Occidental Center for the Arts

08/27/2026

Put this one on your calendar. Patrick is a REAL Renaissance Man. Creative and useful. He is an amazing human being!

Please join us for a special event celebrating our 20th Anniversary and honoring Patrick Fanning with the Harmony Award!

Special musical guests and performers will entertain us at this fun event.

Admission to this event is offered on a sliding (pay what you can) scale basis.

The Harmony Award was created in 2025 to honor community members who have demonstrated their dedication to OCA, supporting the arts, and supporting their community. We are honored to present the 2026 award to Patrick Fanning.

08/26/2026

Please join us for a special event celebrating our 20th Anniversary and honoring Patrick Fanning with the Harmony Award!

Special musical guests and performers will entertain us at this fun event.

Admission to this event is offered on a sliding (pay what you can) scale basis.

The Harmony Award was created in 2025 to honor community members who have demonstrated their dedication to OCA, supporting the arts, and supporting their community. We are honored to present the 2026 award to Patrick Fanning.

08/26/2026

Join us for our monthly literary open mic night! Bring an original story to share or come and listen to stories told by your community members.

Storytelling

Prose

Recitations

all told in 7 minutes max

Please join us to share your original work. We will randomly select 7 (willing) audience members to read or recite their work. We want YOU!

$10/$5 for OCA members. Pay @ door. Beer/wine/refreshments available

08/26/2026

Experience the bright, shimmering sound of strings in harmony as the Gravenstein Mandolin Ensemble takes the stage at Occidental Center for the Arts. This talented local ensemble brings together mandolins, mandolas, mandocello, and guitar for a lively musical journey spanning folk traditions, classical favorites, contemporary arrangements, and melodies from around the world.

With the mandolin family’s distinctive blend of warmth, sparkle, and rhythmic energy, the ensemble creates a sound that is both intimate and wonderfully full. Join us for an afternoon of beautiful music, community, and the irresistible charm of many mandolins making music together!

08/26/2026

OCA is proud to present “Poets Meet Artists”, a collaboration where artists and poets work together to create a mutual celebration of both media. Poets honor visual artists by writing a poem to interpret their art, and artists created a piece of art to interpret a poem. Join us as we celebrate this special connection between poetry and art at our reception on Saturday, October 3rd where you’ll enjoy selected readings by the poets and the exhibit of paired works.

Poets and Artists included in this exhibit:
Suze Cohan
Marilu Downing
Andrea van D**e
Sarah Dupre
Patrick Fanning
Steve Fowler
Elizabeth Herron
Rich Levin
Diane Masura
Jessica Morell
Su Mcmurtry
Leslie Pickford
Elise Loveday Brown
Darcy Reinier
Oak Reinier
Di Starr
Judith Kinsey
Carol Swanson
Beth Anderson
Vesta Copestakes
John James
Saroj Heron
Emilie Munsch
David Brown
Diane Knopf
Laura Lake
Linda Kammer
Megan Enright
Barb Lawson

08/26/2026

Bonnie Brooks performs songs from her latest album “Seasons of the Soul” backed by a stellar band of musicians. Join us for an evening of soulful and inspiring music from this Sonoma County songstress!

Tickets are $25, $20 for OCA members. Doors open at 6:30 PM.

08/26/2026

✨Transform Your Memories into Meaningful Narrative✨
A Writing Retreat in Beautiful West County with Mistress Mix/Alaura O'Dell

Ready to tell your story? Your memories are waiting to become literature.

Discover the power of your personal story and learn to craft it with authenticity, depth, and literary grace.

✨Workshop Overview✨
Join us for an immersive memoir writing experience designed to help you uncover, shape, and share the stories that have defined your life. Whether you’re a complete beginner or have been writing for years, this workshop will provide you with the tools and confidence to transform your memories into compelling prose. Workshop fee is $147, $127 for OCA members. This workshop is limited to 8 participants and will be held in the OCA Studio.

08/26/2026

🖊️Percolations is an on-going generative writing group... guided writing in a supportive environment, on the third Wednesday of each month.

🖊️No experience necessary. Please bring pen, paper and a willingness to share and listen. Facilitated by Jessica Morell and Julie Geiseke. Pay at door, $15/$10 for OCA members. Cash, Venmo, and cards accepted.

08/26/2026

We invite all to a fascinating afternoon with Diana and Brian who will explore through the respective lenses of astrology and poetry, valuable insights offered by both myth and archetype, for better clarity and resilience in today’s tumultuous world.

This event features Author and Astrologer Diana Badger discussing her book “Dance of the Archetypes: How Astrology Informs our Lives and Connects Us to the Earth”, and Author/Poet/Storyteller Brian R. Martens with his book, “Merlin’s Wing”, Mythic Poems.

This event is free, all donations gratefully invited. Selected readings from each presenter, a storytelling with Brian, then Q&A, book sales & signing. Refreshments for sale. OCA’s facilities are accessible to people with disabilities.

08/26/2026

Nina Ge**er and Chris Webster perform in the OCA Amphitheater.
Sunday, September 20, 2026
3:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Tickets are $35, $30 for OCA members. This show is expected to sell out, get tickets early!

Online sales end one hour before show starts (if not already sold out). Doors open at 2:30 PM. Bring your own seat cushion or low-backed chair. No outside food/drink (water OK). Waitlist will be available when show is sold out.