Petaluma Arts Center

Each time we pass the Mi Pueblo El Centro parklet, we notice some new detail, like the geometric metalwork in the bell towers. Artist Kevin Clark of Reared In Steel has built an elaborate fantasy world that impresses and excites from every angle. What’s your favorite building from this parklet?

The best creation happens in partnership. That is why we’re so overjoyed and honored that we’ve been selected as a 2021 grantee by the Peaceful World Foundation. Our organizations bonded over the shared goal of peacebuilding through the arts. We’ll be sharing more about our upcoming collaboration in the months ahead. Learn more about the foundation on their website: bit.ly/Website-PWF ... [Art by Sami Sunchild, founder of Peaceful World Foundation]

A kaleidoscope of artistic color, an apt description of the Pianos of Petaluma show by John Maher [@Petaluma Pete]. This invigorating community exhibition has ended but you can catch a glimpse in this ABC11 WTVD interview with John. Watch to understand how this explosion of color and sound came together. And learn how the show supported Petaluma River Promenade’s mission to restore the downtown Petaluma train trestle.

Your votes are in! These are your favorite eccentric instruments from the Petaluma Pianos show, our collaboration with Petaluma Pete. FIRST PLACE: Stained Glass by Robyn Disharoon [Seen here in its new home at Passeggiata Shoes] SECOND PLACE: Barn and Birds by Lucia Antonelli THIRD PLACE: Crusin’ Chevy by Elise Ann Durenberger... Many thanks to every artist and visitor who joined us for our first indoor show in over a year! It was an absolute explosion of creativity and community and we loved every second. Stay tuned for more coming soon.

Big news! Petaluma Arts Center has a new leader at the helm. We’re ecstatic to introduce Executive Director Carin Jacobs. Her career spans more than 20 years in arts administration, development, and program design at institutions like the SFMOMA and the Oakland Museum. And while she’s new to her position, she’s been involved with the Arts Center since moving to Petaluma eight years back. She’d previously guided the organization on our Board of Directors and is the mastermind behind our popular Idea Lounge series. So here’s to many more years of Carin’s shining leadership! Please give her a warm welcome.

Days are getting longer but we still have plenty of winter left. So it’s nice to be able to look back and think about warm times when we could create together outdoors. This was at our Chalk Art Competition way back in 2013! Check out this Petaluma Patch write up for a walk down memory lane: bit.ly/2KOPiy0

Put an historical helmet on your dog. Look at all the contemporary art in your favorite color. See yourself in a famous painting. Google Arts & Culture, a highly recommended way to kill an hour or two of your time.

A new auction item is beer! I mean here but it’s also beer. Lagunitas Brewing Co has just donated their 1 Beer for a Year Punch Cardgood for 12 cases all through next year! If 2021 is going to be anything like 2020, this could be the most essential item in the bunch! Is that a bidding war we hear brewing? Join in here: https://bit.ly/PAC_Auction

Artists who work with wood will tell you that the wood will tell you its shape. You can see that reflected here, in the rippling folds of this solid wood sphere sculpture by artist Peter Phibbs. It’s been shaped completely by eye and finished with a process invented by Phibbs, which involves applying raku ceramics firing techniques to wood. Finishing the work in this way is an ongoing experiment resulting with every piece being unique . An example is demonstrated with this w...ork in areas that appear to have actual moss growth," says Phibbs. You can bid on this piece in our Petaluma Loves Art online auction. Find it here: https://bit.ly/PAC_Auction

Next Curbside Clay class is this Wednesday, January 6! $35 for 10lbs of clay, tools, and virtual instruction. Make it at home, and we fire it here. Get your hands messy, relax and learn a new skill. Email Candace at [email protected] to sign up.

Splendid news for art lovers! We’ve decided to extend our Petaluma Loves Art online auction until Friday, December 11 at 11:59pm! Read all about the evolution of the event in this Petaluma Argus-Courier/ Petaluma360 articlelike the donation of seven pieces from art lovers John Mackie and Kate Ecker, and the evolution of the event from in-person to virtual gallery. You can browse the auction here: bit.ly/PAC_Auction

Happy New Year! We’re going into 2021 feeling cautiously hopeful. Here’s to a year of rising up and taking flight. Artwork: Taking Flight by Nicki Adani Photo by Scott Hess

Before the pandemic made life a million times less fun, we used to host ceramics classes out of the Petaluma Arts Center. But our master of ceramics, Candace Birchfield, thought up a way to keep the education and creativity flowingCurbside Clay. It’s a takeaway ceramics class, with all supplies provided for $35. That includes 10lbs of clay and every tool you need! Make it at home, then drop it back off with us to be fired. Next class is next Wednesday, January 6! Sign up by emailing Candace at [email protected].

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. A piece by Bay Area artist Nuala Creed. The sculpture came from Creed’s years living in the Castro district of San Francisco, where she was inspired by the boldness of drag fashion and the uninhibited spirit of drag queens. The title? A play on the military policy which was a lame attempt of acceptance of the LGBT community, she explains. This bold and lovely wall sculpture is available now as part of our Petaluma Loves Art online auction. Bidding s...tarts at $200. Join the auction here: bit.ly/PAC_Auction

Some artists thrive in every medium. This vibrant, acrylic painting was created by the late sculptor Robert Ellison, a local artistic legend. He’s known for his postmodern steel sculptures like Cherry Sodaa fixture outside of the downtown Petaluma movie theatre. You can see echos of his bright and playful sculptures in early paintings like this one. This is the highest valued of the pieces up for auction during our Petaluma Loves Art event. Happening now through December... 7! Appraised at $4000. Bidding starts at $500. Explore all auction pieces here: bit.ly/PAC_Auction