Alicia Mary Retes, C.I.G, C.I.T.

Storytelling Artisan

     Alicia promotes and supports other storytellers through Artist Standing Strong Together (ASST, "assist), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting a growing collective of Independent Artist whose mission is to connect t artists with resources. Founders Donna Washington and Sheila Arnold created ASST as a direct result of COVID. Monthly Special Programs (MSP) is an ASST Zoom program with varied topics. As a creative producer and Emcee, Alicia continues to design MSP programs.

     "COVID Shape Shifter - Tragedies Turned Triumphant" a show giving voice to personal stories of transforming pandemic tragedies into triumph. From Canada and across the United States including Indigenous Citizens of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Wyandotte Nation in Central Sierra Mewuk Territory, 8 performers emerged to share how they adapting their lives and communities for the better.  Feature Tellers: Tim Tingle, BZ Smith, Genevieve N. Franklin, Kristin Pedemonti, Mindy Donner, Laura Simms, Mike Tomson and Gail Mello Weaver.

      "You and I - Oh My!” Seven Tandem Teller​s perform stories of an event that led them both to share an "Oh My!" moment. 14 performers across the US and Candada, team up to share enticing experiences ranging from truck stop mishaps and camping adventures to love affairs and deepen spiritual connections. Featured Tandem Tellers: Steve Daut & Robin Nott, Howard Liberman & Loren Niemi, Patti Chistensen & James Nielsen The Story Patchwork Story Theater, Linda & Gary Kuntz , Johanne Pelletier & Ronna Levy, Judith Onesty & Les Schafer Two Tellers Telling and Shayne Larango & Hayley Turner.

     Born and raised in San Diego California, Alicia spent her summers in Huatabampo, Sonora, Mexico, a Yoreme (Mayo) ceremonial town. She traveled in the family yellow Dodge Dart Station Wagon camping along the West Coast and across the US to national, state and parks. Growing up in a bi-lingual, Mexican-American household sparked her fascination with cultural diversity, languages and natural history. As an adult, she has lived, traveled and explored the ecosystems and Native cultural arts in California, Mexico, Hawaii, Panama and Australia.

Land Acknowledgement

Alicia resides in the unceded sovereign lands of the Coast Miwok known today as Marin County. Despite the cultural genocide through missionization by the Spanish and the piracy tactics of the English, they are still here and have been since time immemorial. This is true for the unceded lands of Coast Miwok in Marin County where I reside and the unceded lands of the Yoeme (Yaqui) of Sonora, Mexico and of whom I am descended. They both remain dedicated to upholding and renewing the traditional customs and practices of their ancestors.

     She encourages learning more about the Coast Miwok Tribal Council of Marin and supporting their current and future projects. Please visit www.coastmiwokofmarin.org "Since time immemorial; as long as the sun has filled the days with the gift of light, and as long as the moon has guided our path at night, the Coast Miwok people, who hold the uncontested aboriginal title, have occupied, tended, stewarded, and held sacred ceremonies, defended and governed according to the traditions of their ancestors the unceded lands of present-day Marin County, California".

Check out their Youtube video sponsored by the San Geronimo Valley Planning Group Members  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGSTnJmAhqQ

Throughout the Americas, Indigenous Tribal Nations have maintained their deep understanding of our precious ecosystems that allowed them to thrive for thousands of years long before western contact. Indigenous People and their traditional cultural knowledge are a vital part of our present and future lives on the Earth. We must heed their call to protect all water resources and ecosystems now and for future generations. After all, we are all humans living on the same Mother Earth.

     In her expressive telling, tricksters become lively, interesting, deceptive, hapless and funny characters, who embody a range of human emotions and reactions while providing opportunities to transform preconceived ideas and unite audiences in laughter.  Alicia is especially fond of retelling Indigenous stories from her travels to honor the original inhabitants and their land.  She fully embraces the unique personality, body, movement, voice and spirit of a variety of characters. Alicia incorporates music, including songs of her own composition in English, Spanish, and various Indigenous languages, along with ethnic instruments like the didjeridu taught her by the Aboriginal Australian Tjapukai people.

The following 45-50 minute programs, require 30 to 45 minute set up, 30 minute take down. $385 plus travel expenses.

Hearts Desire Beach 2014 Tule Boat Building with Charlie Kennard of San Anselmo, a long-time basket weaver and student of California Indian and other traditional basketry techniques of the world.

Currrently Museum of the American Indian, Novato, CA. Alicia was recognized for her many years of service as the interpretive guide and education director at the grand reopening of the museum. She exhibited her multiple media artwork along and Jackie Fawn, Yurok, Washoe, Filipino, a graphic illustrator. www.marinindian.com.

