I first met Chris West when I moved to San Anselmo in 2020, and we’ve been like old chums since. He has a lot of fun with his art. Everyone in town is excited for his “More Than Words” show, which opens at the Julie Zener Gallery this Thursday, Oct. 19.
What do you do? I make art and teach at College of Marin.
Where do you live? I live in my treehouse on the hill in San Anselmo.
How long have you lived in Marin? I have lived in Marin for 16 years.
Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
You can track me down at the Bald Hill Open Space Preserve, Perry’s Art Supply, and I’m too often, in a good way, at Cucina in San Anselmo.
If you had to convince someone how awesome Marin was, where would you take them?
Start with some oysters at Hog Island, then spend a sunny afternoon at the beach in Bolinas and close out with a sunset right on the Fairfax/ Bolinas Ridge.
What’s one thing Marin is missing?
Marin needs a good BBQ spot.
What’s one bit of advice you’d share with your fellow Marinites?
Lighten up, smile and say, “Hello.”
If you could invite anyone to a special dinner, who would they be ?
Anthony Bourdain, Steve Zissou, Chris In The Morning (from Northern Exposure) and my dad.
What is some advice you wish you knew 20 years ago?
Pet more dogs, drink more water and hug more people.
What is something that in 20 years from now will seem cringeworthy? Crocs, cringeworthy now and certainly will be in 20 years.
Big question. What is one thing you’d do to change the world? Placing as much value and focus on organic intelligence as we do on artificial intelligence.
Check out West’s show this Thursday, Oct. 19 at the Julie Zener Gallery, 540 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo (the exhibit runs until Nov. 18). Follow him on Instagram at @ChrisWestProjects.
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.
