Carl Cherry Center for the Arts

Thinking Out Loud 2017 Student Art Exhibit
2017-03-04 15:00 - 2017-03-24 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | CA
Monterey County high school student art will be displayed in our main gallery from March 4th through March 24th, 2017, as part of our annual program Thinking Out Loud. An opening reception will be held Saturday, March 4th, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
The exhibit is free and open to the public during our new gallery hours: Monday through Friday from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
Thinking Out Loud is made possible, in part, through grants from the Arts Council for Monterey County, and funding from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, the Community Foundation for Monterey County, the Harden Foundation, the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary, Volunteer Services for Monterey County, and the Yellow Brick Road Benefit Store.
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is located at the corners of 4th and Guadalupe, Carmel. For more information, call (831) 624-7491.

Kenny Stahl Trio - 2017 Jazz at The Cherry SOLD OUT
2017-03-24 17:00 - 19:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
We are pleased to announce the 2017 Jazz at The Cherry concert series will kick off with the Kenny Stahl Trio performing Friday, March 24th. Wine and light fare are included in the $25 ticket price, available for purchase at Brown Paper Tickets. Doors open at 5:00pm, and the performance begins at 5:30pm.
This concert was made possible by the support of the following sponsor: Morgan Winery
Kenny Stahl Trio
Recording artist and composer Kenny Stahl is one of the hottest jazz flutists on today’s music scene. Stahl has performed with Stevie Wonder, Jaco Pastorius, Ira Sullivan, Cal Tjader, Richie Cole, Herb Jeffries, Paul Horn and many others. Creating solidly phrased lines, and masterful solo statements that build, swing and drive, Kenny produces a wide range of timbres, tones, colors and moods. His discography includes “Kenny’s From Heaven,” “Scentuality,” and his latest release, “Mpingo.”
Joining Kenny will be bassist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Steve Uccello. Experienced in many music genres including jazz, blues, folk, Latin, and classical, Uccello has collaborated with Nat Grant, Jeff Schmidt, David Cooper Orton, among others.
Rounding out the trio will be drummer and percussionist Billy Jones. Originally from Philadelphia, Jones is a stellar jazz drummer and was featured on saxophonist Robin Haffley’s 2000 release “Impressions.”

After the Storm - Big Sur Fundraiser SOLD OUT
2017-03-25 19:30 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
“After the Storm,” a benefit for the Big Sur community following this year’s devastating winter storms, will be held Saturday, March 25th at 7:30PM in Cherry Hall. Directed by Michael Lojkovic, the performance will include spoken-word readings from local writers and actors, as well as songs of inspiration and healing by members of the Fire Earth Rain Chorus, and special guest artists.
Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online through Eventbrite, in person at Pilgrim’s Way Books on Dolores between 5th and 6th Streets, Carmel, or by calling (831) 624-4955.
For more information on how you can help, please contact Michael Lojkovic at (831) 869-2819.

Dear Elizabeth
2017-03-31 18:30 - 2017-04-02 14:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
The play “Dear Elizabeth” starring locally-renowned actors Rosemary Luke and John Newkirk will be presented at The Cherry Center for the Arts on March 31st, April 1st, and April 2nd, 2017. The pair bring to life letters written by poet laureates Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell over the course of their thirty year relationship. Rarely meeting in person, Bishop and Lowell beautifully expressed their feelings and mastery of the written word in over four hundred letters exchanged between 1947 and 1977, the year of Lowell’s untimely death.
Playwright Sarah Ruhl fell in love with the letters while confined to bedrest during a challenging twin pregnancy, and felt compelled to bring their love story to the stage. “I think we are starved for the sound of poetry, ” said Ruhl. “I wonder if Bishop and Lowell are among the last great people of letters to write out their lives in letter form.”
Prior to each evening performance, twentieth century literature scholar Dr. Renee Curry will provide an insightful overview of the bond between these two literary giants.
Please be sure to join us for this celebration of friendship and poetry. March 31st and April 1st at 6:30PM. Sunday matinee performance on April 2nd at 2:00PM. Tickets are $20.00, available at brownpapertickets.com.

Nothing but Blue Skies - Art of the West
2017-04-07 11:00 - 2017-05-05 16:00 | CA
“Nothing but Blue Skies,” an exhibit exploring the American West and cowboy culture, opens Friday, April 7th at the Carl Cherry Center. A reception for the artists and photographers will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The exhibit includes artwork by eminent American western painter Maynard Dixon (1875-1946), Napa painter Beverly Wilson and sculpture by Kris Swanson. Photography will include images by Mary Aiu, Suzanne Dorrance, Jay Fitzgerald, Richard Field Levine, and Chester Ng. The exhibition will showcase a broad range of styles and themes, combining the exploration of Western art and photography in a variety of mediums and motifs. Artwork and photography featured in the exhibition range in style, intention and time period, but all of share an evocation of the American West. At turns abstract and ambiguous or descriptive and precise, these images endeavor to describe the essence of the American West in subtle and unexpected ways.
The exhibit runs through May 5th, 2017, and can be seen Wednesday through Friday from 11 to 4 p.m., Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m., or by appointment. The Carl Cherry Center is located at the corners of Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel. Information: (831) 624-7491.
Image: Chester Ng

The Old Lost Cows
2017-04-07 19:30 - 20:45 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
The Old Lost Cows will perform Friday, April 7th at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel. The group is led by trail boss Dixie Dixon, and features bard Taelen Thomas, guitar picker Steve Mortensen, Smilin’ Jane on banjo, Dave Sweigert on mandolin, and Richard Rosen on campfire harmonica. They will present a mixture of oral tradition, western swing, blues and folk music by Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gene Autry, Bob Wills, and more. Performance starts at 7:30 p.m.
Prior to the performance will be an artist reception for the opening of “Nothing but Blue Skies,” an exploration of the American West and cowboy culture through art and photography. The reception will be held in the gallery from 5:00-7:00p.m. and is open to the public.
Please be sure to cowboy up and ride along for this fun evening.
Tickets are $15. Brownpapertickets.

Mirth-O-Matics
2017-04-08 19:30 - 21:00 | CA
The Mirth-O-Matics, Monterey County’s stellar improvisational comedy troupe, returns to the Carl Cherry Center Saturday, April 8th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $20 at Brown Paper Tickets.
A Mirth-O-Matics evening of theater games features a company of actors, a bare stage and a lot of ideas whose outlines are about as fixed as liquid mercury. Sometimes it starts with an unlikely combination of characters placed in equally improbable situations: Whoopie cushions, politicians, bagel salesmen and roller derbies can all find their way into a Mirth-O-Matics’ skit. Other skits are prompted by the audience, who are encouraged to suggest scenes.
The troupe will be offering a free improvisational acting workshop for beginners from 1-3:00pm the day of the performance. As space is limited, advance reservations are strongly recommended: (831) 236-3032.

"The Last Word"
2017-04-21 19:30 - 2017-05-14 14:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
“THE LAST WORD” – A new play written and directed by Tom Parks
They meet in a small café. It’s a date. Well, actually it’s their anniversary. They reminisce, talk politics, the children, their work, and matters of the world.
He’s a mellow fellow, adoring of his wife while holding his own with his somewhat impatient and demanding spouse. The marriage has worked and even flourished for over forty years, in fact, they are still in love.
The comfortable conversation moves along smoothly—until. She begins to ask some unlikely, bewildering, questions concerning their life and their future together.
Why these questions, he asks? At which time she reveals a secret she’s been keeping to herself for too long. It is a secret that will change their lives forever.
The Players: Carol Daly, Mitch Davis, Alyca Tanner.
THE LAST WORD opens on April 21st through May 14th at The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, 4th and Guadalupe, Carmel. Friday, Saturday at 7:30 PM, and Sunday matinee at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $25.00, available by calling (831) 717-7373 or visiting ticketguys.com.
Discounts available for groups of ten or more.

2017 Monterey County High School Poetry Awards
2017-04-29 14:00 - 16:00 | CA
THE 2017 ROBERT CAMPBELL – MONTEREY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL POETRY AWARDS
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts and the Monterey County Public Library are pleased to announce the 2017 Monterey County High School Poetry Awards. Certificates of merit, cash awards and books of poetry will be awarded at a reading and ceremony honoring the student poets at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 29th, at the Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific Street, Monterey.
As part of Thinking Out Loud, the Cherry Center’s annual exhibit devoted to high school arts, the poetry awards encourages the art and practice of poetry by offering workshops to high school students throughout Monterey County.
The program provides students with an opportunity to master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn to write poetry. Now in its 24th year, the poetry awards have inspired hundreds of high school students to discover classic and contemporary poetry.
Additionally, an anthology celebrating the work of contributing students will be published by the Cherry Center. The poetry awards are held in conjunction with the Cherry Center’s annual high school art exhibit, Thinking Out Loud.
This program is made possible, in part, through grants from the Arts Council for Monterey County, through funding from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, the Community Foundation for Monterey County, the Harden Foundation, the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, the Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary, Volunteer Services for Monterey County and the Yellow Brick Road Benefit Store.
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is located at the corners of 4th and Guadalupe, Carmel. Information: (831) 624-7491.
Web site: www.carlcherrycenter.org.

