Despite the traditional Bay Area summertime heatwave lingering late into the season, it is once again time to announce autumn in Marin … and all the art that comes with it.
That’s right—with fall’s starting date officially only one month away, now is when local artists, art lovers and active community members alike can get excited about the mutual passion they share: art.
Art aficionados of Marin, don’t be shy to don those berets and harness that inner art critic or arts ’n’ craftsin’ spirit. ’Cause come autumn, it’s all aboard the fall art hype train. Destination? Every exhibition, performance, recital, show, author talk, film festival and otherwise miscellaneous local art marvel is almost close enough to touch (note: please do not touch the exhibitions, performers, etc…).
So, time to dive into this year’s can’t-miss art events and get those calendars packed with activities before autumn even arrives.
First up for fall art in the North Bay is the kind of creativity one can only see up in lights on the silver screen. Films, movies, mini-documentaries, live screenings and more make up perhaps the most renowned of Marin’s fall arts categories. The Mill Valley Film Festival, for instance, is a gathering that draws film buffs from near and far. This year, the festival will take place from Oct. 2 to 12, and participating venues include the Smith Rafael Film Center, Sequoia Cinema, Lark Theater, BAMPFA and the Outdoor Art Club.
Meanwhile, the Bolinas Film Festival is set for Sept. 18 through 21. This film festival gives its quintessential West Marin twist to the local film festival spirit, celebrating local community and creativity hand in hand.
Alongside film festivals, Marin’s cinematic scene is ripe with delicious tidbits of film to keep entertainment alive and well into the autumn. The Lark, for instance, will continue to host its Marin Jazz installments, including Mariah Parker’s Indo Latin Jazz ensemble on Sept. 27. Or for those inclined more toward storytelling than music, the Lark’s Simply Said improv show takes place on Sept. 16 and Oct. 21.
And don’t forget the carefully curated lineup of seasonal movies that are bound to begin as soon as the leaves turn color enough to warrant playing only Halloween movies. From Frankenstein to Dracula to the whole Rock Horror Picture Show, with many howling werewolves in between, monster movie classics are another facet of fall arts that nobody wants to miss.
The line between film and theater is a bit blurred (in the best way), so following that natural segue takes the fall arts hype train tour to its next natural stop: the performance arts.
Whether one wants to watch plays, dancers, fire twirlers or just the artistry in the people passing by, Marin has a fall art for that. The Ross Valley Players, for instance, are set to perform Tartuffe, the pre-release image for which is a literal wolf in a fluffy sheep’s coat, from Sept. 12 through Oct. 12. Meanwhile, if the Bard more speaks to thine heart, consider Marin Shakespeare Company’s performances, such as Hamlet, which will run Sept. 5 through 21. Plus, the Marin Theatre will perform Sally & Tom from Oct. 30 to Nov. 23. Now that’s a wide variety of options for stage performances this fall.
Still on the topic of live stage performance art, let’s delve into this season’s concert lineup. Between Marin’s big-name music venues like HopMonk Tavern, the Throckmorton and the Sweetwater Music Hall, it’s hard to go wrong choosing one, two or more than one’s fair few performances to attend before autumn ends. And that’s not even mentioning the open mic nights and comedy happening between all those musical tunes, too.
Arts exhibitions and gallery shindigs are the bread and butter of any artistic city’s scene, and Marin’s lineup of art-centric events is … nearly never-ending. The Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, for example, is meant to delight local art lovers and feature artists and their statements on Sept. 21 and 22. And then there’s Art Works Downtown, an ongoing resource for local art, during autumn and throughout the rest of the year as well. This fall, Art Works Downtown will feature galleries on the second Friday of every month—that means veritable art parties on Sept. 12, Oct. 10 and Nov. 14.
Individual galleries are also hosting unique and intriguing exhibitions and events this autumn. The Sausalito Center for the Arts, for example, will host High Level Living, Where Space, Style and Spirit Align on Sept. 24. What’s more artistic than making one’s own life like art? One may check out other galleries, such as Cedars, MarinMOCA, Bolinas Museum, Gallery Route One or many, many more.
Another art form to consider during the onset of fall is, naturally, literature. Luckily, Marin is brimming with local authors, author talks, writing workshops and more. One may check out what’s happening at bookworm gathering places, including but not limited to Book Passage, Wayfinder, Point Reyes Books, Sugarfield Books Inc. and Copperfields. Although this section includes too many incredible authors and novels to list, one example of the literary itinerary coming this fall is the release of local author Samantha Kimmey’s novel, The Extremities!
Now, were this list longer, one could possibly hope to fit in all the astounding art, artists and art appreciators that comprise the fall art mini-ecosystem in Marin. But to avoid leaving behind some crucial, less easy to categorize but no less important tidbits, let’s end this list with a few miscellaneous fall art staples.
First up, the art workshops for youth and adults alike at Mystic in Mill Valley—there, people can take lessons in tarot, full and new moon painting and many other completely unique arts and crafts opportunities. In the same vein, one may consider hitting up those local libraries and seeing what sorts of arts and crafts they have in store for the community this season. For those who love the outdoors and the creative nature and gardens provided, they may consider checking out the Marin Art and Garden Center and its never-ending lineup of exhibitions, workshops and more.
Last but certainly not least, those craving more art this autumn may want to head out to the local farmers’ markets and maker’s spaces, such as the Maker’s Market at the Mill Valley Lumber Yard on Sept. 20, Oct. 18 and Nov. 15. These markets are where one is bound to find perfect examples of local artistry and craftsmanship … the kind one can buy for a loved one before the holiday rush (hint hint, wink wink).
So, summer’s lease may hath all too short a date, but the plethora of local fall arts, crafts and more promises plenty to be thankful for in the months to come.
For more fall arts selections, visit pacificsun.com/events-calendar.
