Carl Cherry Center for the Arts

The Cherry Trio Plus One
2025-01-01 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Join The Cherry Trio — Elizabeth Gaver (baroque violin), Penny Hanna (viola da gamba), Michael Peterson (harpsichord) and guest David Wilson (baroque violin) — to ring in the New Year with music from seventeenth century France, Germany and England. The performance will be held Wednesday, January 1st, at 3:00pm. Tickets are $35, available on eventbrite.com.
The ensemble will perform “D’Apotheose de Lully,” by François Couperin – a suite of short pieces with French texts depicting Lully’s meeting with Apollo and ascension to Parnassus where he meets Corelli. Two musicians play the same melody accompanied by the other in turn – Lully in the French style, Corelli in the Italian. In the spirit of reconciliation, Apollo convinces them that the joining of both styles represents perfection in music, and they close with a trio sonata “The Peace of Parnassus.” The concert will also include a trio sonata by Purcell, pieces by Abel for solo viol, and preludes by Couperin for harpsichord.
David Wilson – Baroque Violin
Please join us after the concert for a reception.

Make Merry at The Cherry Holiday Open House
2024-12-13 16:00 - 18:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts invites you to our annual art fundraiser and holiday celebration, Make Merry at the Cherry, on Friday, December 13th, from 4:00-6:30pm. Catch the holiday spirit as you mix and mingle with friends old and new. The event will feature reasonably-priced art by noted local artists, raffle prizes that include a large collection of fine wines, gift certificates to local restaurants, and other seasonal goodies.
Artists participating in this year’s fundraiser include Pam Carroll, Carol Chapman, Jim Dultz, Mary Liz Houseman, Barbara Johnson, Andrea Johnson, Ken Parker, Kris Swanson, Jan Wagstaff, Robin Winfield, Rodney Winfield, and many more. Following the open house, art will be for sale through Saturday, December 21st, during gallery hours: Wednesday through Saturday from noon until 4:00pm or by appointment.
Proceeds will support The Cherry’s ongoing contribution to the arts community of Monterey County. The event is free and open to the public. Wine donated by Scheid Vineyards. For more information, please call (831) 624-7491.
Pictured: “Bowl of Persimmons and Squash” – Pam Carroll

Along Came Betty
2024-12-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Jazz At The Cherry is pleased to bring back Along Came Betty for another round of what has become a traditional December treat. Join us Sunday, December 8th, for some great music, wine and light fare–all included in the ticket price. This year’s program will pay tribute to pianist and prolific composer Biff Smith who passed away in June. Doors open at 1:30pm; performance begins at 2:00pm. Tickets are $35, available online at eventbrite.com.
Spark up your holiday spirit with some of the best bebob and straight-ahead jazz on the West Coast. Along Came Betty will delight you with their rich harmonized sax and trumpet, backed by the classic piano, bass and drums rhythm section.
This group of highly talented musicians (Bill Spencer, piano; Brian Stock, trumpet and flugelhorn; Paul Tarantino, saxophone; Pete Lips, bass; Patrick Tregenza, drums) has performed at many local and national jazz venues, including the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Big Sur Jazz Festival. Since 1998, they have been celebrating the spirit of hard-bop, a seminal movement of 50s and 60s jazz.
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SOLD OUT The Bob Phillips Review - George Gershwin
2024-11-17 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
SOLD OUT
When you think of memorable jazz tunes, the composers who wrote them don’t always readily come to mind. Over a series of three concerts, one of the Peninsula’s favorite pianists, Bob Phillips, will take us on a musical review highlighting three composers whose writings became mainstays in the world of jazz.
Bob will begin this musical journey with the works of George Gershwin and many of his signature compositions such as “A Foggy Day (In London Town)”, “Embraceable You” and others. Sunday, November 17th at 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. $35.00, available on Eventbrite.com.
Joining Bob will be Adam Astrup on guitar, vocalist Malinda DeRouen, Ross Garren on harmonica, bassist Dennis Murphy, and drummer Mike Shannon.
The series will continue on February 9, 2025 featuring the works of Henry Mancini, with a final performance on April 27, 2025 showcasing one additional musical genius.
Meet the Musicians:

Bob Phillips: Phillips is a consummate musician and without a doubt one of the finest performers on the Monterey Peninsula. Well known for his exceptional technique and versatility, Bob has performed five times at the Monterey Jazz Festival and is currently in demand all over Central and Northern California. He has also been honored by The Monterey Jazz Festival with an endowment in his name which helps to sustain over 20 Monterey County high school students chosen every year from over 28 schools to be members of the Monterey County All-Star Band.
Adam Astrup: Originally from Minnesota, guitarist Adam Astrup is an active performer in the Monterey area jazz scene. He has worked with renowned artists such as Bruce Forman, Greg Gisbert, Matteo Sabattini, Gary Meek and Drew Zaremba, and many others.
Malinda DeRouen: An extremely versatile vocalist, Melinda is no stranger to the world of jazz. She has also excelled in cinema and numerous musical productions and was most recently seen as Billie Holiday in the acclaimed Lady Day with the New Canon Theatre Company. Her first performance on the outdoor stage was over 24 years ago as Mary Magdalene in “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Ross Garren: Harmonica player, keyboardist, composer and record producer Ross Garren lives in Southern California. He has recorded with a host of notable artists including Bon Iver, Kesha, Ben Folds, Brad Mehldau, Rita Coolidge, and Keb’ Mo’. Garren’s sound has been described as “a meeting of vintage Americana, retro-futurism, classic song craft and whimsical surrealism.”
Dennis Murphy: Since the mid-eighties, bassist Dennis Murphy has been touring worldwide with various national and international artists. A three-time GRAMMY Nominee with international Smooth Jazz Artist Acoustic Alchemy. Dennis has recorded or played with The Greg Kihn Band, Maria Muldaur, Billy Preston, The Coasters, The Drifters, The Shirelles, and Kenny Rankin, among others.
Mike Shannon: Based out of Central California, drummer Mike Shannon has performed and/or recorded with many world renowned musicians including: the Hristo Vitchev Quartet, Italian Tenor Pasquale Esposito, Al Jardine of The Beach Boys, Rick Allen of Def Leppard, Tiran Porter of the Doobie Brothers, Stanley Jordan, Pat Bianchi, Gary Meek, Mike Lent (Barry Manilow guitarist), Brian Charette, Tammy Brown, George Young, Steve Ezzo, Dann Zinn and many others.
This series is bound to be one of the most enjoyable and delightful Jazz At The Cherry experiences!

Salon Jane Celebrates Ten Years: Photography Reimagined
2024-11-01 - 2024-11-30 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Salon Jane is honored to present its ten-year celebration exhibit at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, an important part of Carmel’s artistic history and culture, set in a vital region of photography. The exhibit opens Friday, November 1st, with a reception from 5-7pm. In addition, a walk through with the artists will be offered from 2-3pm on Saturday, November 9th.
The exhibit and events are free and open to the public.
Salon Jane is a six-member artist collective formed in Monterey, California, in 2014. The photographer members are Martha Casanave, Susan Hyde Greene, Jane Olin, Anna Rheim, Robin V. Robinson, and Robin Ward.
Over the past 10 years, the members of Salon Jane have created an intimate bond, facilitating a safe and inspiring environment for their artistic risk-taking and creative evolution. At their regular meetings, they share feedback about their work through hours of in-depth discussion and hold space for art-related life challenges.
The Monterey Peninsula has a long tradition of straight photography set forth by Edward Weston, Ansel Adams and others. However, the artists of Salon Jane inhabit an island of innovation that pushes against these strict boundaries. Each member artist nods to photography but expands on it in diverse and unexpected ways.
From aerial to underwater, abstract to representational, digital to darkroom, wall art to books, the work produced by these artists is wide ranging. In content and process, each artist’s work transcends the ordinary and taps into mystery. While they have evolved beyond formal straight photography, the members are equally concerned with artistic and photographic excellence and are grounded in historical processes. salonjane.com
VISIT ONLINE EXHIBIT
Pictured: Salon Jane by Martha Casanave

Rick Forschino Trio Plays the Music of Enrico Pieranunzi
2024-10-27 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Two years after their sold-out performance honoring the music of Michel Petrucciani, Rick Forschino and his trio, featuring Bill DeLap on acoustic bass and Mike Shannon on drums, return to present compositions by the brilliant living Italian pianist, Enrico Pieranunzi, on Sunday, October 27th, at 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare (included in the ticket price). Tickets are $35, available on Eventbrite.com.
Enrico Pieranunzi is not only an incredibly sensitive pianist with a touch akin to that of Bill Evans, but also a particularly lyrical composer of uniquely beautiful harmonies. Rick became aware of Pieranunzi’s talented genius in 1987 with the release of “Deep Down” which featured bassist, Marc Johnson, and drummer, Joey Baron. Since then, Enrico has produced over sixty albums that include well over three hundred of his own original compositions. This concert will showcase a personal selection of these compositions, including his famous 1978 piece, “Nightbird,” which gained fame in 1987 when he recorded it with Chet Baker. Baker went on to record and perform this tune multiple times throughout his career. By introducing Pieranunzi’s compositions at The Cherry, this trio will demonstrate how he has devoted his life to establishing a body of work worthy of the collection of standards we now know and love by the famous composers of the 20th century.
Rick Forschino is a well-known jazz musician on the Monterey scene who is drawn to the more lyrical players who experiment with lush unusual harmonies. Over the many years, Rick has played monthly with Bill DeLap at the Carmel Art Association and other venues around the Peninsula with multiple artists. They’ve developed a friendship with a shared special interest in the music of Michel Petrucciani and Enrico Pieranunzi.

