The city’s newest citizen oversight group has decided the best way to do their job is to stay in touch with the people they speak for, so they’re having an informal open house with the public next Thursday evening, May 8. It’s billed as a “meet-and-greet,” so don’t expect a stage show even though it will be held at 222 Healdsburg Ave.
The open house will follow by a week the latest meeting, where “Branding Identity” and “Website Development” were the first orders of business for the new commission, according to Taryn Nicoll, the city’s part-time Arts and Culture program administrator.
Nicoll said a dedicated website will “place Healdsburg’s artistic and cultural events front and center for all residents and visitors, while promoting awareness of local creatives and offering valuable entrepreneurial resources to artists at all stages of their career.”
The commission was authorized by the city, and its seven members appointed, at the Nov. 18 meeting of the City Council. They include performance artist Marcy Frank, who is commission chair; and Michiko Conklin, a former Parks and Recreation commissioner and commission vice chair. The five other members share active roles in the arts, either as performers, creators or administrators.
They are Alexander Harris of The Harris Gallery; co-founder of the Healdsburg Dance Collective, Marcy Frank; Cristal Lopez Pardo of Corazón Healdsburg; experiential site designer Noah Jeppson; and Gina Riner, who brings over 23 years of dedicated involvement in local art and culture. Riner referred to the commission’s role to “serve as a conduit for the creative sector in Healdsburg.”
Nicoll, who was hired by the city several months ago to serve as the commission’s liaison with the city staff, leads a busy life beyond her Healdsburg role as an arts administrator. She’s an adjunct professor of art history at Sonoma State University and a curator specializing in community engagement and creative placemaking.
With that sort of background and the composition of the commission itself, it’s not surprising that there’s a performative aspect to the Arts and Culture Commission. It will first be expressed on Thursday, May 8, with an evening “Meet and Greet” at the Paul Mahder Gallery at 222 Healdsburg Ave.
Nicoll said that the commission was “excited to venture out of its usual meeting location and host this meaningful gathering in one of Healdsburg’s cultural jewels, the Paul Mahder Gallery.” She credited Mark Themig, the city’s Community Services director, with coming up with the venue when they hatched the plan for the meet-and-greet several weeks ago.
Both sought to underscore the informal nature of the occasion. “There’s no specific presentation, but there will be information available for people,” Themig said. “Stop by any time.”
The open house can also serve as an opportunity to recruit committee members for workgroups based on the goals that the Arts and Culture Commission recently finalized. Those goals and other resources can be found on the city’s website at healdsburg.gov/arts.
The meet-and-greet is scheduled for 6-8pm at Paul Mahder Art Gallery at 222 Healdsburg Ave. Guests can expect light appetizers and refreshments.
