Sonoma County has been a magnet for artists and art connoisseurs for many decades, and continues to attract sophisticated artists and art collectors, along with casual art lovers. Combined with the sheer natural beauty, and general creative ambience, the area readily entices visitors, as well as long-time residents, to explore the many and varied fine art offerings. With the addition of great food, drink, and outdoor activities, it’s easy to spend a day, a week, or a lifetime traversing through the vineyards, forests, and rolling hills, along the scenic coast, and through the welcoming towns of Sonoma County.
The following is a partial list of local art exhibitions. Many eateries, wineries, and civic buildings also present changing art shows in their spaces.
*** Designates an Opening Reception.
Arts Guild of Sonoma
February 4 through 28, Romance Month
*** Opening reception, Saturday, February 6.
The show features unique jewelry and other romantic pieces from our local artists; Patricia Akay, Barbara Aliza, Tracy Child, Irene Ehret, Zaza Fetterly, Yvonne Giambrone-Martin, Christine Gonzalves, Kirk Hinshaw, Carol Larson, Merryl Latini, Nancy Martin, Loran May, Helen Mehl, Linda Semple, Lyn Swan, Jennifer Whitfield, Susan Wiegardt, Mark Zukowski.
140 East Napa Street, Sonoma
707-996-3115
artsguildofsonoma.org
Calabi Gallery
Through February 10, Michael McMillan – Woodblock Prints
*** Santa Rosa Art Walk reception Friday, February 5 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Perhaps best known for his groundbreaking work as a cartoonist, McMillan has mostly concentrated on printmaking in recent years. This show focuses on the woodblock prints of the last 15 years. Also featuring work by Douglas Ballou, Mary Jarvis, Sherrie Lovler, Lucy Martin, Michael Ramos, and Alejandro Salazar.
456 Tenth St., Santa Rosa
707-781-7070
www.calabigallery.com
Charles M. Schulz Museum
Through April 24, 2016, Snoopy and the Red Baron
Snoopy first imagined himself as a World War I Flying Ace on October 10, 1965, making 2015 the 50th anniversary of this popular persona. When asked about the origins of Snoopy’s aviator role, Charles Schulz credited his son’s interest in making plastic airplane models as his chief inspiration. Schulz described drawing a little helmet on Snoopy . . . acknowledging, “I knew I had one of the best things I had thought of in a long time.”
2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa
707-579-4452
www.schulzmuseum.org
Christie Marks Fine Art Gallery
312 South A Street, Suite #7, Santa Rosa
707-695-1011
http://christiemarksfineart.com
Chroma Gallery
February 4 through March 5, Small Works Show 2016
*** Artist Reception Friday, February 5, from 5 to 8 p.m.
“To see a world in a grain of sand and infinity in a flower . . .” William Blake
All artwork in this group show by Sonoma County and Bay Area artists is no larger than 12 inches.
312 South A Street, Santa Rosa
707-293-6051
www.chromagallery.net
Cloverdale Arts Alliance Gallery
Through March 17, Inquiry
Featured Resident Artist for this group show is Sharon Kozel, along with Laura Paine Carr, Pamela Heck, Terry Holleman, Drew Jackson, Paul Maurer, and Hanya Popova Parker, and Guest Artists; Mary Linnea Vaughan, Wayne Husted, and Ann Frowick showing Abstract painting, glass, and sculpture.
204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale
707-894-4410
www.cloverdaleartsalliance.org
Graton Gallery
Through February 28, Annual Small Works 2016 Juried Show
Work was selected by jurors, Sandra Speidel and Clark Mitchell. Also on view is work by Member Artists.
9048 Graton Road, Graton
707-829-8912
www.gratongallery.net
Hammerfriar Gallery
February 20 through April 9, Moving Target: American Dream
*** Opening reception, February 20, from 6 to 9 p.m.
A mixed media exhibit of work by Ryan Carrington, who deals with a wide range of issues that connect labor, class, work ethic, and economics with his personal history and family. Using cast objects, construction materials, and tools that combine craftsmanship with symbolic irony, he is able to communicate his thoughts, ideas, and memories regarding themes of labor.
132 Mill Street, Ste.101, Healdsburg
707-473-9600
www.hammerfriar.com
Healdsburg Center for the Arts
February 11 through March 6, Sixth Annual Young Artists Show
*** Opening Reception Friday, February 19, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Featuring artwork by young artists from over 10 elementary schools in the Healdsburg area. Closing Tea, March 6, from 2 to 4 p.m.
9130 Plaza Street, Healdsburg
707-431-1970
www.healdsburgcenterforthearts.com
Ice House Gallery
405 East D Street, Studio B, Petaluma
707-778-2238
www.icehousegallery.org
Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, Heron Hall Art Gallery
Through April 24, California Flora
On view are botanical paintings in colored pencil by Nina Antze.
900 Sanford Rd., Santa Rosa
www.lagunafoundation.org
Museums of Sonoma County
Art Museum
February 23 through April 17, Running Fence: 40 Years Post
*** Opening Reception, Sunday, February 21, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Honoring the 40th anniversary of the Running Fence since it graced the hills of Sonoma and Marin Counties in 1976, the show features artwork by Christo and Jeanne-Claude from the Tom Golden collection, including drawings, sculptures, collages, and photographs.
