Coming together to share stories ... to remember.

I first became part of the Russian River community as part of the ownership group that helped save the Rio Theater in 2014. My family and I bought a home at the river a few years later, and then we moved to the river full time during the pandemic. As I deepened my relationships with various local organizations, I began volunteering with the Russian River Historical Society, and was blown away by the photographs of these villages from the late 1880s and early 1900s.

As part of my ongoing education about history and land and place, I wanted to bring these amazing photographs and stories to life, and worked with the team at the historical society to organize a 40th anniversary fundraiser called "The River Remembers," which brought together images and videos from the archive and other community partners, along with live stories from lifelong residents.

The program traveled through history and down the river, highlighting voices and images from Guerneville, Monte Rio, Duncan's Mills, Cazadero, and the Coast. It included a memorium for recent community members lost, and the historical society put forward a vision for its next 10 years, including a new intention to work towards being in right relationship with the Pomo, Kashia, and Miwok people indigenous to this land.

After the successful event, I agreed to come onboard as the historical society's first Artist in Residence to continue to bring the community together and bring these stories to life.

The River Remembers: Rio Nido

The second event in the series was a collaboration with the Friends of Rio Nido with special programming highlighting the unique history and music of Rio Nido, will include a live storytelling event at the Rio Nido Lodge and live music at the Roadhouse. Throughout the day, attendees explored Rio Nido history through a local art market, an oral history recording booth, and the opening of a new installation of historical photos of Rio Nido.