Chelsea Rose Kurnick Creative Sonoma Grantee, Literature, Non-Fiction, Performance Art, Photography, Poetry, Visual Arts Chelsea Rose Kurnick (she/her) is a writer and artist from southern California living in Sonoma County. She earned a BA in Linguistics in 2010 from the University of California Riverside, where she was also editor-in-chief of Mosaic: A Journal of Literature and Art. In 2013-14, she created and hosted The Casserole, an online literary reading series that aired live on Youtube featuring remote guests from all over the world. Chelsea began studying the craft of poetry at age 15 and began curating literary arts events at 20. She attributes most of her education in writing to community workshops and weekly open mics, which she has sought out since 2005 in every city she’s lived. Chelsea believes that poetry and storytelling are powerful tools for building empathy and are at their most vital when experienced in person. Chelsea’s work explores longing and loss, sometimes personal and sometimes global in scope; she writes of messy partnerships and humankind’s tenuous relationship to the material world we inhabit.

Angela Lam Fiction, Literature, Non-Fiction, Painting, Visual Arts Angela Lam is a visual artist specializing in acrylic landscapes and a published author of novels, romances, and memoirs.

Joy Lanzendorfer Children's, Fiction, Literature, Non-Fiction, Other I'm a writer living near Petaluma. I'm the author of the novel RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM, which came out in May 2021 through Blackstone Publishing. I'm also the host of What's The Story, a book-oriented radio show on 95.9 FM The Krush. Other work has been in The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Washington Post, Ploughshares, Poetry Foundation, and others. I'm a 2019 recipient of the Discovered Awards for Emerging Visual and Literary Artists and have received awards and residencies from the Speculative Literature Foundation, Wildacres Residency Program, Cuttyhunk Island Writers’ Residency, and others. My short story “Sleep Disturbance” was included in The Best Small Fictions 2019 and my essays were notables in the 2019 and 2020 editions of The Best American Essays.

Leslie M. Levy Acting, Artisan, Audio, Composition, Crew, Directing, Fiction, Film, Film Office, Folk Art, Improvisation, Literature, Media, Mixed, Multi-Media, Multimedia, Music, Non-Fiction, Other, Photography, Poetry, Production, Storytelling, Talent, Technical, Theatre, Video, Visual Arts, Vocal I am a developing multifaceted creative based in Sonoma County, offering a breadth of knowledge and growing experience. Currently a senior at Sonoma State University in Communication and Media, I am looking for collaborative and mentorship opportunities within Sonoma County primarily and the Bay Area at large. A writer to the bone, I have experience with video work of all kinds (mostly camera, lighting, and directing/producing, some with editing) as well as some audio experience (ever-expanding because it is my second passion next to writing). I believe I have a lot to offer in a wide range of areas and love helping creative juices flow like watersheds into a project.

Karen Lockert Artisan, Ceramics, Fiction, Literature, Mixed, Other, Painting, Sculpture, Visual Arts Karen Lockert was always the kid who daydreamed her way through school, seeing beauty in what most other people thought was quite ordinary, if not downright ugly. Her career was launched only after leaving her position as a high school art teacher in Los Angeles, when she began to understand that she had been repeatedly “re-birthing” and “re-homing” herself through her art work. She is probably best known for her evocative, mixed-media compositions of the vintage, vernacular architecture of West Sonoma County, where she now lives. Her work has been exhibited at many galleries in the Russian River area, including Occidental Center for the Arts, Russian River Art Gallery, Cooprider Gallery, Graton Gallery, Lawson Gallery, and the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. In addition, she was a regular participant in Art @ the Source, West Sonoma County’s Open Studio tour for several years. As a spiritual, meditative artist at heart, it has been said that “her newest work gorgeously draws people into a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them”.

Mother Magica Artisan, Audio, Choreography, Composition, Dance, Design, Fashion Design, Instrumental, Jewelry, Media, Music, Other, Photography, Video, Visual Arts, Vocal

Artist , Muse, CRAZY

I am a creative designer and maker of music, videos, jewelery, clothing, wigs, dance and short storys..... I am a constant comic in all ways of life. Being able to laugh at everything is my true gift. I practice gratitude... I am sooooo greatfull to be alive and able to inspire you to create and love!

