Joan McCleary, Pacific Grove Art Center's executive director for nearly eight years, tendered her resignation last month and will step down Dec. 31 this year. The move had been expected by many of the PGAC's board members; McCleary was going to resign last year, but stayed on when her friend Johnny Aliotti came in as the board's new president.

The years she's spent managing the nonprofit organization, she says, have been fruitful and fulfilling.

"It's been a group effort. A lot of us have made major strides. Painting the interior and exterior, refinishing floors, signage, a professional looking [color] newsletter, expanded website, an increase in concerts and special events like poetry readings, dances, lectures and childrens' classes. The first annual bocce ball tournament—the dream of Johnny [Aliotti]—was a big [fundraising] success."

"I always believed that a space that houses art should look good, too."

McCleary was once the administrative assistant to the president of Monterey Institute of International Studies and an editor for various magazines before joining her husband, John, in compiling, publishing and promoting The Hippie Dictionary, all the while volunteering at the PGAC. It was then that her friend, then-president Randy McKendry, tapped her to take the formal position of executive director, the sole full-time paid one in the organization.

"I said I didn't want to work Saturdays," says McCleary, "so [Pacific Grove artist and denizen] Connie Pearlstein stepped up to the plate. She had been there 10 years and had a studio there for 20."

McCleary's presided over some interesting happenings.

Shortly after 9/11, when an artist mounted a painting of bombs raining down on children, the FBI arrived and asked questions of the artist.

"I was there for the opening of that show," she says.

Two of the biggest exhibitions she saw at the four-gallery, multi-studio space was a group photography show of the Weston family and a group show by the Big Sur Arts Initiative.

"I think half of Big Sur came," she says. "Twelve-hundred people [at the opening]. They said there's no place in Big Sur big enough for all of them. We have a very close relationship with the Big Sur artists."

That was reinforced in a show that featured many photographs of the Big Basin Complex Fires, which raised money for relief efforts.

Another monumental undertaking has been in organizing memorabilia, meeting notes, newsletters and photographs ("Thirty-two years of material") into some semblance of order, a job which is ongoing, though she's lent it a healthy head start.

"I've loved working here. You never know who's going to come up the stairs."

Many have. She says that people from across other states and even countries, after hearing of the art center by word of mouth or via the internet, come to study the Pacific Grove Art Center.

"A lot of people have taken information back to their communities."

When asked what she will do next, she is quick to answer.

"Retire," she says with a laugh. "I've already had two job offers. I'm 65 years old. I'm not looking for paid work. I'll work with John. He's always writing."

She also says they would like to travel, to Mexico, Greece, New Orleans; she would like to take Spanish classes and piano classes; take walks on the beach and garden.

When asked what she will miss the most, she says, "The people. The board, the artists, the visitors." Although she won't miss them too much: "I'll volunteer."

The Tiny Treasures fundraiser raffle takes place 7pm Wednesday, July 14. The next art opening at the Pacific Grove Art Center is on July 23.