Edition 4 June 2024

Calendar

THUR 6/13 7 PM	Short Term Rental Forum, Eventbrite. See post.
THUR 6/13 5-7 PM	CoastPride Auction, It’s Italia, HMB. Purchase tickets.
MON 6/17 7 PM	Planning Commission, Council Chambers
MON 6/17 5:30-8 PM	LGBTQ+ Identities: Training, Sharp Park Library. See post
MON 6/17 5:30-630 PM	Coastside United for Action fundraiser, see post.
SUN 6/23 3-4 PM	Double Day Gold Wine Tasting & Fundraiser, Pedro Point Firehouse. Tickets. See post.
MON 6/24 7 PM	City Council, Council Chamber
THUR 6/27 6 PM	Presidential Debate
THUR 6/27 5:30-8 PM	LGBTQ+ Identities: Training, HMB Library
FRI 6/28 TBD	San Francisco Trans March, Dolores Park
SAT 6/29 7:30 PM	Pride Movie Night, Odd Fellow Hall, 526 Main ST, HMB
MON 7/1 7 PM	Planning Commission, Council Chambers
MON 7/8 7 PM	City Council, Council Chambers
THUR 7/25 TBD	Wine Tasting Fundraiser, Coastside United for Action, see post
THUR 7/25 7 PM	Electrify Your Home, Sharp Park Library, see post. Reservations
1st and 3rd MON, 7 PM	Planning Commission, Council Chambers
2nd and 4th MON 7 PM	City Council, Council Chambers
SAVE THE DATE
SAT 8/31 10 am – 2pm	HOPE Fundraiser, Moose Lodge, see post.
SAT 9/21	Palm-A-Palooza, PRC’s 50th anniversary celebrationSkyline Farallon Room. Reservations
aaaaaaaaa	xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx

See posted calendars for:

• Sanchez Art Gallery
• Pacific Beach Coalition

Photos have been contributed by Leo Leon and Mark Hubbell

Pacifica Voice is eager to receive articles on issues important to our community. Please send them to editor@pacvoice.org for consideration.

To receive press releases and periodic messages from the Pacifica Voice please add your name and email address to our subscriber list – SUBSCRIBE HERE. FREE

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FOR CONSIDERATION

Ahmed on Peace resolution passage

by Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib

I’m proud of my city, Pacifica, California, which just passed the peace and reconciliation resolution, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the safe return of Israeli hostages, the provision of humanitarian aid and access, and importantly, the initiation of healing and reconciliation to begin the path towards peace and coexistence. It was an incredibly rare display of unity and cohesion among diverse community members, from all walks of life and backgrounds. Spearheaded by the Pacifica Peace People, who have been my family and allies in Pacifica ever since arriving to the US from Gaza, the resolution acknowledges the mutual humanity of both Palestinians and Israelis, even as it outlines the horrendous suffering and plight of the people in Gaza who are facing unimaginable hardships. For months, I urged local human rights and peace activists to only push for a resolution that brings people together, not divides them; that acknowledges Israeli hostages along with mounting Palestinian casualties; that addresses rising hate and bigotry; that describes the need for healing and reconciliation to achieve lasting peace, and that avoids feel good rhetoric and language which achieve nothing.

Despite anxiety by the city council members and other officials, the entire proceeding was an immensely calm and beautiful display of empathy and compassion. Not a single disruption or display of anger, chaos, hate or pandemonium as we’ve seen in other city council proceedings when voting on ceasefire resolutions. It passed unanimously despite previously expressed hesitation and opposition by some council members. Pacifica has set a new bar and a role model for how to meaningfully leverage ceasefire resolutions to bring people together and amplify sorely lacking sentiments around healing and reconciliation. I, and dozens of community members, spoke in organic harmony and synchrony about the need for the war to stop, for the hostages to be released, for new leadership for both Israelis and Palestinians, the evils of Hamas, and the atrocities experienced by Gaza’s innocent civilians. There were no outside agitators or disruptive voices – not one. What a beautiful evening this was; a ray of hope amidst a never ending avalanche of violence, hate, incitement and rage. Thank you to the coast side community for coming through for peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Here’s the text of the resolution:

