Art Openings | Events

Monterey Museum of Art California Paintings from the Baird Collection: A Benefit Auction, an exhibition previewing art works donated to the museum by the Bairds of Austin, Texas, which will be auctioned off on July 11 (see story p. 48). Off the Press: Handmade and Letterpress Books from UCSC Special Collections, unique and hand-made books created and owned by artists, ends 9/5. Long-term exhibits: California Photography: The Monterey Legacy , photographs from the museum’s collection of major Central Coast photographers; paintings by William Ritschel; Jules Tavernier paintings from the collection of Betty Hoag McGlynn; Just for Fun, toys and dolls from around the world. 559 Pacific St., Monterey. 372-5477.

National Steinbeck Center From the Sierra to the Sea: The California Landscapes of Chiura Obata , California landscapes by Japanese-American painter Chiura Obata (see story p. 46). Opens Sat 6/12. Reception: Thurs 6/17, 5:30-7:30pm. 1 Main St, Salinas. 775-4725. Ends 11/7.

Pajaro Valley Arts Council Natural Seduction, Love and Courtship in the Garden, 66 regional artists explore the themes of attraction and desire in a garden setting. 37 Sudden St., Watsonville. 722-3062. Ends 7/11.

Sasoontsi Gallery Odyssey in Art, works by Salinas artist Richard Puckett. Reception: Fri. 6/11, 5-8pm. 40 Central Ave., Salinas. 751-1777. Ends 8/16.

Seaside City Hall Wildlife in the Plain Air, works by Hanne Lori Eggeman, Carol Fendal, Lynette Otis, ceramics by Arthur Rogers. Reception: Fri 6/11, 7-8:30pm. Avery Gallery, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. 899-6811. Ends 6/25.

The Lewis Gallery Empty Altars , paintings by Spanish artist Gloria Muñoz. Reception: Fri 6/11, 6-9pm and Sat 6/12, 3-6pm. Dolores and 6th, Carmel. 625-3820. Ends 6/26.

Ongoing Exhibits

Alvarado Gallery Critters and Free Radicals. Paige Johnson and Rita Shugart present new paintings of animals (Shugart) and collages (Johnson). Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey. 646-3991. Ends 6/21.

Carl Cherry Center for the Arts Karen Ruhmann and Marsha Irwin: Semblances in Abstraction and Form , an installation of Ruhmann’s abstract paintings and Irwin’s decorative ceramics. Guadalupe at 4th, Carmel. 624-7491. Ends 7/9.

Carmel Art Association Monterey as Realism and as Design , oils and acrylics by Joseph Nordmann; also this month’s Gallery Showcase features watercolors of local scenes by Edwin Adamson, acrylics on canvas by Norma Bhaskar, and plein air coastal paintings by John McWilliams. Dolores between 5th and 6th, Carmel. 624-6176. Ends 7/7.

Center for Photographic Art W. Eugene Smith , an exhibition of the most important photo essays from this top photojournalist, known best for his work at Life and Newsweek from the 1930s to 1950s. Sunset Center, San Carlos at 9th, Carmel. 625-5181. Ends 6/11.

Hawthorne Gallery Painting, sculpture, design, jewelry, glass art and more by the Hawthorne family and gallery artists. Highway 1, just past Nepenthe. Big Sur. 667-3200.

Highlands Inn Manifestations of the Mind’s Eye. Photographs by William Giles and Patrick Jablonski in conjunction with the Ansel Adams Gallery 120 Highlands Dr., Carmel. 375-7215. Ends 6/20.

J. Johnson’s Studio One Paintings by Judith Hurley. Also shown are photos by Jon Johnson, sculpture and mobiles by Craig Huber. 700 Cannery Row, Monterey. 224-4423.

Jack Gallery “Gangster Series” lithographs by Waldemer Swierzy of the Polish Art Poster Movement. 685 Cannery Row #113, Monterey. 242-2100.

Koffman Gallery The LisaKoff Collection . Art created by African elephant Lisa and artist Dan Koffman, plus Koffman’s Elephants with a Smile. Art by Dan Koffman that celebrates people’s passions, including Martinis, wine, golf and cigars. 210 Alvarado St., Monterey. 655-3457.

