As I watched the sun disappear around 5pm, it was clear that change is in the air.  New month, daylight savings gone, while autumn leaves tell us it’s that time of year to bring out our sweaters for the brisk weather.  There is change all around us in the art world.

Some changes are great for the Petaluma fine art scene and others very sad.

On the up side of change is the very exciting news: the Calabi Gallery opened its doors today at 144 Petaluma Blvd North.  Though my cold kept me at home,  I talked to owner/curator Dennis Calabi on the phone during the opening and it was clear there was fantastic energy in his gallery from the big crowd that was there.  Congratulations to Dennis for taking the next step in making Petaluma a great cultural destination.

I have to say how sad I was to read in the Petaluma Post that Aurora Colors Gallery will be moving from Petaluma Downtown.  This is truly a loss for the downtown and the Petaluma Art Community.  Vangie & Lyndon Pullins successfully  brought a spectrum of fine art to our downtown, starting with their own glass art.  Vangie served in several capacities for the Petaluma Arts Association, she has been key in the efforts to coordinate the downtown galleries and was instrumental with the Petaluma 150th celebration.  I would personally like to thank Vangie & Lyndon for their efforts in support of the arts in Petaluma and ask that everyone visit their beautiful gallery before the end of the year, particularly on the November Art Walk on Friday, November 13th to get a glimpse of what they have so tirelessly brought to Petaluma.  Best of luck to Aurora Colors Gallery!

Kudos to Margie Helm, Abraham Solar and Vicky Kumpfer for the increased participation in another fantastic El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in its 9th year.  This year was amazing, with reportedly 1500 people at the parade last Friday night.  The exhibit at the Petaluma Arts Center is still available for another week.  If you haven’t stopped by to check out the alters and amazing art, I highly recommend it.  This event is incredibly positive change in our cross cultural efforts in Petaluma.  It’s one of the largest celebrations of its type in Northern California and we can be very proud of the committee that puts on this event!

So, fabulous things are happening in the arts. It’s time for all of us to harness the positive momentum in the arts.  It’s time for us, the gallery owners, the home furnishing merchants, the antique dealers, the musicians, the restaurant owners, educators, service providers and our customers… YES, you, our customers and our community, to join in the effort!

You ask “What Effort”?  I ask your help in getting the word out about Petaluma as an incredible cultural destination with top-notch restaurants, a full spectrum of shopping and what I believe to be the fastest growing art community in the Bay Area.  I ask that you help us simply by writing a note on your facebook page or a mention of the arts to visiting guests.  I ask that you tell your family, your colleagues, your friends and people on the street about the positive changes in Petaluma.  Studies indicate that visitors to a town who are there for a cultural event or attraction tend to spend a lot more dollars in that town.  So, please help us.

I also ask for your feedback. If you have ideas about how we can harness this energy to ensure people find us on purpose and not simply because they were stopping on their way to the Coast, please join in the discussion.  We need your ideas and help to make this happen.

If you didn’t know that we have a booming art community, we need to find out why you don’t know about it.   I invite each person reading this blog to put Friday, November 13th on your calendar to take part in the Downtown Art Walk from 5 – 8pm.  Galleries & other merchants participating will have special educational presentations along with holiday cheer.  I’ll bet that you’ll find some awesome holiday gifts during the walk.  Watch this blog for the Art Walk Map for November.  Hope you join us in celebrating the visual arts, a growing slice of the full spectrum of arts in our wonderful town.