PACIFICA RESOLUTION FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION

WHEREAS, the beautiful city of Pacifica, which means Peace, stands committed to the belief that all human life is precious in all communities and nations of the world regardless of national, ethnic, political, or religious affiliations or identities; and

WHEREAS, recent and ongoing armed violence and destruction have resulted in the tragic loss of thousands of lives of Palestinians and Israelis; and

WHEREAS, these brutal attacks have caused ongoing shock, trauma, grief, and fear to those directly experiencing them as well as to those watching the horrors unfold; and

WHEREAS, Islamaphobia and anti-semitism have risen significantly across the United States and around the world with direct impact on communities, including Pacifica – from synagogues and mosques, to schools, universities, offices and wherever people gather; and

WHEREAS, the people in Gaza have been effectively cut off from basic life necessities, and most have been displaced multiple times, resulting in mass starvation and ongoing crisis; and

WHEREAS, the majority of nations in the UN have voted for a cease-fire resolution, and millions of people worldwide, including residents of Pacifica, have joined in peaceful actions since Oct. 7th to amplify the call for human rights, peace and justice; and

WHEREAS, we recognize that we are globally connected through our shared humanity and that our actions, however local, carry global implications;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Pacifica joins the calls from the growing number of cities across our country and the world for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza and Israel, the safe return of all hostages and detainees, immediate, unconditional provision of life-saving humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and the initiations of reconciliation and a viable peace process for Israelis and Palestinians to create a better future for all.

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CoastPride Auction June 13

Support CoastPride and enjoy an evening at It’s Italia, with delicious hors d’oeuvres and a signature CoastPride drink. Tickets are $25.

LGBTQ+ Identities: Awareness and Inclusion Training, attend a training to learn and explore how to be an ally and advocate. Let’s make our community more welcoming to LGBTQ+ people!

Two identical sessions available: one on Monday, 6/17, 5:30-8 pm, Sharp Park Library in Pacifica, one on Thursday, 6/27, 5:30-8 pm, Half Moon Bay Library

Trans March SF, 6/28, time TBD, Dolores Park, San Francisco, Hang with CoastPride at Dolores Park and then walk with us in the Trans March.

PRIDE Movie Night, 6/29, 7:30 pm, Odd Fellows Hall @ 526 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, realizing that they share common foes in Margaret Thatcher, the police and the conservative press, London-based gays and lesbians lend their support to striking coal miners in 1984 Wales.

Want to volunteer during June Pride? Sign up here.

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Pacifica Resource Center Palm-a-Palooza 2024!

Join us September 21, 2024 at the Farallon Room at Skyline College for dinner, drinks, live auction, and champagne toast.

PRC is currently seeking sponsors for Palm-a-Palooza. Sponsors receive exclusive benefits including priority reserved seating, name and/or logo recognition on event materials, and, for select levels, advertising space in the event program

$10,000 – “PACIFICA PIER” SPONSOR (ONLY ONE AVAILABLE!)

• Recognition as Presenting Sponsor on all promotional and event materials, including fliers, invitations, program, and ticketing site as well as front page of PRC’s website and Facebook event page.
• Full page advertisement in program.
• Exclusive Table/Reserved Seating (10 tickets/people)

$5,000 – “ESPLANADE BEACH” SPONSOR

• Recognition (logo) on promotion materials, social media, website, and program.
• ½ page advertisement in program.
• Reserved Seating (8 tickets/people)

$2,500 – “MILAGRA RIDGE” SPONSOR

• Recognition (logo) on promotion materials, social media, website, and program.
• ¼ page advertisement in program.
• Reserved Seating (6 tickets/people)

$1,000 – “MORI POINT” SPONSOR

• Recognition on social media, website, and program.
• Business card size advertisement in program.
• Reserved Seating (4 tickets/people)

$500 – “ROCKAWAY BEACH” SPONSOR

• Recognition on social media, website, and program.
• Reserved Seating (2 tickets/people)

All funds raised through Palm-a-Palooza help PRC continue to provide assistance to the growing number of Pacificans in need with groceries, emergency financial assistance for rent and mortgage, homeless services, and other critical services.

