Artists | CreativeSonoma.org

Rob Matteri Music, Teacher/Instructor Rob Matteri is a talented and dedicated musician based out of Northern California. His unique use of linear phrasing and skillful dynamic control, coupled with his professionalism and drive, have made him a valuable asset to many musical projects. Over the past twenty years, he has collaborated with artists in many genres - from funk and jazz, to country, blues and rock. These experiences have been instrumental in developing the style and versatility that is apparent in his playing today. In addition to playing live performances and recording in the studio, Rob finds satisfaction in sharing his expertise with a new generation of drummers. He is a skillful teacher, and his patience and dedication to the art of drumming have helped to empower many students to reach their musical goals. Currently, Rob performs with The Pat Jordan Band, and Blue Radio.

Spring Maxfield Artisan, Arts Administration, Ceramics, Fiber Art, Film Office, Mixed, Multi-Media, Other, Other, Talent, Theatre, Visual Arts, Woodworking Spring Maxfield is the Founder and Executive Director of Santa Rosa Urban Arts Partnership in Northern California. She works to create space to provide relevant, community driven arts and cultural programming. Her engagement activities and curatorial work has taken place in public spaces, underground galleries, wineries throughout Sonoma County, and established art institutions. Spring has served as a longtime participant and on the production team of Maker Faires both in the Bay Area and NY. She also cofounded the wildly popular Great Handcar Regatta arts festival, which drew crowds of up to 25,000 to Santa Rosa between 2008 and 2011. She regularly serves on a number of grassroots, city government, and private art foundation committees, using these roles to support and cultivate artists, creative businesses, community groups, and arts programming. She holds Bachelors’ of Arts in Art History and Art Practice and a Master’s degree in Museum Studies. When not busy engaging her international arts community, Spring can be found in the garden at her urban homestead with two daughters, and her husband—artist Todd Barricklow.

Hannah Mayree Artisan, Audio, Composition, Creative Sonoma Grantee, Folk Art, Instrumental, Media, Music, Other, Teacher/Instructor, Vocal, Woodworking Hannah Mayree (she/her/they/them) is a creative facilitator and musician who's work and art lends itself as a tool for redesigning and reconnecting to our roots as humans on this planet. A banjoist, multi-instrumentalist, producer and vocalist, Hannah shares original and traditional banjo compositions as well as harmonies through acoustic live vocal looping and reminds us of the power found in our relationship to the earth, music and community. They co-founded and creatively direct the Black Banjo Reclamation Project which is currently creating musical, cultural and land-based opportunities for Black, Afro-Diasporic communities around the world to work with the banjo as a tool for reclaiming ancestral wisdom & creating Afro-futures.

Farrah McAdam Choreography, Creative Sonoma Grantee, Dance, Hip-Hop & Funk, Improvisation, Modern, Professional Performance, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth Calling on her 20+ years of widespread movement experiences and gatherings, Farrah McAdam is a dance educator, choreographer, facilitator, and artist in the Bay Area who is invested in equitable, collaborative environments where history and critical thinking are investigated just as much as physical embodiments. Farrah has performed with CALI&CO, Liz Lerman, Kristen Daley, Cookie Harrist, Jenna Valez, Abigail Mytych, Take 5/Good Fortune, multiple works at American College Dance Association’s West Region’s Gala Concerts, and the ACDA’s National Concert at the Kennedy Center. She currently teaches through Sonoma State University and the Luther Burbank Center and has been a guest educator and choreographer around the West Region- including Arizona State University, Scottsdale Community College, UC Irvine, Modesto Community College, San Jose State, Fresno State University, Marin School of the Arts, Prescott Circus Theatre, Sonoma State University, and ODC in San Francisco. Farrah holds a B.A. in both Psychology and Dance and is currently pursuing certification through Rennie Harris University’s inaugural cohort as a C1 Candidate.

Tim McGee Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Visual Arts Over 20 years experience in design and illustration; both traditional and digital techniques for commercial, web and publishing projects.

Jessy Mcgibbons Artisan, Jewelry, Other Hi I’m Jessica (Jessy) Creator of Rainbow Iris Designs. I was born and raised in Santa Rosa, CA with 2 artistic parents who taught me to love the craft of making things. While in college, my passion for creating magical art led me to start a business in selling handmade crystal jewelry, accessories and home decor, along with unique crystals and fossils at local Sonoma County markets, as well as online. After receiving a Bachelor's in Sociology, I was able pursue my dream in turning my business into a full time job! It always makes me so happy to see the smile on someones face when they buy one of my creations, and I hope to spark joy to others through each piece I sell, as well as inspire people to always do what they love.