511 B Street, Santa Rosa
History Museum
Through February 7, Journey to Fountaingrove: From Feudal Japan to California Utopia
With items from the museum collection, Paradise Ridge Winery, and private collectors, this exhibit spans the large geographical and cultural distance that Mr. Nagasawa had to navigate. It is the story of the connections that brought this unusual man to Santa Rosa. 425 Seventh Street, Santa Rosa
707-579-1500
www.museumsc.org
Occidental Center for the Arts
Through March 13, Gallery Volunteers – Gratitude
Showcasing artwork by the dedicated OCA volunteers. If you are interested in becoming an OCA volunteer, contact the Center for details.
3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental
707-874-9392
www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org
Paradise Ridge Winery Sculpture
Through April 2016, Conversations in Sculpture
The exhibition of large outdoor sculpture combines outstanding art with a beautiful and natural setting. Eleven artists explore the theme of Conversations—defined as an exchange of ideas. Participating artists are Terry Berlier, Welat Najeeb, Dee Briggs, Joey Enos, Linda Fleming, Jin Lee, JP Long, Nathan Lynch, Mark Malmberg, Gregory Pagel, and Sabine Reckewell.
4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Santa Rosa
www.celebratesculpture.com or www.prwinery.com
Petaluma Arts Center
February 19 through March 5, Art Shapes the World
*** Artist Reception Friday, February 19, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Fifth Annual Youth Arts Exhibition showcasing artwork by Petaluma area school children.
230 Lakeville Street, Petaluma
707-762-5600
www.petalumaartscenter.org
Pigment + Paste
February 3 through March 12, Proust: Ink Paintings
*** Opening reception, Friday, February 12, from 7 to 9 p.m.
New paintings by Isabelle Proust.
6780 Depot Street, In the Barlow, Sebastopol
707-861-3867
www.pigmentandpaste.com
Ren Brown Collection Gallery
Currently on view are recent acquisitions of work by Sarah Brayer, Katsunori Hamanishi, Daniel Kelly, Gashu Fukami, Carol Brighton, Shigeki Kuroda, and Bill Poulson. Housed in a refurbished building with shoji and a small, serene Japanese garden, the gallery shows contemporary art by Japanese and regional Northern California artists.
1781 Coast Highway One, Bodega Bay
707-875-2922
www.renbrown.com
Riverfront Art Gallery
Through March 6, Winter Show
*** Art Walk Reception Saturday, February 13, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Featured artist; Painter Karen Spratt, Bicycles and Birds. New members; Painter Angela Hunkler, and Photographer Wendie Worthen.
132 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma
707-775-4278
www.riverfrontartgallery.com
Santa Rosa Junior College, Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery
1501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa
707-527-4298
www.santarosa.edu/art-gallery
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
February 12 through March 20, Abstract
*** Opening Reception Friday, February 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
In the Main Gallery; Abstract, a juried show with nearly 60 pieces selected by Juror, Frances McCormack.
In Gallery II; Biodiversity, a Closer Look, sculpture by Bambi Waterman, and fresco by Krista Anandakuttan. In Gallery III; Spellbound; Morocco from Photos to Easel. Inspired by travel in Morocco, this show features 15 mixed media works by Christie Marks produced over the last two years. Accompanying the artwork are the reference photos taken by Marks during her travels.
282 High Street, in the Veterans’ Memorial Bldg., Sebastopol
707-829-4797
www.sebarts.org
Sonoma State University, University Art Gallery
Saturday, February 6, from 6 to 9 p.m., Art from the Heart, 2016
Benefit art auction, with art, music, food and fun, to support University Art Gallery. Preview; February 3, 4, and 5.
1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park
707-664-2295
www.sonoma.edu/artgallery
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
Through March 6, 2016, Contemplative Elements: Danae Mattes and Frances McCormack
Both Danae Mattes and Frances McCormack meditate on nature’s elements that manifest a range of energies. Mattes combines materials and methods that are, in themselves, extracted from the earth. McCormack’s paintings manifest a range of feelings reflected through the natural world in an invented space.
Also showing; Between Nature & Technology. Courtney Eagan and David Sullivan’s art practices span animation, sound, sculpture, photography and interactivity to explore the delicate and evolving relationship between people, technology and the environment.
551 Broadway, Sonoma
707-939-7862
www.svma.org
The Art Wall at Shige Sushi
February 2 through April 3, Facets: Collage and paintings by Lisa Beerntsen and Deborah Salomon
*** Opening reception Monday, February 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Beerntsen’s delicately colored paintings are suggestive of mineral formations and complex organic molecules. Salomon’s subtle collages of found material are overlaid with multi-faceted forms that reflect a life-long interest in crystal structures.
8235 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati
707-795-9753
http://ctalcroft.wix.com/artwallatshige/
Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, Sculpture Garden
Through June 2017, Root 101
On view in the new Sculpture Garden is the inaugural exhibition of recent work by Bruce Johnson. The work is comprised of colossal wood sculptures made from salvaged old growth redwood, which he has been working with for over 50 years.
50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa
http://wellsfargocenterarts.org/
http://formandenergy.com/new/root101/
If you would like to receive these posts in your e-mail each month, please sign up to follow my blog. This post also appears on my Facebook page; Satri’s Best Bets in the Visual Arts.
Hi Satri! Thanks so much for including my show ‘Spellbound’ in your February exhibition listing. It’s much appreciated. I did receive your documents for the artist feature and I’ll have those back to you this Wednesday. Thanks! Christie Marks
LikeLike
Christie,
You are most welcome.
Satri
LikeLike
thank you Satri,
LikeLike
You are most welcome Isabelle!
LikeLike