"Storied Paper"
2017-05-19 17:00 - 2017-06-16 17:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Storied Paper, an exhibit exploring the range and diversity of artwork on paper by California and nationally-known artists, opens Friday, May 19th with an artists’ reception from 5 to 7 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.
Paper is almost always the repository where art begins. Paper is the substance that receives the hint of an idea and finds its first outward realization. Yet paper can also support the most complex and layered of processes—watercolor, lithography and print—and be the foundation of the most refined and finished of artistic constructions.
Storied Paper will include artwork on paper by Tracey Adams, Martha Alf, Peter Alexander, Robert Brokl, Joan Brown, Robert De Niro, Senior, Lisa Esherick, Christian Fagerlund, Virginia Frieyro, Don Fritz, Deanna Forbes, Hanna Hannah, Nancy Lawton, David Ligare, Henry Miller, Grace Munakata, Frank Lobdell, Susan Manchester, Paul Resika, Jane Rosen, Robynn Smith, M. Louise Stanley, Livia Stein, Joseph Slusky, Manolo Valdes, James Weeks, Don Weygandt and Jan Wurm.
The exhibit can be seen through June 16th.
Artwork: “Guna 11” by Tracey Adams

Bruce Forman - The Red Guitar: a jazz libretto
2017-05-20 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
TWO SHOWS!: 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The Red Guitar: a jazz libretto is Bruce Forman’s perspective into the life of a musician, and an exploration of the creative process.
Imagine receiving an invitation to a gala featuring John Coltrane, Sigmund Freud, and Faust. Bruce Forman’s “The Red Guitar” is all that more. It draws on Forman’s decades of experience as a formidable jazz guitarist and his considerable skill as a storyteller and teacher, producing a work that is greater than the sum of its dazzling parts.
A story in and about jazz, The Red Guitar showcases Bruce Forman’s genre—breaking inventiveness and his ability to improvise and create within a classical form. Enlisting the full power of the jazz idiom and integrating it with seasoned and provocative story-telling, he confronts the dilemma of artistic obsession face-to-face—by creating a work of art that simultaneously explores and demonstrates the hold that music has over its most ardent followers, the hold that poses itself as a life-or-death, must-be-solved-question to Forman and his ilk: “The Red Guitar. Do you play it…or does it play you?
Tickets are $20, available at brownpapertickets.com.

Layne Littlepage in "Musical Comedy!"
2017-06-09 - 2017-07-02 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Internationally acclaimed performer Layne Littlepage returns to the Carl Cherry Center’s stage with the premiere of “Musical Comedy!” — the show that puts the comedy back in musical. Layne will be performing with Barney Hulse on piano and special guest Cliff Berry.
From music hall to cabaret to contemporary Broadway—musical fun and humor from both sides of the Atlantic. The show includes songs by Cole Porter, Noel Coward, Flanders and Swann, Anna Russell, Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick, Dietz and Schwartz, Goldrich and Heisler, and material of the great British comediennes Joyce Grenfell, Patricia Routledge and Beatrice Lillie.
A performance to delight and amuse. Don’t miss this unique and hilarious show!
Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 pm , Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $25, available through www.ticketguys.com or by calling (831) 229-3137.

"Meaning Made Visible"
2017-06-30 17:00 - 2017-08-04 17:00 | CA
Meaning Made Visible, a three-person exhibit exploring varied approaches toward nonobjective painting, opens Friday, June 30th at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts. A reception for the artists will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on June 30th. The event is free and open to the public.
This exhibition explores the diverse approaches to nonobjective art from three varied perspectives. From the contemplative canvases of Paul Seftel to the forceful brushwork of Linda Simmel and the enigmatic spatial forms of Rebecca Koury. The variety of materials and techniques included in this presentation testifies to nonobjective painting’s enduring potential as a form of artistic expression.
The exhibit can be seen Wednesday through Friday from 11 to 4 p.m.; Saturdays, 12 to 4 p.m. or by appointment through August 4th. The Carl Cherry Center is located at the corners of Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel. Information: (831) 624-7491.
Image: “Autumn Winds” – Rebecca Koury

Feleboga: American Old-Time and Norwegian Folk Music
2017-07-06 19:30 - 21:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
The Oslo-based folk trio Feleboga will perform Thursday, July 6th, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts. Feleboga repertoire includes American old-time fiddle tunes and ballads as well as different genres of traditional Norwegian tunes.
Hans-Hinrich Thedens, Elizabeth Gaver and Mattias Thedens perform older, intricate listening pieces (lyarlåtter) and dance tunes (slåtter) for solo hardingfele, to the newer gammeldans tunes (waltz, reinlender, polka) for hardingfele or violins and guitar. Feleboga has performed and taught in Norway, Germany, Poland, Iceland, Thailand, and the US (Minnesota, Indiana, New York, Washington D.C.)
Tickets are $15.00, available through Brown Paper Tickets or by calling (831) 624-7491.
About Feleboga:
Hans-Hinrich Thedens (guitar, banjo, song) received his doctoral degree in ethnomusicology from the University of Oslo, writing his dissertation about hardingfele spelemann Salve Austenå and his repertoire. He is the director of the Norwegian Folk Music Collection at the National Library in Oslo and is involved in several research projects. During a sabbatical to Tennessee in 2004, Hans-Hinrich took up the banjo and has since taken part in courses with several leading old-time musicians. He was a member of the country and western band, The Oklahoma Lonestar Heartbreak Institute, in Hamburg and of Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag, pioneering contemporary arrangements of Norwegian folk music.
Elizabeth Gaver (fiddle, hardingfele, song) plays early stringed instruments and has performed and recorded extensively with the medieval ensemble, Sequentia (Paris). She is also a member of Ulv, Pro Musica Antiqua, Oslo, and Modus and has performed with several baroque ensembles. Elizabeth often plays for the Telemark Dance Club in Oslo and at the Norwegian Folk Museum. She founded Solveien Spelemannslag, a folk music group for children, at the Nordstrand Waldorf School. Elizabeth has learned old-time fiddling from players in Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina.
Mattias Thedens (fiddle, banjo, hardingfele) has played fiddle for nine years and has learned from several well-known American and Irish fiddlers. In summer 2014 he was awarded the Ralph Blizzard scholarship at the Swannanoa Gathering in North Carolina. His own band, Moose Whisperers, won the traditional band competition at Clifftop, WV in 2016 and will tour Scandinavia in January 2018.
In addition, Mattias plays the Norwegian hardingfele and is concertmaster of the Nordstrand Youth orchestra.

