The Bay Area might be seeing a whole lot of Annie Leibovitz in the coming months. The famed celebrity photographer and her family recently purchased an old machine shop in downtown Healdsburg with the plan to convert the space into an art gallery and performance venue.
Leibovitz's niece, Megan Steinman, an independent curator and creative producer who has organized exhibitions, installations and events in the United States and abroad, will be in charge of the plan to refurbish the rusted building into a gallery that would offer symposiums, performances, author readings, and perhaps even a movie night.
“It will be like a town hall for creativity," Steinman told The Press Democrat. “We are a family-run organization, interested in bringing art to Sonoma County. The space will be run by me, curated by me and artists selected by me."
The 80-year-old, 1,700-square-foot structure, was originally built as a blacksmith shop in 1936. It was part of the former home of the Healdsburg Machine Co., where rotary machines were made to crush and stem grapes.
One the gallery is up and running, Steinman is interested in bringing unknown artists from Mexico, Latin America, and Asia to Wine Country.
“The art I'm interested in gives people, all kinds of people — young, old, well-heeled, less well-heeled, the opportunity to have discussions, see and hear, engage with the world in a new way," she said.
The gallery hopes to open in 2017. Other investors include Leibovitz' sister, Susan Steinman and her husband Arnold, who have lived in Healdsburg for 15 years.
// Can't wait that long? Check out Annie Leibovitz's exhibit in Crissy Field, featuring portraits of notable women including Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, singer Adele and comedian Amy Schumer.
