Engaging Community includes eight CfC Steering Committee visual artists: Ian Bain, Terra Fuller, Gadget, Elizabeth Gómez, Sandra Keely, Kent Manske, Beth Mostovoy, and NehaXStitch. These artists have come together with a group of San Mateo County community members—all volunteering time, skills, energy, and resources—to bring a multi-purpose Arts Center to our region. Grassroots community activism with the goal of creating space for individuals and families to engage in and celebrate a broad range of the Arts is the heart of their efforts. When artists work in their communities, magic happens—they engage fellow citizens with joy, generosity, and the creative spirit. Not only do they create connections with each other, they provide pathways for public engagement with creative experiences— experiences with positive outcomes which affect mental health, personal development, social connection, daily happiness, and local economies.
On exhibit are oil paintings by Ian Bain and Elizabeth Gómez, quilts by Terra Fuller, layered wood creations by Gadget, carved acrylic works by Sandra Keely, prints by Kent Manske, photographs by Beth Mostovoy, and embroidery by NehaXStitch. These artists are storytellers. Their themes include family, nature, environmental concerns, cultural heritage, science, whimsy, socio-political issues, materials exploration, and attention to one's surroundings.
The CfC project would not be realized without community members volunteering years of time, skill, energy, resources, and physical labor. Many CfC Steering Committee members have served and gone on to other projects. A big handful continue to serve the CfC vision, eager to see it realized in full. CfC Steering Committee members, past and present, include: Stacy Ardelean, Jill Asher, Ian Bain, Sheila Cepero, Dani Gasparini, Elizabeth Gómez, Terra Fuller, Sandra Keeley, Lucy Larson, Kent Manske, Beth Mostovoy, Gadget, Susie Peyton, Barbara Pierce, Lisa Preville, Tara de la Garza, VC Tang, Pam Swint, Danica Hodge, Alyssa Levitan, Neha Sharma, Corrine Friedman, Sara Forgarty, Kathleen Harrison, Jeremy Friedenthal, and Andrea Jones.
— Nanette Wylde, curator
Explore the art from Engaging Community below: