Thursday, Sept. 19 New Edi Prolific local artist Edi Matsumoto has moved from her Carmel studio into her own new gallery. The grand opening party takes place on Sept. 19 (with food and wine by Yafa restaurant in Carmel, wearable art and art activities), and two days later, on Sept. 21, Matsumoto will host the Monterey High School AMP Academy Arts Festival at the new space. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to support these talented students as they showcase their art, music and performances,” she writes by email. Matsumoto was born and raised in Japan, where she obtained a degree in anthropology. She became an artist later in life. Her recent work features otters, but don’t expect simple animal images. RSVP recommended. [AP] 5-7pm Thursday, Sept. 19; noon-4pm Saturday, Sept. 21. Edi Matsumoto Art & Design, Mission Street and 5th Avenue, Carmel. Free. 596-5157, edimatsumoto.com. Book or Movie? There is a new series that recently kicked off at the Monterey Public Library. This time—until December—the library will screen a bunch of movies, all based on books. Come see The Hunger Games on Sept. 19, followed by Twilight, Goosebumps, Matilda, Peter Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland and Where the Wild Things Are. All screenings will be wonderful pretext to re-start the eternal discussion: Was the book or the movie better? My personal favorite is Matilda, the ultimate story of a bookish girl under-appreciated by her simple, rude and materialistic family. Matilda, who leaves her family and eventually gets adopted by her favorite teacher, shows children around the world that the sky’s the limit. Come and get inspired. [AP] 3:30pm every other Thursday starting Thursday, Sept. 19. Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 6463933, monterey.gov/library. Friday, Sept. 20 Winning Cash Shawn Barker’s rich baritone rumbles like a train rolling round a bend. His mane is as black as the coat he wears. So it’s curious that Barker first sought to play Elvis—that is until a Broadway director steered 24 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY september 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Open Ground Studios Local artists Denese Sanders and Micheen Levee of Open Ground Studios in Seaside created a large-scale painting inspired by the power and movement of this moment, just months before the 2024 presidential election. This vibrant portrait of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, on the Democratic Party’s Center for Change (1238 Fremont Blvd., Seaside), aims to energize prospective voters. The party headquarters is a neighbor to Open Ground Studios, a hub for local artists; currently 16 working artists are active in their space. Founded by Sanders, the OGS team is famous for making murals all over Monterey County. [AP] 19-25 September HOT PICKS To see more local events, and add your own, visit calendar.montereycountynow.com Courtesy of Open Ground Studios Courtesy of Joan Lewis VISUALS Joan Lewis The Marjorie Evans Gallery in the Sunset Cultural Center presents an exhibit of Joan Lewis’ works, titled The Naked Face, through Oct. 31. Lewis is a lawyer, activist, mother and longtime partner of her husband, Bob Cortes. She is the daughter of film producers, Edward and Mildred Lewis. She graduated from law school in the 1970s, then practiced law until becoming a full-time mother to her daughter, Maya, in 1982. “I look forward to introducing myself through my paintings and drawings to the local community,” she wrote in a statement. “I am drawn to portraiture and am challenged to observe and grasp emotions. My goal is to explore and express my own feelings and those of my subjects to ultimately reveal the unpredictable and often surprising synergy among the artist, subject and viewer.” Above, see the artist’s self-portrait. [AP] Seaside celebrates its sister city relationship with the third annual Oaxaca by the Sea celebration, bringing traditional dance and music to the stage, and inviting the whole community to join in. celia jiménez The Carmel Valley Gem & Mineral Society show rocks, literally. This event is an opportunity for serious collectors, as well as anyone who likes shiny things. Karin Salomon
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