Art and Entertainment
Candi Carpenter
Musician
Candi Carpenter (they/them) is a queer, autistic singer-songwriter, producer, and multidisciplinary artist whose music explores identity, healing, freedom, and the lasting impact of religious culture.
Raised as the child of a pastor and immersed in church music from an early age, Carpenter's journey has taken them from gospel stages and the Grand Ole Opry to becoming an acclaimed alternative artist known for their fearless storytelling. Praised by artists including Dolly Parton and Brandi Carlile, they have built a devoted following through music that is both deeply personal and broadly resonant.
Their work confronts questions of belief, belonging, and self-discovery with honesty, creativity, and compassion. Blending elements of rock, alternative, and pop, Carpenter creates music for those rebuilding community and meaning after difficult experiences. Their latest project, Reincarnation, continues that exploration through a powerful collection of songs about transformation, resilience, and finding hope in unexpected places. 🔗 Follow them on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook (candicarpenter), TikTok (candi_carpenter) and Bluesky (candicarpenter.bsky.social) and on their website (candicarpenter.com)
📅 They will be performing in the mid afternoon at the main event as well as at the Fundraising Reception.
Their work confronts questions of belief, belonging, and self-discovery with honesty, creativity, and compassion. Blending elements of rock, alternative, and pop, Carpenter creates music for those rebuilding community and meaning after difficult experiences. Their latest project, Reincarnation, continues that exploration through a powerful collection of songs about transformation, resilience, and finding hope in unexpected places. 🔗 Follow them on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook (candicarpenter), TikTok (candi_carpenter) and Bluesky (candicarpenter.bsky.social) and on their website (candicarpenter.com)
📅 They will be performing in the mid afternoon at the main event as well as at the Fundraising Reception.
Austin Archer
Actor, Writer, and Comedian
Originally from Salt Lake City, Austin has been a professional actor for the last 30 years, starting at the age of 9. As a writer his plays have been produced at theatres in LA, NYC, and SLC.
As a songwriter he has published several full length albums including his most recent release ALLEGORIA which dropped just a few short weeks ago and is now streaming everywhere but Spotify, and available for digital download via Bandcamp. Austin also regularly works as a director and choreographer for staged theatrical productions as well as multiple award-winning music videos.
As a former member of the LDS church turned atheist, he frequently co-hosts shows on the YouTube call-in channel The Line debating theism and political philosophy with callers.
🔗 Follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Youtube (yourpal_austin), Facebook (Austin Archer), or Bluesky (yourpalaustin.bsky.social).
📅 Austin will speak in the late afternoon at the main event and will be doing stand up comedy at the Fundraising Reception.
Sean O'Brien
Actor, performing as Robert Ingersoll
Sean has for many years been performing, directing and teaching the art of acting in professional, community and educational theaters across the country.
Upon retiring from teaching, he began Every Corner Productions which boasts two one-man shows: "The Portable Poe Show" in which Sean performs dramatizations of Poe's poetry and short stories, and "Bob: The Words of Col. Robert Green Ingersoll" which is a composite of passages taken from Ingersoll's most memorable speeches.
Andy Swan
Performing as Uncle Sam
It all began when Andy's oldest brother, George, taught him how to juggle back in 1966. At first Andy would visit the circuses just to see the jugglers, but once he saw what else the circus had to offer he fell in love. After high school he went off to join the DeWayne Bros. Circus in Oregon. During his year with them he learned just about everything there was to learn about circus life.
Andy will delight children and adults with juggling, balloon animals, magic, and all kinds of good-natured fun. 🔗You can read more about Andy at his website (http://sbcircus.com). 📅 He will be delighting out guests on Sunday in the afternoon, on the move through the crowd and exhibitor area.
Andy will delight children and adults with juggling, balloon animals, magic, and all kinds of good-natured fun. 🔗You can read more about Andy at his website (http://sbcircus.com). 📅 He will be delighting out guests on Sunday in the afternoon, on the move through the crowd and exhibitor area.
Karen Tsugawa
Live Painting
"Karen Tsugawa is a Japanese-Chinese artist and graphic designer based in Roseville, CA. She often combines her mixed Asian American background with her love for tactile artmaking practices. Her work focuses on the themes of resilience within AAPI communities in various cities that have historically been redeveloped, cultural patterns and textiles, and promoting accessibility in the creation of public art.
Karen's current public artwork showcases personal and historical ties to the Japanese American communities in various cities within Sacramento County. She also participates in local events promoting both Japanese American history in Sacramento, as well supporting AAPI business owners and organizations.
