Alan will be talking about his journey as an artist and how he became engaged with the Petaluma River. A 2020 sketch of one of Petaluma’s iconic mills led to regular visits to the Petaluma River as he learned about and became fascinated with the life of the waterway. A chance meeting with local historian, Katherine J. Rinehart, opened up the panorama of the River’s 175-year history after the gold rush and its importance to San Francisco and the North Bay region. Their book: The Petaluma River was released in September 2024. Alan will discuss how he works, sketching and painting with watercolors onsite. He will share about shell mounds and the history of oysters in San Francisco Bay and the Petaluma River. Butler will also talk about local non-profits, preserving and enhancing the river, preventing flooding, and more. The Petaluma River is a unique urban environment that faces challenges with the threat of sea level rise and an uncertain climate future. Preserving a unique riverside urban environment and dealing with the important future of the downstream wetlands environments will be the challenges facing a very engaged and vibrant community that he found in Petaluma. Enjoy a fascinating presentation about this environmental community staple, wonderful art and delicious refreshments!