Sketching Fire Stories

Our Bay Area urban sketching group is documenting stories of last October’s firestorm and the people who were affected by it. We are sketching people and stories at remembrance events at the anniversary of the North Bay fires. We tell people’s stories in pictures and words, how they and their communities are coping from the effects of the fires. Our sketches will be posted on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #sketchingfirestories. For inquiries contact Susan. Our group recently applied our brand of visual journalism at the Global Climate Change Summit march and conference. See those sketches and stories here.

Links: Urban Sketchers Bay Area | SF Sketchers | Urban Sketchers | Instagram | Facebook

Goyn Evans by Richard Sheppard

Gyn looks forward to rebuilding.

First Responders by Carole Flaherty

KRSO Radio’s Heroes of October at Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa

Altar by Edie Wong

Altar set up under an oak tree for the native earth blessing ceremony

Salvador by Phil McDonnel

Jaguar Dancer

Old Courthouse Square by Susan Cornelis

An anniversary event with activities, speakers and a memorial bell ringing

Forum on the Road by Susan Cornelis

A KQED radio special at the anniversary of the North Bay fires, recorded live at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Rincon Valley Fire Truck by Phil McDonel

A first responder

Drumline by Bettina Armstrong

Elsie Allen High School Band at wildfire remembrance event at Shiloh Regional Park.

Kyle Thompson by Susan Cornelis

Kyle is a teacher at Elsie Allen H.S., which became a fire evacuation center.

Holly Mead by Susan Cornelis

“We searched four days till we found my father-in-law who had been rescued by a family who themselves lost everything,” recalls Holly.

Irma Garcia by Susan Cornelis

‘The firestorms did not distinguish citizens from non-citizens…but we have unequal access to fire relief,’ says Irma.

Peter, Bryan & Norma by Susan Cornelis

The artists share.

Hope for California

John O’Neil of California Hope advocates for fire survivors pointing them to counselling and other support services.

Driving the Engine

Fireman Eligh Smits drives the engine for the Rincon Valley Fire Department.

Plants for Coffey Park

Merry Zavala spearheaded donations of plants and trees from local nurseries to the people of Coffey Park.

Dancing to the Earth

Members of Danza Azteca Ohtli Yolilitzli dance to Mother Earth.

Irma Waits her Turn by Bettina Armstrong

Aztec Dancers opening ceremony to honor the healing of the earth and our hearts. Wildfire Remembrance Event at Shiloh Regional Park

Aztec Dancer by Phil McDonel

A young dancer in a blessing ceremony for the land.

Lulu by Ann Storms

Native American Dancer in Shiloh Regional Park

Danza Azteca by Richard Sheppard

A native dance to bless the four directions

More about Urban Sketching:
We are part of the international urban sketchers organization which advocates for showing the world, one drawing at a time. We have sketched individuals and community gatherings at different forums, locally and globally.The international Urban Sketchers organization has 220 chapters around the world. Find more information here.

Our work is similar to that of court artists or reportage illustrators around the world. We bring an extra dimension, a different, more personal voice, than a photo. Instead of “taking” a photo, the sketcher’s work develops out of the interaction between artist and subject. Sketchers can also be less visible and less intrusive than cameras, sitting quietly in a corner observing and synthesizing, rather than pushing in to snap the moment. Sketches can illuminate the convergence of art and journalism and make an impression in the public’s mind in ways that a narrative or even a photo may not do.

Sketching Fire Stories: