Face of Petaluma, Petaluma Arts Center, 2017

Curated by Jude Mooney and Stefan Kirkeby

Petaluma’s proximity to the progressive and diverse financial hubs of the Bay Area and its long lineage as a farming town make for an uncommon blend of cultures. Ranchers, commuters, shopkeepers, teachers, artists, religious leaders, housecleaners, 4-H members, and activists all live together in this town that is enjoying one of its most prosperous moments.

Through their portraits, all created in the last year, Michael Garlington, Paige Green, Jude Mooney, and Michael Woolsey capture the present moment when the city’s demographics are shifting rapidly and the Bay Area struggles to define itself. By examining how we work, play, love, and identify ourselves, these portraits allow us to gaze into each other’s eyes and see the heart of the community. While this exhibition highlights the change in Petaluma, it also reveals the values we hold steadfast: a commitment to community and to this fertile soil.

-Heather Fordham