Gianna Marino Children's, Illustration, Literature, Visual Arts Gianna Marino was born in San Francisco and spent her early years galloping horses through Golden Gate Park. Her explorations expanded after graduating from high school and in order to afford her many journeys, Gianna had several jobs at once: apprenticing a muralist, a jewelry designer, a product designer and driving horse carriages through the park. She explored many corners of the world, from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, to the South Pacific, Europe, and as crew on sailboats in the high seas. Gianna finally landed a full-time freelance gig designing toys for children, but after several years in a corporate box with no windows, she left for good and began painting, illustrating and writing books for children. Gianna has written over a dozen award-winning books, including Meet Me at the Moon, Too Tall Houses, Following Papa's Song, Night Animals, Night Animals Need Sleep Too, If I Had a Horse and she is the New York Times best-selling illustrator of Don’t Let Them Disappear, written by Chelsea Clinton. Though she still wanders the world, Gianna now lives in Northern California and works full-time writing and illustrating.

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.

Kalia Mussetter Artisan, Children's, Fiber Art, Literature, Mixed, Non-Fiction, Other, Other, Painting, Performance Art, Poetry, Teacher/Instructor, Theatre, Visual Arts

Eileen Nagle Acting, Artisan, Children's, Choreography, Directing, Fiction, Film Office, Folk Art, Improvisation, Jewelry, Literature, Non-Fiction, Other, Other, Other, Other, Performance Art, Poetry, Puppetry, Storytelling, Talent, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre Eileen Nagle M.Ed is an elementary/ middle/ high school teacher who specializes in Children's Theatre. A native of West Sonoma County, Eileen writes and directs children's plays and teaches acting classes. Shakespeare for Children; Musical Theater, Improv and Playwriting all for children are at the center of her creativity. She would love to go to your space and direct during school, after school drama clubs, teach playwriting and work with the home school community, having homeschooled her own children. At the university level she taught teachers how to integrate the arts into their regular lesson plans; enhancing the enjoyment and retention of the core subjects. Eileen leads workshops for adults and older children to teach Script and Text Analysis based on Character Roles, a way to look at your own or other's work and evaluate how sound the structure of the story is. Playwriting/ Screenwriting At the University level Eileen taught Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication and Theater For Elementary Teachers courses. She was the Outreach and Workshop Coordinator for the Noorda Theater for Children and Youth. Eileen would love to partner with home school groups, afterschool programs; mixed adult children groups would be fun. She has worked in most locations so a 'stage' is not necessary. The time of day and week is workable.

Katie Nealon Creative Sonoma Grantee, Design, Graphic Design, Literature, Poetry, Printmaking, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Visual Arts folding bones press is one woman creating hand-made, letterpress printed goods in sonoma county, california. katie is a commercially trained printer, published poet, and lover of lead type.

Jennie Orvino Ballroom, Dance, Latin, Literature, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Teacher/Instructor As a freelance content provider, I offer you the benefit of my life experience an engaged, passionate citizen-artist. I received my first diary at the age of 14 and have been a writer ever since. I have worked as an elementary school teacher, journalist, radio producer and on-air host, and for community television, advertising agencies, newspapers, publishers and non-profit organizations. In my career, I have learned the art of active listening and creative collaboration… and I work diligently, with complete respect for deadlines, to earn the respect of my colleagues and clients. It may not be practical for your business or organization to employ an in-house writer for newsletters, fund-raising letters, blogs, eBlasts, press releases, ads, brochures, catalogs, web content, reports, case studies, feature stories, bios and profiles. I can help! I also have six years’ experience in writing successful grant proposals and grant reports submitted to private foundations and government funders. (see writing samples section) My intention is to assist you with language that is clear, organized, intelligent, deep or light-hearted as appropriate, geared to its audience, and that speaks with the values and in the voice of you, your business, or the group you represent.

About Jennie Orvino

Jennie Orvino’s commercial writing credits include 11 years in the Marketing Department of the Santa Rosa Symphony, where she provided copy for press releases, brochures, print ads, newsletters, postcards, flyers and solicitation letters, as well as all the organization’s eCommunications and web content. In addition, she wrote grant applications and grant reports for the Symphony over a 6-year period. (Among grants received include the NEA, Hewlett Foundation, Irvine Foundation, Community Foundation Sonoma County, Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary, Heller Foundation and Target.) Orvino has written and/or edited newsletters for Hillel at Stanford, Face to Face/Sonoma County AIDS Network, Actor’s Theater, Santa Rosa Church of Religious Science (now the Center for Spiritual Living) and other non-profit organizations. She also worked as production coordinator for Campbell & Associates Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, and the Santa Rosa Business Journal (now North Bay Business Journal). Orvino has been a Literary Arts Producer for KRCB radio (NPR affiliate, 91.1 FM Sonoma County), where she contributed on-air interviews and book reviews (more than 20 shows of “Come Said the Muse” and “Word by Word”). She has had features published in Rohnert Park’s The Community Voice, Petaluma’s Argus Courier, the North Bay Bohemian and Sacramento News & Review. Jennie Orvino is the author of the book Poetry, Politics and Passion: memoir, poems, personal essays (2012) and a Grammy-nominated spoken word CD, Make Love Not War (2002). Her literary awards include: first prize poetry in Copperfield’s The Dickens contest; second prize poetry in the North Bay Bohemian Java Jive contest and the Don L. Emblen Award from Santa Rosa Junior College. In April 2012, Orvino was one of 10 women honored at the 6th Street Playhouse Women in the Arts Showcase. In 2014, she read in, and co-produced, the Steamy Sonoma County Erotica Salon series.

