Exploring the Arts in Mendocino County

Is it the rivers, or the forests, or the rugged coastlines begging to be explored? Or perhaps it’s the wildlife and clear mountain views that have convinced so many artists to take up residence in Mendocino County. There are a lot of artists here. In fact, the county claims to have more artists per capita than any other rural county its size in California. There is evidence of this in every town from the North Mendocino Coast to Andersen Valley. Not a single town is without a studio, gallery, theater, or museum.

With the aura of Mendocino as their muse, resident actors, composers, craftsmen, dancers, musicians, native cultural artists, painters, poets, sculptors, singers, storytellers, and writers live unassuming lives expressing their art. And wine tourers are the lucky recipients. Besides investigating the art of winemaking in the Russian and Andersen Valleys and other spots around the county, they can round out their day with an enriching visit to a gallery, studio, or theater. A day in Mendocino is filled with possibilities—spelled a-r-t-s.

“There’s something going on in the arts in Mendocino County all year round,” Executive Director of the Mendocino Arts Council Anna Kvinsland says. “It’s obvious it’s beautiful here and the community strongly supports the arts and a creative lifestyle. In a small community like this, you rub shoulders on a daily basis with locally and nationally known artists, actors, musicians, and writers.”

Wine tourers are encouraged to not only witness, but take part in the arts in Mendocino County. “There are weekly drop-in studio workshops at the Mendocino Art Center and the Gualala Art Center, as well as longer weekend and weeklong courses,” Anna reports. “In Point Arena, every Thursday is Poetry Night, with readings by local poets and an open microphone.”

Galleries
There are at least 45 commercial galleries in Mendocino County, plus many other businesses and fairs that routinely display the work of local artists. Just a few spots to note include Rookie-To Gallery (Boonville), a fascinating 1930s California bungalow that features the craftsmanship of many longtime local artists, and neophytes as well. One Earth! Clay and Glass Studio (Ukiah) features artists’ works and more, with drop-in open-house sessions, where you can try your hand at the wheel or create your own glass-fused masterpiece. Art Center Ukiah’s Corner Gallery is an artist’s cooperative, with a compelling event-filled gallery and education center. Northcoast Artists (Fort Bragg) displays exquisite pieces made by graduates of the local College of the Redwoods Fine Woodworking Program. And on the first Friday of each month in Ukiah and Fort Bragg, the first Saturday in Gualala, and the second Saturday in Mendocino, galleries stay open late serving wine and food and showcasing the work of local artists.

Concerts
As remarkable as it may seem, there are two full symphony orchestras in Mendocino County: the Symphony of the Redwoods and the Ukiah Symphony Foundation. Members of both perform in the Mendocino Music Festival a program-packed event, revered nationwide. Under the direction of Artistic Director Andrew Pollack, the 2009 festival presents more than two summer weeks of musical performances under a giant tent at the Mendocino Headlands State Park, Ford House Museum, and Visitor’s Center. Piano and chamber concerts, performances by youth, and lectures occur throughout the day in different spots around Mendocino Village. There is also a full production opera company, Opera Fresca, offering fully staged operas, night at the opera concerts, and romantic dinner performances.

Plays and Hoorays
Live theater thrives in Mendocino County. Several small community troupes have worked tirelessly through the years to develop fine reputations and yearlong performance schedules including The Ukiah Players  Theatre, a nonprofit group of thespians who present classic, contemporary, and original plays and musicals in the Ukiah Playhouse (Ukiah). The nine-month season offered by Willitts Community Theatre (Willitts) includes comedy, musicals, dance, drama, and more. In the summer, Mendocino Theatre Company (Mendocino) offers a full schedule of plays in its intimate 81-seat theater building. Mendocino County even has its own resident circus! In keeping with the artistic energy of its community, Flynn Creek Circus (Mendocino) brings a creative level to athleticism. The cast performs dramatic, awe-inspiring feats in an interpretive way that leaves a lasting impression on its audience.

When planning a visit to Mendocino County, the Mendocino Arts Council (www.artsmendocino.org) and the North Coast Tourism Council (www.northcoastca.com) are excellent resources filled with ideas for your itinerary and links to individual galleries, artists, theaters, and other websites. Anna Kvinsland invites visitors to call the Mendocino Arts Council directly for help with planning their itineraries. And you’ll be in good hands. As she says, “There’s the natural beauty and awe-inspiring vistas at every turn in the road in this county—from ocean to redwoods to vineyards to mountains. If you love painting, photography, writing, music, wine—you name it, you can’t help but feel inspired in Mendocino County!”

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