Sebastopol
End Times
Can art save civilization? Sebastopol’s Apocalypse Studio is willing to give it a shot with STIMULANT: Art as Remedy for Diseased Culture, a two-week exhibition at Laguna Lab. The father-and-daughter team of Apoc and Iren Sophia combines large-scale paintings, digital animation and live performances to explore the relationship between creativity and society’s troubles. At the center is “The Oversoul,” a sprawling mosaic of 144 individual artworks brought to life through animation. The exhibition also features artist lectures examining artificial intelligence, consciousness and social change, plus a Parisian-style art salon devoted to the future of culture. Visitors can meet the artists during afternoon gallery hours. Whether art can cure what ails civilization remains an open question, but the diagnosis promises to be interesting. Opening performance 7:30pm, Saturday, Nov. 7, at Laguna Lab, 117 Morris St., Sebastopol. Exhibition runs through Friday, Nov. 20. Free. For a complete itinerary, visit apocalypse.art/stimulant.
Point Reyes Station
Material World
Art, ecology and the peculiar relationships between things converge at Gallery Route One, where six Bay Area artists explore everything from discarded materials to environmental change in three new exhibitions. In “Material Matters,” Betsy Kellas and Ellen Vogel transform cardboard, wood scraps and fragments of earlier artworks into mixed-media compositions. Mary Ann Leff’s “In Relation: An Exploration of Connections” considers the push and pull of relationships through bold abstract paintings. Meanwhile, “Listening to the Earth” brings together Susan Friedman’s wildfire imagery, Linda Bea Miller’s embroidered tapestries addressing habitat destruction and Na Omi Shintani’s sculptural tribute to oysters and her family’s history. Opening reception and artist talks, 3–5pm, Saturday, Nov. 14. Exhibitions run through Sunday, Dec. 27, at Gallery Route One, 11101 Hwy. One, Suite 1101, Point Reyes Station. Thursday–Monday, 11am–5pm. galleryrouteone.org.
Fairfax
The Promised Land
After more than 30 years teaching English, Caitlin Mohan is turning the page on a new chapter with promiseland, a gallery and shop opening in Fairfax. Bringing together original art, jewelry, textiles, vintage finds and assorted beautiful objects, the space reflects Mohan’s belief in the power of art to inspire wonder. The inaugural exhibition features three artists whose work draws on West Marin’s distinctive landscape: Point Reyes painter Nancy Stein, Fairfax plein-air artist Timothy Horn and Point Reyes photographer Eli Geller. The gallery and shop’s name nods to California’s long history as a destination for dreamers seeking something better, from the worlds of John Steinbeck to Woody Guthrie. For Mohan, the transition from classroom to gallery is a natural one: Both offer opportunities to discover something unexpected. 1–4pm, Saturday, Nov. 14, at promiseland, 1828 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax.
Petaluma
Art of Giving
Art lovers can celebrate local creativity while supporting its future at the Petaluma Arts Center annual Members’ Show, a monthlong exhibition showcasing work by the center’s artist members. Opening Nov. 12, the exhibition offers a look at the community’s creative talents alongside PAC’s third annual Art Auction & Fundraiser. Visitors can explore auction pieces in the North Gallery before placing bids online, with proceeds supporting the center’s exhibitions, workshops, educational programs and ongoing operations. The festivities culminate Dec. 12 with a closing reception, year-end celebration and raffle featuring contributions from local businesses. Both receptions and the exhibition are free, making this an opportunity to appreciate local art, perhaps acquire some and help keep Petaluma’s creative community thriving. Opening reception 5:30–7:30pm, Thursday, Nov. 12, at Petaluma Arts Center, 230 Lakeville St. Exhibition runs through Saturday, Dec. 12. Free.