Lisa Coscino Gallery In the Main Gallery, Images of Home by Bud Gordon. In the Mid Gallery, Images from the Curse, collages based on her book The Curse: Stories, Writings, Poets, Musings and Snatches of Conversations about Getting Your Period. 216 Grand Ave., Pacific Grove. 646-1939. Ends 7/3.

Maritime Museum Model ships by master model ship builder and martitime historian Tom Fordham. 5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey. 372-2608.
Ends 6/14.

Monterey Peninsula Art Foundation Looking Towards Summer , works by more than 30 local artist-members of this cooperative gallery. 425 Cannery Row, Monterey. 655-1267. Ends 6/30.

Monterey Museum of Art/La Mirada Long-running exhibits : Restless Seas : Works by Armin Hansen; Body of Work : Figurative Paintings, Drawings and Prints, portraits, nudes and figure studies from the museum’s collection, including Man Ray, Rufino Tamayo and Georges Rouault; The Art and Craft of Japanese Packaging ; and bronzes by Old West sculptor Charles Russell. 720 Via Mirada, Monterey. 372-5477.

Morgan’s Coffee and Tea Black-and-white photographs of the Central Coast by Steve Zmak. 498 Washington St., Monterey. 883-4459.

Nancy Dodds Gallery En Couleur , more than 40 plein air paintings of the California coast by seven members of a Marin-based artists’ group. San Carlos at 7th, Carmel. 624-0346. Ends 9/6.

Naval Postgraduate School Open Doors , a photo documentary exhibit about American POWs from the Vietnam War 30 years later, organized by the Coronado Historical Association. Herrmann Hall, NPGS, Del Monte Boulevard, Monterey. www.coronadohistory.org/opendoors. Ends 6/15.

Pacific Grove Art Center According to Sam , watercolors by the late Sam Colburn; Havana, black-and-white photographs from Cuba by Richard Pitnick; Soul Images, pour painting and collage by Sister Anne Marie Blakemore; Feminine Qualities, oil washes on canvas by Vanila Helm. 568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-2208. Ends 7/15.

Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Bears! Icons of the Wild, photographs of the world’s eight species of bears by Jenny Ross. 165 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. 648-5716. Ends 7/18.

Paul Wilson Sculpture Gallery Sculpture in Harmony With Nature , works in wood by Paul Wilson. Robinson Canyon Road at Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. 625-3112.

Red Mill Studio and Gallery David Rojas’ studio/gallery, specializing in bird decoys, and Southwest, Shaker and Amish scenes. 170-B Grand Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-1146.

Richard MacDonald Fine Art The Performer , a one-man show by sculptor Richard MacDonald. San Carlos and 5th, Carmel. 624-8200.

Robert Lewis Gallery On-location oil landscapes by Robert Lewis. 201 1/2 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. 333-9046.

Sally Griffin Senior Center Oil and watercolor paintings by Salinas artist Gerome Castagnetto. 700 Jewell Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-4454. Ends 6/30.

Savage Stephens Contemporary Art Monotypes by Deborah Carlson, mixed media abstract paintings by David Stephens, bronze figures by Carol Gold. Dolores between 5th and 6th, Carmel. 626-0800.

Sirens This working studio features the paintings of Lauryn Taylor and Ali Miner. San Carlos between Ocean and 7th, Carmel. 624-1161.

Sofanya’s Art Gallery Paintings, sculpture, photography and jewelry by local artists, and Essence portraits by Sofanya. Fernwood Resort, Highway 1, Big Sur. art@sofanya.com. 667-2130.

Steven Whyte Sculpture Studios Figures in bronze, portrait busts by Steven Whyte in his working studio/gallery. 700 Cannery Row, suite II, Monterey. 373-5127.

Trajan Gallery Roadside Advertisements, Pop Art-inspired paintings of wall signs and ads by Josep Cisquella. Trajan Gallery, Ocean at San Carlos, Carmel. 625-4388.

Valley Art Gallery Churches of Salinas , watercolors by Dorothy Smith, featured artist for June. 218 Main St., Salinas. 422-4162. Ends 6/26.

William A. Karges Specializing in Early California painters, including Edgar Payne, Alfred Mitchell, Granville Redmond, Maurice Braun, William Wendt. Dolores at 6th, Carmel. 833-9185.