2024 Open Studios Art Tour
2024-10-12 - 2024-10-20 | Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts will again participate in the Open Studios Art Tour. The Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC) will be taking over the tour previously run by Arts Habitat. For more information about the event, please follow this LINK.
Week One: October 12th & 13th – “Reigning Cats and Dogs” exhibit featuring 50 works from across the nation. Artwork available for purchase. Hours: Saturday 11am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm
Week Two: October 19th & 20th – Open house featuring works by Ruth Carroll, Linda Elling, Suzanne Elliot, Guna Hebbar, Katie Mackin, and Willamina Strupat. All artwork available for purchase. Hours: Saturday 11am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm.

Learn the Healing Art of Japanese Reiki
2024-09-25 - 2024-10-16 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
In this course, you will learn and be attuned to level one of Usui Shiki Ryôhô which focuses on self care as well as healing for friends and family. You will leave the course having a concrete understanding of the application of the Reiki healing system to begin your practice. This course is over four Wednesday evenings.Benefits of reiki practice include: Relief from anxiety and stress, enhanced sleep facilitated healing of physical and emotional issues heightened awareness and presence, increased focus and clarity, grounding and expanded creativity.
LEARN THE HEALING ART OF JAPANESE REIKI
SHODEN LEVEL ONE | $425
WEDNESDAYS | 6–9 PM
OCTOBER 2 | OCTOBER 9 | OCTOBER 16 | OCTOBER 23
Reserve your spot visit emptyspacereiki.com or
email info@emptyspacereiki.com

Reigning Cats and Dogs Juried Exhibit
2024-09-06 - 2024-10-13 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Reigning Cats and Dogs is a love-of-life, all medium juried exhibition of 50 original and unique 2D and 3D artworks celebrating dogs and cats. Congratulations to the following award winners:
First Place: “Aria’s Gaze” – Chiachen Wang (pictured above)
Second Place:”Basking” – Roberto Zavala
Third Place: “Olive Side Eye”- Anna Chambers
Honorable Mention: “Come On…Throw the Ball!” – Erlinda Montano-Hiscock|
Honorable Mention: “The Ratter” – Stephanie Langley
Honorable Mention: “Hare of the dog with a dane chaser…” – Will Bullas
Honorable Mention: “A Dog for All Seasons” – Kenneth W. Newman
Honorable Mention: “Modern Bastet with Ancient Cell Phone Necklace and Earbuds” – Polly Osborne

VIEW ONLINE EXHIBIT

SOLD OUT Akira Tana's Hidden Valley Trio
2024-08-25 16:00 - 18:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Jazz At The Cherry is thrilled to present world-class San Francisco Bay Area musicians Akira Tana, John Wiitala and Steve Rudolph. We’re fortunate to engage this group of journeyman jazz musicians as they gear up for a residency at Ali Reyerson’s Flute Master Class at Hidden Valley. A rich selection of tunes from the Great American Songbook and other jazz standards are sure to provide an afternoon of classic jazz at its finest.
One performance: Sunday, August 25th at 4:00pm. Doors open at 3:30pm for wine and light fare included in the $35 ticket price. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.com. (Eventbrite tickets do not have to be printed or downloaded. Doors close ten minutes after the start of each performance.)
About the Trio:
Akira Tana is a self-taught and technically accomplished drummer whose versatility is revealed by the range of musicians with whom he has worked, including: Helen Humes, Milt Jackson, Sonny Rollins, Jaki Byard, George Russell, Sonny Stitt, Al Cohn, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Jim Hall, Jimmy Rowles, Zoot Sims, Cedar Walton, Ran Blake, Chris Connor, Carl Fontana, Jimmy Heath, Tete Montoliu, Spike Robinson, Warne Marsh, and many other leading jazz musicians. He has also produced and co-produced several albums, including those by Tana Reid, the Asian American Jazz Trio. His most recent projects are four recordings by his group, “Otonowa,” featuring jazz interpretations of Japanese folk and pop melodies that date back decades and even centuries. Tana earned a degree in East Asian Studies/Sociology from Harvard University, and also studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. He is currently on the faculty at San Francisco Conservatory of Music and can often be heard as an announcer on Bay Area jazz station, KCSM.
John Wiitala, bassist, is a Richmond, CA native and longtime veteran of the SF Bay Area jazz scene. He has accompanied many artists, including: Shorty Rogers, Charlie Rouse, Ernestine Anderson, Joe Henderson, Charles McPherson, Mary Stallings, Bob Dorough and countless others. Wiitala most treasures the associations with pianists Jessica Williams, Randy Porter, Mark Levine, and Adam Shulman, trumpeter Erik Jekabson, and vocalists Madeline Eastman and Wesla Whitfield, and his long tenure at Jazz At Pearls with Bruce Forman and Vince Lateano. John has long been involved in jazz education, including a long-running involvement with the Stanford Jazz Workshop, the California Jazz Conservatory and Ali Ryerson’s Jazz Flute Masterclass.
Steve Rudolph, born in Evansville, Indiana, studied trumpet and composition under scholarship at Butler University in Indianapolis. Switching his main instrumental focus to the piano at age 22, he was hired by Buddy Morrow in 1977 to perform on the road with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Since then, he has had an inspiring career in his 50+ years of professional music making. Steve has served as producer, arranger and performer on many recordings, and his vast concert experience encompasses performances with many jazz masters, including: Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, and the Mills Brothers. At home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he leads many ensembles, including the Harrisburg Jazz Collective Big Band. His devotion to the art of jazz inspired him to found the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz, now in its 44th year. Steve was the recipient of the 2002 Harrisburg Arts Award for dedication to the arts, and in 2023 he was inducted into the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame.

