Art in Sonoma County: Current Gallery and Museum Exhibitions in April 2022

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.

Please check with the venues for current status of health protocols, hours, events and exhibitions.

Arts Guild of Sonoma
140 E. Napa St., Sonoma
707-996-3115
www.artsguildofsonoma.org

 

Café Frida Gallery
April 1 through May 29, Tarot and Our Intuition
Two artists, Cade Burkhammer and Akiva Satnarayan, whose artworks deal extensively with Tarot and its’ meanings, approach the subject from their unique perspectives. The artists will speak about their work and how it relates to the evolving world climate change at Café Frida Gallery on Earth Day, April 22, from 6 to 7 p.m.
707-303-5925
300 South A Street, #4, Santa Rosa
www.cafefridagallery.com

 

 

By Bambi Waterman

Calabi Gallery
Through April 30, Group Show
The show is an eclectic mix of new work by gallery artists as well as a selection from the inventory of vintage works, including new acquisitions. It is a wonderfully rich assortment bridging many periods of time, styles, and media. Featuring works by gallery artists Douglas Ballou, Howard Foote, Pamela Glasscock, James Ford Grant, Tim Haworth, Iva Hladis, Evri Kwong, Carolyn Lord, Michael Ramos, Inna Talantova, and Bambi Waterman.
456 Tenth St., Santa Rosa
707-781-7070
www.calabigallery.com

Charles M. Schulz Museum
Through September 18, Spark Plug to Snoopy: 100 Years of Schulz
This exhibition kicks off a centennial celebration of Schulz’s birth on November 26, 1922, and reflects back to a world before Peanuts, by featuring original work by the artists who influenced Schulz and inspired him to become a cartoonist.
2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa
707-579-4452
www.schulzmuseum.org

 

Cloverdale Arts Alliance Gallery
Through May 21, Challenge
Guest artists for this exhibit are Thomas Glass Phinnessee, Oil Painting, and Don Ketman, Wood Artistry. Featured Resident Artist is Laura Paine Carr, Acrylic, Mixed-Media. Also showing work by Resident Artists; Laura Paine Carr, Jane Gardner, Pamela Heck, Terry Holleman, and Hanya Popova Parker.
204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale
707-894-4410
www.cloverdaleartsalliance.org

Cloverdale Sculpture Trail
Through April 27, Cloverdale Sculpture Trail
Ten new sculptures have been installed along the Cloverdale Sculpture Trail in downtown Cloverdale after a 3 month delay due to COVID-19. Cloverdale Boulevard between Citrus Fair Drive and 3rd Street is lined with an array of playful and provocative sculptures. What better way to spark our Imagination than with this impressive exhibit of public art? For sculpture locations, download a map of the walkable Sculpture Trail.
https://cloverdalesculpturetrail.org/

Corricks Art Trails Gallery/ My Daughter the Framer
Through April 30, In Bloom
*** First Friday reception, April 1, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Featured Artists are Lois Donaghey, Erin Dertner, Peter Krohn, Victoria Kochergin, Elizabeth Peyton, and Sally Baker. This exhibit is a celebration of the renewal that Spring brings, and especially the colors and forms that appear this time of year.
637 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa
707-546-2424
www.corricks.com

Gallery 300
6780 McKinley St., Suite 130, The Barlow
707-332-1212
www.gallery-300.com

Graton Gallery
Through April 17, Annual Small Works Show
*** Reception Saturday April 2, from 2 to 5 p.m.
The show features over 130 artworks by 72 artists, in a wide variety of media and styles, making it a great way to see many of Sonoma County’s favorite artists all in one location. The work for the show was selected by Susan Shore, owner of the Artifact Gallery, Point Richmond.

April 22 through May 29, Clayton to Graton 3.5
*** Artists Reception, Saturday, April 23, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Featuring artworks by Rik Olson and Fred Kling; with Guest Artists, Jenny Abramson, Joanne Kline, and Bill Theis.
9048 Graton Road, Graton
707-829-8912
www.gratongallery.net

Hammerfriar Gallery
132 Mill St, Healdsburg
707-473-9600
www.hammerfriar.com

 

Healdsburg Center for the Arts
Through May 1, Home
HCA has relocated to a new home around the corner. This transition inspired the show’s idea of exploring the concept of home. The theme celebrates change and reflects on the longing for stability.
334 Center Street, Healdsburg
707-431-1970
https://healdsburgcenterforthearts.org

 

 

