Artists | CreativeSonoma.org

Shannon Abbey Children's, Illustration, Literature, Painting, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Visual Arts ‘The future of most bird species depends on our commitment to preserving them. Are they valuable enough for us to make the effort?’ - Jonathan Franzen Simplicity, the beauty of the every day. I want people to see the beauty of animals so that they will help to preserve the natural world. The other animals we are living here with are so lovely; the shine of scales and feathers, sharp against soft, translucent and opaque. The animals we eat and the ones we don’t: They are indicators of what’s happening to the environment on our planet. I enjoy the accident of a dribble, or of stuttering line of drying paint. Everyday objects become abstracted forms with vibrant color, line, shape and texture, always going back to the drawing. It’s taken a long time for me to let a jerked or stuttered line stay. My influences are the masters through out the history of painting and drawing. Especially the ones who let me see what went on, who show a little drawing, let the texture remain. Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Richard Diebenkorn, Wayne Thiebaud, Frank Duveneck, John Singer Sargent. My influences are the masters through out the history of painting and drawing. Especially the ones who let me see what went on, who show a little drawing, let the texture remain. Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Richard Diebenkorn, Wayne Thiebaud, Frank Duveneck, John Singer Sargent. In 2022 I was awarded the Sperry Chalet Glacier National Park Artist's Residency.

Vegar Abelsnes Film, Film Office, Media, Multimedia, Photography, Video, Visual Arts Vegar Abelsnes is a global lifestyle, location, portrait, and food photographer & director, who is currently based in Sonoma County. For many years he worked out of New York, then San Francisco, and now Petaluma, CA. At the age of 19, he left Norway to go traveling around the world in search of a greater purpose. After nearly two years of exploring – during which he experienced, saw, and tasted much of what the world had to offer – Vegar discovered the irrepressible desire in him to photograph. For Vegar photography developed beyond an avocation, into both a profession and a lifelong passion. Vegar strongly believes in creating a collaborative environment on his shoots and is known in the industry for the subtle, yet effective ways in which he directs his talent and crew. His ability to capture spontaneous and authentic moments – without sacrificing technical or aesthetic perfection – is a testament not only to Vegar’s professionalism but also to that of his team. His personable approach makes for a fun and relaxed atmosphere, regardless of the size and complexity of a production.

Michael Acker Media, Mixed, Other, Other, Photography, Visual Arts RESUME Michael Acker ackermichael6@gmail.com www.mca-studios.com www.springsmuseum.org P.O. Box 1959, Boyes Hot Springs, CA 95416 541 357 2532 Biography Born in New York City, raised in California and Oregon. Resides Sonoma County California. Grants/Awards: 2021 Working Artist Purchase Award 2019 Bay Area Masters, Peninsula Museum of Art, Third Place 2d 2019 Gallery Route One Annual Juried Show, M. Louise Stanley juror Award of Merit 2014 Palo Alto Art Center Residency, finalist 2013 Creative Capital-On Our Radar 2012 Left Coast Annual Juror’s Exhibition Award, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA. Michael Schwager, Juror 2011 Creative Capital, advanced to second round 2010 Pollok-Krasner Foundation grant 1992 California Works, Award of Merit 1994 SECA award semifinalist 1990 Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant Commissions/Competitions:. 2013 Aptos Blue public art, finalist, Watsonville, CA. 2010 “Water(ing) Logic(ally), Site-specific Garden Installation, Sonoma Community Center, Sonoma, CA. 2001 Fountain, Creekside Court, Berkeley, CA. 2000 Fountain, Bayer Corp, Berkeley, CA. Solo Shows: January 2020 Sonoma Library October 2019 FOG Gallery, San Francisco 2018 Resident Artist Show, Sonoma Community Center 2016Alley Gallery, Sonoma, CA. 2013 Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA. 2012 Sonoma community Center offices Group Shows (selected) 2022 Gallery Route One Juried –Jack Fischer juror 2022 Marin Society of Artists, Artists Visions 2022 Jen Tough, juror 2021-Three Artist Show, FOG Gallery, San Francisco 2021 Slice, Pence Gallery, Davis CA. Faith J. McKinnie juror. 2021 Gallery Route One Annual Juried Show, curated by Donna Seager 2020 Fragments, Arch Gallery, San Francisco, curated by Jen Tough 2020 Rough Around the Edges, online, curated by Jen Tough 2019 Bay Area Masters, Peninsula Museum of Art, Award 2019 Gallery Route One Annual Juried Show, M. Louise Stanley juror Award of Merit 2018 Ingenuity, sculpture/craft Marin Society of Artists 2017 Celebrate, Sonoma Arts Guild 2016 Left Coast Annual, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA. 2015 Left Coast Annual, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA. 2013 IMBY Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa 2012 Petaluma Arts Center, Digital Mixed Media Joe Doyle, curator 2012 Left Coast Annual, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA. Michael Shwager juror. Juror’s Award 2012 Made In California, Brea Gallery, Brea, CA. Rebecca Morse, juror 2011 Arts On Fire XV, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA. 2011 Works on/of Paper, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto 2011 Gallery Route One Juried Show 2010 Mapworks, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA. 2009 Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Biennale Frances McCormack, Juror Publications Sonoma’s Fading Images of Highway 12, Boom- A Journal of California. August, 2017 https://boomcalifornia.com/2017/08/16/sonomas-fading-images-of-hwy-12/ By: Marion Greene, Boyes Springs Businesswoman. Journal of the Sonoma County Historical Society. 2021 Number 2 By: The Springs, Resort Towns of Sonoma Valley. Arcadia books, 2017. Collections: King County Washington Portable Collection Simon Blattner Kaiser Permanente Special Projects: 2021-Sonoma Plaza History Project, 9 panel commission 2019 Juror, Sonoma Valley Museum of Art “Re-photography” 2018 Artist in Residence, Sonoma Community Center Fiber Arts Program 2017 Publication of Photo History of the Resorts of Sonoma Valley. Arcadia Publishing 2015 The Springs Museum of History, Art and Community-in progress 2010 Mural for the Sonoma Valley Grange Education: MFA, Sculpture, San Francisco State University Online: @michaelacker6 www.mca-studios.com www.springsmuseum.org www.valleyofthemoonmainstemproject.org/

