In the age of COVID-19, responsible travel has come to mean so much more. It now means practicing social distancing and wearing a mask when traveling. In an effort to encourage responsible (not to mention stylish) mask wearing, the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the Arts Council for Monterey County, has commissioned four local artists to create inspirational Monterey County moments that will be printed on reusable masks.
You can vote for your favorite iconic Monterey moment here. Voting is open now through midnight PST on October 23, 2020. Winners will be printed on reusable masks that will be made available to the public (for free) in November at specific locations throughout Monterey County. Locations include:
401 Camino El Estero, Monterey, CA 93940
47555 Hwy 1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Ocean Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
100 Central Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
502 Front St, Soledad, CA 93960
Following the free mask giveaways, additional masks will be made available for purchase in partnership with Monterey Bay Food Tours at their online retail store, with 100% of proceeds benefitting Arts4MC. Arts Council for Monterey County's mission is to improve the quality of life for everyone in Monterey County through the arts by providing visual and performing arts education to more than 25,000 youth, and Arts as Healing programs to approximately 1,200 seniors, veterans and at-risk youth.
From showcasing the area's well-known marine animals and costal cliffs, to paying tribute to its agricultural bounty, the artwork represents iconic and diverse offerings in the area. Take a look at the stunning artwork submissions and learn more about the artists themselves below.
1. Point Pinos Lighthouse, Pacific Grove, CA - By Cheryl Kampe
As a local artist living and working on the Monterey Peninsula, Kampe is known for her landscapes in oil and watercolor. She often finds herself inspired by the beauty surrounding Pacific Grove and uses that inspiration to create artwork that is familiar yet encompasses abstract qualities. Kampe’s Monterey Moment is inspired by Point Pinos Lighthouse. As one of the oldest lighthouses on the West Coast, she notes the pastel painting captures a quintessential landscape in Monterey County.
2. Monterey Sea Otters, Monterey, CA - By Diane Grindol
A Chicago transplant, Grindol fell in love with the Monterey Peninsula in 1982 and has dedicated years photographing the region. She occupies studio space at ArtWorks in American Tin Cannery building and enjoys acquainting visitors with Monterey’s natural beauty and abundant wildlife. Grindol’s Monterey Moment is inspired by a photo she snapped of a sea otter and pup cavorting behind the Monterey Bay Aquarium. To capture an otter’s playful and inquisitive nature in the watercolor portrait, she used a crayon resist technique and created texture using salt and rubbing alcohol.
3. Highway 1, Big Sur, CA - By Beau Bernier Frank
Beau Bernier Frank is an oil painter represented by Big Sur, California’s Post Ranch Inn and Australia’s 19 Karen Gallery. Frank is most known for his "Off the Grid" collection featuring a juxtaposition of black and white portraits with colorful landscapes, as well as his "Window" series of landscapes painted on circle canvases highlighting Big Sur and the local area. His Monterey Moment is inspired by a routine Highway 1 drive to Big Sur when he worked at Nepenthe and Post Ranch Inn. With a deep appreciation for the beauty of the area, the scenic vista featured in the artwork can be found at a turn out just past Hurricane Point.
4. Salinas Valley Farmworkers, Salinas, CA - By Jose Ortiz
Named a champion of the arts by Arts4MC in 1999, Ortiz has spent years pioneering the field of experimental studio space for visual art practitioners. He is the founder and director of Hijos del Sol Arts Productions, a non-profit arts organization based in Salinas. As a lead designer and painter, Ortiz has contributed to more than 70 mural projects throughout Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara and San José counties. His Monterey Moment is inspired by the pride his mother had in working as part of one of the ground lettuce crews in Salinas.
Cast your vote today! Visit SeeMonterey.com/Monterey-Moments-Art-Submissions.