Brooks Palmer Acting, Children's, Composition, Directing, Fiction, Film Office, Folk Art, Illustration, Improvisation, Instrumental, Literature, Media, Music, Non-Fiction, Painting, Performance Art, Puppetry, Storytelling, Talent, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Theatre, Video, Visual Arts, Vocal I'm a creative artist who loves to work in many fields. I write short humorous stories. I paint surrealistic art. I perform quirky improvisational songs and short stories on stage. I draw funny words-of-wisdom cartoons. I write books of surreal fantasy humor. I perform my As You Are show for eager audiences. I don't question my creativity. When it shows up, which is often, I put it on paper, or record it, or perform it. I love to put what I do out into the world, whether it's on stage, or online, or published as a book, or on a gallery wall. I love to uplift people with my creations. I hope my art makes people feel good about being alive, and inspires them to be creative in their own way.

Bridget Palmer Acting, Arts Administration, Children's, Creative Sonoma Grantee, Dance, Directing, Fiction, Improvisation, Literature, Other, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre Bridget has directed theater projects with youths ages 4 -14 for over 20 years through her programs Santa Rosa Children’s Theater, Show Biz Kidz, A Theater For Children, and her role as a Drama Specialist in Sonoma County schools. She guest directs at a variety of locations and also works for the Luther Burbank Center as a Teaching Artist. Her Residencies include Story Ninjas, Math Dance, Empowering the Inner Hero, Mastery Through Movement, and Eco-System in a Box. Bridget enjoys “play”ing with hundreds of children each year and loves the excitement of performance projects which culminate within 6-10 sessions. She studied Theater Directing at UC Berkeley and completed the LBC’s Kennedy Center Teaching Artist professional training, as well as several other Arts Integration professional development trainings related to Drama, Movement, and Storytelling. Bridget helps children become high performers through acting-based activities. Bridget also loves writing scripts and producing comedy improv. She founded and ran the 6th Street Improv adult troupe from 2008-2013 in Santa Rosa at the 6th Street Playhouse. In 2018, she wrote her first play for children: "Alex & The Magic Staff", with an anti-bullying theme. She is currently looking for a producer for her screenplay, Amazing Grace. Miss Bridget's latest passion is saving Nature. In 2023, she is launching https://wesavetheworld.org, the story sharing platform kids can use to become eco-heroes.

John Partridge Acting, Composition, Directing, Music, Theatre I have been a composer and performer all my life. I graduated from UC Santa Cruz with an AB in composition and conducting. I have worked in many forms including chamber music, opera, musical theater, church music and ragtime. I am currently the Director of Music Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church of Napa and Music Director of the Sonoma Hometown Band.

Roy Parvin Fiction, Literature, Non-Fiction Roy Parvin is the award-winning author of two books of fiction, The Loneliest Road in America and In the Snow Forest. He has recently completed a memoir entitled My Year of Sleeping Dangerously and is also the author (under the nom de namaste of Yoga Matt) of Yoga for the Inflexible Male, forthcoming this fall from Ten Speed Press, a division of Penguin Random House. His work has been selected for inclusion in the Best American Short Stories series, has been nominated many times for the Pushcart Prize, and has been widely anthologized. He has also been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant, a Bread Loaf Fellowship, the Katherine Anne Porter Prize in fiction, and a Ucross fellowship. Roy is an accomplished teacher, having taught in the MFA program at San Francisco State University and at numerous workshops around the country.

Karen Pierce Gonzalez Fiction, Folk Art, Media, Mixed, Multi-Media, Other, Other, Other, Photography, Poetry, Sculpture, Video, Visual Arts

My literary credits include 4 published poetry collections: Coyote in the Basket of My Ribs (Kelsay Books), True North and Sightings From a Star Wheel (Origami Poems Project), Down River with Li Po (Black Cat Poetry Press. Numerous stories, essays, and poems in several anthologies, podcasts, and publications including Eat the Storms III, Four Feathers Press, Golden Walkman Magazine, IceFloe Press, Nightingale and Sparrow, San Francisco Magazine, Supernatural Park, Tiny Thimble Magazine, Twist in Time, Voice of Eve.

