SAN ANSELMO ARTS COMMISSION
Town Hall
(SAAC) sponsors events that bring artists and our local community together to enjoy and celebrate the arts in all forms.
SAAC COMMISSIONERS:
Dave Donery - Staff Liaison
ddonery@ci.san-anselmo.ca.us
Arnie Cicchetti - Chair
acicchetti@earthlink.net
Joan Stone - Treasurer
just_joan@comcast.net
Linda Lujan - Secretary
linda.lujan@live.com
Ervin Grinberg
ervin.grinberg@gmail.com
Gail Galli
ggalli172@gmail.com
Jo Ann Hartley
joann@joannhartley.com
Katie Rice Jones
katie@katiericejones.com
Stacey Kamp
sakamp@comcast.net
Natalia Mazina
nmazina@mazinalaw.com
Elaine O’Malley
Elaine@urbanfaerie.com
The general goal of the Commission is to add to the cultural character of Ross Valley through any form of artistic expression. Our objectives include providing a structure to facilitate the creation of art in all disciplines in the community, promoting and exhibiting art and cultural works produced by Ross Valley artists, and promoting art education in the community. Art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression.
The Commission meets on the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m.at the Town Hall. Please feel free to join us at any of these meetings. We welcome new ideas and suggestions.
MEET THE COMMISSIONERS
Dave Patrick Donery is responsible for recreation programming, facility management, coordination of special event applications, overseeing the budget, and managing Recreation Department staff. David also serves as the staff liaison for the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Arts Commission and the Dog Park Steering Committee. Prior to joining the Town of San Anselmo, David served as Community Services Supervisor for the City of San Rafael where he managed the Pickleweed Park Community Center & Library. David was a central figure in the revitalization of the community center, which was renovated and expanded over a seven year period, reopening in 2006. David worked for San Rafael for just over 20 years, working in the Adult Sports division and managing the Youth Services division before taking on his role at Pickleweed. He holds bachelor’s degree in Recreation Administration from San Francisco State University. David lives in San Anselmo with his wife Jennifer, his daughter Sinéad and his son Cavan.
Arnie Cicchetti has been a volunteer in San Anselmo for the past 30 years, having first served as President for the Fairfax-San Anselmo Children’s Center. He has served as a volunteer for the Town over the last 10 years. An avid wine enthusiast, Mr.Cicchetti and his brother write articles for scientific wine journals.
Joan Stone has been on the San Anselmo Arts Commission for the past 4 years. Joan enjoys all forms of art and supporting local artists. A native raised in Marin county and has called San Anselmo “home” for 41 years. Joan is self employed in her business as Restoration Jeweler, enjoying the variety of creative challenges.
Linda Lujan has been a residence of San Anslemo for 4 years. She moved from Salt Lake City, Utah after retiring from sales and marketing. She wanted to get to know her new community and decided that the San Anselmo Arts Commission was the best way for her to do this. Linda has been part of the Commission for 3 years and has enjoyed learning about the arts in Ross Valley. She enjoys walking, biking, hiking and the outdoor activities in Marin. Linda maintains a personal training certification. She lives in San Anselmo with her daughter and grandson.
Ervin Grinberg moved from the Washington DC area in 1975 to the Bay Area to get a degree in art (Photography and Metal Sculpture ) from the San Francisco Art Institute which he received in 1978. As a student and after art school Ervin's sequential images were shown in many galleries around the world. Ervin's images not only dealt with the subject matter he was photographing, but also the space in-between the frames. Over the years he ran a successful entertainment logistics company, got involved in a Internet start-up and is currently the Director of Marketing of a digital audio networking company, but has never lost his sense of aesthetics which he incorporates in his everyday life. When not working, Ervin can also be found behind the lens of his camera(s) or creating delicious and unusal meals for his friends and family.
Katie Rice Jones' interest in the arts (and ascetics) was inspired by playing hide-and-go-seek throughout her grandmother’s modern George Fred Keck home as a young child. Years later she became a TV host covering the local arts scene throughout Northern California for Comcast Hometown Network’s Inside City Limits. She has now hosted that show for over seven years. Katie also writes about the art of style in her upcoming book Fashion Dues.
Natalia Mazina Russian native born, Natallia received American business and legal education. Being an artist herself (she went to art school in Russia), she joined San Anselmo art commission in 2011 to get involved in the local community. She works with Medicaid Defense Fund doing civil rights litigation representing healthcare providers, pharmacies and disabled individuals. Understanding the need for quality legal representation in the artistic community, she also opened her own practice specializing in Art Law. The office represents artists with various backgrounds in areas of copyright, business formation, and contracts. Natalia enjoys living, working, and volunteering in her favorite town of all, San Anselmo!
Elaine O’Malley is excited to bring her many years of performance art and fine art experience to the San Anselmo Arts Commission. A former professional ballet dancer, Elaine spent her formative years in the dance studio at Marin Ballet, and went on to a 7 year career with the National Ballet of Canada and the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam. She leapt into the world of fashion design after retiring from ballet and in 2010, took on the ultimate creative role of motherhood. Elaine now enjoys sharing her passion for art, design, and dance with her family and the surrounding community.
Jo Ann Hartley born and raised in Mill Valley, was "steeped" in the arts." Her family friends were artists, actors, musicians and entrepreneurs. Her first art classes, at age 9, were in photography with Lionel Bridges in Old Mill Park. With a fine art degree, Jo Ann's first career was in the beauty industry with Diane von Furstenberg and Hermès. After the birth of her children, she returned to the classroom for an interior design degree and subsequently launched her eponymous design firm. Hartley's design talents have been on view for 5 San Francisco Decorator Showcases and 4 Marin Designer Showhouses. JoAnn has lived in San Anselmo for 34 years with her husband David.
Gail Galli has been involved in the arts her entire adult career. As a commercial interior designer in San Francisco she had the pleasure of creating and/or selecting and installing works of art in many public and private spaces. Several years ago she took a hiatus from design and worked as an art consultant in San Francisco and the South Bay. With two sons who attended Sir Francis drake High School she had the opportunity to be involved with the classical and jazz music programs at the high school for a time. Since retiring three years ago she has taken up painting.
Stacey Kamp was born and raised in Kentfield CA and spent time as a child with her artist grandmother, learning skills such as painting, photography and pottery. While in college she started the Art Studio Program at the MIYO Teen Center in San Rafael, where she became Art Director, and organized creative activities for at-risk youth. In 2011 she created “Local Art Productions”, a grassroots organization producing large-scale art shows to showcase up-and-coming artists. She is currently a member of Marin Open Studios, RAW Natural Born Artist Collective, San Anselmo Arts Commission and The Marin Society of Artists, where she serves as a member of the Advisory Council.
Ryan Leary is a San Anselmo native who loves local sports and the arts. As a young boy he was very involved in music, theater and art at his Waldorf elementary and middle school. His fourth grade art teacher, Ms. Marshall, inspired him to explore new forms of art such as watercolors, murals, ceramics, drawing, and painting. He is now a junior at Sir Francis Drake High School and is involved with the art program there and started the Drake Film Club with over 200 members. This is his first year on the Arts Commission and he is very excited to be working on projects that will positively benefit the community of San Anselmo.