Floating-home residents exhibit their work and help bring P.A.I.N.T.’s first benefit exhibition to life
SAUSALITO, CA — September 2026 — Sausalito’s floating-home community is known for its independent spirit and creative character, and that spirit was on display at P.A.I.N.T. Art Collective’s first Benefit Evening and Art Exhibition, “Every Voice, Every Vision.”
P.A.I.N.T. is an acronym for “Promoting Arts, Individuals, & Natural Talents.”
Members of the floating-home community were not only among the artists exhibiting in the show— they also helped make the exhibition happen.
Nancy Hardaway, Katrina Wagner, and Judyth Greenburgh, all members of Sausalito’s floating-home community, participated in the exhibition by showing their artwork.
Greenburgh also works with P.A.I.N.T. and helped organize and put on the exhibition, giving her a role on both sides of the event—as a participating artist and as part of the team bringing the show together.
Held at the Sausalito Center for the Arts from September 2–7, the exhibition drew more than 1,000 visitors during its six-day run.
The response was particularly meaningful because the September 3 benefit took place during a very rainy evening. Despite the weather, people continued to arrive from throughout Sausalito and Marin, as well as from Brentwood, where P.A.I.N.T.’s day program is based.
From a Small Vision to a Growing Creative Community
Just 18 months ago, P.A.I.N.T. Art Collective opened its doors at 8 Princess Street in Sausalito with a simple vision: to create a welcoming space where artists of all abilities could create, connect, and thrive.
Since then, P.A.I.N.T. has grown into an active creative community.
The organization has presented numerous exhibitions, participated in community events throughout Marin, hosted seasonal drop-in workshops, brought hands-on art experiences to Jazz by the Bay, offered customized workshops for people of all abilities and welcomed guest artists to share their creativity with the community.
The first benefit was a celebration of that growth—and an opportunity to introduce even more people to the artists and their work.
A Celebration of Artists—And Possibility
P.A.I.N.T. Art Collective is a nonprofit gallery and creative community dedicated to creating opportunities for artists with disabilities to share their work, connect with others, and be recognized for their talents.
The exhibition brought together artwork by P.A.I.N.T. artists, artists from other day programs, and local artists, creating an inclusive exhibition where different artistic voices could be seen side by side.
Many visitors responded by purchasing artwork, directly supporting the artists while also helping P.A.I.N.T. continue its programs.
During the benefit evening, Jechane Reyes, Executive Director of Community Integrated Support Services (CISS), the parent organization of P.A.I.N.T., spoke about the philosophy behind the organization’s work.
“Our job is not to tell someone what their potential should look like. Our job is to create the space for them to discover it.”
Reyes also spoke about what genuine inclusion means: “Inclusion is not about creating a separate place for people who are different. Inclusion is about creating a place where everyone belongs.”
Those ideas were visible throughout the exhibition, where artists were provided with the opportunity to have their work seen, appreciated, and purchased by the public.
A Community Becomes Part of The Artwork
The evening included live violin music, as well as bites and drinks from B.A.B.E.
One of the most popular activities was an interactive art piece that invited visitors to paint their faces and then become part of a collective artwork.
The response was so enthusiastic that the organizers had to bring out an additional canvas to accommodate everyone who wanted to participate.
What began as an activity quickly became a visual representation of the spirit of the evening: artists and visitors were not separated into two groups. Everyone could participate in the creative process.
A Vault Full of Surprises
Another memorable feature was the “Key Player” Vault game, made possible through generous gifts donated by sponsors.
The Sausalito Center for the Arts occupies the former Bank of America building, and the original bank vault is still in place.
Guests purchased keys at different values and used them to select gifts from security boxes inside the vault. Depending on the key purchased, participants could receive a gift of equal or greater value.
The FHA donated a Floating Home Tour for 10 people for the Vault: a value of over $450; we congratulate the lucky winner.
The game turned a piece of Sausalito history into an interactive part of the evening while giving sponsors and community members another way to support P.A.I.N.T.
A Special Connection to The Floating-Home Community
For Sausalito’s floating-home community, the exhibition offered an opportunity to contribute its own creative voice to a larger celebration of inclusive art.
Nancy Hardaway, Katrina Wagner, and Judyth Greenburgh each exhibited their artwork, bringing the floating-home community into the exhibition, not simply as visitors or supporters, but as participating artists.
Greenburgh’s involvement went a step further. In addition to exhibiting her own work, she helped organize and put on the exhibition, working alongside the P.A.I.N.T. team to bring the event together.
That combination of participation and volunteer involvement is characteristic of the community spirit that has helped P.A.I.N.T. grow.
The connection between the floating-home community and P.A.I.N.T. also reflects something particularly Sausalito: artists, neighbors, and community members often cross paths in unexpected ways, with people contributing their talents in more than one role.
A Heartfelt Response
The response throughout the exhibition was extremely heartwarming.
Visitors spent time looking at the artwork, meeting artists, participating in the interactive art project, purchasing pieces, and learning more about P.A.I.N.T.’s mission.
Many artworks were sold during the exhibition, providing support for the artists and helping P.A.I.N.T. continue its programming.
For P.A.I.N.T., that response was about more than the success of a single fundraising event.
It demonstrated that there is a strong community interest in creating spaces like this, where artists with disabilities are recognized for their talents and creativity rather than defined by their limitations.
18 Months of Growth—And Just The Beginning
The September exhibition was an important milestone for an organization that is still relatively young.
In just 18 months, P.A.I.N.T. has created a growing program of exhibitions, workshops, and community experiences while continuing to build connections between artists of all abilities and the wider community.
During the benefit, Jechane Reyes spoke about the importance of changing the way people see possibility: “We are creating opportunities for people to be recognized for what they can do rather than defined by what others may think they cannot do.”
The evening also featured remarks from John Farman, founder of CISS, whose vision helped establish the foundation for the organization’s work.
For P.A.I.N.T., the benefit was not an ending but a beginning.
The organization hopes to continue expanding opportunities for artists with disabilities to create, exhibit their work, connect with others, and become an active part of the broader arts community.
And for Sausalito’s floating-home community, the event provided a particularly local connection to that mission.
As stated above, three members of the floating-home community—Nancy Hardaway, Katrina Wagner, and Judyth Greenburgh—were part of the exhibition as artists, while Greenburgh also helped bring the show together.
It was a small but meaningful example of what can happen when Sausalito’s creative communities come together.
P.A.I.N.T. is just getting started.
About P.A.I.N.T. Art Collective
P.A.I.N.T. Art Collective is a nonprofit gallery and creative community dedicated to creating opportunities for artists with disabilities to share their work, connect with others, and to be recognized for their talents. Through exhibitions, workshops, community events, and creative experiences, P.A.I.N.T. works to build a more inclusive creative community where artists of all abilities are welcomed, valued, and celebrated.
Media Contact:
Leslie Freitas
Gallery Director, P.A.I.N.T. Art Collective
lfreitas@paintartcollective.org
415-855-5417 (11 a.m.–5 p.m.)
925-305-3346 (mobile/text)
P.A.I.N.T. Art Collective
Photos by: Matt Spinetta, Prismic Photography
By Jude Greenburgh