New Gallery Has Everything Your 'Arts Desire'

Arts Desire-Creative Collective is a new artist cooperative gallery, workshop and class space that is scheduled to open on Oct. 1 in in Novato.

Teri Vereb, the director of the collective, has lived in Novato for 22 years, worked as a decorative artist and raised her daughter as a single parent, all while trying to carve out time to build a career in fine arts. 

But she was anticipating her biggest challenge was going to be as an empty-nester, when her daughter left for college. "It's hard when half your world disappears," Vereb said.

All that changed in May when she was at the Pacheco Plaza talking with shop owners about window display space for her art.  "I was leaving and I saw the vacant corner unit when I was getting into the car — and then I got out of the car." 

But a prime end unit wasn't in the cards. Instead the shopping center management worked with Vereb to make it financially feasible to take a larger, 3,000-square-foot space. 

On Aug. 18, Vereb was given the green light by property manager Megan Gast for the space. "Megan said to me, 'You got something to do, girl."

"... and that's how I went from prints in the window to a gallery," added Vereb with a laugh.

In less than 30 days, Vereb selected her board of directors, formed an LLC and began renovating the space located between and .

She's got a team of volunteer artists and friends who are helping with painting and creating the gallery displays. "It's going to be urban chic," Vereb said. "Cool but thrifty."

The first wave of artists have been secured for the gallery retail area and displays will include work by painters, photographers, sculptors and jewelry designers. 

But with all that space, the gallery is just a part of her plan. Vereb will also have the room to hold art demonstrations and workshops, children's art classes and adult classes in life drawing and painting.

A third area of the space will be reserved for "artists in the window" — artists who are using the gallery as studio space while they manage the retail side of the gallery.

Vereb said much of this has been made possible with the encouragement of the Pacheco Plaza owners. She says she shares their vision to fill the space and create a community place in Novato.

Pacheco Plaza owner, John Kieckhefer, whose father built the shopping center in the 1960s, said, "With the economy the way it is — we're taking some risk — to raise the quality." (The artists) are doing something interesting and innovative."

Kieckhefer is also referring to the opening of museum at the other end of the plaza, another new venture supported with below-market rent for start-up.

Gast added, "Anything that builds foot traffic is great."  

Vereb agrees with that concept and to that end is coordinating with the plaza on a soft opening for Arts Desire on Sept. 30, the last day of the series.

For more information about the new gallery, click on this link to the Arts Desire Facebook page.

Free Lunch with the City Manager

The 2nd annual South Novato Networking lunch will be at noon Sept. 27 at the .

Business owners in the Bel Marin Keys, Hamilton and Ignacio areas are invited to meet City Manager Michael Frank and Mayor Pro Tem Denise Athas.

A free lunch will be provided by ETC Catering. For more information, contact the .

New CFO at Fireman's Fund

Kevin Walker was named the new chief financial officer and member of the board of directors and assumed his role Sept. 19. 

As CFO, Walker will oversee the full scope of financial functions at Fireman’s Fund, which is Novato's largest employer with about 1,000 folks working at the headquarters on San Marin Drive.

“Kevin brings more than 25 years of broad insurance and financial services experience to Fireman’s Fund,” said President and CEO Lori Fouché. “Having worked within the Allianz Group, Kevin understands our core business and brings great depth of knowledge to this key leadership role in our organization.”

Most recently, Walker was CFO for Genworth Financial’s Retirement and Protection Division. Before Genworth, he spent 15 years within the Allianz Group, Fireman’s Fund’s parent company. 

For more info, click to this link on the North Bay Business Journal.