Ukulele Melee - A Celebration of the Uke!
2024-07-26 19:00 - 2024-07-27 14:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Ukulele Melee is a celebration of the world’s friendliest instrument. The event will feature performances by local musicians Steve Mortensen and Dixie Dixon, Pammy Forman, Sandor Nagyszalanczy and Karen Lehman, the Haole Harmony Trio, as well as Michael Wynia, and SF Bay area musical luminaries Steven Strauss and Greg Pratt.
Sandor Nagyszalanczy
The original Ukulele Melee was created about 15 years ago by Dixie Dixon as a celebration to honor the legacy of her husband Daniel Dixon, a noted local author and musician. After an absence of nearly ten years, the 2024 Ukulele Melee has revived this popular celebration for a new generation of ukulele players and enthusiasts.
Two performances only: Friday, July 26th, at 7:00pm and Saturday, July 27th, at 2:00pm. Tickets are $30, available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
Purchase tickets for Friday, July 26th HERE
Purchase tickets for Saturday, July 27th HERE

Cherry Jam in the Garden
2024-07-21 15:00 - 18:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Join us Sunday, July 21st, from 3-6pm as we honor neighbors Denny and Nance Hoeft, who have worked tirelessly to transform the Cherry grounds. The event will feature live music by Bob Phillips and Friends, wine poured by Scheid Vineyards, beer, light fare, and good friendship. Tickets are $50, available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491. All proceeds will go toward the Cherry Center’s general fund.

Reigning Cats and Dogs - Accepting Submissions Through July 15, 2024
2024-07-15 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Reigning Cats and Dogs is a love-of-life, all medium juried exhibition of original and unique 2D and 3D artworks celebrating dogs and cats! Work must include either a dog or cat to be considered. Works can comprise other subject matters, but the principal theme should be dogs or cats — or both. All artwork styles and mediums are welcome. Photography will not be included in the exhibit.
The $40 entry fee covers up to three submissions. Artwork submitted does not guarantee inclusion in the exhibit. Reigning Cats and Dogs will be included in this year’s Arts Council for Monterey County’s Open Studios Art Tour on October 12 and 13.
Read full prospectus here.
For complete rules and to submit artwork, visit ShowSubmit.com.
Important Dates:
Call Dates: April 7 – July 15, 2024
Jury Period: July 16 – July 31, 2024
Notification by: August 7, 2024
Exhibition Dates: September 6 – October 13, 2024
Reception: September 6, 5 – 7 p.m.

Pictured: “Jungle Boogie” – Lesley Anne Spowart

Many Colored Silken Threads: Jeanne D’Orge and Friends
2024-07-12 - 2024-08-17 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Many Colored Silken Threads, an exhibit exploring the artwork of Jeanne D’Orge with contemporary artists and photographers, opens Friday, July 12th, with an artists’ reception from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The photographers and artists featured in this exhibition have created works that reinterpret and remix elements, themes and the palette of Jeanne D’Orge (Mrs, Carl Cherry), emphasizing the many ways art inspires across time. Their works speak to the expanding diversity of the stories we want to tell and illustrate how today’s artists continue to find inspiration in the methods and pictorial traditions from the Cherry Center’s rich history.
The exhibit will include photographs, paintings, drawings and sculpture by ten area artists displayed alongside select works by Jeanne D’Orge from the Cherry Center’s private collection. Participating artists include Robert Armstrong, Rob Barnard, Jennifer Brook-Kothlow, Tom Davies, Judith Foosaner, Ruth Mayerson Gilbert, William Giles, Richard Murai, Kenneth Parker and Robertson Parkman.
Many Colored Silken Threads can be seen Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. or by appointment through August 17th.
Pictured, left: “Buddha of Compassion,, Angkor Thom, Cambodia”- Richard Murai
Pictured, right: Untitled – Jeanne D’Orge