Noor Adabachi Architecture, Artisan, Dance, Design, Fashion Design, Folk Art, Functional Art, Furniture, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Mixed, Modern, Multi-Media, Other, Other, Other, Sculpture, Technical, Theatre, Visual Arts, Woodworking Noor Adabachi is a graduate of the California Institute of the Arts: CalArts where he studied set and costume design. Past designs for foolsFURY include (dis)Place[d], directed by Ben Yalom, The Unheard of World, directed by Michelle Haner, and Faulted, directed by Evren Odcikin. After working on theater and dance productions in Los Angeles in the early 80's he concentrated on custom furniture design and fabrication, creating work for Milton Katselas, Oprah Winfrey, Catherine Bell, Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil and many others. His work has been featured in architectural magazines and on E The Entertainment Channel. Noor is grateful for his wife Debórah’s inspiration and encouragement to rekindle his relationship to theater after a long hiatus.

Valerie Adams Artisan, Design, Functional Art, Glass, Graphic Design, Holidays Shop Local, Other, Other, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Visual Arts

I’m a northern California girl whose been creating all my life. With a 30-year background as a graphic designer my creative vision has centered on laying out printed pieces that provoke thought, convey information, and create a reaction.

With an emphasis on kilnformed glass since 2001, I use many of the same design principles of balance, focus, and harmony. I design and create one-of-a-kind fused glass artwork and lighting, functional and decorative tableware, smile-inducing garden art, and dazzling accessories.

Juicy colors, off-beat arrangements, and clean, aesthetic layouts define my approach. I’m continually thrilled by the magical aspect of transforming individual sharp bits of colored glass into luscious collectibles that reflect your good taste. Each piece is handmade, one at a time, in my Sonoma County studio.

I’ve been honored to participate in Professional Artists in Residency programs at the prestigious Pilchuck School of Glass in Washington state and the Bullseye Glass Company’s Dealer’s Forum, which prepares artists to teach in the field of glass art. I’m an enthusiastic and generous instructor providing classes to small groups, and one-on-one mentoring for those interested in personalized instruction.

Hemu Aggarwal Painting, Visual Arts

Hemu is multi-talented.

She is a graphic designer, painter, poet, fashion designer, tennis coach, and now the author of a book, The Forbidden Letters. A True Story. Published in paperback and Kindle on Amazon Books worldwide.

