Have you heard of the The Idea Lounge? It's an exciting series of talks with a twist! Two speakers: one from the arts, one not. The audience uncovers what they have in common, revealing the connections between art and life. The Idea Lounge is part of Petaluma Arts Center Out of the Box, featuring collaborative activities that take place literally and figuratively outside the walls of the Arts Center and outside the typical art exhibition.
Representing art this coming Thursday (July 20th) is yours truly, Frances Rivetti, whose topic is "Independent Journalism from the Self-Assigned Immigrant Perspective."
Representing life is Greg Reisinger, whose topic is "Keeping the Lights on in LA: Public Utilities Triage."
The Idea Lounge takes place in the Lounge at Lagunitas every third Thursday, March through August. Join in at 6:30 for socializing, then grab a seat at 7:00pm for an hour of unpredictable fun. Am I somewhat nervous? Yes, but that's all part and parcel of standing up for my art, stepping away from my laptop and, as this innovative program is all about — thinking and sharing outside of the box. How did July 20th roll around so fast?
The Lounge at Lagunitas is located at 1280 N McDowell Blvd, Petaluma CA 94952. Click here for tickets.
About the Speakers
Frances Rivetti is a Petaluma-based independent journalist. She was born and raised in Great Britain, where she trained as a regional newspaper reporter before moving to California, aged 24 in the early 1990s. She spent her first decade in the States working as media relations manager for the Living History Center, producer of the California Renaissance Pleasure Faire and Dickens Christmas Fair. After the birth of her third son, Frances focused her freelance reporting skills on travel and lifestyle articles for international newspapers and magazines. It was during her five years as a lifestyle/arts/food and culture columnist for the Petaluma Argus Courier that she honed her interest on the food history and artisan food movement of Sonoma County and coastal West Marin. She has authored two non-fiction books: Fog Valley Crush and Fog Valley Winter: Pioneer Heritage, Backroad Rambles & Vintage Recipes, and is currently working on her first work of fiction, informed by her journalistic research, set in familiar surrounds of Northern California.
Greg Reisinger is a member of the PAC Board of Directors, and has been a resident of Petaluma for nearly 20 years. He has also been active in a number of other community organizations including Petaluma Bounty, Friends of Shollenberger Park where he serves as Treasurer, the Steering and Executive Committees of the Petaluma Day Labor Initiative, a former member of the board of the Petaluma Art Association, and current Board Chair of Petaluma Tomorrow. He was a founding board member and later President of the California Olive Oil Council where he authored and successfully managed the adoption of a truth in labeling law for California olive oil. He lives with his wife Valerie and two cats and enjoys gardening, watercolor, and practicing his violin. He is currently an analyst with the California Public Utilities Commission, previously was a partner in a California olive oil company where he managed the company’s award winning product design (as well as its 250 acre olive grove), has managed a political campaign and worked for much of his career as a management consultant. Greg earned a BA from Villanova University, an MA from Brown University and an MBA from the Darden School of the University of Virginia.
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