About the Exhibit

Sonoma, California. A collection of over 30 alejibres and masks were gifted to the Sonoma Community Center by the late Paula Anderson. They will be exhibited in Gallery 212 and available for purchase via an online auction. The show is titled, “Vivid Visions: A Menagerie of Masks and Alebrijes” and will be open daily through November 14th.

The community is invited to celebrate the opening of “Vivid Visions” on Tuesday, October 29th, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and it’s free to attend.

Paula Anderson was a multimedia artist and art collector. She was a very highly respected instructor, dean, and administrator in the San Mateo Community College district served as the curator for the community college art museum.

The alebrijes and masks were collected over 30 years and Anderson chose “what delighted and moved her.” When she passed away earlier this year, she asked that her collection “continue to delight and benefit the art community and find new homes with people who love them.”

“I hope that the community will enjoy these pieces as she did,” said Janet Nusbaum, Member of the Board of Directors at the Center. “Paula was a wonderful woman and serious artist. With her art, you will bring happy and positive spirits into your life.”

Anderson’s mask collection comes from Bali, Guatemala, and Mexico. Alebrijes are hand-made fantastical carvings depicting imaginary animals, people, and objects painted with intense colors and patterns. She displayed them together as a unique sculpture gallery of international folk art. Many of the art pieces are signed by the artist.

The Center will also celebrate the Causeway Gallery exhibit, “Zak’s Wacky Wine World” during the opening reception on October 29th. This is a collection of posters from the many years of the Sonoma Wine Country Weekend Wine Auction, created by photographer Ron Zak.

“Vivid Visions” opens with a reception on Tuesday, October 29th at 5 p.m. in Gallery 212 at the Center. It will be open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. through Friday, November 14th. The gallery is free and open to the public. All pieces in the exhibit are for sale through an online auction. QR codes next to each piece will guide you through the bidding process. The auction will close at 8:00 p.m. on November 14th and items will be available for pickup November 15th-16th. All proceeds benefit art programs at the Sonoma Community Center.