Hemu Aggarwal’s work captivates the viewer with its visual beauty, harmony, vibrant colors, intense depth, and fluidity of motion. Her work intrigue, tells stories, and creates a mood all at once. She creates paintings in acrylic on wood or canvas. Lately, she has found new media, Digital. Most of her work is in the styles of abstract or Subjective Expressionism. Artist’s statement: “It’s hard to explain why I paint or what inspires me. I have a thousand ideas in my head and continually experiment with different subjects, styles, and techniques. I long to explore so much more out there in the world. Sometimes I surprise myself when I can convert my imagination into two-dimensional art. My passion is in creating various textures and then painting with Acrylic colors over the rough surfaces or experimenting with various tools and filters in digital technique”. Her commercial work: created many album covers of well-known artists like Tom Jones, Mantovani, Engelbert Humperdinck, Brotherhood of Man, and Frijid Pink, one of the last records of the Beatles, and a single by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

She lives in Petaluma, California. To see more paintings and additional information, Google: Hemu Aggarwal.

Roberta Ahrens Artisan, Fiber Art, Functional Art, Illustration, Jewelry, Mixed, Muralist, Other, Other, Painting, Sculpture, Visual Arts Roberta Ahrens is one of Northern California’s Master Decorative Painters & Fine Artists. With over 30 years experience in the application of classic and contemporary painted finishes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Roberta’s extensive experience in painting large-scale murals combined with the practical knowledge of artistic applications acquired over a long career led her to develop a unique style of Fine Art painting in 2005. She continues to develop and refine the technique of painting on hand-prepared canvases called "cracked linen". Her love of horticulture brought her to focus on botanical subjects, diving into what she calls the architecture of nature. The results are truly breathtaking. By etching into the plaster she creates a new contemporary yet interestingly old world style, adding a depth and presence to her floral subjects that sets her work apart. She is considered a Legacy Artist, and currently selling at the highest level of her career with a body of over 250 fine art pieces sold since she began her focus on Fine Art in 2005.

Peter Alan Mixed, Recovery Fund Grantee, Visual Arts Peter Alan, visual/conceptual mixed media artist was born and raised in Southern California, completing his under-grad at Sonoma State University in Studio Fine Art, History and Psychology. Then he lived in Italy to experience the concepts of art history, while receiving a mentorship from a local native Roman painter (name, non-disclosure agreement). Since then Alan has held a number of painting studios making art for galleries, non-gallery venues and private collectors mostly in Southern and Northern California. Principles and elements of painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture all come together into one application. Mostly on paper or on plywood panel, a wide-range of content goes through a vigorous and rigorous process. With oil paint, plaster, charcoal and collage, Alan develops richly dynamic surfaces using additive and deductive "marks" – an image, a scrape, a slash of paint, etc. Tinkering with anything art-makeable at reach, his concepts range from layered portraits, figures, dresses, fingerprints, Americana icons, walls with journal-entry-like stencil and text. Overall, Alan's style falls inside Traditional and a Contemporary Art. With figurative academia and unconventionality of the avant-garde experimentation Alan brings forth boldness, sensitivity and playfulness with a dark spin. 2018-2020, Alan created artwork from the remnant ash and debris collected from his Glen Ellen home/painting studio lost in 2017 Nuns Wildfire. As a revisit to the Jasper John's "flag" motif, the American and also the California flag depict a kind Symbolism of his content of loss, but now transformed into his most dynamic creative process. The ash, strips of charred wood and other remnant “found objects" integrated with collaged ink-jet images printed on emergency assistance organizations' handouts as well as pages from his journal/sketchbook, Alan offered up inspiration and healing for his community stricken with the aftermath of one of the worse National wildfire on record.

Jonqui Albin Illustration, Painting, Performance Art, Sculpture, Teacher/Instructor, Visual Arts Action Expression is the trademark of Jonqui Albin's art. Core bodies of work are large scale installations, wire sculptures and paintings. They are inspired by conceptual drawings derive from live, offsite study sketches in 2D and 3D. Resulting works often incorporate original techniques and unusual materials. Evolved thru art scenes of Los Angeles, Berkeley and San Francisco, Jonqui is currently based in her Sonoma Studio, 45 minute north of San Francisco, California. Jonqui@jonqui.com

Jane Ingram Allen Fiber Art, Mixed, Other, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture Jane Ingram Allen, originally from Alabama, lived in Taiwan from 2004-2012 and moved back to the USA in August 2012, settling in Santa Rosa, CA. She continues her career as an international artist using sustainable materials and collaborative processes to raise public awareness about environmental issues. In January 2004 she first went to Taiwan as a Fulbright Scholar to do her hand papermaking art with Taiwan’s natural materials. She received a second Fulbright grant with sponsorship by Taiwan’s National Endowment for Culture and Art, and completed her “Made in Taiwan” project in July 2005. After the Fulbright grants, Jane worked as an independent artist with many organizations in Taiwan and other countries and initiated several environmental sculpture projects in Taiwan. Jane is also a former university art professor and experienced curator and arts writer. She has received awards for artist in residencies in the USA, Philippines, Japan, Nepal, Brazil, China, Tanzania, Taiwan, Turkey and Indonesia. She completed site specific sculpture installation projects with handmade paper and seeds in 2020 and 2021 in Sacramento, CA, Cloverdale, Oregon and Steckborn, Switzerland, and had exhibitions of her work in Australia, Japan, Switzerland, and the USA.

Richard Alpert Film, Media, Mixed, Music, Painting, Performance Art, Photography, Sculpture, Visual Arts A curious, child-like perspective grounds an an art practice that references an empirical understanding and philosophy of the world. Much like the aleatory approach of Marcel Duchamp and John Cage, chance and random occurrence inform details of ongoing exploration that at times includes found objects (detritus in my case). At the same time, I use scientific concepts and methods to organize visual material, sometimes embracing a kind of self-referential esoteric humor and reflecting some aspect of our culture. I draw upon different formats, such as performance art, video, installation, sound, painting, drawing, photography, object sculpture, and recently books (of collected photograph images) with formalist and minimalist approaches. Gradations of color and form, repeated patterns, geometric structure, and modulated sound help construct my ideas into visual, auditory, and conceptual viewable art. The art becomes a story, a process, a recording, and a visual architecture. Biography Richard H. Alpert is an American sculptor, abstract filmmaker, and performance artist born in New York City in 1947. He is a recipient of the 1979-1980 National Endowment for the Arts Artist's Fellowship Grant. Exhibitions include various venues and formats in the USA, Europe, and Japan, including the Petzel Gallery, NYC; the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, CA; Museum of Conceptual Art, San Francisco, CA; The American Center, Paris, France; and Kermin Prefecture Hall, Tokyo, Japan.

Thomasin Alyxander Artisan, Jewelry, Other, Other, Visual Arts Alyx work with beads and metals using weaving and cold connections. The majority of her work is jewelry but she has also done wall-hangings and small sculptures. Her work has been displayed internationally. She is the author of 26 Quick-Stitched Elements: Endless Jewelry Possibilities (Kalmbach, 2015) and her designs have been published in trade magazines (Bead & Button, Beadwork).

Art Of Nature Amanda Rose Hopkins (A. Rose) Arts Administration, Illustration, Mixed, Other, Painting, Performance Art, Sculpture, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Visual Arts

Artist's Statement Amanda Rose Hopkins Art of Nature

Throughout my work I use various mediums to help people fall back in love with nature. My work also explores the complexities of human kind's relationship to the environment. Using the visual language of color I create an emotional feel, which connects directly to the heart and mind. The use of bright sensual colors, occasional subdued hues, and earthy elements brings about a range of feeling tones. The series of sensual flower paintings are meant to wet the palette by exciting the visual senses with their extremely bright hues and complementary colors. The most subtle hues and purest feelings I encounter when in direct contact with nature. The intricate patterns, finely composed colors, and rounded shapes fuel a constant curiosity of the organic. Ecological elements are missing from this current linear realm humans have built from concrete and synthetic materials. Thus my intention is to bring an ecological aesthetic into "built space". My art strives to insert pieces of the earth herself into man-made settings. Recently my love of painting and landscaping has combined into mixed media paintings which use found moss, bark, and seaweed with sensuously colored oil paint, to create an explosion of the senses. These hands use sensual colors with an environmental aesthetic with the intention of exciting the senses to help them focus on the beauty and magic of nature.

