Coastal Arts LeaguePublic Art Gallery and Gift Shop 300 Main St. Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 Jane Lewis, President |
President's Report 2022 - 2024
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A Public Art Gallery
A Thriving Exhibition Program
There are many arts groups, but few who have an exhibition space. The Coastal Arts League is the only public nonprofit art gallery on the San Mateo coast between Pacifica and Pescadero. Since 1995 we have operated a gallery on Main Street in the heart of Half Moon Bay that serves as an arts hub and a destination for visitors. The Gallery is a resource for the whole Coastside community and is central to our mission to encourage and support the visual arts for everyone. Together, we raise awareness of the importance of art as part of a healthy lifestyle. Enterprising artists learn business skills as members of the Collective Gallery. They rent space and volunteer as gallery hosts to keep the gallery open to the public five days a week. Many Collective Gallery members are painters and photographers, who celebrate the beauty of the Coast. Visitors find artworks to remember their trip to the San Mateo Coastside. The Exhibition program hosts 11 shows annually. In 2024, the schedule includes 4 Juried shows, 2 Collaborating Artist shows, and 3 Benefit shows, including the Member show. Admission is always free. Juried Shows are the centerpiece of the exhibition program and a long-term investment. Juried shows improve the quality of exhibitions and enhance the reputation of the gallery. We depend on entry fees, and sales to support the exhibition program. The top sources of funding are individual memberships and donations. If you'd like to take a deeper dive into our records, contact Jane Lewis at [email protected] Outreach and Services
Through our website, families can access Art Resources for themselves and their children at home. Adult Art Classes at the Senior Center provide opportunities to gain confidence, gain new skills, and make new friends.. the Coastal Arts League purchases art supplies and member artists volunteer as instructors to provide activities, social interaction, and lifelong learning. |
Art in the Schools
Student artwork is featured in the annual HMB High School Art Show. In 2023-24, we provided quality art supplies to classroom teachers across the district. Then each school was represented in the annual student gallery show. Students in public school mirror community demographics. HMB High School is 50% Hispanic. Across all groups, 56% of students are from socioeconomically disadvantaged homes. In a community with a large percentage of Latinx residents, too few are represented in the arts. Student exhibitions are an effort to bridge that gap. Donations help pay the overhead expenses. Making a Difference in Difficult Times
"We affirm the importance of safely making our community’s art accessible during this time of shelter-in-place and self-isolation." ~Susan Vandiver During the pandemic of 2020 and 2021, attendance at exhibitions was low, but we kept the shows going by exhibiting the artwork on our website and accepting online purchases. In the gallery, we resumed exhibitions with health precautions. We added outdoor benches and indoor air purifiers. We hired substitute hosts for members who were not comfortable coming back. Best of all, we didn't lose any members from the Collective due to prolonged closure. A Letter from the President When my husband, Thom Goodson, was offered a job in the Bay Area, we decided to relocate to Northern California. We spent weekends looking for a place to settle. On one trip, we came to Half Moon Bay and had dinner at a downtown restaurant. Then we walked up Main Street to see what the town had to offer. There was a lively reception at this little gallery, and as we entered, I exclaimed, “Yes, I could live here!” That was 15 years ago, and in the ensuing years, it’s been my honor to become more involved. Art galleries are a community asset, and a place to meet interesting people. The Coastal Arts League is that place for me. Thank you for being instrumental in realizing our vision of a Public Art Gallery in Half Moon Bay. If you have entered a show, attended an opening, taken a class, or purchased an artwork, you have contributed to our success, in an environment where diversity is celebrated and people of all ages learn enriching skills, cultivate confidence, and find new friends. With artist participation and donor support, the gallery, outreach, and education programs have thrived. Your faith in our mission is truly appreciated. Thank you sincerely, Jane Lewis, President, Coastal Arts League 2023 |