Jazz at The Cherry Presents Bruce Forman's Junkyard Duo
2017-07-07 17:00 - 19:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Bruce Forman’s Junkyard Duo
Join us in welcoming Bruce Forman back to The Cherry for an encore performance on Friday, July 7th at 5:00pm. This past May, his one-man stage play “The Red Guitar” was a sold-out hit. This time around, scavenging music from the edge of sound, his Junkyard Duo will use unique instrumentation and exotic sounds to create a spontaneous and intimate exploration of styles and approaches. Partnering with Bruce for this show is Jake Reed–drummer, percussionist and soundscaper extraordiaire! Hobo chic at its utmost!
About Bruce Forman
Bruce Forman’s guitar style has been an important part of the international jazz scene for more than three decades. He has been featured as leader as well as sideman at many of the most prestigious festivals and concert venues throughout the world. His numerous recording and performing credits include the likes of Bobby Hutcherson, Ray Brown, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Barney Kessel, Roger Kellaway, Richie Cole, and countless others. Known for swinging bop-style phrasing and inventive harmonizations, his ability to work in a variety of settings keeps him in constant demand. His guitar work is featured throughout Clint Eastwood’s Academy Award-winning film, Million Dollar Baby.
Forman’s life and musical journey provide an American saga that is still in full swing. His Texas origins, early career in San Francisco and New York, and years on the road all contribute to the unique and highly personal vision he demonstrates today. Deep immersion in American culture inspires him to contribute to the traditions he drew from. Cow Bop’s “road challenges” down historic byways like Route 66; original works like The Red Guitar; JazzMasters Workshop — these are only the latest answers to the endless question that underlies Bruce Forman’s creativity. His music and life reflect every step of his journey, and demonstrate the awareness of an artist who’s very much at home in the world, and at the top of his form.
One performance only: Friday, July 7th, from 5:00PM – 7:00PM. The $25 ticket price includes wine and light fare. Tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets or by calling (831) 624-7491.
This performance is sponsored in part by Morgan Winery.

An Afternoon with Steve Ross AND An Evening with Steve Ross
2017-07-12 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
TWO SHOWS!
Barbara Brussell’s Cabaret-by-the-Sea is proud to present internationally-acclaimed cabaret performer Steve Ross, coming to the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts for two performances on Wednesday, July 12th. For his Carmel debut, Ross has selected an eclectic mix of favorites, including songs by Ira and George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Noel Coward and more. Host Barbara Brussell will make a guest appearance. A question and answer period will follow the matinee performance.
About Steve Ross
“Crown Prince of New York Cabaret,” Steve Ross rose to fame in the late 1970’s following long runs as a singer/pianist for Ted Hook’s Backstage and the legendary Algonquin Hotel. He has spent the ensuing decades entertaining in smart clubs and swank parties the world over; from Broadway to the Ritz in London, Crillon in Paris, Imperial Hotel Tokyo and back to Carnegie Hall. New York Times critic Stephen Holden described Ross as, “the personification of the bygone dream world that his music summons.”
Please join us for music, merriment and memories. Wednesday, July 12th at 2:00PM and 7:00PM. Tickets in advance are $25.00.
Tickets for “An Afternoon with Steve Ross” at 2:00PM are available through Brown Paper Tickets.
Tickets for “An Evening with Steve Ross” at 7:00PM are available through Brown Paper Tickets.
Tickets for both shows are also available by calling Cabaret-by-the-Sea at (646) 298-4772. The day of the performance, tickets will be $30.00 at the door (cash only please).

Composers at The Cherry
2017-07-22 13:00 - 17:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Sit back and let some of Monterey County’s most eloquent composers guide you through the glories and mysteries of their creative process. Join us as acclaimed local composers Alan Silvestri, Mark Mancina, John Wineglass, and Nico Georis share the backstories, insights and highlights of their musical careers. Gaston Georis will be the afternoon’s moderator.
$80 per person. available through Brown Paper Tickets. Ticket price includes wine and light fare. All proceeds benefit the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts.
Information: (831) 624-7491.
This event is sponsored by Pescadero Mexican Restaurant, Carmel.