Nicole Irene Anderson Mixed, Painting, Visual Arts

Working in oil, casein, and drawing media, I create paintings and drawings that convey a collective uneasiness and human vulnerability reflective of our current times. I explore complex questions of land, home, and the psychological impact of expansion in the American West through the language of landscape centered around my home state of California. These contemplative works bring forth multiple associations and conflicting emotions regarding our environment: the often personal and tender memories of home; the comfort and beauty of the ordinary landscape; painful histories; and the anxieties of living in a world forever altered by human-caused climate change.

I travel to locations throughout California, searching for areas that elicit a response triggering the nervous system where environmental damage, human alteration, or architectural remnants of the past are noticeable. I document these visual tensions between pain and beauty with my camera and use the photographs as source material for my compositions. These everyday places become visual metaphors for more significant societal and environmental concerns, advocating for empathy and care that should be practiced for the land we inhabit.

To view work, exhibition images, and CV, visit my website: https://www.nicoleireneanderson.com/ I'd love to talk with you. Please reach out to schedule a studio visit or to inquire about a painting. I look forward to hearing from you! Contact: nicoleirene.studio@gmail.com

Richard Arata Artisan, Design, Folk Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Literature, Other, Painting, Poetry, Sculpture, Storytelling, Visual Arts, Woodworking My name is Richard Arata. I've been a professional artist in Sonoma county for over 20 years. I currently design souvenirs for locations all over the country. I sculpt wood and paint to express myself on a personal level and to break away from the confines of a computer screen. I am an illustrator with experience designing anything from living space to custom tattoos. If there is a concept inside a client, I'm the one who reveals it. My work varies from logos and corporate identity to soulful expressions on a very personal level.

Patty Bailey Artisan, Other, Woodworking I am inspired by nature and love reusing and repurposing. I work mainly in salvaged wood and found wood and paper. I do paper collage, paper mosaics, indoor and outdoor home décor, wood signs and whatever strikes my fancy. Common themes are trees, water, birds, fish, mountains and anything nature inspired.

Matthew Baker Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Multimedia, Photography, Printmaking, Production, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Visual Arts I am a commercial artist specialized in promotional marketing. My clients have included Disney, Marvel, Nickelodeon, Mattel, and many other name brands. After 17 years in the industry, I have decided to give back to our community and have been teaching Graphics in both public and private schools in Sonoma County for the past six years. The Graphics classes are specialized in that they are streamlined to printing on Apparel. Students design their own brands and print new clothes.

David Baldwin Audio, Design, Graphic Design, Instrumental, Media, Music, Painting, Video, Visual Arts

David Baldwin // visual artist and experimental musician.

Born in Upland, California. His work blends the natural with the dream world, invoking familiarity with questions that ask the viewer to seek their own answers. Using vibrant colors, natural shapes with gestural abstractions his work draws the viewer into a new world of personal immersion and thoughtful introspection. Always looking for a tension-filled balance of familiar comfort with an intriguing question that compels the viewer to look deeper.

Baldwin is based in Santa Rosa, California.

You can hear the sounds here and here. If you have questions or comments regarding the work, let me know – David

Mandy Bankson Artisan, Painting The pattern of seeds in a cut cucumber fascinate me and bring me joy. As I wander our rural property I am intrigued by beauty in ordinary places; the rust pattern on our old truck, a surface of a leaf, or an ordinary weed’s elegant line. My painting practice captures the adventure of discovering these daily surprises. As Mary Oliver in her poem “Instructions for Living a Life” says, “Pay attention, be astonished, tell about it.” My paintings invite the viewer to stop and see the mystery of color, shape, line and space and what it communicates to them personally. I paint abstractly because I love the freedom of plunging into the unknown. Combining the principles of design and color with loose and playful exploration, I apply layers of paint. Acrylics offer me the freedom to improvise and work quickly, and after carefully looking, begin again. This process is both challenging and exhilarating. As I let go of control, the painting takes on its own voice. My studio is open year round by appointment, with Covid protocol.

Abby Bard Artisan, Fiber Art, Functional Art, Holidays Shop Local, Other I weave functional textiles to wear and for home décor using rayon, cotton, and wool yarns, with a touch of metallic threads to add sparkle. Weaving became my passion following a trip to Guatemala in 1974, where I learned to weave on a back strap loom. Returning to San Francisco, I studied 4-harness weaving with Anne Wilson at the DeYoung Museum School and shared a studio with fiber artist Rebecca Lyon. After moving to Sonoma County, I designed and wove clothing fabrics for Greentree Weaving in Cotati, and started my own line of textiles in 1984. My work is inspired by nature, by my travels to Mexico, Peru and Thailand and, in particular, my garden.