SOLD OUT The Leon Joyce Trio - Jazz at The Cherry
2024-06-30 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
SOLD OUT
Jazz at The Cherry Presents The Leon Joyce Trio
Local veteran jazz drummer, Leon Joyce, will be leading the way with this exciting jazz trio. Joining Leon will be legendary guitarist, Bruce Forman, and Brian Ho, one of the hottest jazz organ players to come along in a long time. Sunday, June 30th, at 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:30 for wine and light fare (included in the ticket price). Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
Get ready for an afternoon of exhilarating, straight-ahead jazz at its finest!
Sponsored in part by Lorna Pierce
About the Trio
Leon Joyce
Since relocating to Seaside from Chicago in 2011, Leon has been a mainstay of the regional jazz scene, largely in the Bay Area. Expect traditional and contemporary jazz stylings, fueled by a drummer whose feeling-laden, detailed style invokes Max Roach, Buddy Rich or Louis Bellson, rather than the brainiac power styles so present today. Joyce’s musical career began in high school, but was really shaped and nurtured when he joined the Marine Corps in 1976. He has supported artists as varied as Nancy Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Larry Coryell, and Ramsey Lewis.
Bruce Forman
Bruce’s life and musical journey provide an American saga which is still in full swing. His musical accomplishments include twenty-one recordings as a leader, countless sideman recordings, including Ray Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, Roger Kellaway, and soundtrack performances on three of Clint Eastwood’s distinguished films—most notably Academy Award-winning Million Dollar Baby. Deep immersion in American culture inspires Forman to contribute to the traditions that he draws from. His music and life reflect every step of his journey and demonstrate the awareness of an artist who’s at the top of his form and very much at home in the jazz world.
Brian Ho
When one thinks of jazz and the Hammond Organ, one name comes to mind – James Oscar Smith, or simply, Jimmy Smith. Well, get ready for Hammond-endorsed artist, Brian Ho, as he joins Leon and Bruce on our stage. Brian solos and comps with his right hand, while his left hand and feet play organ bass in the classic stylistic tradition of the jazz organ pioneers. The San Jose Mercury News says of him: “Brian Ho is a rising jazz star. These days, Ho is one of the region’s most promising young jazz Hammond organists.”

Summer Solstice Celebration with The Cherry Trio
2024-06-21 17:00 - 19:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
The Cherry Trio — Elizabeth Gaver (baroque violin), Penny Hanna (viola da gamba), Michael Peterson (harpsichord) — and guest David Wilson (baroque violin) celebrate the summer solstice with music from seventeenth century France, Germany, and Italy.
“D’Apotheose de Lully”, by François Couperin, is a suite of short pieces with French texts depicting Lully’s meeting with Apollo and ascension to Parnassus. The concert will also include trio sonatas by Dario Castello and Dietrich Buxtehude, a suite by Marin Marais for viola da gamba and continuo, and a harpsichord suite by Buxtehude. Please join us for a reception after the concert.
The performance will be held Friday, June 21st, at 5:00pm. Tickets are $30, available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
David Wilson

Dick Whittington Trio
2024-05-26 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Jazz At The Cherry is pleased to welcome back to our stage nationally-known pianist, Dick Whittington, for another tastefully curated afternoon of classic jazz. Dick will be joined by virtuoso bassist, Dan Robbins, and distinguished jazz drummer, Billy Jones.
The trio will treat us to an afternoon of jazz interpretations of evergreens by Harold Arlen, Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Duke Ellington and others.
Sunday, May 26th, at 2:00pm. Doors open at 1:15pm for a reception featuring wine and light fare (included in the ticket price). Tickets are $35, purchased on eventbrite.com or by calling 831-624-7491.

About the Trio:

Dick Whittington grew up in Los Angeles, and while earning a degree in elementary education at Cal State Northridge, he was working gigs with: Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Criss, Barney Kessel, Charles Lloyd, Charlie Haden, Scott Lafaro, Gary Peacock, and Billy Higgins. Dick later went on to accompany vocalists Anita O’Day, Ernestine Anderson, Dinah Washington, and Mel Torme. Over the last five decades, he has performed with many jazz greats, including: Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, James Moody, Lee Konitz, Art Pepper, Eddie Harris, and Chet Baker.
Dan Robbins, who is among the West Coast’s most in-demand bassists, is known for his driving, creative, harmonically and melodically rich background and lead parts on bass. He has performed with numerous jazz stars such as: Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Benny Green, Regina Carter, Lewis Nash, John Clayton, Bruce Forman, and many other West Coast jazz luminaries. Dan teaches at San Jose State University and Santa Clara University, and is also involved as an educator with the Monterey Jazz Festival, Cabrillo Jazz Festival and the San Jose Jazz Society.
Billy Jones is based out of Philadelphia, PA and Monterey, CA and has shaped some of the most important jazz records and performances of our time. Billy has been fortunate enough to play with many of the greats, and has played in numerous Broadway musicals. His past performances include jazz festivals in the Philadelphia/New York/New Jersey area, including The Cape May Jazz Festival.

