Gualala Arts

Dolphin Gallery & Visitors Center Staffed primarily by volunteers, the Dolphin Gallery features fine art and crafts by Gualala Arts member artists from Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Monthly exhibits and ever-changing inventory make it a beloved destination for visitors seeking local art and community connection. Now located at the Seacliff Center in downtown Gallows for a constant steam of visitors and highlights Gualala as a arts destination for artists and the public. Educational Programs Gualala Arts fosters lifelong learning through: Annual K12 student art exhibit- Art in the Schools, features local Elementary Schools and High School student art, with between 5-7 Elementary Schools, 2 High Schools and hundreds of students participating. Gualala Arts Young Artist Scholarship (GAYAS) funded through volunteer programs, this scholarship funds arts scholarships for students to pursue their arts education at the college level. Open Clay Studio (5 days/week)

Global Harmony Series: Presented by Gualala Arts, this annual series showcases touring musicians and unique performances. Highlights from this year included Kitka and Men of Worth. This programming is hugely popular and brings acts from all over the world to the Mendonoma Coast. Whale & Jazz Festival The 2024 Whale & Jazz Festival featured a series of acclaimed performances, including a Dave Brubeck retrospective, An Evening of George Gershwin, and tributes to jazz greats such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk. Highlights included Bay Area Jazz Masters, with Tommy Kesecker, Benny Watson, Randy Vincent, Steve Webber, and Jimmy Hobson, and Bay Area Jazz Legends: Dick Conte & Randy Vincent in Concert. These extremely popular concerts attracting as many as 100 attendees per concert. Gualala Arts Interest Groups Gualala Arts includes nearly 30 different interest groups, some of the larger include: North Coast Artists Guild (NCAG): NCAG champions the local arts community through signature programs like the Studio Discovery Tour, which draws thousands of visitors and showcases nearly 50 artists. The Guild also presents the Gualala Salon and Salon des Refuss, curates the Magical Art of Collaboration exhibit, manages the Discovery Gallery, and fosters artist growth through support services and Artist to Artist critiques. The Pacific Piecemakers Quilt Guild (PPQG): Monthly meetings, workshops, and annual quilt challenge exhibits at Gualala Arts. Sea Ranch Artists Residency (SRAR): Invitational residency and public lectures Fiber Arts Interest Group: is a wonderful opportunity for basket makers and weavers to come together and share their passion for fiber arts and is open to all current Gualala Arts Members which meet twice a month at Gualala Fiber Arts Interest Group: is a wonderful opportunity for basket makers and weavers to come together and share their passion for fiber arts and is open to all current Gualala Arts Members which meet twice a month at Gualala Arts Collage Interest Group- this vibrant group of artists meet twice a month at Gualala Arts. Collage Interest Group is a community of artists who enjoy exploring mixed media techniques for self-discovery and artistry, open to all skill levels and styles of approaching mixed media. Friends of the Pizza Oven (FOPO) a group of about 80 or so members who meet monthly while the weather is good. The Friends of the Pizza Oven (FOPO) culinary group is dedicated to creating handmade, artisan pizzas from fresh ingredients in the Gualala Arts wood fired pizza oven. Readers Theater: which meets monthly at Gualala Arts to read plays (they always end up having way too much fun) The Tuesday Crew: Affectionately known as the Tuesdays a dedicated group of volunteers that manage the beautiful Gualala Arts Gardens and walking trails as well as help out with project and maintenance of the Gualala Arts Building.

Performance Arts SeriesChamber Music Series: The 2024 Gualala Arts Chamber Music Series was nothing short of extraordinary, bringing world-class talent and unforgettable performances to the Mendonoma coast. Audiences were treated to the brilliance of Klein String Competition winner Gaeun Kim, as well as stirring concerts by the Beo String Quartet, Neave Trio, and the dynamic duo Jolente De Maeyer and Nikolaas Kende. The season continued to dazzle with Kelley & Meade, The Hiraga, Wyrick, Merks Quintet, Eric Kritz & Friends, Gabrielle Despres, James Baik & Jung-Eun Kim, and the renowned Boston Trio. Each ensemble brought their own magic to the stage, making 2024 a banner year for chamber music at Gualala Arts.Gualala Arts Theater: Volunteer-led productions, this years production The Greatest Show! Musical Revue which sold out each of the six performances with 120 seats available per performance. Local Eyes celebrates the vibrant talent of Mendonoma-based pe performers and poets. This years lineup featured soulful sets by Bryn and Blue Souls, seasonal concerts from the Ernest Bloch Bell Ringers and CoastSing, and a high-energy Funkasaurus show. DJ Phil transformed Gualala Arts into Studio 54 for one unforgettable night of disco magic. The program also welcomed Poetry for Everyone, an open mic event where local voices shared original works and beloved favorites in a warm, inclusive setting. Each performance bringing a wide range of visitors to the arts center.

Other Arts Programming includes:Weekly life drawing sessionsCommunity chorus- CoastSing this 20-person chorus meets weeklyGualala Arts offers a dynamic lecture series and hands-on workshops in a wide range of disciplines, including quilting, ceramics, painting, photography, and bookbinding. This years highlights included Margaret Seelies engaging class on indigo dyeing and a captivating talk by Meghan Walla-Murphy on Black Bears of Mendonoma and a presentation of Mendonoma Sightings where local author Jeanne Jackson displayed some of her favorite photographs of local flora and fauna that were sent to her in the past few years.