IceHouse Gallery
405 East D St, Petaluma
707-778-2238
www.digitalgrange.com

Laguna Foundation, Heron Hall
Through April 29, Conservation in Biodiversity Photography by Joshua Asel
Joshua Asel works as an advocate to create visual communication stories that cover Threatened, Endangered, keystone, and bellwether species. California Condors, rare marine mammals, and coastal landscapes are all part of this small cross-section of Joshua’s larger volume of internationally-recognized photographic work.
900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa
707-527-9277
www.lagunafoundation.org

Museum of Sonoma County
Art
Through June 5, 2022, Agency: Feminist Art and Power
The exhibition brings together the work of woman artists who represent different cultural backgrounds, generations, geographic locations, LGBTQ, and gender identities. Twenty-eight exhibiting artists explore the concept of agency—the capacity to act or exert one’s own power; to act independently, and to make free choices. The work examines empowerment, identity, gender roles, aging, gender fluidity, reproductive choice, women and work, violence, and urgent social topics that confront our understanding of what shapes us as individuals and communities.

History
Ongoing, Year of the Tiger: Chinese Traditions in Sonoma County 1980-2022
Featuring historic objects from the Museum’s Song Wong Bourbeau collection, as well as contemporary items generously provided from the Redwood Empire Chinese Association, the exhibition explores and recognizes the long history and continuity of Chinese traditions. The Chinese temple provided a sense of collective unity for Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans, and played a vital role in maintaining a connection with their cultural home. This exhibition shows that the important threads of community, culture, language, tradition, ritual, and history remain tightly woven into the fabric of Sonoma County.

Through May 29, Manzanar: The Wartime Photographs of Ansel Adams
The exhibition features over fifty little-known photographs by Ansel Adams that depict how Japanese Americans bore their treatment at the Manzanar incarnation camp in central California. Taken during World War II, the black and white images were originally published in Adams’ book Born Free and Equal (1944) in which he protested what he called the “enforced exodus” of a American citizens within their own country. Now, 80 years after one of America’s most horrific decisions, this exhibition is an important lesson about the past injustice done to a community because of their national origin, the urgency of confronting injustice, as well as bearing witness to the resilience of the human spirit.

Working closely with the Sonoma County chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, the Museum also presents a selection of stories, objects, and images related to the experience of Sonoma County residents who faced forced incarceration in camps like Manzanar during the war.

Ongoing, Light, Clay, and Copper: Mid-Century Arts and Crafts in Sonoma County
The exhibition features three important collections from the Museum of Sonoma County: The photographs of Hansel Mieth and Otto Hagel, the pottery of Marguerite Wildenhain, and the metalwork of Harry Dixon. Each was a master of their artform and all were contemporaries that shared ideals and influences. Light, Clay, and Copper explores the connections and shared experiences of these four remarkable artists.

Ongoing, Go Big or Go Home: Taking Measure of Sonoma County’s Past
From agriculture, to transportation, to architecture, big stuff has big things to say about history. From giant tools, to a massive winery door, to a long Russian River canoe, to a surrey with a fringe on top; take a journey through the world of BIG THINGS and the stories they have to tell about Sonoma County.
425 Seventh Street, Santa Rosa
707-579-1500
www.museumsc.org

Occidental Center for the Arts
Through April 24, Salmon Creek School Student Exhibit
*** Reception, April 16, from 2 to 4 p.m.
3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental
707-874-9392
www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org

Paul Mahder Gallery
Through April 3, Journey To The Tower
Hand painted photo sculptures by Natalia Bertotti and Michael Garlington. Using a process of “in-camera collages” the artists re-created Pamela Coleman Smith’s illustrations of the Rider Waites Tarot Cards while simultaneously bringing a sense of humor and folly to the project.

April 7 through June 5, About Time
*** Artist Reception, Saturday, April 23, from 3 to 6 p.m.
The Art of Elena Zolotnitsky is all about painting—painting time, space and emotion.
222 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg
707-473-9150
https://paulmahdergallery.com/

Petaluma Arts Center
April 14 through May 28, ART Connects Us
*** Opening Reception Thursday, April 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Youth Arts Exhibition, showcasing artwork from students grades K-12 in the greater Petaluma area.
230 Lakeville Street, Petaluma
707-762-5600
www.petalumaartscenter.org

 

 

Ren Brown Collection Gallery
Through April, Spring Blooms
Even though California desperately needs more rain, the rejuvenation promised with the arrival of Spring is expressed by the works on display. 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 May 8, Through My Eyes 2.0
Photographs by Dan Kabanuck. The show showcases several images that he captured in and around Petaluma. Included are black and white aluminum prints, along with several color images of some amazing sunsets around town.
132 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma
707-775-4278
www.riverfrontartgallery.com

 

 

 

Santa Rosa Arts Center
Through April 30, Figures and Faces
Figures and Faces features artwork from Sonoma County and the Bay Area.