Christopher Mckee Artisan, Ceramics, Functional Art, Furniture, Illustration, Mixed, Other, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Teacher/Instructor, Visual Arts, Woodworking more to come

Colton Measles Design, Functional Art, Interior Design, Other, Sculpture, Visual Arts, Woodworking Colton Measles is a 30 year old artist and wood carver from Colorado and recently moved to Sonoma County in mid December of 2017 to pursue and further his work as a professional decorative woodworker. Coltons work has developed through the creation of stand alone visual art pieces crafted from wood such as scroll carvings, high and low bas-relief, engravings and fully relieved sculpture. Colton has studied extensively and has a close relationship with Craig Hone of Provo Utah, the only professional wood carver and artist to win both first and second place prizes in the Northern Nationals Carving Competition and also a two time winner of the Dixie Invitational as well as winner of the Carvers Cup Competition in Park City UT. (Craig's work can be seen at craighonestudio.com) Colton has also been instructed in the creation and application of custom wood stain glazing techniques for bas-relief and sculptural wood carving and fine wood finishing by Robin Coalson, another friend and teacher. (Robins work can be seen at robincoalsonstudio.com and some of her work is on display at the D'Artagnan Vineyards in Sacramento California.) Colton was born and raised in Durango Colorado, where he developed skills in wood carving and sculpture over the course of four years, having been a student of art and artists of other mediums since his youth. Immediately before moving to the Sonoma County area from Colorado he had been working as an artist and woodcarver full time for three years in a wood shop and studio attached to his former residence. Colton has a background in construction and loves applying his craft to interior, and, although less often, exterior architectural carving. He was at one time commissioned to create four separate stand-alone art pieces for the Durango Dharma Center; A nonprofit meditation community closely linked with the Spirit Rock Meditation and Retreat Center in Woodacre California, just north of San Rafael. One of these pieces was a high relief carving including highly relieved birds and lotus flowers in a wonderfully harmonious and flowing design layout and two were functional and decoratively carved wooden boxes for the collection of donations. The fourth was a decoratively carved stand for a Tibetan singing bowl. (These pieces are on constant display in their current location and can be seen on Colton's Instagram page @truenaturecarving) Colton's art is influenced by many traditional mediums. He has studied acanthus scroll and the systems of its design as well as Celtic knot work and depicting all ranges of natural vegetation with a focus on realism. Colton enjoys utilizing design themes from traditional oriental carpentry, in furniture as well as architecture, in his work and has dedicated much time to the study and creation of anatomically correct creatures of all sorts, including fish, birds, animals and insects. Colton is inspired by ideas of cooperative pursuits with other artists and crafters, and by benefit work and his door is open to all inquiries of the kind. His contact info is included in his profile here on creativesonoma.org

Adrian Mendoza Photography, Visual Arts An award winning California photojournalist now working as a public relations photographer for a community college. Specialty in college and university promotional capture - with minimal oversight - on tight (often daily) deadlines for social media and brochures/catalogues. Considerable experience in aerial (non-drone) photography of architecture, infrastructure, vineyards in Sonoma and Napa Valleys, multi-year documentation of the California Delta and related conveyance channels (i.e., sloughs, canals, reservoirs, etc.). Concurrent with my reality-based imaging is a passion for digital image processing in Adobe Photoshop.

Justine Mendoza Graphic Design, Woodworking Justine Mendoza is a multi-skilled visual designer whose experience has ranged from nudging vector points and kerning at a digital type foundry to completely rebranding and directing the marketing strategy of a quickly growing eco-friendly company. Working for smaller businesses has brought a broad spectrum of skills to her fingertips ranging from social marketing and advertising to customizing and populating e-commerce platforms. She now student-teaching at ArtQuest while in the Art teaching credential program at SSU. In addition to the graphic design work mentioned above she also designs and laser cuts custom signage and decorative pieces, specializing in collaborations with fellow artists.

