Creativity and Fear: Rob Archie and Maren Conrad

Creativity+ presents the first Speakers Series of 2020. Each Creativity+ Fear event will feature conversations with two speakers from diverse backgrounds offering their unique perspectives on the topic. First up are Rob Archie and Maren Conrad.

Rob Archie is the owner of Urban Roots Brewing, Bawk Fried Chicken, and Pangaea Bier Cafe. Pangaea has earned the respect of the top brewers in the country and has received accolades for Top Burger in the World, Top Beer Destination (every year since 2008) and the Sacramento Bee gave the cafe a glowing beer concept review. Archie has been a pioneer of international craft beer in Sacramento and Pangaea remains home to some of the finest craft brewers’ rare beers, special releases, and exclusive beer dinners.

Maren Conrad’s murals create environments where toddlers go to wish, dandies go to peacock, and cars appear toy-sized against the larger-than-life canvases of steel, brick, and stucco. Each work may be a part of a developer’s project or painted on a wall that someone has purchased, yet they are owned by no single person, not even their creator. The very places that are adorned with her 12,000+ square foot creations were once areas she would have dreaded to walk through alone. Using her passion as a vehicle that narrows the urban-planning gender gap is not simply insurance for her survival, it is her mission.