Art Openings | Events

Center for Photographic Art Walking in the Footsteps: Passage on the Underground Railroad Project, photographs by Stephen Marc (see story p. 52). Reception: 6/25, 6-8pm. Sunset Center, San Carlos at 9th, Carmel. 625-5181. Ends 7/30.

Chair-ity Auction Artists sell their hand-painted chairs at this auction to help fund a future free art day in Pacific Grove. Auction: 6/19, noon-7pm. Art House, 226 17th St., Pacific Grove. 373-8888.

Monterey Museum of Art Youth Arts Collective presents their first museum exhibit. Reception: Thurs, 6/17, 5-7pm. Ends 8/1. Also, California Paintings from the Baird Collection: A Benefit Auction, ends 7/11. 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. Reception: Thurs 6/17, 5:30-7:30pm; Japanese cultural demonstrations including flower arranging, tea ceremony, and martial arts, Saturday 6/19, beginning at 12:30pm. 1 Main St., Salinas. 775-4725. Ends 11/7.

Sofanya’s Art Gallery Paintings by Erlinda Montano-Hiscock. Reception: Sat 6/19, 5-7pm. Ends 7/15. Also, paintings, sculpture, photography, and jewelry by local artists, and Essence portraits by Sofanya. Fernwood Resort, Highway 1, Big Sur. art@sofanya.com. 667-2130.

Ongoing Exhibits

Alvarado Gallery Critters and Free Radicals. Paintings of animals (Rita Shugart) and collages (Paige 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 . Abstract paintings and 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; watercolors by Edwin Adamson, acrylics by Norma Bhaskar, and plein air paintings by John McWilliams. Dolores between 5th and 6th, Carmel. 624-6176. Ends 7/7.

Hawthorne Gallery Painting, sculpture, design, jewelry, glass art, and more. 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; photos by Jon Johnson; sculpture/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. 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, Poems, Musings and Snatches of Conversations about Getting Your Period. 216 Grand Ave., Pacific Grove. 646-1939. Ends 7/3.

Monterey Peninsula Art Foundation Looking Towards Summer , works by 30+ local artists. 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.

Monterey Peninsula Airport Art From the Ground Up: Monterey County Clay Artists. A show focusing on the intimate connection between ceramic artists and their environment, with pottery by local artists for sale in the terminal gift shop. Olmsted Way, Monterey. Ends 10/30.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sasoontsi Gallery Odyssey in Art, works by Salinas artist Richard Puckett. 40 Central Ave., Salinas. 751-1777. Ends 8/16.

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.

Seaside City Hall Wildlife in the Plain Air with ceramics, oils by Hanne Lori Eggeman, line drawings by Carol Fendal, watercolors by Lynette Otis, ceramics by Arthur Rogers. Avery Gallery, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. 899-6811. Ends 6/25.

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

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.

The Lewis Gallery Empty Altars , paintings by Spanish artist Gloria Munoz. Dolores and 6th, Carmel. 625-3820. Ends 6/26.

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.