• “I learned to stay calm, not rushing things. Paint a while, then to stand back away and look. In the art program, when you come to art angry, it can change the feeling. It is a kind of anger management.” That comes from Tony, a young man in the Monterey County Probation Department’s Youth Center, speaking about the Arts as Healing program, guided by Linda Hevern and artist teachers. It teaches art, communication, collaboration, planning, problem solving, awareness, empathy and confidence. This is art as a transformative force. The group show at Avery Gallery at Seaside’s City Hall comes down after Thursday, Aug. 31.
  • Are you going? Oh, you gotta go. The Monterey County Fair happens but once a year. Well… it’s five days, Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. But it’s the most frenetic down-home action we see all year, a world unto itself, a carnival and a circus and an amusement park, a noisy industry of fun. There are expensive and cheap thrills. That’s why we keep going. montereycountyfair.com.
  • This Friday, Sept. 1, 5-8pm, is the 12th annual Friday Art Walk in Oldtown Salinas. For the occasion Trish Sullivan is rolling out special stuff like dinner at the Steinbeck House, Steve Hauk signing his new book Steinbeck the Untold Stories at the Steinbeck Center, the return of the First Mayor’s House, a live student jam at Wise Music, DJ Kiyoshi at Somos Gallery, kid-friendly Mic Studios’ re-opening. It goes down, all over downtown. 1stfridays.org.
  • Last week I wrote about the NEA Big Read’s Monday film series about racism at Maya Cinemas, which started Aug. 28 and runs through Oct. 16. But there is another film series they’re starting up concurrently. This one is lower-profile, taking place at libraries throughout the span of the Big Read, and includes worthy titles like Hidden Figures at Cesar Chavez Library (2-4pm Sept. 10) and Stand and Deliver at King City Library (1-3pm Oct. 6). The first one, though, is Zootopia, playing 2-4pm Sunday, Sept. 3, at Cesar Chavez. Yep. The animated Disney movie about prejudice amongst animal species. steinbeck.org.
  • Monterey Museum of Art is recruiting volunteer docents for a six-week training course Wednesdays, Sept. 13 to Oct. 18, 10am-12pm, for a two-year commitment. Training will cover Monterey history and art, the museum’s mission and collection, and touring tips for adults and school tours. Docents can help bridge the experience of art for visitors. They can also disrupt it. So training is crucial. education@montereyart.org for info.
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