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HOUSING

San Mateo County 2024 Homeless Count: Numbers Are Up

by Suzanne Moore

The executive summary of the 2024 San Mateo Homeless Count is out, and although the number of homeless now in shelter has increased, so has the number of unsheltered homeless. Pacifica’s count was 180, topped only by Redwood City where the count was 189.

“ … looking at the total point-in-time count (including both unsheltered and sheltered), the finding of 2,130 people experiencing homelessness on the night of the Count is an increase of 322 people (18%) from the 2022 Count.”

In a recent presentation by Margot Kushel, MD, Division Chief for UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, Dr. Kushel explained that for every homeless person housed, two new people became homeless.

Dr. Kushel shared the following data:

•  The homeless population is aging. In 2023, over 48% were aged over 50. Of these, 41% had never been homeless before.
• Past housing policies like redlining have created disparity with blacks 3-4 times at a greater risk for homelessness.
• Of older homeless, 91% were previously housed in California and 77% were previously housed in the County where they are currently unhoused.
• Many of the older homeless have chronic medical conditions. Fully 43% reported difficulties with normal activities of daily living (like mobility issues) contributing to limitations accessing housing. Shelters may not be equipped for disabilities.

This is from the Executive Summary: “The County and its partners have expanded homeless services in recent years, including expansions in shelters, as well as expansions in homeless outreach services, permanent housing resources, and enhanced connections between health services and homeless services. Since 2022, the County has opened two additional non-congregate shelters—the Navigation Center and El Camino House—which has created additional capacity to provide safe shelter and intensive support services to help residents move into permanent housing.

“The County continues to implement strategies to increase affordable housing through new construction with set-aside units for the formerly homeless population, the Affordable Housing Fund, Homekey projects, County Housing Voucher Program, and rental vouchers. The County also continues to implement strategies such as investing in homeless prevention services, expanding homeless outreach and case management services to serve unsheltered individuals, and tailoring services to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness who have complex health conditions.”

The County’s full report will be out sometime over the summer. The chief drivers of homelessness are lack of affordable housing and poverty. Housing costs and homelessness remain key concerns for us all.

Click HERE to see Executive Summary

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Opinion from the Housing Leadership Council

By Jeremy Levine

May 10, 2024 Updated May 13, 2024 6 Reprinted with author’s permission and first printed in Half Moon Bay Review

At two consecutive meetings over the last three weeks, Half Moon Bay’s planning commission punted on plans to build 40 homes for farmworkers at 555 Kelly Ave. Delaying this project not only harms the farmworkers who will eventually benefit from the homes, but also risks undermining the city’s control over future development.

In response to the large need for housing at a range of affordability, Half Moon Bay’s leaders have planned for new homes throughout the city, including at the 555 Kelly site. The city’s housing element specifies that a project for at least 40 homes at 555 Kelly will be fully entitled by the end of 2024. Therefore, the question before the planning commission is not whether 40 farmworker homes will be built at 555 Kelly, but whether the planning commission will facilitate these new homes or stand as an obstacle to them by demanding infeasible changes.

According to the city’s own data, Half Moon Bay has a massive shortage of affordable housing. The median rent is more than $2,500. Home prices have increased by more than 100% in the last 20 years, to a median above $1.6 million. As a result, a third of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing. A fifth of renters spend more than 50%. High costs particularly impact lower wage workers, such as the farmworker population, contributing to events like the tragic mass shooting last year.