     Alica continues to share she her work as a cultural educator and storyteller at various Indigenous California gatherings including the Marin Indian Alliance, Annual Powwow, Coast Miwok Big Time Celebrations at Kule Loklo, Point Reyes National Seashore, and the Siakumne Tribe and 4 Element Earth Education at the Salmon and Bear Celebrations at Burton Educational Preserve, Nevada County and with the Miwok Aracheological Preserve of Marin. She has participated with numerous Miwok cultural workshops and performances with Sky Road, Coast Miwok throughout the Bay area.  https://youtu.be/ViKYQ-QnN6A      

Companion Plants Program- Elementary Students crafted corn husk plant characters, wrote and performed short stories, designed menus and feasted on their plant-based meals.  

Willow basket, crafted by Alicia.

Exibiting Since 1975  California, Hawaii and Panama

Alicia thrives on Trickster and Shape-Shifter stories like Coyote Raven, Rabbit, Frog and Humans!

And of course, she always adds sing-along songs!

A. 20-minute single rendition of "Yaqui Two Bears", a traditional legend of love, betrayal and redemption.  $325 includes set up plus travel expenses.

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2022  Maurice Del Mue Galleries, San Geronimo Valley Community Center (SGVCC) As an artist-in-residence, Alicia presented her original Companion Plant Character Stories and exhibited 100 sculptures ranging from 1' to 8' tall plant chacters. She performed for SGVCC's Annual International Peace Festival and taught the Lagunitas School District Students K-8 how to craft their own character dolls.

2012 Maurice Del Mue Galleries, hosted  Alicia's retrospective artwork legacy from the 1970's to 2012. Her diversifiedwork included colorful batik hand paintings, black and white silkscreen prints, exquisite feather artwork, and papier mache'sculpture from pinatos to a Gray whale vertebra. Guests enjoyed live Hawaiian music Ka O'Pai with Alicia playing the didgeridoo, Allen Bernes on ukulele and Tom Barr on harmonica.

This multidimensional program is designed to support a greater sense of community and shared responsibilities between individuals while reflecting the spirit of cooperation and interconnectedness inherent in Indigenous cultures.

   There are many Native American legends about these plant sisters who hold signifigant spiritual and cultural values. Their stories underscore the power and viability of working together for mutual benefit. An exemplar for us to follow in our communities resulting in respecting differences, common wellness needs, cooperation, abundance and a healthy environment. The intelligence of plants in that way helps lead the way toward creating harmony and peace. This inspired Alicia to create her innovative storytelling program, Companion Plant Stories and Songs where she weaves stories and songs with the visual arts and cultural values.

     Imagine 6 x3 corn leaf plant puppet characters standing on a garden mound on wheels. Alicia escorts the three sisters, Corn, Bean and Squash into the audience to express their trials, tribulations and reveal their origins with the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. Join Alicia as she explores additional companion plants like Tantalizing Tomatina and Cilantro El Magnífico who defends her from the ravages of the Devious HornWorm.

Meet CA Core Standards: Social Studies, Creative Arts, Native American & Earth Sciences K-5.

Companion Plants Stories & Songs

Trickster Tales

Legend of The Yaqui Two Bears

Corn Husk Doll Workshops

Lagunitas School District T/K - 7 G.

1 hour performance, depending on size and audience age. 1 hour set up, 30-40 minutes repack and load.

Highly popular program available all year round. Books quickly throughout the Bay Area especially for Fall.

$425 plus roundtrip travel expenses over 30 minutes.                  Email Alcia:    Alicia.M.Retes@gmail.com      

      Alicia's adaptation of Gulpilil's tale is captivating and hilariously entertaining!  

Gurukmun, a giant frog, drank all the water from the rivers, lakes and even the ocean. The animals try to reason with Gurukmun to return the water.   In an attempt to make Gurkmun laugh to release the water, Kangaroo, Emu, Bandicoot, Kookaburra, and Wombat show off the silly dance moves but nothing seems to work--until the Nabunm the old Ell wiggles around and ties up into a knot.

Based on Gulpilil's Stories of The DreamTime, Alicia will share her travels in Australia and play the didgeridoo, an ancient Aboriginal wind instrument taught to her in the Northern Territory of Kuranda by the Tjpukai People.Audiences are invited to "dance" with the animals and experience the sound of the didgeridoo. They will have the opportunity to play an assortment of ethnic instruments and participate as an orchestra to honor the rain. For children under 8, colored photos (and a few "stuffies") of the animal characters are provided. 

