Pacific Grove Art Center Invites the Community to a Free Lecture by James Perry, Executive Director of the Monterey County Historical Society
Pacific Grove Art Center Invites the Community to a Free Lecture by James Perry, Executive Director of the Monterey County Historical Society
January 2022. Monterey, CA. Save the Date! The Pacific Grove Art Center invites the community to enjoy a free presentation about local Monterey County history and the Monterey County Historical Society on Saturday afternoon, February 19, 2022 from 2 pm - 4 pm. The Pacific Grove Art Center is located at 568 Lighthouse in Downtown Pacific Grove.
James Perry, Executive Director of the Monterey County Historical Society, will provide a fascinating presentation: “A Local Treasure: The Monterey County Historical Society and Preserving Monterey County” featuring highlights of the history of Monterey County and the important role of the Monterey County Historical Society plus Q & A.
After the presentation, refreshments will be served. Appropriately, the refreshments at this event will be an array of delicious authentic traditional Sicilian cookies prepared by Chef Rich Pepe, owner of the historic Carmel Bakery.
About the upcoming presentation, “A Local Treasure: The Monterey County Historical Society and Preserving Monterey County"
The past, present and future of Monterey County is as fascinating as the collections stewarded by the Monterey County Historical Society (MCHS). James Perry, Director of MCHS will take us upon a journey spanning over eight decades chronicling community efforts towards the collection and preservation of our regional history. James will review the history of MCHS, the acquisition of the historic Jose Eusebio Boronda Adobe, present project development initiatives and future build-out plans of the Boronda Adobe History Center. In addition, James will review the critical need for historical organizations in our region to come together as partners in order to assure that the past continues to be preserved for future generations.
RSVPs are appreciated by emailing Wendy Brickman at [email protected] or calling 831-594-1500.
About James Perry
James Perry has a M.A. in Museum Studies with an emphasis on Collections Management & Public History. He has served as Curator of Collections & Exhibits for the Valdez Museum & Historical Archive in Valdez, Alaska as well as the Museum of the Aleutians in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Locally, he has served as consultant to various organizations for special project initiatives, including the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Royal Presidio Chapel and Missions Carmel, San Juan Bautista, Soledad, and San Antonio de Padua. He has served the Monterey County Historical Society in various capacities since 1990, and is currently the Executive Director.
About the Carmel Bakery
Carmel Bakery was established in 1899 and is now Carmel’s oldest running retail business in Carmel-by-the-Sea and has been owned by the Pèpe family since 1986. As a matter of fact, it is the oldest building still standing in the village. There have been only four owners in the bakery’s over 100-year history. The original owner, Fritz Schweinger, lived in the apartment above the bakery for many years and is considered one of the founding fathers of Carmel. When Pèpe moved to Carmel in 1974 he worked up the street at Wishart’s Bakery and some years later had the opportunity to purchase Carmel Bakery from the then retiring owner, Hector DeSmet.
Chef Rich Pèpe started working in a family bakery in New Jersey at the age of 14, where his sister Joanne and brother Jay also worked. “I’m a baker first, a chef second”, said Pèpe, who worked thirty-two hours a week during high school. While his school grades may have suffered, he graduated with his baking trade in hand. Pèpe has never worked in any other field other than baking or restaurants in his long and storied career.
About the Pacific Grove Art Center
The purpose of the Pacific Grove Art Center is to cultivate the arts within the Monterey Peninsula area by providing creative experiences that inspire and engage us, touch our hearts, challenge our minds and enrich our lives.
The Pacific Grove Art Center has four Exhibit Galleries: Nadine Annand, David Henry Gill, Elmarie Dyke and Louise Cardeiro Boyer. It features a variety of art forms including Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Encaustic, Fabric Arts, Mixed Media and more. Exhibits change every other month celebrated with a First Friday New Exhibit Opening and a First Friday Gallery Night (pre-COVID).
The Pacific Grove Art Center also features seventeen Professional Artist Studios, Art and Movement classes for adults, After School, Summer, Weekend and art classes for kids 8 – 17 (including some scholarship opportunities), creative opportunities for teens, and music, food and cultural events are held throughout the year. PGAC is also the home of the Peninsula Ballet Center. The beautiful historic galleries are available to rent for a special occasion.
Since 1969, Pacific Grove Art Center has been a community-based nonprofit seeking to enhance art appreciation and encourage the creation of art. With the desire to have art available to everyone, PGAC has held low-cost classes, free exhibits, and offered reduced rent for artist’s studios for over 50 years. Both emerging and established artists are professionally shown in their historic galleries, and large group shows can provide the first step into the art world for many. Through generous donations, grants, and hundreds of volunteer hours, the Pacific Grove Art Center continues its mission today.
All donations are deeply appreciated, especially during these continued challenging times. Become a member and receive the informative newsletter keeping you in the loop of all the community events, exhibit openings and cultural offerings they have to share.
The Pacific Grove Art Center, located at 568 Lighthouse in Pacific Grove, is open Wednesday – Friday from Noon to 5 pm and Saturday from Noon to 4 pm. For more information, call 831-375-2208, email [email protected] or go to the website, www.pgartcenter.org.