The state legislature has responded to the high need by passing a litany of laws limiting the ability of local jurisdictions to block housing. If the planning commission does not move to approve the 555 Kelly site now, recently passed legislation will limit the City’s ability to deny or influence in any way a much larger project in the future. Some of the highest-impact new legislation includes:

• SB 423 (effective Jan. 1, 2025) builds off existing state law,
• SB 35, to streamline eligible housing proposals. SB 35, passed in 2017, requires ministerial processing – meaning no public hearings – of eligible housing projects in jurisdictions that do not meet their Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) target.
• SB 423 extends SB 35 to most properties in the coastal zone. Because 555 Kelly does not fall into any of the coastal zone exceptions, SB 423 will apply to the project.

Traditional avenues for slowing development in the Coastal Zone, such as the Coastal Commission, will no longer be effective. Though the 555 Kelly proposal would still require a coastal development permit, the Coastal Commission would no longer be able to deny a proposal so long as the application contains substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that the development is consistent with objective standards — an extremely low burden of proof for the applicant.

Starting in 2025, 555 Kelly could apply for a greater density bonus while requesting further incentives and providing less parking. Under AB 423, the City would have no basis to find such a project inconsistent with the local coastal program.

AB 1633 (Effective January 1, 2025) makes it harder to abuse environmental laws to stall housing production. Specifically, AB 1633 expands the Housing Accountability Act’s definition of what it means to “disapprove the housing project” to include a city’s failure to make a determination of whether the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act or commits an abuse of discretion in that determination.

Applicants could sue local agencies that use CEQA delays as a means to effectively disapprove, render financially infeasible, or downsize a project without having actually voted to do so. Specifically, if an agency does not determine whether or not to allow a CEQA exemption within 90 days, the applicant may seek to enforce a claim for abuse of discretion in court.

Taken together, new state laws coming into effect in 2025 mean that Half Moon Bay’s planning commission may have no choice but to approve a much larger project at 555 Kelly than the current proposal. Further delaying this project or stipulating new conditions for approval will only undermine the city’s authority and harm the farmworkers who desperately need this housing as soon as possible.

If cities like Half Moon Bay want local control over land use, they need to be responsive to the housing needs of their communities. The shortage of farmworker housing has a huge impact on individuals that work for our farms. The planning commission should approve this project at its next meeting without further subjective stipulations.

Jeremy Levine works as policy manager for the Housing Leadership Council, where he has reviewed every housing element in San Mateo County. In his spare time, he can be found tending to his garden or hunting for mushrooms in Bay Area parks.

Update on 555 Kelly By Joanne Rokosky

The Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for 555 Kelly Avenue was approved by the Half Moon Bay Planning Commission on May 14, 2024. Three appeals were subsequently submitted. Because the Half Moon Bay Mayor was previously employed by ALAS, the project co-applicant, he has recused himself from the hearing before the Half Moon Bay City Council. Instead, the Vice Mayor will hear the appeal, which is anticipated before the end of June. The City Council’s decision will be final.

Details of the three appeals can be found by clicking on the Appeal links here:

• Appeal 1
• Appeal 2
• Appeal 3

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Housing Elements: Stories, Visions, Plans

By Jeremy Levine

Across San Mateo County, the housing element update process has resulted in over 100 new high-impact policies, “high-impact” defined to mean policies with concrete deadlines and deliverables that reflect local planning initiative. The Housing Leadership Council has created a resource to help community members and advocates track their cities’ housing element goals. 

In many ways, a housing element is a story about what cities are. Cities must do an analysis of housing needs, an analysis of constraints to delivering necessary housing, and an analysis of fair housing characteristics, such as rates of residential segregation. 

Housing elements are also a vision. Cities select sites that demonstrate capacity for new homes, where they intend to support development. 

Lastly, housing elements are a plan. Cities commit to policies that facilitate development on the opportunity sites, removing constraints to ensure the city has adequate capacity to meet local housing needs. 

Housing elements may seem intimidating. Even small cities create daunting documents, their stories and their visions buried in piles of jargon. Woodside’s housing element is as thick as Crime and Punishment. Menlo Park’s is longer than War and Peace. But in fact, housing elements are incredibly powerful tools for policy change.