Monterey at 60! A Visual Feast
2017-08-18 17:00 - 2017-09-15 16:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Monterey at 60! A Visual Feast, an exhibit exploring 60 years of Monterey Jazz Festival posters, opens Friday, August 18th at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts. A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, August 18th. The event is free and open to the public.
Showcasing six decades of Monterey Jazz Festival images, Monterey at 60! tells the story of the festival through its graphic imagery and photographic moments, capturing the experience through posters, program covers dating back to 1958.
Alongside sixty years of some of the greatest jazz in the United States, the exhibit will showcase posters which embody the spirit of the Festival as a whole: posters which represent all the great music and the complementary “scene” that exists just outside the venues hosting that music.
The Monterey Jazz Festival posters were created by graphic artists, such as Earl Newman, throughout the Festival’s history and have become an iconic and fitting symbol of 60 years of great music and food, folklore, and human fellowship. The posters have come to herald each year’s musical fare–unveiled annually when the artists to appear were first announced. Collaboration on the part of graphic artists established a unique Festival brand, one of its icons a trumpet stationed on a chair, often with a sylvan ocean setting in the background. This feast of posters reflects the beauty and abundance of music that graced Monterey Jazz Festival stages, and the multitude of fans who have embraced the music.
The exhibit can be seen through September 15th during gallery hours: Wednesday through Friday from 11 to 4 p.m.; Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m.

Barbara Brussell in "This Moment"
2017-08-26 08:00 - 17:00 | CA
“Cabaret by the Sea” presents award-winning cabaret singer Barbara Brussell returning to The Cherry with an original new show, “This Moment.” Two nights only: 7:00PM on Friday, October 6th and Saturday, October 7th. Ms. Brussell will be accompanied by musical director George Peterson.
In This Moment, Barbara explores her impressions and passions, past and present, selecting “any song that tells my story, from the Great American Songbook, Broadway, or contemporary songwriters known and un-known.” The show honors singers and songwriting friends of Brussell’s, including the title song written by John Wallowitch. Other tributes will include singer-actresses Julie Wilson and Claiborne Cary, lyricist Ron Miller, composer Michael “Mickey” Leonard, and a nod of recognition to Mary Martin, Mary Cleere Haran and the recently late-great Barbara Cook.
Tickets are $25 at BrownPaperTickets.com, or $30 at the door. For more information, please call (646) 298-4772.

Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Poetry Reading
2017-09-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts will be reading selections from his latest book, White Fire, at 7:30PM on Friday, September 8th, at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel. The collection of poems was published in May of this year by The Ping-Pong Free Press of the Henry Miller Memorial Library.
Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts is the author of two chapbooks of poetry, To Mary (after eight) and The Sweet Taste; co-editor of the college text Bridges; co-editor/co-translator of two works from the Telugu, Sudha (Nectar) by Chalam and The Selected Verses of Vemana, both of which have been accepted into UNESCO’s Collection of Representative works: Indian Series; and co-author of Bowing to Receive the Mountain: Essays by Lin Jensen and Poetry by Elliot Roberts. His poetry has appeared in various journals and anthologies.
Professor Emeritus at Monterey Peninsula College where he taught composition, literature, public speaking and humanities for 32 years, Ruchowitz-Roberts serves as Vice President of the Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation in Carmel, California. He also coordinates the Foundation’s annual Prize for Poetry and its annual reading series, and serves as a tour docent. He coordinated the National Endowment for the Arts “The Big Read: The Poetry of Robinson Jeffers,” during which he read and performed Jeffers’s poetry at venues throughout Monterey County, including local libraries, high schools and colleges.
Suggested donation for the event is $15.00.

A Farmboy Mantra
2017-09-22 19:30 - 2017-09-30 19:30 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Local singer/songwriter Thomas Burks is joined by favorite local actors to present “A Farm Boy Mantra” at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts for four performance only: September 22, 23, 29th & 30th at 7:30 p.m.
Funny, poignant, and at times, gritty, Thomas portrays life growing up in West Texas through story, song and film. He shines a spotlight on the role redemption plays in his characters’ lives and appreciation for little gifts often overlooked. Jill Jackson, Christopher Graham, Mary Spence, Leslie Lancaster, and Sara Marden round out the cast. Directed by Nina Capriola
Tickets are $20 general admission, and $10 for students, military, and seniors, available through brownpapertickets.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.

