Discover the creative visions of Sausalito’s Marinship Studios artists in an intimate series of talks and private studio tours exploring their work, creative process, and inspiration. Meet the artists at their workshops: Jewelry artist Maya Kini and Laura Lienhard, stone sculptor and garden designer James Lafemina, and ceramic and glass artist Susan McKinney. Each will share the philosophy behind their craft, revealing how their artistic journeys are both personal expressions and a continuation of Marinship’s storied legacy. Through their work, they revive the spirit of this historic waterfront enclave, once home to renowned figures like Maya Angelou, Gordon Onslow Ford, Allen Ginsberg, Jean Varda, and Ruth Asawa.
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE:
- 1pm: Maya Kini and Laura Lienhard
- 2pm: James LaFemina
- 3pm: Susan McKinney
About Marinship Studios:
Marinship Studios, set along Sausalito’s historic waterfront, is more than just a creative space—it’s a continuation of a storied legacy that began in the mid-20th century with trailblazing artists and thinkers. The studio’s roots trace back to Frances Anshen in the early 1950s, was introduced to the area by artist Jean Varda. She transformed a sinking barge into her home alongside her husband, architect Bob Anshen, and gradually built a community of houseboats and structures that became a hub of creativity. Today, under the stewardship of its visionary owner and founder Max Houtzager, Marinship Studios has been revitalized with a design team that includes Takashi Yanai of EYRC Architects, Commune Design, and landscape firm Terremoto. Their work honors the spirit of the original community, maintaining its organic, minimalist ethos while creating functional spaces that naturally extend the legacy of Marinship as a haven for artists, makers, and innovators. The history and creative energy of Marinship, enriched by figures like Gordon Onslow Ford and Varda, continue to influence its evolution, making it a place where creativity thrives. Credit: Historic reference
SCHEDULE WITH ARTIST BIOS:
1pm: Maya Kini and Laura Lienhard
Maya Kini, a Sausalito-based artist, merges the worlds of sculpture, jewelry, and poetry in her evocative, multidisciplinary practice. Born in Boston, Kini studied sculpture and literature at Reed College before earning her graduate degree in Metalsmithing from the renowned Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2007. Her work, exhibited both nationally and internationally, reflects a deep engagement with materiality and form, while her poetry has been featured in BLR, Current Obsession, and Metalsmith Magazine. Kini resides with her family in the misty hills of San Francisco, while maintaining her studio on the Sausalito waterfront, where she continues to explore the intersection of craft, art, and the written word.
Laura Lienhard, with a jewelry portfolio and acceptance to the Rhode Island School of Design Laura was intent on becoming a metals major but a new path at RISD led her to textiles, originally as a hand weaver of tapestries and later as a designer in the textile field. After a successful twenty-year career with her company Laura Lienhard Textiles Inc she shuttered her business and returned to explorations in metal.
Elements in her jewelry are derived from natures forms reduced to capture their essence. Foliage, rocks, texture – her home of Vermont and coastal California are sources of inspiration. Laura’s love of the ancient world provides ceaseless content and numerous studies in Italy continue to help her push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of metal. Laura’s work can be purchased at recently featured Gallery Lulo at Design Healdsburg.
2pm: James LaFemina
James LaFemina, known professionally as “Jael,” is a master stone sculptor and garden designer whose work is deeply rooted in a Zen-inspired approach to natural materials. Specializing in stone finishes, Jael has a lifelong fascination with stone, expanding his craft from traditional masonry to more intricate, choreographed designs. His sculptures, often crafted from Basalt, evoke natural elements like waves, revealing the inherent stories of the stone’s formation over millions of years. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Isamu Noguchi, Brancusi, and Barbara Hepworth, Jael’s work plays with the way black Basalt defines space, creating dynamic outdoor installations that blend seamlessly with their surroundings. His recent site-specific fountains highlight the delicate interplay of light, sound, and stone, offering a tranquil focal point that enhances both garden landscapes and the natural world around them.
3pm: Susan McKinney
Susan McKinney is a Sausalito-based ceramic artist and award-winning industrial designer renowned for her innovative approach to color, material, and finish. With a career that bridges the realms of technology and craft, Susan began her journey into ceramics in 2008, driven by a desire to merge her passion for design with the natural world. In 2018, she launched SKINNY Ceramics, which has since evolved into Studio Susan—a creative space where art, design, and craftsmanship converge. Known for her expressive forms and boundary-pushing experimentation, Susan’s work spans one-of-a-kind sculptures, wall hangings, and airy vessels, designed to inspire wonder and connection. Her contributions to design have earned accolades from IDEA, Spark, and FastCo Innovation by Design, and her ceramics have been featured in collaborations with West Elm and SSENSE. With artist residencies in Greece, Denmark, and Japan, Susan’s work continues to captivate collectors, interior designers, and commercial clients alike. She currently resides in Marin, California.
