cook Acting, Choreography, Dance, Design, Fashion Design, Functional Art, Improvisation, Improvisation, Modern, Other, Other, Other, Other, Performance Art, Professional Performance, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre, Visual Arts

Krysta Cook is a multidisciplinary performance with a passion for dance, circus arts, teaching, creating costumes and producing.

Krysta is a Sonoma County native who began her own performance career as a belly dancer in her teens, which eventually led her into the wild world of circus arts. She has been featured in magazines, books, radio shows and been flown around the country to perform for elite Clients. She loved making her own costumes from a young age which eventually bloomed into making costumes and stage props for all of the artists she worked with. She has been a catalyst in the growing arts scene in the North Bay over the past ten years, collaborating with other local visionaries to produce/co-produce ongoing successes such as Circus Maximus Sonoma County, SerLaMuse- an art affair, Rouge Dance Company as well as many other one-off specialty shows. Krysta began to challenge the status quo of local arts when she decided to incorporate wild costuming, custom event entertainment packages and a wide selection of top-notch artists ready to book with just one phone call. A one-stop-shop of specialty arts as born! Krysta is single Mother of a smart young man, an environmental advocate, Licensed Nurse, Certified Personal trainer and philanthropist for local non-profits.

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

Joe Culpepper Performance Art, Teacher/Instructor, Theatre, Visual Arts I am a magician, educator and consultant who was born and raised in California. I wrote my doctoral dissertation on how magic effects are adapted across storytelling media. Some of my practice-based research and performance projects include the following:

Designing and performing 19th-Century stage illusions for contemporary theater and circus performances,
Receiving a Black Rock City Arts Honoraria Grant to create Fascination — a participatory optical art installation at Burning Man 2019,
Creating hybrid magic-circus props and new performance vocabulary for Cirque du Soleil.

I actively perform, exhibit (optical illusion sculptures), teach (after-school classes, workshops, and university coursework), and help other artists and organizations with creative innovation. As co-editor-in-chief of the peer-reviewed academic journal Circus: Arts, Life and Sciences, I also work in English, French and Spanish with a global team to share cutting-edge performing arts research from around the world. Our journal is 100% open-access, making it free-of-charge to all authors and readers.

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.

Christa Durand Composition, Instrumental, Music, Vocal Christa is dedicated to exploring the relevancy of classical music in our lives today. With her students and in her performances, Christa encourages creating music from a place of authenticity, using music as a medium to share our collective and individual stories and cultivate compassion for one another.

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

Oddjob Ensemble Composition, Equipment, Film Office, Instrumental, Music, Other, Other, Performance Art, Talent, Theatre, Vocal "Hailing from Sonoma County, Oddjob Ensemble performs a myriad of musical styles and collaborates with perfomance artists in Vaudevillian shows, musical theater, and the avant garde. The Ensemble, led by Kalei Yamanoha, is a trio that is comprised of trap kit, string bass and accordion. Dancing to energizing early jazz numbers, listening to ethereal folk music and stomping to raucus overtures, the crowd will have their ears twisted into a delicious musical pretzel."

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

Julie Gieseke Acting, Directing, Illustration, Improvisation, Literature, Non-Fiction, Performance Art, Theatre, Visual Arts I am a speaker/emcee writer/performer consultant/facilitator coach/teacher that unfurls potential

People, groups, things reach a state of readiness to open. The timing of unfurling can be a mystery. I was furled for most of my life. I longed to be open but did not know how to get there.

My work in all these realms is about unfurling — groups, conversations, individuals, myself. Life can furl us, we can furl ourselves, intentionally or otherwise. Furling is part of the process. Unfurling is inevitable. Expression, liberation, breakthrough … is all part of the furling and unfurling.