A housing element is not a perfect tool to accomplish all of our goals, but it is a powerful tool to accomplish some of them. Review HLC’s newest presentation, linked below, to learn about how cities across San Mateo County will promote housing between now and 2031. Contact HLC Policy Manager Jeremy Levine at jlevine@hlcsmc.org with questions or comments.

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Community Forum on Unhosted Short-Term Rentals in Pacifica

Come join us at the Pedro Point Firehouse for a community discussion on unhosted short-term rentals in our beautiful city of Pacifica. Share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas with fellow community members and local officials.

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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT

Electrify Your Home … It’s Easier Than You Think!

by Margo Meiman, Pacifica Climate Committee

Ready to supercharge your home’s energy game? Join us on July 25th at the Sharp Park Library for a dynamic workshop where we’ll unveil the secrets to electrifying your water heating, space heating and cooking. Making the switch is good for your health and for the planet!

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SamTrans Route PCX (formally 118) Restored

by Rick Nahass

SamTrans has announced the ‘restoration’ of route 118 renamed route PCX (see text from SamTrans website below.) The new route name PCX (Pacific Coast eXpress) perhaps envisions future aspirations for a multi-operator connected ‘Pacific Coast’ route from Santa Cruz to the Golden Gate bridge. The announcement details specific changes from the original 118 route which only ran during morning and evening commute hours. SamTrans has not commented on the possibility of midday or weekend hours.

If you’re interested in faster and more frequent bus service from Pacifica to major Bay Area transit hubs, now is the time to ask the Pacifica City Council (citycouncil@pacifica.gov) to request City Staff apply for the June 10 announcement from the San Mateo County Transportation Authority for a $100K grant to develop a Pacifica specific Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program.

A formal Pacifica TDM program defines roadway, public transit and land use infrastructure projects and costs. A TDM empowers our City Council to request funding from our regional, state and federal representatives when ‘new’ money becomes available.

For example: A TDM could specify an impact development fee ordinance where 100 high density residential units built east or west of CA1 near the Quarry would net Pacifica $3 million in fees from the developer. These fees might be used as the City contribution required to win 20-30 million dollars of government grants to perhaps build a small transit hub and a CA1 bike/pedestrian under/overpass.

From the SamTrans Implementation Website

June 10, 2024 FOllow-up email from SamTrans: Route PCX (formerly Route 118, which was paused in 2020) is an express/limited route between Linda Mar Park & Ride and Daly City BART. It will run every 30-minutes in AM and PM peak periods on weekdays. It will serve the following bus stops:

• Linda Mar Park & Ride
• Highway 1 & Crespi Dr (NB & SB)
• Highway 1 & Fassler Ave (NB) and Rockaway Beach Ave (SB)
• Highway 1 & Reina del Mar (NB & SB)
• Highway 1 & Westport Dr (NB & SB)
• Highway 1 & Moana Way (NB) & Milagra Dr (SB)
• Highway 1 & Palmetto Ave (NB) & Pacific Ave (SB)
• Daly City BART Station

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Pacific Beach Coalition (PBC) June News

Earth Day 2024 was a terrific success, bringing out the best in people and exceeding our expectations on multiple fronts. Almost 1,600 individuals came out to care for our beaches, streams and shorelines, and our VIP guests — including city, state and federal officials — were amazed and grateful for the impact of PBC organizers and volunteers. A big shout out as well to all of the various activity organizers, speakers and booths who brought tons of information and inspiration to all.

We also had a whale of a time at WhaleFest, with over 20 booths and loads of fun and learning for both kids and adults! Some people said there were 3,000 people who came out to celebrate and enjoy whales.

In the weeks leading up to Earth Day, naturalist Greg led whale assemblies at 16 schools, enlightening 4905 students about the fascinating world of whales.

Statistics never communicate the joy, camaraderie and satisfaction that comes along with participating in Earth Day, but take a look at these numbers! Please share your stories and photos at info@PacificBeachCoalition.org. We’d love to hear from you.

