The jack-of-all-art-trades is at or near the center of many of Seaside’s art events.

Sandra Gray moved to Seaside from elsewhere, but she’s a true original Seasider. Over the course of two-plus decades she’s expressed her love for her adopted home town by seeding and cultivating bunches of art events. She grew up in Stockton near the banks of the San Joaquin River, where she first gathered clay to shape into animals, pots and dolls. Her mother cherished and bragged about Sandra’s first photograph (of a philodendron). Her father was a union carpenter who helped instill know-how and dependability. Her grandmother insisted she learn what used to be called home crafts. She still uses all those skills.

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When did you first start doing art?

My grandmother had an oak tree in the backyard, where I found this oak gall [or ball]. I got hold of an X-Acto knife to cut something out of it and cut my thumb. I still have that scar.

What’s your profession?

I considered myself a professional artist since I graduated from college. I studied art. I taught in Teacher Corp, a program from the late ’60s, early ’70s. I liked working with minority schools and schools with less money.

How did the Seaside Artists Studios Tour start?

[Former rec director and current City Councilman] Dave Pacheco founded it. On the Monterey County tour, people wouldn’t come to our studios. They would go to Carmel, to Monterey. Seaside still has a stigma: “It’s not a place you want to go.” I never did agree with that.

What other arts organizations are you involved in?

I was one of the founding artists of Open Ground Studios. I’m now vice chair of the Seaside Art and History Commission. I’m a group leader with CPY [Community Partnership for Youth]. I have close ties with Arts As Healing – I’m a cancer survivor, since 2005. Breast cancer. At the Monterey County Fair, I’m the art exhibit supervisor.

You also do photography and art for paying clients, right?

The Village Project is one of my customers. Learning for Life charter school in Marina. This year they had only two graduating seniors. NAACP calls me, Pebble Beach Lodge, the city of Seaside, Arts Council for Monterey County.

Is that how you make a living?

Most of my income is from my teaching pension. I can’t work full time. It’s exhausting. I don’t know how to pace myself.

What’s your history with technology?

As a teacher, I was one of the people on the technology committee at Ord Terrace, when Apple was giving schools computers. Before I came here I was working at Sharp Army Depot in Lathrop as a keypunch operator. I kept being interested in computers. When digital cameras came out I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread.

Your motto is “I specialize in not specializing.” What does that mean?

I can do a lot of different types of art. Sculpture was my first love. I’ve been able to draw, I can do just about anything that has to do with crafts. I do something until I get tired, then I do something else.

How does being a person of color affect your art?

I’m always asked to do something for the Black History exhibit. My experience as a person of color will be recreated in my art because art is created from your experiences.

You’re known for photographing events. What’s been your favorite?

Blues in the Park. The parades are next. Those two are my favorites.

And least favorite?

Any kind of commission.

Do you always have your camera?

No. Sometimes I don’t take it with me so I can [just] enjoy the event. My new cellphone is an iPhone 5s and takes almost as good a picture as my camera.

What projects are coming up?

The Seaside 60th birthday party [in October]. It’s going to be a ’50s theme. We’re going to have something to do with parades, cars, clothes. I’m doing a collage on churches. We’re trying to make sure we include contributions of the Hispanic community. Seaside is known for its diversity, waves of cultures. I saw it as a teacher.