Marin County
Open Doors
For two spring weekends, Marin County turns itself into a walkable, drivable, occasionally wonderfully confusing map of creativity as more than 260 artists open their studios to the public for the 33rd annual Marin Open Studios. The self-guided event offers a rare chance to see where the work actually happens—paint-splattered corners, kiln rooms, sculpture setups and the mysterious habitats of people who know how to make things. Participating artists span painting, photography, ceramics, textiles, jewelry and other disciplines, with 62 newcomers joining the roster this year. Those who prefer reconnaissance before committing can begin at the Showcase Gallery at Sausalito Center for the Arts, where examples from participating artists are gathered under one roof. 11am–6pm, Saturday–Sunday, May 2–3 and May 9–10, at various studios throughout Marin County. Free admission. More information at marinopenstudios.org.
Point Reyes Station
Three New Worlds
Gallery Route One opens spring with a trio of exhibitions loosely united by life on Earth and the ways we perceive it. In The Land’s Memory – Some Places Remember Us features E.A. Zappa’s presentation of realist paintings and sculptural works inspired by Alaska’s landscapes, wildlife and human relationships to place. Jenny-Lynn Hall’s (i’m)permanence offers subtle drawings in chalk, charcoal and soluble pencil that meditate on time, impermanence and interconnectedness. Visiting artist Arminée Chahbazian rounds out the lineup with Biggest Little Worlds, oil and encaustic paintings that transform wild bird eggs into planetary forms suspended between ecology and dreamscape. Together, the three shows move from wilderness memory to cosmic fragility, with stops at geometry, migration and mortality along the way. Heavy themes, yes—but handled with beauty and imagination. Exhibits run now through May 24, Gallery Route One, 11101 Hwy. 1, Point Reyes Station. Gallery hours 11am–5pm, Thursday–Monday.
Petaluma
Dr. Color
Bob Buckter, known professionally as Dr. Color, is a longtime San Francisco designer and color consultant who brings his vivid sensibility to Petaluma for an afternoon devoted to the transformative powers of paint, architecture and cheerful audacity. For decades, Buckter has helped turn historic homes and everyday buildings into exuberant landmarks, approaching color not as decoration but as a public trust. A Vibrant Afternoon with Dr. Color begins at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum and includes a talk, self-guided walking tour and private cocktail reception at a historic Petaluma home. 4–6:30pm, Saturday, May 2, at Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 20 4th St. $44.52. More information at bit.ly/dr-color.
Sonoma
Booked Solid
This year’s edition of the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival boasts headliner Maria Semple, newly selected for Oprah’s Book Club, thanks to her latest novel, Go Gentle. That means festivalgoers can catch one of publishing’s emerging talents while the ink is still drying on their CV. The ninth annual gathering returns to Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa with a roster spanning history, humor, politics, poetry and culture, including Doris Kearns Goodwin, Rick Atkinson, Andrew Ross Sorkin and Dave Barry. There is also a free Authors on the Plaza event in downtown Sonoma where authors Barry, Semple, Atkinson and Colum McAnn will also appear. May 1–3, Friday–Sunday, at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, Sonoma. Festival passes from $1,500. Authors on the Plaza 11am–2pm, Saturday, May 2, Sonoma Plaza, Sonoma. Free admission. More information at svauthorsfest.org.