1598 Volunteers
1591 Pounds of Trash 
357 Pounds of Recycling
10,716 Cigarette Butts
14,961 Pounds of Greenwaste
50 Native plants installed

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What Trees Can Tell Us

By Paul Totah, Tree City Pacifica

There is an old adage among environmental activists that goes like this: in order to save something, you must first learn to love it; and in order to love something, you have to know about it. Thus, it all starts with knowledge.

I have worked over the years as a journalist, a social worker, a director of communications, and an English teacher. Toward the end of my tenure as an educator, I began to teach a course called Nature/Nexus and asked students to find connections among nature literature, ecology and spirituality. 

I found that the more I knew about ecology, the more compelled I became to work and preserve biotic communities threatened by human actions. I’ve expanded my knowledge through two remarkable books: How to Read a Tree: Clues and Patterns from Bark to Leaves, by Tristan Gooley; and Trees in Paradise: A California History, by Jared Farmer.

As one reviewer noted, “…we would be lucky to be lost in a forest with Gooley. Not just to find our way out – something he could surely help with – but to find our way in: to see what the trees are telling us about the Earth we all find ourselves a part of.” (The Atlantic)

Looking at the chapter headings offers clues as to how trees can serve as a map of the biotic community. Is the tree tall or wide? Does it have missing branches? Does it prefer shade or sunlight? Does it have many layers or does it spend all its energy on the topmost branches? How does a tree respond to wind?

Reading Gooley’s book, you realize that just a casual glance at a tree can tell you both about the tree’s surrounding environment and the tree itself. 

The second book touches upon four iconic trees that are associated with California: redwoods, palms, citrus trees and eucalyptus.

You’ll learn how logging companies did their best to hide the destruction of thousands upon thousands of acres of redwood trees by leaving a few rows standing next to roadways. You’ll understand how citrus trees harmed their environments in surprising ways — by using far too much water from aquifers and by farmers trying to save their trees from frost by using smudge pots that filled Southern California with smoke long before cars polluted the skies. Orange trees, according to the Kirkus review, created “a landscape of social inequality, racial injustice, and environmental pollution.” 

Of these four types of trees, only redwoods originated in California. “Eucalyptus was imported from Australia and orange trees came from Spain,” noted Publishers Weekly, which adds that “most California palms are not native to the state, with the exception of the fan palm.”

In Farmer’s book, you’ll learn more about the tangled history of blue gum in the state, including why so many people, including Jack London, hoped the trees they planted might make them wealthy. (Spoiler alert: They didn’t.)

If trees aren’t your passion, then I encourage you to find books on flora or fauna that inspire you to take action so that you can start (or further) your journey toward stewardship of our Pacifica environment.

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COMMUNITY UPDATES

Coastside Hope , Spanish Flier

O llame a Mia Villalobos (650) 535-0287

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Apply for Pacifica Childcare

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Fog Fest Winters Tavern Fundraiser

By Rick Nahass

The return of Fog Fest September 28^th and 29^th 2024 is dependent on raising funds to support Pacifica infrastructure before, during and after the 2-day event.

On May 19, 2024, Winters Tavern held a fundraiser where hundreds of community members enjoyed live music and made donations, via entry tickets, to support this year’s Fog Fest. According to Fog Fest president John Beckmeyer, the Fog Fest committee’s goal is to raise $100,000 through sponsorships and donations to support “Saving Fog Fest” this year.

To get involved visit the website: pacificcoastfogfest.com

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Two Coastside United for Action Events

Raise money for our Sister District Arizona Senate candidate Judy Schwiebert 

Coastside United for Action invites you to enjoy an evening walk with friends to raise money for our Sister District Arizona Senate candidate Judy Schwiebert on June 17 5:30-6:30. Relieve some stress and enjoy beautiful Sharp Park Beach for a good cause; we will complete our walk at Taqueria Pacifica at 6:30 PM, so feel free to join us there if you don’t want to walk. Suggested donation $24.24. Interested? Email for more information.