Several plays have been staged through Fringe of Marin Short Play Festivals (2022, 2023).

I am also a former journalist (San Francisco Chronicle, Marin Independent Journal, etc.) and folklore columnist. I have written family folktale e-guides and publish quarterly 'Get Ekphrastic with Folk Art' blogs . I also create the hybrid folklore/art video series "as the story goes' and have also facilitated a range of creative writing and folktale writing workshops in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As a visual artist, I work intuitively with found and recycled element. More than 30 images have appeared in literary arts journals, including 3 cover images (Chestnut Review, Feral Journal of Poetry and Art, Nightingale and Sparrow). My art has been exhibited at Santa Rosa Arts Center, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Truckenbrod Gallery (Oregon), and Virtual Art in the Park (Petaluma).

Karen Pierce Gonzalez Artisan, Fiber Art, Fiction, Literature, Mixed, Non-Fiction, Other, Poetry I have been writing since I discovered paper and pen. My love of words led me to write fiction, non-fiction, and poetry which appears in many publications including Big Blend Magazine, Lagom Journal, Postcard Poems and Prose, Potato Soup Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Tiny Thimble Magazine, Twist in Time, Voice of Eve and other publications. My work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and has received several state and local awards. I have facilitated creative writing workshops in the San Francisco Bay Area (Napa Community College, Santa Rosa Junior College Extension, local community centers, etc.). I am also a mixed-media artist. I work intuitively with tree bark, chalk/oil pastels, fibers, fabrics and, when lucky, salmon leather. I am also folklorist and am publisher of FolkHeart Press which has produced Write Your Own Family Folktales, Love Potions, Lotions, and Lore, Spanish Cuisine: One Region at a Time, and more. Literary Projects includes development of Mystery Writers in the Mausoleum, and memberships include California Association of Storytellers, North Bay Poetics, Santa Rosa Art Center, Sonoma County Folk Society, and Western Folklore Society.

Mina Rios Acting, Audio, Ballet, Children's, Choreography, Dance, Fiction, Literature, Media, Modern, Other, Photography, Theatre, Video, Visual Arts Driven by a passion for the arts, freelance journalist Mina Rios found inspiration in dance through film and exposure to live performance during her youth in San Francisco. Trained in music, theatre, and dance; followed by Journalism & Mass Communications – Rios’s decade long career path down Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations avenues spanned from 1997 until 2007 – when she found both opportunity and her true calling in arts journalism.

Teri Roche Drobnick Children's, Literature, Non-Fiction About

Teri's writing initially began with children's picture books. Her debut book MOVING DAY will be published by Margaret Ferguson Books at Holiday House in 2025. Her background as a Clinical Social Worker influences Teri's subjects and storylines. Her picture book manuscripts vary from immigration, dementia and loss, LGBTQ topics to lighter sing aloud concept and rhyming books.

Teri's memoir HOLDING ON, WHILE LETTING GO: Reconnecting to my Father with Alzheimer’s Through his Best Friend of Eighty Years, is currently out on submission. It is a love story to her father who recently died of Alzheimer’s.

Other publications: Hobie Dog and Teri Drobnick, What Women CREATE, (Winter 2021) Triumph Over Lyme Disease, Best Self, (2019), https://bestselfmedia.com/triumph-over-lyme-disease/ Reclaimed Joy Through Rag Dolls, Where Women CREATE (Winter 2018) Super Gutsy Girl, Art Doll Quarterly (Fall 2017)

Captain Green and Lady Morning Dove, Stuffed Magazine (Spring 2015)

Julie Rawding Presents: The Upcyclers USA, 21 Eco Folks That Made It (2014)

Bodacious Bunny, Stuffed Magazine (Winter 2013)

Abraham Schroeder Children's, Design, Graphic Design, Literature, Mixed, Photography, Sculpture, Visual Arts I am an artist, designer, and author living in Petaluma. My art includes digital, mixed media, and sculpture, electronics, metal, clay, collage. I also do freelance graphic and web design. My children's picture books are The Gentleman Bat (http://www.TheGentlemanBat.com) and Too Many Tables (http://www.TooManyTables.com). Before moving to CA, I worked for 7 years in the Asian Art Department at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. During that time I managed a massive 5-year project to catalog, digitize, and rehouse the MFA's spectacular collection of 50,000+ Japanese prints. An 1880’s woodblock print of bats by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi in the MFA collection was the seed of inspiration for The Gentleman Bat. Read more about the hidden art historical references and book production process at http://www.TheGentlemanBat.com. My second book, Too Many Tables, features fun, colorful illustrations and a comically entertaining story, with a subtle message of generosity and community woven throughout. I do school, library, bookstore, and children's museum visits with large and small audiences. Depending on age and interest, I adjust the presentation to the group, often including interactive drawing activities, amazing bat facts and science, and introductions to Japanese woodblock prints. As an artist who worked closely with the illustrators of my books, I am always happy discuss the book making and illustration process, as well as writing, rhyming, and editing, and I do Skype/FaceTime for schools and groups around the country.