Monterey County Artists Open Studio Tour
2017-09-23 11:00 - 2017-09-24 11:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts will be participating in the 2017 Monterey County Artists Open Studio Tour, an annual self-guided tour of artist studios and exhibition spaces, on September 23rd and 24th from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This year, the exhibit will include sculptures, mosaics, paintings ceramics, and etchings by local artists Vivienne Riggio, Carole Pavlo, and Christine Watten. The event is free, and open to the public.
Riggio’s contributions to the exhibit include a distinctive body of work influenced by the Italian Renaissance, Charles James, and what she describes as “outpourings from the ocean and nature’s leftovers.” Her signature shapes are torsos and bustiers, given form through three media: sculptures, mosaics, and two-dimensional acrylics.
Among the selected works to be featured by Pavlo are “twin” bronze sculptures expressing grief and sorrow at their most primal levels. Also on display will be her moving black and white etching of the Madonna and child, abstract oils and acrylics, and landscape art, revealing the range and depth of this artist’s works.
Watten’s paintings reflect her fascination with the contrast of forms, shadow, and light ever present in the California landscape. The inspiration for her other art forms, glass and clay, comes from her work with plants as a landscaper, and her love of folk art and abstract design. Watten’s work completes what promises to be an inspirational and enriching exhibit.
The Center, located at Guadalupe and Fourth Streets in Carmel, will welcome the public to view these works at no charge from 11am to 5pm on Saturday, September 23rd and Sunday September 24th. Make sure to stop in to see this display of distinctive original art as a part of your weekend activities.

Red Oak Duo
2017-10-01 15:00 - 16:30 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
The Red Oak Duo, featuring Storm Nilson (guitar) and Adam Benjamin (piano), will perform Sunday, October 1st, at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel. The duo will debut music from their newly-released second full-length album,”Seven American Monuments” (Orenda Records). Their music captures the aesthetic of rural America in a rich palette of acoustic, electric and electronic sounds.

One performance only: Sunday, October 1st, at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $20.00, available through brownpapertickets.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
About the duo:
Storm Nilson has recorded, taught, and played music throughout the US and Canada for the past thirteen years. He performed with some of the world’s top jazz musicians, including Wynton Marsalis, Charlie Haden, Steve Cardenas, and longtime friend and mentor Bruce Forman. Nilson was guest artist and traveling clinician for the Monterey Jazz Festival and JazzMasters Workshops, and has toured extensively on both coasts and all points in between.
Adam Benjamin is a Grammy-nominated and critically acclaimed pianist, keyboardist, composer and educator based in Reno, Nevada. Recognized as a “Rising Star in Jazz” by DownBeat Magazine’s critics poll and readers poll for eight years running, Benjamin’s unmistakable sound crosses stylistic boundaries and challenges traditional notions of jazz.

Story Road
2017-10-04 19:30 - 21:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Story Road, a collaboration between four of America’s premier Irish traditional musicians, will perform at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts on Wednesday, October 4th at 7:30 p.m. Ticket are $20.00, available through brownpapertickets.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
Each member of the band – John Weed, Stuart Mason, Colleen Raney and Ryan Davidson – is individually unparalleled, and together blend the best of their talents to create a musical experience rooted in tradition, yet lively, vibrant, and diverse. A Story Road performance is a master class in the story, heart, and music from both sides of the Atlantic. With tour dates throughout California from September 29th through October 8th, audiences from Redding to Los Angeles have the opportunity to see Story Road in concert. You won’t want to miss it!
About the band:
Colleen Raney has toured extensively both at home and abroad, and has recently been touring as a guest vocalist for the internationally recognized Irish band, Solas. Highlights have included The KVMR Grass Valley Celtic Festival, Winston-Salem Celtic Festival, Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts, and Seattle’s respected Northwest Folklife Festival, where she was a regular performer from 1980 – 2012. Her music can be heard on radio from Italy, to Ireland, to New York, to Hawaii, to Japan and all parts in between.
John Weed and Stuart Mason are members of Molly’s Revenge, a dynamic, acoustic Celtic band known for its unique and infectious enthusiasm. Molly’s Revenge has performed at many of the top folk festivals and performing arts events in the USA, and prestigious events in Australia, Scotland, and China. They have released 11 albums and appeared on stage with John Doyle, Liz Carroll, Aaron Jones, and other top Celtic artists. “There is an engaging freshness and yet an impressive maturity in their playing,” said National Heritage Award recipient Mick Moloney.
An accomplished fiddler across genres, John Weed has lived in Ireland and immersed himself in the traditional styles of Clare and Donegal. The result is an old-time Irish fiddling style that compliments his forays into bluegrass, swing, and other American music. Stuart Mason has been collecting and performing traditional music for over 30 years. He has appeared on stage from Ireland to China performing Celtic, old time bluegrass, and his original compositions, which have won awards from the West Coast Songwriters Association.
Talented multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and ethnomusicologist, Ryan Davidson has been performing across genres in the US and Europe for the last 2 decades. After years spent in Ireland; graduating the University of Limerick; studying jazz at the Bob Cole Conservatory, and performing with countless traditional, folk, rock and blues artists, he has developed a dynamic, diverse, and complimentary style that has lent him to collaborate on over 20 albums with prominent performers in a variety of genres.
Complete tour information, including dates and locations can be found at storyroadband.com.

