Speakers & Workshop Leaders

Click here to download this page (PDF)

SunRay Kelley

SunRay Kelley’s teacher in his first college drafting class told SunRay on seeing his designs, “Learn to use a hammer, boy, because no one but you is going to be able to build that.” Since then, Sunray has been building things that “nobody but SunRay could build.” The structures seem timeless and rooted, like they grew from the site. His forms had always been organic, based on wild round timber, but incorporating the sculptural qualities of earthen building—cob, light-clay straw and strawbale—into his work has been “a revelation and a completion”. His unique style and personal energy have earned him legend status, “Elemental Force” in Natural Building.
www.sunraykelley.com

Ed Begley, Jr.

Prolific actor and green activist, Ed Begley, Jr. has been considered an environmental leader in the Hollywood community for many years. He has served as chairman of the Environmental Media Association, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, as well as on the boards of the Thoreau Institute, Tree People and Friends of the Earth. His work in the environmental community has earned him a number of awards from some of the most prestigious environmental groups in the nation, including the California League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, The Coalition for Clean Air, Heal the Bay and the Santa Monica Baykeeper. www.livingwithed.net

Ray Cirino

For over twenty years, Ray Cirino has been designing unique, innovative and inspirational concepts, products, installations and structures that progress the imagination. Ray Cirino has established himself as a leader in the visualization, creation and integration of bio-beneficial designs and materials. Ray manifests designs that integrate technology with sound design principle for spectacular effect. His concepts seem to naturally alive and immediately relate to the people and the environment surrounding it. www.raycirino.net

Kata Polano

”To find harmony between life and the spaces we occupy. To live sustainably and lightly upon our Earth. To bring art into our everyday lives. To reconnect with Nature. To empower ourselves to succeed. To dream big and live our dreams. These are the ways of life that I dedicate myself to.” http://www.happyearthspeaks.blogspot.com

Bruce Thauburn

After 47 years experience working in all facets of construction, Bruce found his tribe at the Natural Builders Colloquium at in Kerrvillle, Texas, There is a bridge between the Heartfelt Natural Building World and the Commercial Project Management Principles and Disciplines being built—and that is where Bruce dedicates his efforts. With Whimsy, Ceremony, and Mirth, Bruce teaches and shares what he has learned.
bruce.thauburn (at) gmail.com

Laura Fox

Host and producer of Visionary Culture Radio, Laura has studied the ways and means wherein we can shift our consciousness to bring forth desired experiences. Laura feels this is the single most important tool set we can leverage to keep ourselves safe and co-create visions we actually wish to experience instead of the default agenda, while experiencing more JOY, love and wisdom than we have as yet experienced in this earth-life. Laura writes a weekly e-zine with inspired ideas for activation, fulfillment and empowerment. www.visionaryculture.com

Lori Grace Star, MA

Lori Grace Star, MA will be leading a special workshop on Compassionate Communication including Creating Greater Intimacy and Resolving Conflicts with Compassionate Communication. Lori also offers presentations on climate change and reducing our carbon footprint throughout the country, and was trained by Al Gore at Climate Project headquarters.
www.sunrise-center.org

Dr. Tony Pereira, UCLA ME PhD

“Sustainability: what it is, why and how to get there”
Dr. Tony Pereira, UCLA ME PhD has degrees in both engineering and architecture and a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA. Dr. Tony Pereira affirms that humanity faces extraordinary challenges ahead, many if not all of our own making, and that we all have a very serious and profound obligation to act responsibly. www.ise.seas.ucla.edu

Art Ludwig

Art Ludwig is an ecological systems designer with 28 years full-time experience in water, wastewater systems, energy, shelter and human powered transport. His specialty is complex, integrated “systems of systems.” Art has authored numerous articles (including one on water testing procedures) as well as the books “Water Storage” “Principles of Ecological Design,” and “Create an Oasis with Greywater.” www.oasisdesign.net

Shannon Dealy

Shannon Dealy, is a Natural Building instructor and environmental activist who promotes truly sustainable living. Creator and administrator of the internet discussion group on cob, webmaster for Cob Cottage Company, and former “Eco-Yuppie”, Shannon Dealy has been researching and experimenting with lifestyle, houses, technology and much more for over 30 years.
www.deatech.com

Art Kunkin

Now over 80, Art was the founder and editer of the Los Angeles Free Press, the most widely distributed underground newspaper in the 1960’s. He was a definitive Beatnik, a colleague of Charles Bukowski and a close friend of Timothy Leary. After studying alchemy for over 30 years, he believes he has discovered the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’, a way of living perhaps indefinitely. Inside the glass jar is a ‘magic pair’, which he has been eating once a fortnight for nearly a year. Art will be speaking on Immortality. www.alchemyrevealed.com

Jonah Reynolds, Earthship Biotecture

Today, there are mountains of by-products of our civilization that are already made and delivered to all areas. An Earthship make use of these materials via techniques available to the common person. Homelessness is an epidemic and the stress is becoming a disease, housing must return to the grasp of the individual. The Earthship is a participant in the prevailing systems of planet earth. It causes no conflict, no stress, no depletion, no trauma to the planet earth. www.earthship.org

Dr. Cathyrn Svehla

Dr. Svehla is a writer, artist, and interactive storyteller with a Ph.D. in mythology. An eco-activist with a deep love for the desert, she lives in a cabin in Joshua Tree, and leads the High Desert Mythological Round Table. Contact Catherine via her blog:
Cultural Mythology: American Notions of Self and Country, at www.catherinesvehla.com.

Marilyn Crenshaw

Marilyn Crenshaw, a LEED accredited architect, offers over 30 years of experience designing and collaborating on more than 500 residential, commercial and industrial projects throughout the country. Marilyn’s ultimate green architecture designs include: Integrated water management strategies, such as rain water harvesting, grey water reclamation and irrigation, edible landscape, storm water overflow subterranean reservoirs for tree irrigation, black water advanced treatment, hydropower renewable energy storage in cisterns, conservation, living roofs. www.thegreenarchitect.com

Special Thanks to: Lori Grace, Gail Dallas, Rusty Simpson, Tim Sakach, Ken & Sally JT Lake, Andy Woods, Carol Petersen, Boulder Community Gardens, Mother Nature, Captain Gary McCord, the Lake Arrowhead Fire Department, and the entire Desert Community who have been SO welcoming. AND to ALL the Builders, Artists & Visionaries who have created and inspired the vision of Water Woman!