What would a citywide celebration of art and artists be like in Petaluma?
Residents and visitors are about to find out.
Arts Alive Petaluma — modeled after (and named after) similar arts events in places like Humboldt, California — is designed by local artists of all kinds to connect and promote the vibrant and multifaceted art community of -city. Officially launching on Thursday, August 18 from 5-8 p.m., and continuing every third Thursday of the month, Arts Alive presents the public with the opportunity to walk to take part in various musical, theatrical, literary demonstrations and visual creativity.
“We hope it builds and has energy and carries the excitement forward every month,” said Marie McCusker, executive director of the Downtown Petaluma Association. “We hope that when the word gets out about this happening every third Thursday of the month, people will get together and come downtown and have a good time seeing all the unique and exciting things that are going on.”
To help with this, there is a clickable map on the Petaluma Downtown Association website (PetalumaDowntown.com) where curious art lovers can see what’s happening where, and plan their approach. Although the events are meant to be within a few minutes’ walk of each other, there’s probably more to do in three hours than most can fit in, so it’s recommended to check out what’s on offer. and prepare in advance.
Music, not surprisingly to hear, will be a big part of the fun.
“Jupiter Foods will have a band playing near its produce stand on Petaluma Boulevard, there will be music at Vibe Gallery and at the Speakeasy on American Alley,” McCusker said, adding, “And this is just the beginning .”
In the language of Arts Alive, each participating venue is known as a “host”, and in addition to those mentioned by McCusker for their musical presentations at the event, other hosts this month will include Aqus Cafe, in which meet and greet with artists. Gail Foulkes and Jennifer Tatum (ends at 7 p.m.), Alchemia Gallery (111 Kentucky St.), featuring spoken word artist Zachary Weil and poet Julie Yeager, and The Art Hatchery (401 7th St.) , where painter Ara Ara Loca and art photographer Lance Kuehne will welcome visitors to their studios.
The recently opened Artaluma Creativity Center (145 Keller St.) will be offering improv games led by teacher and artist Cheryl King and friends at 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and at the Grand Central Cafe, (226 Weller St.), the WonderStump Collective will present an interactive exhibit based on a sculpture called The Rocket, described as “a curious and immersive piece of art in the form of a walkable rocket. inside and stick your head through it.” The collective will also be showing a piece entitled The ParasolTree, while live performances will take place on the outdoor MicroStage at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Right in the center of things at Putnam Plaza, children’s book readings in English and Spanish will be hosted by Drake Cunningham and Melissa Abercrombie while sound artist Andy Sewell invites participation in -his project “Conversations with Strangers”, which all takes place between 5 and 8 p.m. And winding through it all will be the Unicorn Blessing Brigade, a parade of magical inflatable creatures that make its way from host to host and all through the downtown area.
And if that’s not enough to inspire and enlighten, at Life on Earth Art (8 4th St.), the unique and mind-blowing artists who create there will present an evening of uplifting art, music and drinks. The event will feature the extraordinary art installation “Unbound” by Life on Earth Art in Napa and Street Fleet, a new project of large winged heart street puppets. The music of Archer Monk will be presented from 6-7:30 p.m.
In the coming months, according to McCusker, the soon-to-open Polly Klaas Community Theater will be participating with live performances of various kinds.
“Arts Alive is a celebration of the types of arts we have in Petaluma,” McCusker said. “It’s one night every month where everything opens up and you can go and see it and enjoy it and find out what’s going on in the arts community here.”