"chatter"
2017-10-06 17:00 - 2017-11-03 17:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
“chatter,” an exhibition by George Raggett and Pilar Conde, opens October 6th, 2017 with an artists’ reception from 5:00 – 7:00pm. The event is free and open to the public.
For this exhibition, Raggett and Conde’s work examines – literally – the structural devices of discourse. The works illuminate, privilege, and fetishize formal elements of our current communication systems. Unlike email, texting, and twitter feeds, the artworks lack actual words, phrases, sentences, or questions, instead remaining open to interpretation. Under the influence of minimalism, they slow down today’s hectic pace of chatter. Different materials, textures and colors, create different moods; expanding the emotional range of the exhibition. From rendering texting as “solids,” to the punctuation of a Spanish language question framing a “gateway,” the often harsh politics of today’s twitter rants and anti-immigrant rhetoric hover provocatively in the background of each piece.
The exhibition will run through November 3rd, 2017.
About the Artists:
Married in 2001, Raggett and Conde currently reside in Brooklyn, New York. This is their second joint exhibition, the first for Welsh/Beck Gallery (former Richard Neutra offices) in the Silver Lake region of Los Angeles.
George Raggett received his BA from UC Santa Barbara’s College of Creative Studies, and MFA from Bard College. He has exhibited widely, including the Hammer Museum, Happy Lion Gallery, Cirrus Gallery and ACME in Los Angeles; and La Mama, Triple Candie, White Columns in New York CIty.
Pilar Conde received her BA from Virginia Commonwealth University, MFA from Columbia University, and attended the Skowhegan Residency program. She has exhibited widely, including Claremont University, Cirrus Gallery, and Kristi Engle Gallery in Los Angeles; and PS1 MOMA, Socrates Sculpture Park, and Soloway in New York City.
Pictured: “Awkward Conversation 2” – George Raggett

POSTPONED - Barbara Brussell in "This Moment"
2017-10-06 19:00 - 2017-10-07 19:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Barbara Brussell’s October 6th and 7th performances have been postponed due to illness. We will post new dates and times when available.
Cabaret-by the-Sea presents award-winning cabaret singer Barbara Brussell returning to The Cherry with an original new show, “This Moment.” Two nights only: Friday, October 6th and Saturday, October 7th at 7:00PM. Ms. Brussell will be accompanied by musical director George Peterson.
In This Moment, Barbara explores her impressions and passions past and present, selecting “any song that tells my story, from the Great American Songbook, Broadway, or contemporary songwriters known and un-known.” The show honors singers and songwriting friends, including the show’s title song written by John Wallowitch. Other tributes will include singer-actresses Julie Wilson and Claiborne Cary; lyricist Ron Miller; composer Michael “Mickey” Leonard; and a nod of recognition to Mary Martin, Mary Cleere Haran and the late-great Barbara Cook.
Tickets are $25 at BrownPaperTickets.com, or $30 at the door. For more information, please call (646) 298-4772.

Celebrating the Cherry
2017-10-14 16:00 - 19:00 | CA
“Celebrating the Cherry,” our annual fall fundraiser, will take place in our gallery on Saturday, October 14th, from 4:00 to 7:00PM The event will honor our executive director, Robert Reese, for his ongoing commitment to fostering non-commercial, contemporary artistic expression in Monterey County.
We’ve put together a guaranteed showstopper, with a magician, music, tarot reader, silent auction, and stellar food and wine.
Please be sure to join us for this festive event! Tickets are $45, available through BrownPaperTickets.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.

Pictured: Carl Cherry Center for the Arts’ founder Jeanne D’Orge. Photo by Wynn Bullock

Jazz At The Cherry - Monterey Jazz Festival High School All-Star Alumni - "Blue Clay"
2017-10-29 15:00 - 17:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Blue Clay, the best of young jazz in Monterey County, will be appearing in the Cherry Hall Theater on Sunday, October 29th, at 3:00PM. The trio – Aaron Georis (bass), Davíd Sanchez (keyboards), Felix Diaz-Contreras (trombone) – is composed of members from the Monterey Jazz Festival High School All-Star Alumni band.
Tickets for the event are $20, available through brownpapertickets.com or by calling (831 624-7491. The ticket price includes refreshments and light fare.
Meet the trio:
Aaron Georis is a junior at Carmel High School. Aaron has been playing bass for about five years and has been a participant in MJF Summer Jazz Camp for five years. Aaron’s interest in Jazz began in middle school when the MJF Traveling Clinicians program conducted workshops for the students. Aaron plays on his school water polo team and is currently in the Monterey County High School All Star Band.
Davíd Sanchez attends school at Monterey High School. Davíd has been playing piano for 11 years, and jazz for six. He became interested in jazz when he heard his older brother practicing his trumpet charts from the Monterey County All-Star Band. He has participated in the traveling clinicians program as a member of the Pacific Grove Jazz Club and currently plays with the Monterey County All-Star Band.
Felix Diaz-Contreras is a senior at Pacific Grove High School. Felix has been playing trombone since sixth grade. When you ask Felix why he became interested in Jazz, his answer is – “It’s very spontaneous and I love the connection and community of it in which everyone isn’t getting mad together and actually making music together. It’s swingin’ man!” Felix was a young ambitious trombone player in 6th grade when he entered his middle school jazz program and met the traveling clinicians. He then went to jazz camp. “I love MJF and I wouldn’t be where I am with all my great friends and amazing teachers without it.” Felix is also a member of the SF Jazz All Stars.