Gurukman The Greedy Frog

    Alicia camped in the foothills of the Sierra Madre in the 1990's to connect with and record the art and culture of the Mayo artisans in Sonora, Mexico. She learned about her grandfathers' heritage as a Yoreme (Mayo) and Yoeme (Yaqui) descendant, a governmental aristocrat and a rancher born in Huatabampo, a Mayo ceremonial town.  With the assistance of her mother interviewing locals, her Mexican cousins, the Mayo village leaders, the Matachin Dance Society and Custom Video Multimedia Productions, Alicia produced "Cultural Arts of the Mayo People of Sonora, Mx. The video provides a glimpse into the enchanting world and ancient/modern customs of the Yaqui & Mayo Easter Ceremonial traditions dating back to early 1th centur7

     Alicia lived in a deserted Hawaiian fishing villages spearing fish and lobsters to eat for over a year. She traded her catch for tropical fruits and fresh water with a Hawaiian fisherman who came once a month. He would pull his outrigger canoe onto the black sand beach to offload the precious cargo. Quite often they shared his homemade poi together.  

Have fun playing a variety of indigenous percussion instruments.

Experience original and Pan American influenced stories and sing-along songs.

"The unique gift that Alicia brings to storytelling is her absolute engagement of the story with the movement of her physical body, voices and the heart she puts into each character. There were many responses of "oohs" &"aahs," giggles and cheers".   

Barbara Zarate, Patawommeck, Blackfoot

Performing songs with Sky Road Webb, Coast Miwok of Marin.

Hawaiian Grass Skirt Hula Dancer Corn fiber and yarn with water color backdrop.

Earrings. New Zealand sustainable abalone, hemitite, glass and bone beads with parrot and peacock feathers.

Corn Spirit Companion. Corn leaf, feathers and ribbons.

Sonoma County Commuinty Center, After School Program.

Australian Aboriginal thirsty frog threatens the delicate balance of creation.

A veritable stew of wisdom teachings cooked up by plants!

Stories Tailored to Any Age Group.

Entertaining and Educational Programs.

Plant Puppet Adventures and Tricksters Stories Too!

Learn More About Coast Miwok and other Native Americans.

Museum of the American Indian https://www.marinindian.com/

Marin American Indian Alliance https://marinamericanindianalliance.org/

Miwok Archeology Preserve of Marin https://www.mapom.org/

Federated Indians of Granton Rancheria.  https://gratonrancheria.com/

Tule Boat Building with Charlie Kennard

Kalea's Peacock.  Made for Alicia's grandaughater Kaleas. Leather, feathers and glass beads.

     Stepping Out - One of three paintings at Tiburon Town Hall.  This surreal self-portrait combines anatomical and abstract elements to explore the connection between mind, body and soul.  It reflects my spiritual journey toward embracing life's sacredness and fostering positive relationships with all living beings.  Drawing inspiration from Central American art, tropical birds and symbolic imagery, the vibrant images demonstrate harmonious living by balancing with one foot within life's eternal cycle while stepping into the spiritual realm.

Paradise Found. Visionary oil landscape on canvas.

Corn Sister with Full Moon.  1' tall story character made of corn leaves, a feathered vest, dentalia and abalone beads with a leather drum behind her. Photo prints available on request.

Bean Sister. Photography of 1' story character made of corn leaves and ribbons.

Pumpkin Sister. 1' tall story character made of corn leaves sitting on a real pumpkin.

Isaia's Diablo - A pinata for her grandson, Isaia.

"Her warm and inviting presence made us feel as if we were all part of the “tribe.”Although we were listening to a folktale from centuries ago, Alicia brought an immediacy that made the audience feel as if this incident had recently occurred in our own time.

Margaret Stawowy, Children’s Librarian II, City of San Rafael

TomaTina, an exuberant Andean tomato traveled from South America and become intergal to cusines worldwide!

How will Courageous Cilantro protect her from the jaws of the Devious Hornworm?

2025 - San Geronimo Valley Community Center.Stewards of the Land Climate Fest.

Stepping Out.

Featured Teller, Sierra Storytelling Festival, Auburn

The Invitation, water color shadow box and Corn Spirit Companions.

About Alicia

Aloha. Corn Spirit Companion. A greeting card photographed Photographed at Napili, tropical garden.

Moana, corn leaf sculpture photographed with Rainbow Ti tropical leaves.

Island Reveire, Island Corn Spirit Companion inside shadow box with tropical water color background.

Helikonia. Liquitex on fabric.

Red Butterfly. Corn Spirit Companion with water color.

Bird Walk. Liquitex on fabric.

