MONTEREY, CA.- Monterey Peninsula College and the Monterey Museum of Art have always been entwined in their mission to provide a cultural nexus for the Monterey Bay Area. Their latest collaboration, “The Ripple Effect: The Art of Education,” features the work of artists and educators hired by Robynn Smith during her tenure as an art instructor at MPC from 1989 – 2018.

The late 1980’s and early 1990’s provided fertile ground and new resources for creative growth. The museum acquired more galleries for contemporary art, and MPC hired Robynn Smith as a full-time studio art instructor, tasking her with the mission of expanding and contemporizing the MPC Art Department.

All of the artists hired by Smith possess a dual commitment to teaching and studio practice. As each new person came onboard, the richness and quality of the MPC Art Department exponentially increased. New courses were created to take advantage of the breadth of experience of these fine artists. The Monterey Museum of Art exhibited and collected the work of many faculty members and provided many MPC students with their first museum experiences. A strong sense of community was formed and nurtured.

Many of the artists in this exhibition taught at MPC for years. Many teach at MPC today. Others have gone on to join the faculty of other Bay Area institutions. A number of them have started private art schools and makers’ spaces. All of them have contributed greatly to the culture of the greater Monterey Bay area.

This exhibition is a celebration of exceptional art education and the ability of art to build community. From the efforts of one dedicated art professional, tentacles grow and wind through the lives of tens of thousands of others, improving and enriching our experience as individuals and members of our collective society.

Artists in the exhibition include David Anderson, Tim Craighead, Don Fritz, Angela Gleason, Dana Harris, Tobin Keller, Evelyn Klein, Bob Lamp, Celia Lara, Rocky Lewycky, Victoria May, Darien Payne, Melissa Pickford, Margaret Niven, Rebecca Ramos, Beverly Rayner, Paul Roehl, Mai Ryuno, Denese Sanders, Robynn Smith, Ann Theirmann, and Claire Thorson.