Throckmorton Theatre Set Designer Steve Coleman’s window tribute to the renowned late puppeteer Lettie Schubert. Courtesy image.
So when they were faced with the inability to hold the 64th edition of an event that would typically draw thousands of people to Old Mill Park Sept. 18-20 to celebrate art, they simply pivoted to put that artistry out into the Mill Valley community. “MVFAF: Beyond the Park” takes the work of 16 artists and puts it into the storefronts of downtown Mill Valley merchants.
Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival collaborates with downtown merchants and the City to bring art and joy safely to the community.
The festival that would typically draw thousands to Old Mill Park has been scaled down to a miniature 3-day event September 18, 19 and 20.
”Harking back to the founding of the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival 64 years ago, we’ll have more than 15 local artists displaying their work in select downtown store windows leading up to and during the event,” says Steve Bajor, the festival’s executive director. “The community is invited to stroll, view and even purchase art created by these ceramicists, painters, photographers and more.”
Judith Lemmens artwork in the storefront window at Poet and the Bench. Courtesy image.
“In all, the art in merchant windows, hanging embellishments and lights in the plaza will be a promise of the return of the wonderful and beloved “in-person” community event we all anticipate and enjoy every fall,” Bajor says.
Here are the artists and the merchants hosting their work:
Roja Rugs, 59 Throckmorton Ave. • Brett Crawford – Ceramics
Poet and the Bench, 11 Throckmorton Ave. • Judith Lemmens – Ceramics
Alexander’s Artisan Rugs, 1 El Paseo Lane.• Nance Miller – Paintings
Watershed Restaurant, Mill Valley Lumber Yard, 129 Miller Ave. •Tina Fossella – Ceramics
Ambatalia, Mill Valley Lumber Yard, 129 Miller Ave. • Kristin Jakob – Botanical Drawings
Once Around, Mill Valley Lumber Yard, 129 Miller Ave. • Karen Meadows – Mixed Media
E.O. Exchange, 84 Throckmorton Ave. • Lissa Herschleb – Ceramics & Jewelry
Terrestra, 30 Miller Ave.• Barbara Contini – Woodwork
Famous4, 96 Throckmorton Ave. • Jan Buscho – Paintings
Vintage Wine and Spirits, 82 Throckmorton Ave. • Laura Culver – Paintings
142 Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave. • Emily Dvorin – Sculpture
142 Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave. •Lettie Schubert – Puppets
Christopher Salon & Home, 23 Throckmorton Ave. • Mike Moir – Photography
Two Neat, 111 Throckmorton Ave. • Davis Perkins – Paintings
J.McLaughlin, 75 Throckmorton Ave. • Lance Kennedy – Photography
The Store, 68 Throckmorton Ave. • Boglarka Pataki-Barothi – Paintings
HERE’S THE FULL MAP OF PARTICIPATING STOREFRONTS AND ARTISTS.
MVFAF organizers have also come up with a pair of fundraising drives to support the 2021 edition, with Mill Valley Market donating 2% of your purchase to the organization. Each time you shop at Mill Valley Market, tell the cashier you would like their “Shop and Give” program to go to code “7075” (Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival).
Amazon Smile will also donate 0.5% of your purchase to MVFAF: Sign in to smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser; From your desktop, go to Your Account and select the option to Change your Charity; or from your mobile browser, select Change your Charity from the options at the bottom of the page; Type into the search bar “Friends of Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival” (this is our 501(c)(3) organization). You can also contribute directly to the festival via its website or send a check to “Friends of the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival,” PO Box 300, Mill Valley, CA. 94942. Donations are tax deductible.