Now Accepting Submissions for Our Annual Ornament Show and Silent Auction
2017-11-03 17:00 - 2017-12-12 17:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Artists, sculptors, ceramicists and crafters, start your imaginations!
The Carl Cherry Center is looking for unique, high quality, handmade ornaments for our second annual “Over the Top and On the Tree” ornament show and silent auction. The public will be able to view and bid on ornaments during our holiday show, Director’s Cut, which runs December 14th through the 16th, 2017.
Here is your chance to create original handcrafted ornaments to be displayed for sale throughout the show. We are offering a 60/40 consignment split (60% to the artist, 40% to the Cherry’s general fund).
Please send pictures of your ornament sample to yblnwj7965@sbcglobal.net — or drop one off at our gallery office, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel — with your name, contact information, price point, and quantity you are willing to make. Ornament submissions must be received no later than December 12th at 5:00PM.
This year’s themes are used as guidelines to inspire creativity, however, we are willing to consider any ornament presented.

Traditional Holiday – White X-mas, Glamour, & Rustic

Carmel Holiday– Sea Life & Beach

Celebrations Around the World – Multicultural, Judaica, Spiritual, Angels, Zen

Goodies, Gadgets, and Occupations – Ex: Foodies, Techies, Teachers, Fishermen, Musicians, etc.

Kids

Birds, Birdhouses, and Woodland Creatures

Cherry-themed/Bohemia

Golden Ratio X
2017-11-10 19:30 - 2017-11-11 19:30 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Golden Ratio X, a multimedia literary event of divine proportion, will be performed Friday, November 10th, and Saturday, November 11th, at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel.
The story of Golden Ratio X takes place in the mind of Blaze, a stripper who must rectify her own identity and sense of purpose at the Mitchell Brothers’ O’Farrell Theatre, San Francisco, circa 1986. In dressing room scenes, dancers discuss issues of spirituality versus the universal truths of the Golden Ratio. Other scenes take place in the theatre audience, where Blaze navigates the complicated nuances of lap dancing. Dancers will perform in the style of 1980’s striptease in between acted scenes. The story deals with mature subject matter, but is not X-rated.
Two performances only: Friday, November 10th, and Saturday, November 11th, at 7:30PM. Tickets are $23.00, available on brownpapertickets.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
The Cast:
Janice Blaze Rocke (writer, director, producer, narrator) is a graduate of CSUMB where she studied Creative Writing/Social Action while single-parenting two children. She’s produced theme-based variety shows; filmed and edited videos; written short stories, plays and screenplays; and created a vast array of art. Her novel, Resurrections in the Dark, is loosely based on her life. She has also written for Polygon online magazine. She produces multi-media literary-based events on the peninsula with other enthusiastic writers, artists, dancers, actors, videographers, and technical wizards.
Deena Welch (Blaze) has been living in Monterey for ten years. Locally, she’s performed in The Exonerated and Deathtrap at The Magic Circle Theatre, Bug at Paper Wing, several Storybook shows at MPC, and Alice in Wonderland at The Outdoor Forest Theatre. Before moving to Monterey, she participated in local theatre in San Diego.
Carrie Collier (Vanessa, the wise “older” stripper) studied acting at PCPA in Santa Maria, CA, Hartnell College, and at CSU Chico, and improvisation at The Groundlings and Second City, both in Hollywood, CA. She played several leads in the short-lived Fox television series Totally Hidden Video and on Making Yourself at Home on PBS. Carrie has appeared in multiple plays in San Francisco, most notably Martha in Bar None, which ran for four years. She played the title role in Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander at the Western Stage, Elizabeth in Laundry and Bourbon, and Lizzie in The Rainmaker.
Thomas Burks (as “the other kind of man”) was born on a small farm outside of a small town in West Texas. He began writing music in his early twenties, and acting in his early thirties. Burks has written several monologues and a play, A Farmboy Mantra. He is currently working on Atticus and Matilda, a second installment of Farmboy based on two mentally challenged siblings in rural Texas.
Carri Newhouse (Raja) is a Pacific Grove native who dances beneath the fireworks at the Feast of Lanterns Pageant, and onstage with the M.P.C. Dance Department. Fulfilling a childhood dream of waking this sleepy town, Newhouse promotes flow arts with Monterey Fire & Flow, a group who cultivate juggling and dancing with fire. She is also co-creator of the dance tribe HipNautic Flowers, in which both her daughters perform.
Rachel Corvese (Trina, a young stripper) has always loved dance! She has performed with a competitive Hip Hop team for five years, and trained recreationally in jazz for nine years. Currently, Corvese performs with the Monterey Fire and Flow community. She hopes to continue to expand her horizons in dance and the arts for many more years to come.
