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.
Art Trails Open Studios
Open Studios 2017 takes place on two weekends, Saturday and Sunday, October 14-15, and October 21-22. The studios are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Art Trails is the largest open studios event in Sonoma County, with art studios located from Bodega Bay to Sonoma; and from Petaluma to Geyserville. This is an outstanding opportunity to see where and how art is created. For more information call Sebastopol Center for the Arts at 707-829-4797, or go to www.sebarts.org, or www.SonomaCountyArtTrails.org
Arts Guild of Sonoma
October 4 through October 30, Ceramics of Lyn Swan
*** Opening Reception Friday, October 6, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Ceramicist Lyn Swan combines simplicity, texture and glaze in each unique porcelain artwork. Lyn’s new series of Japanese-inspired porcelain creations are on view to the public for the first time.
140 East Napa Street, Sonoma
707-996-3115
www.artsguildofsonoma.org
Calabi Gallery
Through October 14, Gallery Group Show
The Calabi Gallery Group Show features contemporary gallery artists as well as a selection of artwork from their vintage collection. On view are works by Douglas Ballou, Warren Bellows, Catherine Daley, Karen Green, Emmanuel Catarino Montoya, and Michael Ramos. Also showing work by Stuart Davis, Roy De Forest, Gronk, Charles Howard, Ray Jacobsen, Walter Kuhlman, and Robert Pearson McChesney.
456 Tenth St., Santa Rosa
707-781-7070
www.calabigallery.com
Charles M. Schulz Museum
Through March 11, Mud Pies & Jelly Beans
It’s only fitting that a cartoon named Peanuts includes many puns about food. Patty and Violet are expert mud pie makers, Charlie Brown hates coconut, and Snoopy thinks about pizza, cookies, and the next meal in his dog dish.
2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa
707-579-4452
www.schulzmuseum.org
Chroma Gallery
Through November 4, Secret Identities; Masks and the Art of Concealment
*** Reception for the Artists Friday October 6, from 5 to 8 p.m.
A mask can be worn to liberate the wearer from inhibition, to beguile and entice the viewer, or to conceal and protect one’s true self. Masks, paintings, drawings, mixed media, photographs, and sculpture.
312 South A Street, Santa Rosa
707-293-6051
www.chromagallery.net
Cloverdale Arts Alliance Gallery
Through November 17, Flavor
Group show of resident and guest artists.
204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale
707-894-4410
www.cloverdaleartsalliance.org
Cloverdale and Geyserville
Through May 2018, SculptureTrail
The Trail is an exhibit of sculptures on the main streets in of Geyserville and Cloverdale in the Sonoma County Wine Country. The Sculpture Trail is a year-round exhibit with sculptures changing every 12 months. You can download a map for your visit at www.101SculptureTrail.com.
Corricks Art Trails Gallery
Through October 30, Art Trails Preview Show
*** First Friday reception, October 6, from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Gallery at Corrick’s and My Daughter the Framer kick off the upcoming Art Trails Open Studios season by showcasing over 60 Art Trails artists.
637 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa
707-546-2424
www.corricks.com
Gallery One
Through October 22, Art Trails Preview
Preview of artists participating in Art Trails Open Studios.
209 Western Avenue, Petaluma
707-778-8277
http://galleryone.webdaki.com
Graton Gallery
Through November 5, Gather
A nature-based mixed-media show with Marylu Downing, Leslie Zumwalt, and Susan Miron.
9048 Graton Road, Graton
707-829-8912
www.gratongallery.net
Hammerfriar Gallery
Through November 18, Bill Shelley and Shelley Spira Burns
Back from spending months in Berlin, Bill Shelley presents a collection of drawings he created while responding to this city. The drawings employ classical design conventions as well as invented interpretations and viewpoints. Also showing are sculptures by Shelley Spira Burns. An interest in geology, archeology and a background in psychology inform her work.
132 Mill Street, Ste.101, Healdsburg
707-473-9600
www.hammerfriar.com
Healdsburg Center for the Arts
Through October 22, Art Trails Preview
Preview of artists participating in Art Trails Open Studios.
9130 Plaza Street, Healdsburg
707-431-1970
www.healdsburgcenterforthearts.org
Hopscotch Gifts & Gallery
Through October 9, Jordan Celso Large Scale Abstracts
This solo show by Laytonville artist, Jordan Celso, features Celso’s large scale acrylic abstracts paintings, silk scarves, and metal prints. Celso is a member of the Laytonville Art Angels and is co-owner of Hopscotch Gifts & Gallery in Glen Ellen.
14301 Arnold Drive #2A, Glen Ellen
707-343-1931
www.hopscotchgiftsandgallery. com
IceHouse Gallery
Through October 28, Adam Wolpert: Pond Series
On view are the paintings of Adam Wolpert, including the beautiful Pond Series, a collection of 70 paintings of one scene in different seasons, different times of day, different lighting, all mesmerizing.
405 East D St. Petaluma
707-778-2238
www.icehousegallery.org
Laguna Foundation, Heron Hall
Through January 4, Form & Color: It’s Wild Out There
Wildlife photography by Dave Strauss.
900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa
707-527-9277
www.lagunafoundation.org
Museums of Sonoma County
Art Museum
Through November 26, Unpacked: Contemporary Works From Private Collections of Northern California
Unpacked features contemporary works from private collections of Northern California. The exhibit features the work of more than 20 artists who have inspired established collectors.
History Museum
Through November 5, Equine Epochs: The History of Horses in Sonoma County
Equine Epochs recounts the role of the horse in Sonoma County. From the plow horse to the champion racer, explore the history and ongoing legacy of the horse in Sonoma County in this exhibition.
