In the wake of the October wildfires, Sonoma County residents came together to support their friends, neighbors and community. Among those eager to help were local artists and designers who used their skills to create images of hope and healing, while donating proceeds from sales to fire relief (we featured a few of their designs in a previous article). As recovery efforts continue, so do the efforts of local artists. Click through the gallery above for four locally made designs that support fire relief efforts, often through donations of proceeds to the Redwood Credit Union (RCU) North Bay Fire Relief Fund. The RCU fund also welcomes direct donations at redwoodcu.org/northbayfirerelief
After the Sonoma County Fires: Artwork and Designs that Support Fire Relief Efforts
Sonoma County artists continue to create images of hope and healing to aid in fire relief efforts.
In Memory of Lost Trees: Jeremy Joan Hewes’ late fall exhibit at the Sebastopol Gallery, entitled “Let’s Talk About Trees,” included images of trees from the Sonoma Valley Regional Park in Glen Ellen that did not survive the Nuns Fire. The gallery is still selling limited-edition prints from that exhibit, and some are also on display at Healdsburg Center for the Arts. Hewes is donating 100 percent of proceeds from the sales of all works portraying lost trees to the Bouverie Preserve Restoration Fund and Sonoma County Regional Parks, "in honor and memory of those [trees] and other wonderful works of nature." Sebastopol Art Gallery, 707-829-7200, Healdsburg Center for the Arts, healdsburgcenterforthearts.org or jeremyjoanhewes.com, 707-537-6795
Resolve to Recover: Retired Santa Rosa Police Lieutenant Tom Swearingen has committed himself to painting 365 roses and to post one on his website every day for the next year (more information here). Income from each photorealistic painting sold will yield a 100 percent donation to RCU North Bay Fire Relief Fund. Swearingen’s intent is to keep these images of recovery in circulation for an extended time as the needs of fire victims will continue for years. $95, tomswearingen.com
Scorched Silver: Jewelry designer Michelle Hoting is making Flaming Wine Leaf pendants using an unconventional metalsmithing technique, a deliberate scorching and blistering of the silver. With “Wine Country Strong” engraved on the back, the grape leaf, from which the piece is cast, was chosen by Hoting as a symbol of renewal. Funds raised from the sale of these pendants go to Redwood Credit Union’s Fire Relief fund. $200 (quarter sized), $150 (nickel sized), $95 (dime sized), 707-791-4680, MichelleHoting.com
Staying #Sonomastrong: Described by SKU Agency as the “snapback of your dreams,” this hat is high profile, flat-billed and available in many colors. All proceeds from sales go to fire recovery funds. $25, SKU Agency, 555 5th Street, Ste 240A, Santa Rosa, 707-247-8010, skuagency.com/north-bay-relief-fund