The Marin County exhibit The Art of Public Service shines a light on the personal stories of county employees. What started as a lunchtime art project now runs outside the Board of Supervisors chamber through Sept. 24.
This project began in the Marin County Civic Center cafeteria in San Rafael. Erika Powell and Juliet Schiller led a series of workshops, inviting staff—both seasoned artists and self-described non-artists—to explore public service through self-portraits.
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Bringing Public Service to Life Through Art
In towns across Marin—from San Rafael and Mill Valley to Novato and Sausalito—the exhibit offers a tangible, intimate look at what it means to serve the public. The format turned an ordinary workday into a creative moment, with pieces that invite viewers to pause and consider the people behind public institutions.
The display outside the Board of Supervisors chamber isn’t just decoration. It sparks conversation about identity, culture, and the everyday work of county employees.
Supriya Menon: A Self-Portrait Crafted from Dried Chili Peppers
Supriya Menon, an IT specialist who claimed she was “not an artist,” built a self-portrait from dried chili peppers, burlap, and embroidered chiffon saree to reflect her Indian heritage. Her piece stands out as a reminder that art can come from unexpected materials and cross-cultural symbolism, something the Marin County workshops really encouraged.
The textures and colors in her work evoke the sensory memory of home and heritage. Even if you’ve never met Menon in Tiburon or Corte Madera, the piece feels personal.
Erika Powell: Green Eyes with a Fabric Tapestry of Ancestry
Powell, an employment analyst, crafted a canvas centered on her green eyes, surrounded by fabric imagery of her Black, white, and biracial ancestors. The piece asks viewers to look beyond first impressions and consider the layered histories shaping a public employee’s perspective.
She didn’t aim for a flawless portrait. Instead, she wanted to reveal emotional honesty and curiosity—qualities the facilitators hoped would surface in every participant from San Rafael to San Anselmo.
Juliet Schiller: An Embroidered Portrait that Remains Unfinished
Schiller, a Chicana who leads library initiatives, presented an embroidered self-portrait she left partly unfinished. The rough edges symbolize her ongoing journey of reclaiming cultural roots and identity—a deliberate challenge to the idea of a completed career portrait.
Her piece captures the workshop’s message: growth, exploration, and the ongoing process of self-definition matter in both art and public service. That resonates with residents in Larkspur and Ross who appreciate authentic storytelling.
From Lunchtime Workshops to a Countywide Conversation
The organizers described the workshops as an “oxygen mask” for county staff, giving them a burst of energy and a creative break from routine. Participants across Marin County—from the Civic Center in San Rafael to the archives in Sausalito and field offices in Novato—said they broke personal barriers and embraced more artistic exploration.
Honesty and experimentation took center stage, making the experience deeply personal and moving for many employees. For folks who rarely get a chance to reflect in public, this project opened new doors.
Where to See It and How It Was Supported
The exhibit started with casual lunchtime art sessions at the Marin County Civic Center cafeteria. You’ll find the public-facing piece outside the Board of Supervisors chamber, and it’s sticking around through Sept. 24.
The project ran on a pretty modest budget—about $2,000. Marin County covered the costs, and ARTT, a San Rafael group that champions recycled-art supplies, pitched in with materials.
Staff from the Marin County Library, the Civic Center’s facilities team, and artists-in-residence from San Rafael, San Anselmo, Novato, and Mill Valley all got involved. It’s a solid example of how public institutions can spark local creativity, even with limited resources.
- Budget: Approximately $2,000 for materials and coordination
- Materials: Recycled-art supplies from ARTT of San Rafael
- Location: Displayed outside the Board of Supervisors chamber, Marin County Civic Center
- Participants: County employees from San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, Sausalito, and Corte Madera
If you live in Marin—Fairfax, San Geronimo, Tiburon, or anywhere else—the exhibit’s a reminder that public service isn’t just business. There’s curiosity, honesty, and a willingness to try new things woven into these pieces, making the county’s institutions feel a bit more human. Maybe that’s what we need more of, right here in the North Bay.
Here is the source article for this story: Marin gallery exhibits self-portraits of county workers
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