This Week on the Central Coast…
More beautification and art projects, cooking classes, housing, and MBFC
Monterey
Monterey Museum of Art’s New Featured Exhibits
The Monterey Museum of Art is showcasing a new series of art galleries. The series is meant to bring viewers into the world of Latino culture, heritage, and farm worker life.
The photography of Joe Ramos features a collection of portraits (his specialty) and imagery from the Salinas Valley. His work “reflect(s) a deep appreciation for nature, emphasizing the sculptural essence and vibrant hues of plants, often bordering on abstract representation.” His exhibit, titled “Mixed Up - Connected” is on display until April 21.
Another photographer, Dorothea Lange, is featured upstairs. The photographs in this exhibition were selected from the Oakland Museum of California’s Dorothea Lange Archive and the United States Library of Congress. Her work documents life within the migrant labor camps of the Dust Bowl era and just before World War II. Her work is also on display until April 21.
The next exhibition features the art collection of Armando and Mary Salinas Duron. While not artists themselves, the Durons collected art from various artists (including “established figures like Patssi Valdez, Shizu Saldamando, Judy Baca, Gilbert "Magu" Luján, and many more”) as a way of preserving Chicanx history. The exhibition, titled “Seeing Chicanx”, includes various mediums, including paintings, drawings, photography, and sculpture. This collection will be shown until April 28.
Go see these exhibits before they’re gone at the Monterey Museum of Art on Pacific Street.
“Thai Is Fun” is a cooking class orchestrated by Seaside-local Korrutal “Goi” Yugaroen’s. The class is also the latest Recognized Participating Organization in the Blue Zone Project Monterey. Goi offers to teach the class in her own kitchen or bring it to a client’s home. Each class features “two flavorful Thai dishes, complemented by interesting insights into Thai culture.”
The prices vary based on the amount of people attending the class. For a private cooking class for two, the price is $99 per person. For groups of seven to twelve, the price is $693 total.
Goi came to the area for an opportunity at the Defense Language Institute teaching Thai. She also offers Thai language and culture classes and translation services.
Castroville Pedestrian Bridge Undergoes a Makeover
Crews have begun working on the pedestrian bridge on Geil Street in Castroville. The goal is to beautify the space via funding from the Clean California Act.
The Clean California initiative aims to “transform unsightly roadsides into spaces of pride for all Californians.” “This project will repair and make improvements to the adjacent sidewalk and remove the chain link fencing along the bike path, replacing it with decorative new fencing.”
A mural by local artist and instructor Guillermo Aranda will be featured on the bridge as well.
The project is expected to be done by August of this year.
Salinas
Old Hotel To Be Used for Homeless Housing
The city of Salinas recently purchased the El Rey Motel with plans to turn it into homeless housing. Soon after the purchase, Monterey County offered to help. The partnership is hopeful that they will be able to secure several millions in state grants to help the project along.
If all goes well, the project will not only provide housing, but also “get (people) connected to treatment and services that can help them move forward to more stable and permanent solutions”.
Salinas and Monterey County should know by July if they will receive the grant funding from the state.
Salinas Native Signs with MBFC
Goalkeeper Fabian Narez of MBFC2 was signed by MBFC to a 25-day contract to help cover the red-card suspension of goalie Carlos Herrera.
Narez is a Salinas native who played at Hartnell College after graduating from Alisal High School. Last season, he helped MBFC2 reach the NorCal Division championship and gain an appearance in the playoffs.
Narez will serve as a backup during his time with the first team.