Some people cannot stay still. They must always be creating something and getting involved in something new. Jonathan Rowe, founder and CEO of The Village, is one of those people.Housed in the 17,000 square-foot Mid-Market building that was once home to Pearl Arts & Crafts, The Village is one-year-old special events venue where Rowe loves to mix all kinds of different media, arts, and installations to produce crazy impactful events. The goal: to cultivate a space where people can be their most creative and expressive, no limits or boundaries. This August, The Village will host the Farm to Fork expo, and also will celebrate its first anniversary with a big bashed themed Past, Present, and Future.
When he's not busting butt at work, Rowe is into music, yoga, and most of all, his adorable son, Bodhi. We caught up with the CEO during a work-holiday in Cuba to see what this creative entrepreneur is all about.
The best thing about producing an event is... Seeing people’s reactions to this new wave of technology we are integrating into events, and seeing people be able to bring their visions to life. We create custom immersive experiences, and recently installed a 75-foot projection wall on our main floor.
When I produce an event, I always look for... An original concept. It’s always exciting when we have the opportunity to create something people have not seen before.
I am inspired by... Music and film. Using these forms of expression to capture a moment, tell a story, or express a feeling can have profound effects.
My dream client is... Radiohead, on an interactive stage.
I start my day with... I sometimes go for a run and do yoga, and most often I wake up with a nicely brewed cup of coffee.
On my desk there is always... A picture of my son Bodhi, and a hard drive full of all my favorite photos and time lapses
My last amazing meal was... A meal by [The Village's] in-house chef, Julio—he is wildly imaginative with his recipes and he will be spearheading our new pop-up café in the fall.
Go-to local gateway... Sierra foothills, for a long hike and some wake surfing
A recent find in San Francisco... House of Air trampoline park. I love going there with my son.
I do my best work when… I get to work with people who are just as excited [as I am] and inspired about the projects we are working on.
I am looking forward to… My next trip to do photography and time-lapses in Cuba, opening our pop-up restaurant, and teaching my son to snowboard
If I could meet any contemporary visual artist it would be... Quentin Tarantino