ARTIFACTS: Another take on painting oneself into a corner

(above) The introduction piece from the Open Walls participatory exhibition at Monterey Museum of Art-La Mirada. 

• Mai Ryuno, who teaches art at Hartnell and Monterey Peninsula College, continues with her artistic observations in a talk at Green Chalk Contemporary 5-8pm Friday as part of the ongoing project, Ancestral Observations: Demystification of Magical Powers, about the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami. 719-7232.

• Kelly Medford moved to Rome five years ago, where she’s painted regularly. Big Sur’s Erin Lee Gafill recently painted in New York’s Lower East Side and Bushwick. This Saturday, 6pm, the two unveil a dual show (and talk) of their urban plein air work at Studio One in Big Sur. They also offer a workshop. 646-9000, www.ErinGafill.com.

• On Sunday, 3-6pm, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies’ Irvine Auditorium hosts a free (thanks to First Five Monterey County) screening of Dark Side of the Full Moon, a film about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders such as postpartum depression. It was created by Jennifer Silliman, and MIIS alumni and the film’s writer, Maureen Fura, who will be present for a panel discussion. 601-3401, hello@parentingconnectionmc.org.

• Where Marina at?!? On Monday, 6-8pm, at the Marina Library. That’s the time and place for the Marina Community Nonprofit Summit, an annual meeting of the minds of nonprofits and active community members who have projects and programs for the town. RSVP if you want to attend. 717-4117, www.TheMarinaFoundation.org.

• The Ryan Ranch outpatient “campus” of Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula is an asymmetrical, windowy, landscaped building in a beautiful hillside setting. In the hallway of the second floor medical offices hung this unassuming sign: “The art object that is usually in this location has been temporarily removed. If you have any questions, please call 658-3079.” So I did. It led to Amy Essick, art curator with the Community Hospital Foundation, which Essick says donates to CHOMP all its art without patient fees going toward their purchase. She says that they are switching the art around, but that it will be back next week. And what art? Posters by Bay Area graphic designer Rex Ray, who’s done work for Apple, Dreamworks, Matador Records, David Bowie and City Lights. He died Monday, Feb. 9, at age 58. “Art makes us feel better,” Essick says. “Especially at an anxious time.” Or at a beautiful, but anxious, place.

• Photographer Tom Millea died this past Monday. See the Arts & Culture blog for a memoriam story.