TumbleWeed Expressions Meryl Juniper Artisan, Ceramics, Holidays Shop Local, Mixed, Muralist, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Visual Arts While following the seasons within her Expressive Arts Inspirations, Meryl intertwines over 4 decades of Multimedia Arts Educational Experiences and Community Arts Activism. Meryl ignites and delicately encourages artistic expression and a sense of humility and humanity, while inspiring hands-on, process based learning, along with a curriculum integrated focus. In this we weave a healthy approach, revealing and enlivening the naturally creative self. Simultaneously, Meryl thrives within her close to 5 decades of experience engaging a life within: Multimedia Visual Arts and the Performative realms of Nature Based and Street Performance Ritual, Improvisational Movement, Dance Theater, Improvisational Vocal Play, Song Writing, Movement Infused Personal Storytelling and Somatic Movement Practices. Moreover, Meryl commits, inspires and dedicates her artistic being to Community Arts Production, Process and Presentation. Lastly, Meryl’s instinctive devotion to the natural world and the offerings of Eco Somatic Engagement, allows her to share the wisdom gleaned and harvested from all her experiences living close and being inspired by the earth, while continuously extending a steadfast faithfulness to the practices of Expressive Arts, Natural Medicine Making, Farming, Holistic Nutrition and Parenting, while moving within a Heart Centered Living Folks Arts Tradition.

Meeshka - Michelle Vidro Artisan, Jewelry “Story” is the intent of my jewelry designs. Life’s events inspire me deeply. It is my gift to be able to tell stories uniquely through my artwork. The process includes drawings, lost wax casting & fabrication using precious metals and gemstones. The Mended Heart, Last Drop Of Water, 14 Cows, and Dust Off Your Peace Signs lines are best selling expressions of my story telling designs. Owners of Meeshka’s jewelry know they are supporting the artist, the arts, and important causes. Shop Meeshka Jewelry Designs

Loretta Mijares Dance, Literature, Other, Other, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults I am the creator of MovingWriting, an innovative modality of creativity combining movement/dance and expressive writing for personal growth. I offer regular MovingWriting workshops open to all. No writing or moving experience necessary!

I earned my PhD in Literature from NYU and have been teaching college English for over 20 years. I have studied with Linda Trichter Metcalf (Writing the Mind Alive) and Natalie Goldberg (Writing Down the Bones), and am certified in Transformative Language Arts Foundations with the TLA Network as well as in Amherst Writers & Artists workshop leadership. Equally as important to my work in embodied writing facilitation is my many years of practice as a Zen meditator and conscious mover, especially Moving with Life (www.zuzaengler.com), Soul Motion®, and Gestalt Awareness Practice. My passion is in bringing these practices of embodiment to writing in the context of supportive community, to deepen our capacities for presence and open new portals of creativity and insight.

Karen Miles Acting, Ballet, Choreography, Dance, Film Office, Improvisation, Music, Other, Other, Other, Performance Art, Talent, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre, Visual Arts, Vocal Combining the arts with movement and meditation has the profound ability to build a community of resilience, authenticity, and compassion. I believe in creating a sacred space for curiosity and play, for learning and growing, for creative expression and supportive listening. I am an actress, singer, dancer, yoga instructor and teacher. I work with students from K-8 grades, as well as adults. I am currently co-directing the after school Performing Arts program at a local elementary school. My partner and I also have a Stagecraft class we offer to get students/parents involved backstage. Other programming includes Art & Yoga, Creative Movement, and Explore Yoga Path. All can be modified children and adults. I have an extensive background in dance and the performing arts, I am a certified yoga instructor, a CA certified substitute teacher, and a PCS art docent. My mission is for all my students/clients to walk away feeling creative, empowered and emboldened to share their gifts with the world.

David Minard Audio, Media, Photography, Video, Visual Arts

David L. Minard is a multi-talented bay area native. He is the owner of Z9 Media, a creative service company providing still photos, video, and audio engineering services.

He has been professionally recording sound since 2010 for both music in-studio and video productions. While possessing a Bachelor's degree in Recording Engineering from Ex'pression College, David is also a musician, himself (drums, singing, beatboxing).

David has recorded content for companies such as The Gap, Google, AOL, LEVI's, Funny or Die, Whole Foods Market, and many local businesses and spent 5 years as the lead recording engineer at Live Musicians Co-op's "4 Legends Studios."

His photographic style is clean and based in reality. He strives to capture the sincerity, beauty, and excitement of human nature. He specializes in solo portraiture (including headshots) and community event photography. Visit http://www.Z9media.com to see David's work.