She has also exhibited work and held workshops in various national and international spaces including: Chung 24 Gallery in San Francisco, Oklahoma State Museum of Art, Chopstick Alley Art in San José, City as Nature Festival in Osaka, San José Museum of Art, and the University of Costa Rica."Karen's current public artwork showcases personal and historical ties to the Japanese American communities in various cities within Sacramento County. She also participates in local events promoting both Japanese American history in Sacramento, as well supporting AAPI business owners and organizations.
She has also exhibited work and held workshops in various national and international spaces including: Chung 24 Gallery in San Francisco, Oklahoma State Museum of Art, Chopstick Alley Art in San José, City as Nature Festival in Osaka, San José Museum of Art, and the University of Costa Rica."t everything there was to learn about circus life. 🔗 Follow her on Instagram and Facebook and on her website (karentsugawa.com). 📅Karen will be live-painting on sunday near our interactive art canopy.
Karen's current public artwork showcases personal and historical ties to the Japanese American communities in various cities within Sacramento County. She also participates in local events promoting both Japanese American history in Sacramento, as well supporting AAPI business owners and organizations.
She has also exhibited work and held workshops in various national and international spaces including: Chung 24 Gallery in San Francisco, Oklahoma State Museum of Art, Chopstick Alley Art in San José, City as Nature Festival in Osaka, San José Museum of Art, and the University of Costa Rica."Karen's current public artwork showcases personal and historical ties to the Japanese American communities in various cities within Sacramento County. She also participates in local events promoting both Japanese American history in Sacramento, as well supporting AAPI business owners and organizations.
She has also exhibited work and held workshops in various national and international spaces including: Chung 24 Gallery in San Francisco, Oklahoma State Museum of Art, Chopstick Alley Art in San José, City as Nature Festival in Osaka, San José Museum of Art, and the University of Costa Rica."t everything there was to learn about circus life. 🔗 Follow her on Instagram and Facebook and on her website (karentsugawa.com). 📅Karen will be live-painting on sunday near our interactive art canopy.
Rina Wakefield
Entertainer and Poet
Rina is a spoken word poet, activist, and librarian who holds a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science. She is a collaborating member of Myrtle Tree Arts and facilitates community events that highlight environmental awareness, humanitarian efforts, and promote equity for underrepresented groups. She was a member of the Sacramento Poetry Week Committee in 2024 and served on the International Human Rights Day Committee from 2022 to 2025. She has been the featured Spoken Word Performer for El Dorado County’s Poet Laureate program, a featured poet at Placerville’s Human Rights Day, and was featured at Chateau Duvall in 2023.
Rina was published in the GTFO Poetry Anthology (2024) and in Art and Culture El Dorado’s chapbook Poets of the Firehouse Sessions (2023). As a journalist, her work has appeared in The Mountain Democrat, the California Business Journal, dametraveler.com, and Performer Magazine. She is currently working on a prose-poetry chapbook and a creative nonfiction novel based on the female lineage of her Indigenous heritage —the Purépecha people of northwestern Michoacán, Mexico. As a culture keeper and literary event coordinator, she served as a creative designer for the Sugar Skull Art Walk project in 2023 and produced its poetry performances in 2024. 🔗Follow her on Instagram (_rinawrite) and her website (rinawrites.com) 📅 He will be delighting out guests on Sunday in the afternoon, on the move through the crowd and exhibitor area.
Rina was published in the GTFO Poetry Anthology (2024) and in Art and Culture El Dorado’s chapbook Poets of the Firehouse Sessions (2023). As a journalist, her work has appeared in The Mountain Democrat, the California Business Journal, dametraveler.com, and Performer Magazine. She is currently working on a prose-poetry chapbook and a creative nonfiction novel based on the female lineage of her Indigenous heritage —the Purépecha people of northwestern Michoacán, Mexico. As a culture keeper and literary event coordinator, she served as a creative designer for the Sugar Skull Art Walk project in 2023 and produced its poetry performances in 2024. 🔗Follow her on Instagram (_rinawrite) and her website (rinawrites.com) 📅 He will be delighting out guests on Sunday in the afternoon, on the move through the crowd and exhibitor area.
Abraham Steve MAckey
Singer, Songwriter
Steve comes with a background of many years in gospel music. Twenty years ago, he left that scene to engage life without a belief in God and has returned to his original musical passion for the music of 60's and 70's.
He will be providing the background sounds of those rock and folk-rock classics during Saturday evening's reception.
🔗 Follow him on Youtube and Facebook (Abraham Steve Mackey).
📅 Steve will be performing on Saturday at our Fundraiser Reception.