Through April 27, SRAC Members Art Exhibition is on view at Finley Community Center, on West College Ave.
SOFA Arts District
312 South A Street, Santa Rosa
707-526-0135
https://santarosaartscenter.org/

Santa Rosa Junior College, Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery
On-line visiting artist lecture series. Check website for schedule.
1501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa
707-527-4298
https://art-gallery.santarosa.edu/current-exhibits-0

Sculpturesite, Glen Ellen
Three new ceramic sculptures by Carol Fleming can be seen on the SculptureWALK. Our indoor space is now closed, but our outdoor SculptureWALK exhibition can still be viewed 7 days a week.
14301 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen
707-933-1300
www.sculpturesite.com

Sebastopol Center for the Arts
April 9 through May 15, Reverberations 2 –Art and Poetry
*** Opening reception Saturday, April 9, from 2 to 4 p.m.
A Visual Conversation includes the work of 50 artists who were given a poem to respond to visually. The artwork and poetry will be on display. Several poetry readings will be scheduled during the exhibition.
282 High Street, Sebastopol
707-829-4797
www.sebarts.org

Sebastopol Gallery
Through April 2, Flight Path, Paintings by Sharon Eisley
*** Reception Saturday, March 5, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Sharon Eisley presents a series of oil paintings exploring the decisions we make in our lives to turn one way or another, to stretch our wings and fly in a new direction, looking at what motivates us to make life choices, and the paradigms that constrain us.
150 N. Main St, Sebastopol
707-829-7200
www.sebastopol-gallery.com/

 

By Windy Chien

Sonoma State University, University Art Gallery
Through April 10, A Beautiful Mess, Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard
The exhibition features work by 10 women artists, all of whom use knotting or weaving as their primary technique. Using rope, yarn, clay, and wire, these makers knot and twist their media into sculptures that range from minimalistic order, to joyful pandemonium, thereby upending traditional perceptions about the art of weaving, knotting, and macramé.

April 27 through May 22, BFA Exhibition 2022
*** Opening reception, Wednesday, April 27, from 4 to 6 p.m.
One of the highlights of the University Art Gallery’s annual program is the presentation each spring semester of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Exhibition. For the BFA students and their professors, the show serves as an opportunity to see, often for the first time, a curated selection of their best work in context with their peers and within in a professional gallery environment. This year’s exhibition features the work of six students who are graduating with their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree; Jacob Brown, Anthony Davi, Axel Koenig, Jose Sanchez Chavez, Raven Akasha Sandoval, and Carlos Vega Aquilera.
1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park
707-664-2295
www.sonoma.edu/artgallery

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
Through April 24, Out of Our Minds: Clayton Bailey & Tony Natsoulas
This exhibition brings together two major players of the California Funk Art movement. Known for their satire, humor, and irreverence, Tony Natsoulas and the late Clayton Bailey created sculptures from clay and other materials that reflected a preference for unrefined and distinctive methods of construction.

This exhibition is also the first museum retrospective honoring Clayton Bailey, who passed away in 2020. A significant number of Bailey’s infamous robot sculptures are included in the show. Other programs and events related to the exhibition are listed on the museum website.
551 Broadway, Sonoma
707-939-7862
www.svma.org

 

Upstairs Art Gallery
Through May 1, Magical Mystery
*** Reception, Sunday, April 3, from 3 to 5 p.m.
Gail Morgan presents Magical Mystery, a collection of monotype abstracts that express the intriguing, and sometimes spiritual, mysteries of creating art. Meet the Artist: Morgan will be hosting the gallery Thursday, April 10 and Sunday, April 24, from 2:30 to 6 p.m.

The Staircase Showcase presents Nancy Gray’s The Promise of Spring, a collection of small paintings that celebrate the glorious world in bloom. Meet the Artist: Gray will be hosting the gallery Mondays, April 11, 18 and 25, from 2:30 to 6 p.m.
306 Center Street, Healdsburg
707-431-4214
www.Upstairsartgallery.net

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About Satri Pencak

Independent Curator, art writer
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