Reimagined Realism
2024-05-24 - 2024-06-22 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Reimagined Realism, an exhibition exploring three unexpected approaches to defining contemporary realism, opens Friday, May 24th with a reception from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public. Artists’ Walk-through, free and open to the public, will be held Saturday, June 8th, 2:00-4:00 pm.
Curated by Darcie Fohrman, the three distinct artistic perspectives utilize fine art’s established traditions to fissure and reconstitute social narratives. The individual artists adapt and layer popular subject matter into contemporary social narratives that both celebrate and critique our assumptions about natural forces and cultural environments. The integration of past and present, the inclusion of extraordinary objects and the juxtaposition of unlike elements, are just a few of the ways the three Monterey County painters conjure the mysteriousness of everyday reality. Often using exquisite detail and unusual perspective, the artists convey the wonder of observable reality.
The exhibit can be seen Monday through Friday, from noon to 4 pm. or by appointment through June 22nd.
Exhibition sponsored by Chris and Robin Sawyer
About the Artists:
Kirstine Reiner Hansen’s work focuses on the growing dysconnectivity in contemporary life. She describes it as follows: “The ceaseless barrage of stimuli and our struggle to process life lived between tangible and digital worlds is undermining our sense of self. The fragmented universe of figures and spaces featured in my paintings is a contemplation on this conundrum.”
Don Hughes’ work incorporates narratives about our dystopian world also being helplessly ironic and humorous. Our politics, climate, religion, morality and anything remotely sexual have been fertile ground for the social commentary, symbolism, and humor of his two- and three-dimensional artworks.
Chris Leib continues his “examination of our precarious evolving pathway, which started long ago, through an ever-growing cast of wise, tolerant Bonobos and rambunctious astronaut children.” While seemingly whimsical, his paintings are laden with hidden meaning and explore themes of heroism, Western folklore, and the schism of instinct and control.

Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Monterey County High School Poetry Awards 2024
2024-05-18 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Monterey County High School Poetry Awards 2024. The program was designed to recognize and promote excellence in high school poets and develop an interest in creative expression through the written word.
A reading and ceremony honoring this year’s award-winning student poets will be held 2:00pm on Saturday, May 18th, at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel.
The program (formerly the Robert Campbell Monterey County High School Poetry Awards) was renamed last year to honor Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts, who provided inspiration and writing instruction to thousands of area high school students.
Cherry Center Poet-in-Schools:
Patrice Vecchione
Our teaching poet this year is Patrice Vecchione, the author of two collections of poetry and three nonfiction books, most recently My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry & Speaking Your Truth. Patrice has taught poetry in local schools and elsewhere for many years. patricevecchione.com.
Sponsors:
The Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Monterey County High School Poetry Awards are held each year in conjunction with Thinking Out Loud, the Cherry Center’s annual high school art exhibition. Both programs are made possible through funding from:
Arts Council for Monterey County
Carmel Woman’s Club
Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Friends of Patrice Vecchione
Gibson Family Foundation
Monterey County Board of Supervisors
Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Pebble Beach Company Foundation
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Store

Age Is Only A Number
2024-05-03 19:30 - 2024-05-25 19:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER
A COMEDY
A glance at age and aging with a wink.
A new play by
TOM PARKS
MAY 3 thru MAY 25
THE CHERRY
TICKETS: $30
(831) 717-7373
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
7:30pm
SUNDAY MATINEE
2:30pm

Writing to Discover Inner Strength
2024-04-21 13:00 - 15:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Writing to Discover Inner Strength
with Nina Solomita, MFA
The act of writing leads to discovery. Many people are not fully aware of their thoughts until they write them down. This class continues our exploration of the imagination as our greatest ally connecting us both to our deepest selves and to others. In these challenging times, it’s easy to lose track of this powerful companion and to become subject to outward distractions that sap our strength.
The writing exercises are designed to encourage a reconnection with your source of power in a gentle, relaxed, even playful way. Allow yourself the time to reach inward toward your own hidden resources and invite the imagination to speak, surprise you, and reveal its treasures.
All are welcome, although class is limited in size. If interested, please email Nina as soon as possible at ninasolomita@gmail.com.
Date: Sunday, April 21, 2024
Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Place: Carl Cherry Center, 4th and Guadalupe, 4th Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea
Fee: $40.00 (If fee is a hardship, discounts available. Inquire in email.)
Nina Solomita, MFA is a writer, editor, and coach. She has assisted writers in a variety of
projects for over 25 years. For more information, go to ninasolomita.com.

