Mariah Nielson is the director of the JB Blunk Estate, as well as Blunk Space, a gallery dedicated to expanding the pioneering sculptor’s lasting legacy. She also happens to be his daughter.
What do you do?
Aside from my work with JB Blunk and Blunk Space, I’m also a curator and design historian.
Where do you live?
Inverness, in the house my father built using salvaged materials in 1959, the place where I was born in 1978.
How long have you lived in Marin?
I was born and raised in Inverness but moved away when I was 16. After almost 30 years living in San Francisco and Oakland and abroad (Japan, Paris, London), I’ve moved back home.
Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
On a plane or at the Blunk House.
If you had to convince someone how awesome Marin is, where would you take them?
The Point Reyes Lighthouse, walk on South Beach, lunch at Marshall Store, coffee at Toby’s in Point Reyes Station and a studio visit with sculptor Bruce Mitchell.
What’s one thing Marin is missing?
Nimble public transportation and affordable housing.
What’s one bit of advice you’d share with your fellow Marinites?
Don’t take the beauty and privilege of this place for granted.
If you could invite anyone to a special dinner, who would they be?
My father. I have a lot of questions to ask him about his work and creative process.
I’d also like to have dinner with Tupac Shakur and the writer Jacqueline Johnson.
What’s some advice you wish you knew 20 years ago?
Don’t worry.
What’s something that in 20 years from now will seem cringeworthy?
Sweatpants.
Big question. What is one thing you’d do to change the world?
Infuse all world and corporate leaders with empathy.
Keep up with Nielson via jbblunk.com and blunkspace.com or at @mariah_nielson on Instagram.
Nish Nadaraja was on the founding team at Yelp, serves on the San Anselmo Arts Commission and attempts to play pickleball at Fairfax’s Cañon Club.
