Carl Cherry Center for the Arts

Open Studios Art Tour 2026
2026-09-12 - 2026-09-20 | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Arts4MC’s Open Studios Art Tour is a fun and free event held over two weekends. It provides an opportunity to visit the studios of talented artists throughout Monterey County, witness their work in progress, and perhaps discover the perfect piece of art to add to your collection.
The event will be held at the Carl Cherry Center on September 12th, 13th, 19th, and 20th. Saturday hours from 11:00am to 5:00pm, Sundays from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. Information on artists showing at the center can be found in the Open Studio Arts Tour guide, pages 26 and 27. The center is located on the northwest corner of Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel.

Portraits in Song: Cindy Alexander with special guest Two Rivers
2026-10-17 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Portraits in Song is an intimate concert series highlighting the craft and storytelling of exceptional emerging artists. Each limited-capacity evening invites audiences to experience songwriting up close — sharing not only original music, but the stories and creative journeys behind it.
The fifth concert in the series features award-winning singer-songwriter Cindy Alexander, an LA native and Carmel transplant whose eleven albums, film and television placements, and decades of touring have been built on the connection she forges with a room. Opening the evening is Two Rivers, the acoustic duo of Richard Bryant and Kyle Kovalik, pairing soaring vocals and inspired harmonies with wicked guitar work.
The performance will be held Saturday, October 17th, at 3:00pm, doors open at 2:30. Tickets are $25 (wine and light fare provided), available on Eventbrite.com.

About Cindy Alexander:
Cindy Alexander writes songs people sing along with and lyrics they quote to their friends. Affectionately called “Pnut” by her fans, she has a voice that defies her petite stature, moving from rich, earthy lows to the trill of a coloratura soprano. Technical range aside, what she’s known for is the connection she builds with a room.
A Los Angeles native and grateful Carmel transplant, she was mentored early by celebrity voice coach Nathan Lam and hit the road in 1999 opening for The Bacon Brothers, a collaboration that continues today. Eleven albums, two EPs, and multiple singles later, her work has landed in film and television including *So You Think You Can Dance*, *Dawson’s Creek*, and *Here on Earth*, and on compilations alongside Sarah McLachlan, Aimee Mann, and Norah Jones. She has toured the US, Asia, and Europe and shared stages with America, John Hiatt, Suzanne Vega, and The Gin Blossoms, with her fans crowdfunding nearly every project along the way.

About Two Rivers:
Two Rivers is Richard Bryant and Kyle Kovalik performing as an acoustic duo. Intelligent songwriting, soaring vocals, inspired harmonies, and wicked guitar. Richard Bryant has toured the world as an acclaimed singer with rock legends such as The Doobie Brothers and The Little River Band. Kyle Kovalik has been flooring audiences for decades with his fiery guitar stylings, acoustic and electric.

Benefit Reading and Conversation with Award-Winning Poet Ellen Bass
2026-11-15 15:00 - 16:30
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is pleased to present an afternoon of poetry and conversation with celebrated, award-winning poet Ellen Bass on Sunday, November 15th, at 3:00 PM.
Proceeds from the reading will directly benefit the ongoing work of poet Patrice Vecchione, Carl Cherry Center for the Arts’ Poet-in-Schools, teacher and nonfiction author who leads in-class poetry workshops in high schools across Monterey County, encouraging young writers to trust their imaginations and discover their authentic voices through creative expression. Funds raised from this afternoon reading will ensure the continuation of these vital workshops as well as the Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts High School Poetry Awards, the Cherry Center’s annual flagship event celebrating and supporting young literary talent across Monterey County.
Tickets are $30, available on Eventbrite.com. Seating is limited. Community members and poetry enthusiasts are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance to support local youth literacy and creative arts programming.
Photograph: ellenbass.com