SOLD OUT Bob Phillips’ Lighthouse Jazz Quartet + One
2024-04-14 14:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
SOLD OUT
Jazz At The Cherry is delighted to bring local legendary pianist and band leader, Bob Phillips, to our stage for an afternoon of exciting straight ahead classic jazz. Joining Bob will be a highly talented group of Monterey Peninsula jazz artists, including Paul Contos on sax, Dennis Murphy on bass, Stu Reynolds on sax and Mike Shannon on drums.
Phillips, one of the finest performers on the Monterey Peninsula, has been playing professionally since he was 17. Over the years, he has played with a variety of notable jazz icons, such as Ali Reyerson, Charles Loos, Al Cohn, Richie Cole, and Rebecca Parris. Well known for his exceptional technique and versatility, Bob has performed numerous times at the Monterey Jazz Festival and is currently in demand all over Central and Northern California.
Bob’s musical talent, combined with his embrace of this stellar group of journeymen jazz artists, is sure to bring about a memorable and enthralling musical performance. Sunday, April 14th, at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare, included in the $35 ticket price. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.

RE/Aligned: A Visual Journey in Collage
2024-04-12 17:00 - 2024-05-11 17:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
RE/Aligned, an exhibition of collage spanning a range of themes and media, opens Friday, April 12th at the Cherry Center with a reception for the artists from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Artists in this multi-media exhibit include: Tracey Adams, Lisa Hochstein, Claire Lerner, Will Marino, Julia Nelson-Gal, Catie O’Leary and Robynn Smith.
VISIT ONLINE EXHIBIT
Bridging a range of materials and mediums, the breadth of the Cherry exhibition documents how collage’s use of bits and pieces of applied materials is unique in its ability to capture physical moments of time and place. The exhibit includes the created or found materials of the Central Coast of California, its colors, forms and ephemera. Collage has the ability to bring a tactile, physical experience of human history into the presence of the viewer. As an artistic tool, this wide-ranging medium mixes high and popular references and offers a vibrant, innovative connection to cultural context.
The exhibit can be seen Wednesday through Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m., or by appointment through May 11th. The Carl Cherry Center is located at the corner of 4th and Guadalupe, Carmel.
Pictured: “Gone Fishing” – Julia Nelson-Gal

Poetry for Peace in Palestine - SOLD OUT
2024-04-06 15:00 - 17:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Join Monterey Peninsula poets Marie Boucher, Farnaz Fatemi, Rana Issa, Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts, Daniel Summerhill and Patrice Vecchione for a poetry reading to benefit the Middle East Children’s Alliance on Saturday, April 6th, at 3pm. Tickets are $20, available on Eventbrite.com.
About the Middle East Children’s Alliance:
The Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) works to protect the rights and improve the lives of children in the Middle East through aid, empowerment and education. In the Middle East, MECA provides humanitarian aid, partners with community organizations to run projects for children, and supports income-generation projects. In the US and internationally, MECA raises awareness about the lives of children in the region and encourages meaningful action.

Monterey Museum of Art's Block Party
2024-04-06 11:00 - 16:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Discover local artisans and makers showcasing their unique crafts alongside dazzling performances and a variety of delicious food and drink options. Participate in interactive arts activities designed for all ages, and enjoy free admission to their latest exhibitions on Saturday, April 6th from 11am-4pm. The event is located behind the Monterey Museum of Art on Pacific Street, Monterey.
Cherry Center’s Booth 2023
Be sure to stop by the Cherry Center’s booth and say hello to our board members and friends! For more event information and a complete list of participants, follow this LINK.

2024 Thinking Out Loud Regional Art Competition
2024-03-02 - 2024-03-30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is proud to announce Thinking Out Loud 2024, a regional art competition that challenges high school students to create works inspired by their lives. Each year, students from across Monterey County are invited to display their artwork across a wide range of media for exhibition in our gallery.
VIEW WINNING ENTRIES
Thinking Out Loud will open with a reception for the student artists on Saturday, March 2nd from 2:00 – 4:00PM. The event is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. or by appointment. The exhibit will close Saturday, March 30th.