Alicia with Henry Frank, Marty Meade and Christina Garcia. Tiburon Town Hall. (Right to left).

About 100 years ago,  two young orphan brothers loved each other but lost their parents during a village raid. They

survived by fishing in the Yaqui River but mostly they earned their living by dancing in the fiestas. They come across a

bear and skin it carefully so that Bali-ichi the older brother wears it as a “dancing bear” while the younger Anoki-ichi

plays music. All goes well until a wealthy owner demands to buy the bear with a cart of gold, silver and even includes

his beautiful daughter in the deal. The rancher does not know it is really a human in disguise. Greed overcomes

Anoki-ichi and he sells his big brother. Eventually Bali- escapes and the original legend ends. However, Alicia adds a

few twists turning the story into a powerful and humorous legend of love, betrayal and redemption. Her version is told

in English but includes Yaqui and Spanish phrases.

A Highly Diversified and Award Winning Artist

A View From The Top

2025 Marin County Fair, Awarded two, First Place & Best of Division in Fine Arts Craft Character Dolls

Meeting Under The Sea

Birds Eye View

Education Director Emeritus and Certified Interpretive Guide and Trainer with the Museum of the American Indian (MAI) of Novato, California.

Since 2011, Alicia continues to exhibit her work and provide consoltations for the museum's staff and educational activities. The Museum of the American Indian uplifts, supports, and makes visible the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas by offering authentic educational programs and cultural resources to Marin and the greater Bay Area.

Learn more about their school field trips, workshops, exhibits, films and community events at https://www.marinindian.com.

Museum of the American Indian, Novato at Miwok Park

Spirit of Hibiscus, Corn Spirit Companion in a shadow box with water color background. First Place, Best of Division, 2025 Marin County Fair.

Pineapple Twins, Corn Spirit Companions. Awaraded First Place, 2025 Marin County Fair.

    For over 2 decades, Alicia has engaged thousands of students on land and sea about our interconnectedness, indigenous cultural arts, environmental conservation, social studies and natural history. As a Certified Interpretive Guide & Trainer since 2009, she led whale watching expdeditions with the San Diego Natural History Museum, Scripps Birch Acquarium and the Oceanic Society, San Francisco.  Alicia is the former education director and lead interpretive guide for the Museum of the American Indian, Novato, California for students learning about the the Miwoks and other Native American Indian cultural ways.

Storytelling Programs and Workshops

Member of the Storytellers Association of California, National Storytellers Network, Artist Standing Strong Together, Tell on Tuesdays, Contra Costa Tale Spinners and the Doc Moore Story Telling Swaps.

B. 50-minute program with story and presentation of touchable Mayo/Yaqui cultural materials including palm woven baskets, wool blankets, musical deer hooved instruments, photos of 1990 Mayo dancers, goat skin masks, horsehair hat bands, etc.  Ages 10 and up. Requires an additional 30 minutes set up and 30 minutes take down.$395 plus travel expenses.

      Alicia, an interdisciplinary mixed-media artist, brings colorful characters to life through storytelling with songs and her handcrafted art. Her diverse mediums include acrylics & watercolors paintings and collages; sculpted figures using organic and recycled materias, and feather and abalone earrings.

Arcylic Hand Paintings on Fabric

     Alicia's love for plants and the arts was influenced at an early age by her parents. Her father, a Mexican citizen Mayo, Yaqui and European descendant managed fields of tomatoes and sunflowers.  Her mother, an English, Cherokee descendant, educator, master gardener, basket maker and award-winning crafts woman created gardens all around the house.  

As a child, she pulled weeds, planted seeds and feasted on sun-kissed apricots and lemons. Enchanted with a variety of lush, colorful, fragrant exotic plants her mother planted beneath her bedroom windows, Alicia dreamed of living in the tropics. She imagined the magnificent whimsical bird of paradise plant with its canoe shaped leaves and indigo blue to orange flowers were magical birds ready to fly her anywhere. On southern California summer evenings, the warm spicy scent of brilliantly yellow Kahili torch gingers merged with sweet night blooming jasmine enhancing her dreams to someday live in Hawaii. Indeed she did for 10 years and continues to visit her family and friends on Maui.  

The Museum of the American Indian is honored to welcome Alicia Retes, our former Education Director and Naturalist, in an emeritus consulting role. This honorary and symbolic return acknowledge the lasting impact of her work and her unparalleled knowledge of Native traditions, natural history, and meaningful ways of connecting young learners to the Land.

Rachael Greve, Executive Director, MAI

For years, Alicia shaped the heart of our fieldtrip and education programs, bringing to life traditional stories, cultural demonstrations, and hands-on activities that thousands of children still remember with joy.