T Barny Sculpture, Visual Arts

A native of California, with a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design, T Barny has been creating sculpture professionally for over 40 years. During his career, T Barny has produced over 1000 works in steel, bronze, wood and water - but his fascination is with stone. He has carved 211 different kinds of rock from 53 countries. His work has been shown in over 90 galleries worldwide, and he has participated in more than 500 individual and group exhibitions.

The sculptures that T Barny creates present a visual wonder and beg the question, “How does he do that?” T Barny aspires to create sculptures that reflect a world filled with magic and wonder. His works are produced through a method of direct carving, which entails no preconceived notions or models from which to derive the final shape of his pieces. Instead, he allows the natural rhythms of the materials he uses to guide him to a final product, rich with serene fluidity.

Todd Barricklow Artisan, Ceramics, Functional Art, Other, Other, Sculpture, Visual Arts Conflicting ideologies as well as personal defects garner most of our cultural attention. I tend to look at different aspects of human behavior in an evolutionary light; addictions, attractions, fetishes, how do these traits forward us as animals? Besides making life interesting, why do we do these things and how do they develop? Sociological questions fuel much of my work. My characters sometimes resemble people that I come in contact with in my day to day dealings, yet others are strangers that I only catch a glimpse of. These beings occupy the scene and face objects and representations of our world. My work has always been a way for me to clear my head and process what I see around me. I feel like this work is definitely a product of watching the world, analyzing the way people act and then drawing conclusions. To some degree that is what the viewer does also. The grouping of images may seem obscure, but it is the viewers baggage that will fill in the gaps between these tiles and these images.

Christine Barry Photography, Visual Arts

Christine specializes in portrait and wedding photography.

Christine loves capturing the special moments from families, high school seniors and college graduates, business headshots, and weddings/events.

Christine was born and raised in Santa Rosa, California. Her interest in photography started at a young age.

Christine loves to photograph nature and did a lot of it while traveling in the past. She loves the interaction and relationships she establishes with her clients.

Joel Bennett Artisan, Ceramics BIO Joel Bennett has been a ceramic artist for over 45 years, was an adjunct professor of art at Santa Rosa Junior College for 34 years and has been active in the community as an artist-in-residence, art educator, and workshop instructor. His interest in traveling started at an early age, and over the past 25 years he’s been involved with ceramic and sculpture projects in Hungary, France, Vietnam, El Salvador, Argentina, and Cuba. He has participated in six International “Encuentros” in Cuba, and has written articles about ceramics on the Island that have appeared in Ceramics Monthly, and the Studio Potter Magazine. He has also hosted residencies of Cuban, Colombian, Hungarian, and Vietnamese Artists here in California that have included exhibitions and workshops. An award-winning ceramist, Bennettʼs work has been exhibited internationally and represented by galleries throughout California, the Southwest and Midwest. www.joelbennett.org

Susan Bercu Mixed, Visual Arts I am a visual storyteller creating three-dimensional assemblages that use recycled materials. My themes include our existential threats: science denial, global warming, assaults on our US Democracy and basic human rights. “Cast-Offs” Streamers is my current endeavor funded with an artist grant from Creative Sonoma’s ArtSurround. The intention is to create awareness around energy consumption and over-consumerism where our cast-offs are sent to the landfill. Everyone in the community is invited to collect and donate their plastic and metal waste for their new artistic lives in a collaborative hands-on creative project. The streamers are hung from the trees in Helen Putnam Plaza, Petaluma. “Art With Conscience” is my art website: https://www.susanbercu.art/. My need as an artist to create order out of chaos is tested in these hyper-chaotic times. The narrative leads me through a range of media where I rotate between 2-D and 3-D artworks. I paint and draw. I construct assemblages using recycled materials. I am compelled to sound the alarm about the universal threats and disasters...to implore members of our global community to act with conscience. My childhood fascination with President Abraham Lincoln culminates in "Strange Fates of Lincoln: A Portable Museum". https://www.lincolnstrangefates.com/ These bizarre but true events surrounding Lincoln and his family are chronicled in tabletop exhibits that I built from cardboard and illustrated with my drawings and paintings.

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