On the calendar for July 25, TBD
Wine Tasting Fundraiser for Coastside United for Action’s AZ and PA State candidates.
For information contact Lorrie Epling, lorrie.epling@gmail.com

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Sanchez Art Center

CHROMATIC EDGE – Chandrika Marla Explores the Essence of a Feminine Existence Through Vivid Color

Sanchez Art Center is awash with color and magical energy with their current three exhibitions. Chromatic Edge, an exhibition of paintings by visual artist Chandrika Marla offers her work that explores the essence of a feminine existence through vivid color,showing in the Main Gallery. Also being presented are: Prism Play, a full spectrum of art quilts, by members of the Northern California and Nevada region of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), and a group show with members of the Art Guild of Pacifica, themed Myth and Magic.

Chandrika Marla is a visual artist who is best known for her vibrant color field paintings that explore the feminine. She is inspired by women, their relationships with others, and with their own selves. As she paints, she draws on memories of events, conversations and emotions to compare relationships between people, the outer and inner self, the individual and society. Her reductive abstractions of the female form dwell upon the philosophical and emotional nature of color and memory.

Viewing Marla’s work, Maria Porges has noted, “Like Rothko, she believes that color can serve as an instrument to fulfill a greater purpose. For her, part of that purpose is to celebrate women’s ability to rise above trauma and loss and become what they are truly meant to become.” Diane Thodos, Neoteric Art, has written, “The more simple Marla’s abstractions are, the more they become purely essential states of mind. Pulsating with a life of their own, they reflect an emotional wisdom about human intuition, and the ever-changing nature of feelings and moods as seen through the prism of ancient Indian aesthetics.”

Marla’s work has been exhibited at The de Young Museum (California), Queens Museum of Art (New York), Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (Virginia), and the Rockford Art Museum (Illinois). She moved to the United States in 1998 and is currently a resident artist at Cubberley Studios in Palo Alto.

Sanchez Art Center’s Artistic Director and exhibition curator, Jerry Ross Barrish, notes, “For me, Chandrika Marla’s paintings create an aura. I cannot get away from her palette, shapes and feminine message. I look forward to the gallery filled with vibrant energy.”

Chromatic Edge will conclude with an artist’s talk on Sunday, June 30, beginning at 3:30 pm.

The East Gallery is presenting Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) Northern California and Nevada members in a group show, Prism Play, a full spectrum of art quilts. The exhibition initially envisioned by Curator Cara Gulati, reflects a continuum of colorful art quilts traveling around the walls following the flow of a color wheel with no beginning or end. Sixty-two panels that were required to be consistent in size (15” wide by 45” high) were selected by juror Joen Wolfrom, creator of the Ultimate 3-in-1 Color Tool. The exhibition is unique, developed with a 24-step color wheel as inspiration for individual creativity. Each participating artist selected their color, developed their design that was without limits as to theme, and created work with their chosen techniques and materials. Working in monochrome palettes was a challenge that each artist embraced and excelled with. 

The public is invited to two special events during the Prism Play exhibition. On Saturday, June 15, from 2 – 3:30 pm, a hands-on chromatic textile bookmark making event will be hosted by Barbara Kibbe, one of the artists in the exhibition. And, on Sunday, June 23, 3:00 pm, Cara Gulati, the Prism Play Curator along with local artists in the show will take part in a gallery walk and talk.

The Art Guild of Pacifica presents Myth & Magic, a group show in the West Gallery. Mythical creatures, talismans, surreal images and other enchantments intended to charm and delight infuse the works in the exhibition. Pieces include paintings in acrylic, oil and watercolor, jewelry, pen and ink, mixed media, textiles and more. The Art Guild will also offer small artworks and art cards for purchase (cash/check). Sanchez Art Center is located at 1220 Linda Mar Blvd in Pacifica, about a mile east of Highway 1. Following opening night, the galleries are open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 1–5 pm, and by appointment, through June 30. For more information call 650.355.1894 or visit SanchezArtCenter.org.

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Pacificans Care Double Gold Day Fundraiser

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Hope Overdose Prevention Fundraiser

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