Joanell Serra Fiction, Literature Joanell Serra MFT lives and writes in Sonoma, California. An award winning writer, she is a playwright, novelist, non-fiction and short story writer. Her first novel, The Vines We Planted, will be out in Spring 2018 with Wido publishing. Her writing and news can be found at http://joanellserraauthor.com.

Jewel Shield Artisan, Ceramics, Composition, Instrumental, Music, Other, Other, Teacher/Instructor, Visual Arts, Vocal Music is the Universal language of all people and creation. I am a lifelong Artisan with a deep love and appreciation for harmony and beauty. The creative spark that leads me from within feels natural and familiar. It perhaps comes from an experience of many lifetimes being emerged in the arts and my ancestral lineage that includes many artists, musicians and teachers. I have been a professional harpist, musician, artist, teacher and mentor since the early 1980’s. I have a passion for creating and contributing more love, beauty and peace in the world through music, arts and compassionate teaching. I have a BFA in Studio Arts/ Ceramics with a background in Creative Arts Therapies and also Certifications in Sound, Voice and Music Healing, and Yoga of the Voice and Transformational Life Mastery Coaching. Although I have played and performed a variety of genres and styles mostly rooted in world and ethnic traditions, I am currently focused on my own creative compositions and contemplative improvisations on Harp, my primary instrument, as well as exploring and creating new music, instruments and sounds for healing. I am a holistic and compassionate teacher and creative mentor. Primarily being a self taught musician, I love to empower my students and assist them in discovery of their inner guide and teacher. Music is natural to everything, it is what connect us and has powerful transforming and healing benefits. I currently perform ambient background for special events, receptions, featured performances, Sacred occasions and meditations, healing and magical SoundScapes. I also perform music as accompaniment for yoga, dance, chi gong and tai chi classes, poetry readings and other various events and collaborations. As a multi instrumentalist I play a variety of instruments, especially in my Sound Healing work, including Crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, Native American flutes, and zithers. I am now combining my experience and artistry, and working on designing instruments that anyone can enjoy playing and experience the powerful and therapeuticbenefits of making music.

Dylan Smith Ballet, Choreography, Dance, Illustration, Literature, Modern, Non-Fiction, Other, Other, Poetry, Professional Performance, Teacher/Instructor, Visual Arts Dylan Smith is a Bay Area dancer, choreographer, instructor and visual artist. He holds a BA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College and is on staff at Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Mr. Smith has performed and choreographed with Transcendence Theatre Company in Sonoma, California the past few years earning him Broadway World San Francisco's Best Choreography Award for 2015. Other performing credits include the Japan and North American Tours of 42nd Street, JUBILEE! at Bally's Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and Principal Dancer on Holland America Line. As a choreographer and instructor his experience ranges from the Alvin Ailey Children's Program, Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University just to name a few. In addition to the performing arts, Dylan has rediscovered his joy and passion for visual art, creating new works based on childhood pieces. He has had three, well attended, successful exhibitions here in California and plans to keep moving forward with developing a brand entitled "Hair Pop Out Mania". He is available for private dance and theatre instruction, group classes, choreography as well as visual art commissions.

Elisa Stancil Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Literature, Non-Fiction, Painting, Visual Arts Elisa began her creative career remodeling Craftsman homes in Sacramento and for the past thirty-five years her company, Stancil Studios, has provided decorative painting, gilding, and patterning for buildings throughout America and in Europe. Her son James now owns the business and Elisa focuses on writing, architectural color and pattern design and volunteer work. Her first book, Jack London State Historic Park, is sold on Amazon and in bookstores as well as at both museums at the park. All proceeds benefit the park. Her new memoir, This or Something Better, is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble and Bookshop. Her recently published essays can be seen on her website, www.elisastancillevine.com. Elisa enjoys outdoor life on Sonoma Mountain with her husband, Chuck Levine, and together they work to support Sonoma County through mentoring and volunteering.

CREATIVES

About Jennie Orvino