Inside the old Al Stacks Radiator Repair Shop on The Boulevard…a forest is growing…
Step inside WonderStump and you’ll find yourself immersed in a multidimensional, sensory rich, magic-infused art forest where weird, wild, and wonderful surprises await!
Sing to a tree and watch it shimmer in reply. Dance through a rainstorm without getting wet. Create ethereal music by touching light. Whisper a secret and watch it spin itself into a web of shared experience.
This is WonderStump. Indescribable, unforgettable, and all yours to explore.
Fantastical FAQ
When will WonderStump open?
We're aiming for November 2025, but still waiting on some permits. We’ll start with special events and sneak-peek evenings, then open fully once the main exhibit is ready. Expect exclusive invitations to soft opening surprises soon! (talking to you, newsletter subscribers)
How does it work?
During regular hours, WonderStump is a ticketed venue— like a museum or a movie theater. You can purchase a ticket online or at the counter, enter the exhibit, and stay as long as you like! In addition to the exhibit experience, we will also host special events like concerts, immersive theater performances, themed costume parties, poetry slams, and surreal spectacles the like of which you’ve never seen! These will have separate tickets, dates/times, and pricing.
What will I see inside?
Expect glowing portals, secret pathways, giant sculptures, and interactive spaces where the environment responds to your touch, your movement, or even the music playing in the room. Cool, yeah?? We will also have a specially curated gift shop gallery, filled with local handcrafted goods and fine art. Great snacks and tasty drinks will be coming soon!
Can kids come?
Absolutely! WonderStump is totally family-friendly. That said...there will be some 18+ and 21+ events too ;)
How much will it cost?
General admission is $35 for adults and $18 for kids 12 & under. Little ones (2 and under) are free! Performances and featured experiences will have special pricing that varies depending on the event. We’re also planning seasonal passes so folks can return again and again as the exhibit evolves. **we are working on ways to offer some low or no-cost events to make WonderStump accessible to all**
How is WonderStump different from a regular art gallery or museum?
Instead of looking at art on the walls, you step inside it. You’re surrounded by sound, light, texture, and story. It’s less about observing and more about experiencing.
What’s happening behind the scenes right now?
A little bit of everything! Our team is welding sculptures, programming LED light shows, building whimsical props, and testing interactive tech inside the construction zone. We’re also designing storylines, soundscapes, and small secret surprises that only the most curious visitors will find.
How will I know when you open?
Easy peasy!
Why WonderStump?
A stump has POTENTIAL.
A stump can be so many things!
A stump can become a home for new life.
Some trees regrow from a stump after being cut down.
The Giving Tree became a stump 💚
And most importantly…
An interesting name attracts interesting folks!
A Sense of Wonder
When was the last time you were absolutely amazed? When did you last play? When were you so excited to see something, you immediately texted your friends to join you? All these things happen on the daily in our minds and in our studio, and it’s time to share them all with you.
WonderStump invites wonder into the everyday, activates the playful curiosity we were all born with, and brings friends and strangers together for a shared experience that results in connection and joy.
Built By Local Artists
The first generation of the WonderStump forest is being brought to life by founding artists Josh Cardenas and Kirsten Bjøre — with big plans to invite others into the story.
This ever-evolving world will grow through the hands of local artists, each adding their own spark, medium, and imagination to one shared, living narrative.
By weaving together emerging and experienced creators, WonderStump becomes both playground and incubator — a space where ideas cross-pollinate, skills are shared, and Petaluma’s creative roots grow even deeper.
Burners, dreamers, and makers — we’re looking at you. 🧡
An Offering For Our Community
We love Petaluma, & we’re all about giving back to the town that inspires us! What does that mean? How about…
A place to gather and have fun!
An intriguing experience to share with your guests from out of town!
Performances by local musicians, actors, street performers, dancers, and more!
Unique, beautiful, quirky, exquisite handmade one of a kind gifts!
Locally sourced organic snacks from Petaluma purveyors!
Bespoke craft cocktails that include magic in every sip!
An escape from the grind!
An ever-changing magical space that is responsive to your needs and desires, shape shifting like a storybook wizard to ensure you can visit time and time again without becoming bored!
WonderStump Founders
Kirsten Björe
Kirsten Björe is an artist, educator, and creative shapeshifter who thrives on curiosity, connection, and the wonderfully weird.
Born and raised in Alaska, she homesteaded off-grid as a kid with her parents, brother, and giant St. Bernard-Husky mix named Ruffy. That early immersion in nature and self-reliance became the heartbeat of her work: art that speaks to close relationships, deep listening, and wild landscapes.
She’s spent over 15 years teaching art and behavior support in public schools, where she built a product design program to help teens launch real-life creative businesses. Her path includes everything from processing crime photos to co-founding a hula hoop fitness biz, and even running a niche company processing goat hair for reborn doll artists worldwide.
In Petaluma, she served as Head of Engagement & Programming at Life On Art, creating public art, community partnerships, and programming centered on healing and artistic activism. She co-organizes Arts Alive Petaluma with Josh and continues to champion mental health, LGBTQIA+ visibility, and creative entrepreneurship.
She’s super into costume design, leather working, brass tools, and making meaningful messes.
Find her at cabracreative.com or @cabracreative on Instagram.
photo by Kat Carey, darkroomfoto
Josh Cardenas
Josh Cardenas is a creative technologist, designer, and full-time dream-crafter. He brings imagination to life through light, sound, and spaces.
Raised in Southern California, Josh grew up surrounded by the magic of theme parks and the film industry. He started by building haunted houses and fantasy environments—anything that let him turn ideas into immersive worlds.
He’s worked in visual effects, animation, and immersive design on projects like Iron Man, Elysium, and Die Hard IV, created visuals for Disney, and produced comic books for Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. He even designed animated backdrops for a royal wedding in Abu Dhabi.
Josh designed visuals and robotic camera systems for DJ Shadow, then toured internationally with him—crafting a layered visual experience to amplify the music. He’s also taught high schoolers how to make art that moves, blinks, and glows, and founded Art Reactor, a youth-focused tech-art venture.
Now based in Petaluma, he co-directs Arts Alive Petaluma with Kirsten and spends his days building immersive, tech-infused wonderlands at WonderStump.
Follow his work at @visceralx.projects.
WonderStump Press
