Art to See by the Sea: Monterey and Carmel, California
Traveling by car along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the country, Carmel-by-the-Sea (Carmel) and Monterey are connected by the famous “17-mile drive.” Each is situated on opposite ends of the Monterey Peninsula in central California, with Monterey on the northern side and Carmel to the south.
The gorgeous seaside community of Monterey was made famous in part by John Steinbeck’s novel “Cannery Row” for which he created a storyline about the characters that inhabited the sardine canning neighborhood during the Great Depression. Monterey Bay boasts abundant marine life, with breathtaking whale watching opportunities. The area is also known for its proximity to the legendary Pebble Beach Golf Course, six-time home to the US Open Men’s Golf Championship.
In the early 1900s, many creatives called Carmel-by-the-Sea their home, including authors Sinclair Lewis and Mary Austin. Carmel has been described as “prestigious bohemian,” a paradox that somehow makes sense as a descriptor for the affluent yet down-to-earth community. Travel and Leisure Magazine ranks it among the best cities to visit in the United States. Like the other communities we’ve recently explored including some incredible California destinations, we’ve identified a visit to the Monterey/Carmel area as among the best locales to see great art.
Art to See in Carmel-by-the-sea
Although Carmel isn’t as large as some of the more metropolitan areas we’ve covered, its access to art is phenomenal, with approximately 100 art galleries within one square mile. While that presents a dilemma in terms of how to prioritize which gallery in Carmel to see first, the good news is that the village where many are located is extremely walkable. We are taking a cue from organizers of the Carmel Art Walk, which coordinates a once-a-month tour for which they have mapped out a list of great local galleries. We are highlighting a few of our favorites, and why we enjoy them.
Kevin Milligan Gallery
About the Gallery: The artist of the same name is part-owner of the gallery which features his Plein air paintings of gorgeous wine country and coastlines, as well as an eclectic mix of other artists whose works include photography, figurative sculptures, and mixed media porcelain and glass.
What we like about Kevin Milligan Gallery: The gallery is very engaged with visitors and their community, including a “sessions with Kevin” section on their website where you can learn about the progression of a painting through the artist’s process.
Lincoln St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, California
http://kevinmilligangallery.com/
Gallery North
About the Gallery: Featuring many local artists, the gallery describes itself as California contemporary abstract and post-war abstract expressionism. Gallery North has been in operation since 2004 and includes mid-career and established contemporary artists.
What we like about Gallery North: An aptly referenced recent exhibition is called “Old, New, Recycled, Blue,” a clever play on words for some of the types of art for which the gallery specializes.
Dolores 7 SE of Ocean, Carmel-By-The-Sea, California
https://www.gallerynorthcarmel.com/
Gallery Sur
About the Gallery: Gallery Sur’s main focus includes large-scale fine art photography and Shona stone sculptures from Zimbabwe. Many of the photographs feature beautiful Pacific coast beach communities such as Big Sur, Carmel, and Pebble Beach.
What we like about Gallery Sur: Addressing the plight of thousands of Zimbabwe orphans has been a philanthropic cause of the gallery for many years. Gallery Sur has raised significant funding and donated some of its proceeds to help build classrooms for the children in need.
6th Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea, California
Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery
About the Gallery: With two locations in California, the Carmel Gallery shows works by regional and national artists. The gallery features contemporary paintings in oil, acrylic and collage.
What we like about the Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery: Perlmutter had a long and winding path to opening her art galleries, which she describes as her dream come true, and aims to make art approachable and accessible.
Dolores between 5th and, 6th Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea, California
https://jenniferperlmuttergallery.com/carmel/
Carmel Mission Basilica Museum
It seems in every community we’ve considered, there are tangible examples of how art and spirituality have inherent synergies. The Carmel Mission Basilica is a “place of worship, education, history, and art,” that we believe even the most agnostic culture seekers will find inspirational and meaningful.
The building itself is a national historic landmark, with the original bell and tower intact, and is one of the most frequently photographed and artist rendered religious and cultural institutions in California. The Carmel Mission Museum is a repository for an incredible collection of artifacts, statues, and beautiful paintings, many of which reflect the early beginnings of the mission. Religious statues and materials are among some of the most intriguing within the collection.
3080 Rio Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, California
Art to See in Monterey
Starting in the Cannery Row neighborhood of Monterey, we have discovered a few especially interesting places to view art. The venues are easily walkable and nearby the waterfront, making the excursion all the more pleasant, starting with the local artists’ foundation, which shows the works of many talented creatives.
Monterey Peninsula Art Foundation Gallery
About the Gallery: The Monterey Peninsula Art Foundation (MPAF) Gallery is an artist collective which at its core reflects a philosophy of “artists supporting artists.” The gallery has been showing the works of 30 local artists at the cannery row location since 2003, and has been in operation even longer. It is open to the public seven days a week and is popular with tourists and locals alike.
What we like about the foundation gallery: The cannery row location is one of many interesting elements of the MPAF gallery. The building in which the gallery is housed was once used as a carriage house for the sardine canneries. Additionally, scenes from the 1952 Barbara Stanwyck and Marilyn Monroe movie “Clash by Night” were shot at the historic building.
425 Cannery Row, Monterey, California
https://www.mpaf.org/mpaf-gallery.html
Mhaa Salvador Dali
A little less than a mile from the MPAF Gallery in Old Fisherman’s Wharf is the Monterey History and Art Association: Salvador Dali Exhibition, often referred to as the MHAA. Named a “must-see exhibit” by USA Today, the MHAA Salvador Dali features a rotation of pieces from the extensive collection of over 560 of the famous surrealist artist’s works. The collection includes but isn’t limited to sculptures, lithographs, photographs, and tapestries.
With an earnest desire to ensure the continuation of the artist’s legacy in the community, the art was donated to MHAA by Dmitry and Rebecca Piterman who had amassed one of the largest collections of Dali’s works in North America.
5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey, California
Monterey Museum of Art
The Monterey Museum of Art is a half-mile walk inland from the MHAA. The museum has a strong emphasis on early California painting, photography, and modern and contemporary art. With a large profile of local artists within its permanent collection, art is regularly rotated through varying exhibitions.
Works held in the museum’s collection include the fascinating “Shells, Nudes and Vegetables” by Edward Weston. Weston’s photographs of the objects and specimens are a fascinating reflection of the remarkable simplicity and complexity of each.
559 Pacific St, Monterey, California
If you plan to make a trip to the Carmel and Monterey area, you will be impressed by its stunning beauty as well as the opportunity to tour fabulous art locales. In the meantime, you can also peruse original artworks on UGallery’s website.