425 Seventh Street, Santa Rosa
707-579-1500
www.museumsc.org
Occidental Center for the Arts
October 6 through October 29, 6th Annual Pointless Sisters Art Quilt Show
*** Reception with the Artists Saturday, October 7, from 4 to7 p.m.
In addition to many contemporary art quilts, this popular annual exhibit features recent group challenges such as “Flowers” and “Black & White Plus”.
3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental
707-874-9392
www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org
Paul Mahder Gallery
222 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg
707-473-9150
www.paulmahdergallery.com
Paradise Ridge Winery Sculpture
Outdoor sculpture meadows.
4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Santa Rosa
707-528-9463
www.prwinery.com
Petaluma Arts Center
Through October 21, Tidal Response: Coastal Marine Environments from Above & Below
Tidal Response explores the intersection of art and science through a series of responses to coastal environments, with particular emphasis on Sonoma County. Artists included are Peter Connors, Chris Dewees, Courtney Mattison, Richard and Judith Selby Lang, Julia Edith Rigby, and Holly Sumner. See website for related programs and workshops.
230 Lakeville Street, Petaluma
707-762-5600
www.petalumaartscenter.org
Ren Brown Collection Gallery
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 November 5, 10th Anniversary Show
132 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma
707-775-4278
www.riverfrontartgallery.com
Russian River Art Gallery
October 6 through 29, Sandra Maresca, Autumn Settings
*** First Friday Art Walk reception, October 6, from 5 to 8 p.m.
707-869-9099
16357 Main Street, Guerneville
www.therussianriverartgallery.com
Santa Rosa Junior College, Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery
Through October 12, Art Faculty Show
1501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa
707-527-4298
https://art-gallery.santarosa.edu/robert-f-agrella-art-gallery
Sculpturesite Gallery
Jack London Village
14301 Arnold Dr. Suite 8, Glen Ellen
707-933-1300
www.sculpturesite.com
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Through October 22, Art Trails Preview Exhibition
The preview exhibition featuring a piece of artwork by each of the 141 participating Open Studios artists.
October 5 through October 22, Janet Charnofsky, 1933-2017
*** Reception on Friday, October 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Celebrating Janet’s art and work in supporting the arts in Sonoma County. Influenced by her childhood in Tennessee and her profession as a civil engineer, Janet was always interested in structures and weathered, aging surfaces. Janet and her husband Harvey were instrumental in the establishment of the Sebastopol Center for the Arts and she was a founding artist in Art at the Source Open Studio.
October 27 through December 3, Got Glass!!!
*** Opening reception Friday, October 27, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Main Gallery: Got Glass!!! Convergence, Juror: Cassandra Straubing
The focus in the main gallery is on showing the diversity of the medium and the wide range of techniques, such as blown, cast, cold work, fused, pate de verre, slumped, painted, etc.
Gallery II: Got Glass!!! Flamed Glass, Juror: Paul Stankard
A celebration of Flamework / Lampwork, objects that are formed from rods and tubes of glass.
Gallery III: Ed Kirshner Organized Chaos, Plasma Work
Artists included; Ed Kirshner, Mitch LaPlante, Roger Carr, and Mike Perrett.
282 High Street, Sebastopol
707-829-4797
www.sebarts.org
Sebastopol Gallery
Through November 26, Let’s Talk About Trees
*** Artist’s Reception Saturday, October 7, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Mixed-media work by Jeremy Joan Hewes.
150 N. Main St, Sebastopol
707-829-7200
www.sebastopol-gallery.com/
Sonoma State University, University Art Gallery
Through October 15, Art Studio Faculty Exhibition
See what the SSU Art faculty is up to. The exhibition features the work of Emily Davis Adams, Shannon Benine; Jeremiah Barber, Clea Felien; Nathan Haenlein; Jenny Harp; Kurt Kemp; Cathy Lu; Jann Nunn; Kate Oltmann; Sasha Petrenko; Gregory Roberts; and Billie Stultz.
1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park
707-664-2295
www.sonoma.edu/artgallery
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
October 14 through January 7, Forge and Stone: Work by Contemporary California Women Sculptors
This exhibition surveys sculpture by contemporary California women artists. These works challenge traditional views, and highlight the creativity and versatility of female artists. Artists included are Alison Saar, Ynez Johnston, Gwynn Murrill, Gertrud Parker, Jane Rosen, Lisa Reinertson, and Diana Moore.
Also showing: David Ligare: Magna Fide (The Great Belief)
This exhibition explores David Ligare’s creative process by focusing on the steps it took to create his 2014 artwork, Magna Fide. Ligare is an American contemporary classicist painter.
551 Broadway, Sonoma
707-939-7862
www.svma.org
The Art Wall at Shige Sushi
Through October 29, Claude Smith: Paintings and mixed media
Graton-based artist Claude Smith works in abstraction with an emphasis on mark-making, scrawling, and writing-as-drawing.
8235 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati
707-795-9753
http://ctalcroft.wix.com/artwallatshige/
Upstairs Art Gallery
Through October 22, Autumn Colors
*** Opening reception Saturday, October 7, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Sixteen resident artists display the best of autumn in Sonoma County with a group show of paintings, mixed media and artisan jewelry.
306 Center St., Healdsburg
707-431-4214
www.Upstairsartgallery.net
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Nice publication, Satri! We need this kind of piece in our growing art community. Thank you!
Sandra Maresca
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Thanks Sandra, keep me posted with information about shows at the gallery, titles, dates, etc., and a photo or two!
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