Roberta Ahrens New Gallery Opening at The Watershed, reception Sept. 26

For the first time in several years, Petaluma artist Roberta Ahrens is opening a new gallery/studio at The Watershed in Petaluma's historic Warehouse District, giving collectors and neighbors a place to see her original paintings and large-scale work in person.

The space showcases her Contemporary Botanicals and Water Series paintings. It is also the kind of intimate setting where visitors can get close enough to observe her personally crafted Cracked Linen material, which photographs flatten, but rewards proximity.

Ahrens has spent her career making work at architectural scale, most of it installed in places the public never gets to walk into. The Watershed showroom changes that. It is a home base built to welcome people in, with room to hang paintings at the size they were meant to be seen and light that does them justice.

“This is the first time in a long time that I’ve had the freedom and the space to meet, greet and love on the folks that have been following me for so many years, as well as new people just coming to know my work. It gives me the chance to show work that most people have never seen before,” Ahrens said. “On top of that is that the entire Watershed space is a truly beautiful environment and an exciting thriving community.”

The public is invited to an opening reception for Ahrens’ studio as well as several artist studios and galleries in the WTRSHD complex and The Magic Shop. The event takes place Saturday

September 26 from 4pm to 7pm. Private visits may be arranged by appointment at 707.582.2098

Roberta Ahrens Studio The Watershed, 429 1st St., Studio #111, Petaluma, CA 94952