Established in 1948, the mission of the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is to enhance the quality and diversity of artistic, educational and cultural programs in Monterey County by encouraging public programs and interactions between artists and the community.
Thinking Out Loud is made possible, in part, through a grant from the Arts Council for Monterey County, Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and funds from:
Carmel Woman’s Club
Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Gibson Family Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Pebble Beach Company Foundation
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Store

Pictured: “Self Portrait” – Kayla Green, Monterey High School
Thinking Out Loud Regional Art Competition 2024

Dylan & Dylan
2024-02-23 19:00 - 2024-02-24 15:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
The Monterey Peninsula’s celebrated bard and biographical dramatist Taelen Thomas collaborates with artists Steve Mortensen, Laura Burian, and Dixie Dixon for a beguiling excursion into the lives, minds and works of two passionate and unpredictable literary geniuses who share a name: Dylan Thomas and Bob Dylan. Two performances only: Friday, February 23rd at 7:00pm and Saturday, February 24th at 3:00pm. Tickets are $30, available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
Buy Friday, February 23rd tickets online HERE.
Buy Saturday, February 24th tickets online HERE.
Meet the Performers:
TAELEN THOMAS, a poetical showman who has been performing works of Dylan Thomas for decades, with gusto!

STEVE MORTENSEN, a versatile singer/songwriter known for his simple but elegant guitar playing, who has long been a Bob Dylan afficionado.

LAURA BURIAN, a classically trained violinist who plays with many groups locally, and shares a love for these two great artists.

DIXIE DIXON, a local singer and bass player who will back the others with her dulcet tones and subtle bass notes.

Bruce Forman and The Red Guitar
2024-02-11 13:00 - 15:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Jazz At The Cherry proudly welcomes Bruce Forman and The Red Guitar back to our stage on Sunday, February 11th, at 1pm. Doors open at 12:30 for wine and light fare included in the ticket price.
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 $35, available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491. You won’t want to miss this mesmerizing, and delightful performance.

Toastmasters Unplugged
2024-01-20 19:00 - 20:30 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Monterey Comedy Improv will be joining up with the Monterey Peninsula Toastmasters at the Cherry Theater on Saturday, January 20th at 7pm. This truly unique event will start with some lovely appetizers and beverages from 6-7pm. The show will include members of the Monterey Peninsula Toastmasters delivering an array of engaging presentations along with fun bits by Monterey Comedy Improv. This event is free and designed for anyone that enjoys public speaking and comedy improv.
Seating is limited – call (831) 624-7491 to reserve your tickets now.

Poetry Reading to Benefit the Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Poetry Awards
2024-01-20 15:00 - 17:00 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
More Than Words, a poetry reading to benefit the Cherry Center’s Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Monterey County High School Poetry Awards, will be held Saturday, January 20th at 3 p.m. Local writers Patrice Vecchione, George Lober, Philip (Rags) Rosenberg, Anne Mitchell, and Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts will read selections of their poetry in the Cherry Center Gallery. Reservations required. Tickets are $20, available on Eventbrite.com or by calling (831) 624-7491.
Established in 1994 to increase literacy, empower youth, and invigorate communities through poetry recognize and promote excellence in high school poets, the Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts High School Poetry Awards were created as a collateral program to “Thinking Out Loud”, the Carl Cherry Center’s annual high school art exhibit. The poetry awards were created out of two fundamental insights: First, the vigorous and open-eyed quality of student poetry gives the student work a redemptive role complementary to other forms of human expression, second, poetry by young people is a vital yet largely unrecognized part of our culture. The Awards were conceived as a simple and effective way to address these concerns. Through poetry and the act of creative writing, the program is intended to help transform the imagination and awareness of high school students in Monterey County. These goals are in keeping with the aspirations and values of the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts.
About the Poets:
George Lober teaches English at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English from San Jose State and his master of Arts in English from Fresno State. He is a recipient of the nationally awarded Ruth Cable Memorial Prize for Poetry. His poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and journals. He lives in Carmel, California
Anne Mitchell has called Carmel, CA home for over 30 years. A lifelong writer, when the year 2020 brought the unexpected realm of solitude and poetry presented itself, she became a willing conversationalist. She enjoys the theater, and has acted in staged readings at The Cherry, The Listening Place and Eulalia Theater. Anne’s new book of poetry, Fog Totem, is being published in February 2024.
Phillip Rosenberg’s first chapbook, Raised in the Shadow, was praised by Robert Bly (“a certain drive forward into truth”) and U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine (“strong signs of a real talent”). His poetry has appeared in Black Moon, Fine Homebuilding Magazine, The California writers Club Literary Review, and Hudson View. He has lived and worked in Carmel-by-the-Sea since 2021.
Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts is Professor Emeritus at Monterey Peninsula College where he taught composition, literature, public speaking and humanities for 32 years. He serves as President of the Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation in Carmel, California. 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. The Carl Cherry Center’s high school poetry contest is named in his honor.
Patrice Vecchione, poet, nonfiction writer and teacher, is the author of My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry & Speaking Your Truth, among other books. Ms. Vecchione is the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts Poet-in-Schools.
Pictured: “Space of Love” – Anne Marchand
