We were lucky to catch up with Marie Metran recently and have shared our conversation below.

Marie , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I think the most meaningful project I’ve worked on continues to be the first group art show I curated in August 2023. Neighborhood Plant Dealer was a new multi use indoor plant studio that just opened in downtown Vallejo in the summer of 2022. I attended an art event in April 2023 & it inspired me to think of curating my first group art show. Through the years, I always enjoyed going to art shows, supporting my friends who are artists, & supporting the community. I was always inspired from what I saw at these events. I love being able to support artists & buy their art if I can. So, when I attended this art event in April 2023, it really got me thinking that I could organize a group art show myself (even if I didn’t have any experience). Truth is, I was (& maybe a part of me still is) scared to put myself out there. I still find it hard to say I’m an artist. Imposter Syndrome is strong & that’s something I continually work through.

During that time, I was financially more secure which allowed me to fund the art show on my own; it was definitely a labor of love. The theme was Rebirth of Woman & the theme revolved around the resilience women have – the ability to remain soft in this world even when life can be harsh. I thought of the courage it takes to be vulnerable & how sharing our stories with each other is healing. I thought of the many times I grieved a closing chapter – death of an old life & how each new chapter represented a rebirth. I was excited to see how artists would interpret the theme. I knew this was the theme I wanted instantly & I knew I wanted to include vendors, food, & a DJ. I wanted to make sure if any art sold, 100% of it would go to the artist. The event featured 35 women artists, creatives, & small business owners. I put out a Call For Art & in turn it connected me to artists in Vallejo & the Bay Area. One of main goals was to bring established artists, new artists, & shy artists together. When we support each other, amazing things happen. I believe there is no gatekeeping with art because I feel we all have a story to share & tell. We have the power to inspire & touch someone’s life through our creativity. One of the artist’s said to me, “I didn’t know my art was good enough to be in an art show.” I will always remember that statement for the rest of my life.

This project continues to be meaningful to me because it was the first time I had the chance to execute my vision. I had to learn to convey my ideas out loud & trust in the people who helped me make it happen. I knew I couldn’t do it on my own & would need help. It continues to be meaningful because it opened the door for me in getting to know people in the Vallejo community. More importantly, it made me proud bringing people together – artists of all ages from different parts of the Bay Area. I didn’t realize it then, but that art show was the stepping stone to the journey I’m on now.

Marie , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I come from a family of artists. My dad & my younger brother (who both passed away in 2021 & 2022) were both artists. My youngest brother is an artist. My cousin is an artist. I have friends who are also artists. Ever since I was a kid, I have always loved art, but I never took classes & never practiced a medium. I was always more of an admirer of art & a community supporter for events. My genuine care for community led me to informal networking with local businesses in downtown Vallejo. Dori (owner of Neighborhood Plant Dealer) was so easy to talk to & open with my ideas for the group art show. She offered her support & answered any questions I had. She really set the tone & helped built my confidence. Networking with downtown businesses through IG also opened opportunities for me to curate in other spaces.

I think what sets me apart is I feel I’m easy going & very approachable to talk to. I remember feeling uncomfortable when I’d step into certain spaces & I never want anyone to feel that way. I truly believe in making people feel supported, being an active listener, & being able to share ideas back & forth. I try my best to think about how I make a person feel. There are still many things I’m learning since it’s only been 2 years since I started curating, but what I love is that there isn’t a right or wrong way to do things. I’m always appreciative of feedback from people.

In July 2024, I started attending a monthly event called Coffee & Collage at Autonomous Gallery in downtown Vallejo. I’ve only been collaging for a year, but it has been very therapeutic for me & opened opportunities to participate in art shows throughout the Bay Area. I really credit Coffee & Collage & Autonomous Gallery for providing me a joyful outlet. In addition, I will be curating my 5th group art show in October. This year has been filled with opportunities being in art shows & curating 2 events earlier this year. I am beyond grateful.

What I’m most proud of is that I took a leap of faith. It’s not easy for me – I get too self-conscious, fear of failure, & I get super anxious that I end up talking myself out of trying new things. I needed to challenge myself because it’s very easy for me to be a hermit at home. I needed to put myself out there & just be in community. Because I took these baby steps, it has led me to being part of a beautiful community of artists, creatives, healers, & small business owners in Vallejo. I definitely still have a lot to learn, but I’m so grateful for everything that’s happened in the last 2 years.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Two weeks before the world shutdown, I decided to go sober. I quit alcohol, nicotine, & substances cold turkey. 5 years later, I continue to be on my sobriety journey & this is something I’m really proud of. Since 2021, I knew if I could get through the deaths of my brother James & my dad without feeling tempted to go back to familiar habits, I knew I could handle anything moving forward. Yes, life is still challenging & difficult, but I am able to process & feel things clearly without using those habits as a crutch. I also want to acknowledge at the time of going sober, I had a partner who was very supportive; he helped me get through it, especially in the beginning. My family & friends also respected my decision & continue to be supportive. But, definitely the deaths of James & my dad have been the most difficult & if I wasn’t tempted to drink then, there’s nothing that would tempt me now. On those really tough days, I cry it out & give myself grace.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

When I think about ideas for group art shows, my particular goal is to choose a theme that will resonate with people. I think about something I’ve gone through or something I’m experiencing at the moment & that’s how I choose the theme (with hope that people will connect to the theme). With Rebirth of Woman, I thought of my journey as a woman in my 20’s, 30’s, & early to mid 40’s. With the 2nd group art show I curated last November, Joy Is An Act of Resistance was the theme. I chose that theme because of what I was feeling (& continue to feel) about the state of our world. I wanted to find out in what ways people were practicing joy in times of chaos, what were some of the joyful things people were experiencing, etc. I loved how everyone’s art was different & what their submissions meant to them. Moving forward, these are the kinds of art shows I want to put together – themes that speak to people & welcoming artists of all ages (even kids). I think I’ve been able to show that in the shows I’ve curated & I hope I have the longevity to continue doing this & bring people along for the journey.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @metmuh_ersan (private), @metma_ersan_707 (public)