     Alicia, an interdisciplinary mixed-media artisan, brings colorful characters to life through stories, songs, and sometimes corn fiber puppets. She thrives on trickster and shapeshifter stories that embody the full range of human emotions and reactions, providing opportunities to transform preconceived ideas and unite audiences in laughter.

Alicia fully embraces the unique personality, movement, voice, and spirit of each character. Some stories include songs of her own composition in English, Spanish, and various indigenous languages, along with traditional instruments like the didgeridoo taught her by the Aboriginal Australian Tjapukai people

California Bay Laurel is related to the avocado. When the top of the nut is a purplish color, they taste like a peppery avocado. Some Bay Area indigenous tribes still roast Bay nuts and they taste like a chocolate expresso.

     My work is both artistic and community-centered, aiming to create experiences that help people slow down, connect, and remember what we share.  As a mixed-media artist based in Marin County, I create immersive storytelling performances that weave together voice, movement, music, and visual art. I perform folktales, indigenous legends and personal stories.  I enjoy handcrafting feather earrings, painting on canvas and sculputing characters with paper mache and corn husks.

     Corn Spirit Companions my current project, reimagines traditional corn husk dolls within contemporary performance. Through this work, I explore storytelling, cultural memory, and transformation by bringing sculptural figures into live narrative performance. The project creates a bridge between past and present, inviting audiences to engage with tradition in a sensory, embodied way.

Welcome to my website - a place to unit my professional storytelling based creations.

Art Feeds My Soul.  And It's Fun!

Over 20 Years Providing Entertaining, Educational, Cultural Creative Arts Programs For Intergenerational Audiences in Libraries, Elementary Schools, Senior & Community Centers and Festivals Throuhout the Greater Bay Area.

Available for Bookings

Alicia.M.Retes@gmail.com

  Desert life and Indigenous storytelling are brought to life through Alicia's lively performance and audience participation singing in a joful choir of croaks and playing ethnic musical instruments like rainsticks, deer hoves rattles.

     In a time when the Yaqui (Yoeme) of Mexico were waiting for the life-giving rains, Bobok a brave Sonoran Desert toad, saves the day. Alicia's version introduces Coyote who tosses an actual buckskin ball to play with the audience, then complains about being thirsty with no water is available.  Bobok, a Sonoran Desert toad is our amphibian hero who emerges from underground and saves the day. While toads don't actually cause the rain, their joyful croaking songs are a cherished celebration of its arrival.

Two Program Options. Ages 10 and up.

The People's Artist Update

Silver - Not the Gold - Placed 2nd

Hosted by Johnny Depp and Marc Mothersbaugh

Fundraiser & National Artist Popularity Competition

Dear Super Supporters,

     It was truly an amazing experience. We went exceptionally far in this national competition. I am most grateful and thrilled with your votes of confidence. Your kind and generous support has truly inspired me. It helped me to focus on how I could be of greater service to our community, specifically through a calling as a certified art therapy practitioner.

     Our participation in this fundreaiser helped to support The Art of Elysium's mission to bring creative programs to people facing illness, support individuals dealing with hardship and to assist those navigating emotional challenges.

From the deepest part of my heart, thank you!

Alicia M. Retes, Ambassador

The Art of Elysium in Los Angeles.

https://www.theartofelysium.org

    The Yaqui's spiritual and communal life is deeply rooted in the rhythms of the desert.  Bobook's powerful, rumbling croak is not simply summer sound. It is a sacred, vital renewal signal of the life-giving monsoon rains celebrting the arival of water and rebirth of land.

Yaqui Legends

17th century. Translated in Spanish, it was donated to Mayo Cultural Center, Sonora, Mx.

Museum of the American Indian, Novato

Photo by Dan Cooper

Storytelling, Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sauslito.

San Francisco, Children's Libray

Photo by Eny Jacinto, Children's Librarian

Indigenous Cultural Presentations. "Stewards of the Land"- Photograpy of Indigenous diaspora in Marin County created by the San Geronimo Valley Community Center’s Greenstitch Youth Climate Action Program. Their portraits and stories carry forth the ancestral knowledge of reciprocity and sustainable care for the earth.      https://marinlibrary.bibliocommons.com/v2/events

Library Reception Dates:

August 6 - Pt Reyes 5-6:30pm               

August 21 - Inverness 3pm

September 20 - Corte Madera 2-4pm     

September 5 - Main City 3pm

October 3 -  Novato 11am               

November 12 - 4-5pm

Alicia, a mixed media artist is a lifelong creative who brings energy, movement, and storytelling to each piece.

Free Events Open to the Public