Petaluma
Whale Sounds at Usher
Whale songs turn into brushstrokes in Whale Sounds on a Canvas II, the latest exhibition by artist Firuze Gokce. Inspired by whale sound spectrograms, Gokce transforms acoustic patterns into abstract works that merge science, art and conservation. Acrylic whale portraits round out the Usher Gallery show, offering vibrant glimpses of marine life while underscoring the urgency of protecting ocean ecosystems. An opening reception on Saturday, Oct. 18, 5–8pm, features live music by the Loralee Christensen Duo, refreshments and a chance to meet the artist. The exhibition runs Oct. 14–Nov. 23 at Usher Gallery, 1 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. More at ushergallerypetaluma.com.
Santa Rosa
‘Peanuts’ Turns 75
Seventy-five years ago, Charles M. Schulz introduced the world to Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang with the first Peanuts strip on Oct. 2, 1950. The Charles M. Schulz Museum honors this anniversary with HA! HA! HA! HA! 75 Years of Humor in Peanuts, a new exhibition running now through March 18. Visitors can explore original comic strip art and see how Schulz’s humor evolved over 17,897 strips, cementing a legacy of laughter that continues to resonate worldwide. 10am–5pm, now through March 18, Charles M. Schulz Museum, 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. Details at schulzmuseum.org/peanuts75.
Mill Valley
Decade of Poet and/the Bench
Poet and/the Bench kicks off its 10th anniversary season with a reception for Between Soil and Sky & Desert Rising on Saturday, Oct. 4. The show pairs Topanga Canyon artist Danielle Hutchens, whose natural pigment paintings grew from the quiet regrowth after Los Angeles’ fires, with San Francisco potter Avigail Remak, whose ceramics echo the resilience of desert flora. Both artists will be present for the opening, which runs 4–8pm. On view through Jan. 31, the exhibition continues Poet and/the Bench’s dedication to contemporary design and emerging voices. 4–8pm, Saturday, Oct. 4, Poet and/the Bench, 11 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. Details at poetandthebench.com.
Mill Valley
Vuckovich & Ryan in Concert
Jazz pianist Larry Vuckovich—fresh from receiving two Lifetime Achievement awards—joins forces with vocalist Jackie Ryan for a special Sunday afternoon concert at Mill Valley Community Church. Ryan, a Marinite whose CDs have topped charts worldwide, brings her interpretations of Latin classics and jazz standards, while Vuckovich, Vince Guaraldi’s onetime student and piano partner, adds a lifetime of bebop and Afro-Cuban stylings to the keys. 3pm, Sunday, Oct. 12, Mill Valley Community Church, 8 Olive St. Tickets and details at larryvuckovich.com.
