Event Calendar

Sunset Center is excited to announce an exhibition in partnership with PhotoCarmel, entitled "A Light Exists in Spring," Curated by Ann Jastrab, to run from May 4th through June 23rd, 2026. This exhibition is part of our Education & Outreach program and showcases emerging and established local artists or arts collectives through a series of five rotating exhibits in the Marjorie Evans Gallery. Join us as we welcome nearly 50 local artists with a FREE public reception in the gallery on Thursday, May 7th, from 4-6pm.

"A Light Exists in Spring" features work by the Center for Photographic Art's incredible team of artists who also happen to be volunteers, trustees, and staff members at the long-running photography non-profit gallery organization housed at Sunset Center. The artists in this show are more than talented photographers; they are devoted members of the thriving photography community in Monterey County. This group of nearly 50 local artists pursues a variety of photographic media, but one of the things that unites them is their vision and their love of the landscape, of light, of change, and of the glorious medium of photography. This exhibition's title — inspired by an Emily Dickinson poem — references the season of hope. In spring, with its magical light and its promise of renewal, flora and fauna alike emerge, the days grow longer, there is a shift in the air and a literal spring in your step as the shadows get shorter and the sun gets higher!

"A Light Exists in Spring," like many of Emily Dickinson's poems, explores the ephemeral nature of beauty and the human experience. It captures a specific moment in spring when a unique light and color appear in fields. This sensory experience is both fleeting and profound, leaving a lasting impression on the observer. And this exhibition, curated by the Center for Photographic Art's Executive Director Ann Jastrab, will leave a similar impression on visitors to the Marjorie Evans Gallery. From early historical photographic processes like platinum palladium printing and cyanotypes to contemporary digital photography to mixed media photography, this show has something for everyone — lovers of the handmade print, lovers of light, lovers of the wonders of nature and spring. It will be a chance to highlight us at our best, when we slow down and listen to the earth's heartbeat, and also our own.

Featured Artists:

Debra Achen, Mary Aiu, James Atherton, Janet Beaty, Lauren Brown, Ron Brown, Andrew Chasin, Ginger Chih, Charles Clarke, David Clarkson, Marty Cohen, Matt Connors, Tony DeVarco, Stan Dunlap, Allyson Ely, David Fagan, Dani Foster, Eduardo Fujii, Sylvia Gardner, Anna Mae Gazo, Helaine Glick, Lillie Grossman, Arvian Heidir, Noelle Hetz, Tom Hierl, Jacki Horton, Susan Hyde Greene, Robert Kastigar, Domini Kelly, Susan Kingsley, Maria Isabel LeBlanc, Jeanne Marino, Ruben Martin, Simona Martin, Phil Miller, Carolyn Moore, Rick Murai, Rinské Perkins, Maria Prince, Huve Rivas, Michelle Robertson, Robin Robinson, Jacque Rupp, Dennis Segers, Nancy Sevier, Jerry Takigawa, Patrice Taylor, Jacqui Turner, Robert Watt, Jan Watten, Gregg Weissman, Janet Whitchurch, Frank Yamrus, Jonas Yip, Liz Monroe.

About the Center for Photographic Art:

The Center for Photographic Art is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID 77-0220629) that was founded in 1988 to carry on the traditions of the illustrious Friends of Photography created by Ansel Adams and a group of like-minded photographers. CPA has presented the same level of high-quality exhibitions, community events, educational engagement, and artist lectures as its predecessor, as well as expanded to create a variety of community collaborations, workshops, publications, juried contests, and grant and scholarship opportunities. With roots starting in 1967, the CPA remains one of the oldest and most prestigious photographic organizations on the west coast. For more information about the Center for Photographic Art, please visit their website: https://www.photography.org/

Purchasing Information:

Please reach out to the Center for Photographic Art office to purchase works by our incredible community of photographic artists: info@photography.org or 831.625.5181. Artists will receive 100% of the sale price.