24 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com photographers, and artists glorified Big Sur, attracting even more visitors and threatening the very things that make the region so prized. The tension between development and conservation—a struggle that continues to this day—was already in place by the mid-century. Dickie stood alongside other Big Sur residents to fight the proposed construction of a granite quarry at Partington Point, her favorite place to sketch and paint. Artist and environmentalist Margaret Wentworth Owings and her husband Nathaniel Owings were instrumental in the creation of the Monterey County Coast Master Plan in 1962, limiting development in Big Sur. Margaret co-founded Friends of the Sea Otter and worked to remove a bounty on mountain lions. These artists, fiercely protective of Big Sur’s unique and fragile ecosystem, influenced the burgeoning environmental movement of the 1960s. Despite the challenges of growing tourism during the mid-century, Big Sur continued to offer solace and potential for spiritual growth. The Esalen Institute was established in 1962 to advance the human potential movement. Benedictine monks have worshiped at the New Camaldoli Hermitage since 1958. As many will attest, Big Sur’s otherworldly natural beauty inspires a spiritual connection to something greater than oneself. Many artists of the period were in touch with Big Sur’s spiritual side; some created works with mystical, dream-like qualities, while others interpreted psychological and emotional aspects of the human experience. Irene Lagorio’s recognizable Big Sur archetypes—a condor taking flight and a mysterious forest bathed in moonlight—are surrounded by the threat of wildfire. Kara’s work often depicts characters from mythology and religion. Louisa Jenkins’ unicorn mosaic was commissioned by Una Jeffers (the wife of Robinson Jeffers) and features the mythical creature affixed to Hawk Tower at Tor House in Carmel. Big Sur in the mid-century was a world apart, where art, literature, nature and community intersected in fascinating and unexpected ways. The region’s extraordinary scenery and unique cultural environment nurtured a group of independent artists who forged their own creative paths. Largely unconcerned with the whims and fashions of the art world, stimulated by their stunning surroundings, and uplifted by a supportive local community, these artists created a diverse and compelling body of work inspired by the place—and the idea—of Big Sur. Wendy Van Wyck Good is a librarian, archivist and the guest curator of A World Apart: Big Sur in the MidCentury. This essay is adapted from MMA’s catalog. ESTATE OF HENRY GILPIN Henry Gilpin’s iconic shot of Highway 1 from 1965 remains the ultimate and perfect Big Sur “postcard” photo, and is displayed alongside other black-and-white photography in A Sense of Wonder, one of four Big Sur-themed exhibits showing simultaneously. “I want to be alone… The less distraction, the more intense the focus.” FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM sortwithheart.org Put food scraps in your green cart Food is tradition. Family. Culture. Just like Grandma used to say— nothing goes to waste. Every peel, husk, and leftover has a purpose. When we throw food in the trash, we waste more than a meal, we lose the love and labor that went into it. But when we put food scraps in the green organics cart, we honor that labor of love while protecting our future. California’s SB 1383 law keeps food out of landfills, reducing pollution and turning scraps into compost that nourishes local farms and gardens.
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