Cura Contemporary Art Gallery Opening Cultivates The Arts in Morgan Hill, California
New fine art gallery broadens arts offerings and visitor appeal in Morgan Hill
Cura Contemporary, a dynamic, new arts hub, is set to open in downtown Morgan Hill, with a grand opening celebration on November 16, 2024. Located in the brand-new, two-story Edes Building at the corner of Monterey and Second Streets, Cura Contemporary is the latest project by Dan and Kathy McCranie, local business owners of Colibri Gallery and Ladera Grill. Designed to foster community connections through the arts, this fine art gallery aims to bring a fresh and vibrant cultural space to Morgan Hill.
Designed by KTGY and constructed by Kent Construction, the Edes Building is an architectural landmark, reflecting Morgan Hill’s natural beauty with its striking, modern facade inspired by El Toro Peak. Notably, it is one of the first in Northern California to use mass timber architecture, chosen for its natural finish and ability to create a spacious organic structure without the use of steel beams. The building will house a fine art gallery with workshop and event space, and a restaurant, serving as a hub for connecting artists and the community.
The gallery will feature rotating group and solo exhibitions that change monthly, offering a continuously refreshed selection of art from over forty artists across the nation, including talent from the local and San Francisco Bay Area. The art will be displayed in efficiently designed spaces with features like sliding panels and vertical drawer-style cabinetry to make the best use of space. Curated works will include a variety of styles and mediums including paintings, works on paper, ceramics, glass, and jewelry. The gallery focuses on art that is tactile, colorful, and unexpected.
Next to the first-floor gallery space will be a restaurant named Véra. An abbreviation of the French word "véraison," which describes the changing colors of ripening wine grapes, Véra will offer indoor and outdoor dining along Second Street. With a full bar, light fare, and high tea service, Véra is expected to open in January of 2025, after the main gallery launches.
The large gallery space upstairs, fully equipped with audiovisual and a printing press, will host art events and activities. Workshops previously held at its sister business, Colibri Gallery, will now take place at Cura Contemporary, including classes for all ages and skill levels led by artist instructors. Unique programming will include still life oil painting, patchwork stitching, a figure drawing collective, and children’s self-portraiture.
Cura Contemporary will also offer a professional development series for emerging artists, a dinner lecture series, film screenings, tours, and musical and dance performances. Community events are also in the works, including a family-friendly holiday movie night with hot cocoa.
“Art is a universal language. It improves quality of life through experiencing it, learning about it, and creating it. We hope to become a community hub for Morgan Hill, a place for people and children to experience art through our exhibitions, workshops, film screenings, and special programming,” says Ellie Honl Herman, Gallery Director of Cura Contemporary.
In addition to bolstering the local arts community, Cura Contemporary stands to enhance the growing tourism interest in Morgan Hill. The gallery and restaurant create a distinctive attraction for visitors in the popular downtown dining and entertainment district. The venue will attract local, regional, and worldwide visitors by making art more approachable and accessible through year round programming for all interest and experience levels. “The opening of Cura Contemporary reflects Morgan Hill’s momentum as a destination for artistic and culinary experiences, while embodying the city’s sophisticated yet welcoming appeal,” says Krista Rupp, Executive Director of Visit Morgan Hill.
Colibri Gallery, also located downtown Morgan Hill, will pause operations through the end of the year to create a new gallery. Local artist Abigail Dunnivan, who has been with the company since 2018 and actively takes part in community art events, will take the role of Director at Colibri Gallery. She brings a wealth of experience, having contributed to local art activations like the mural at Galvan Park and providing caricatures at Morgan Hill’s Sidewalk Saturdays maker fairs.
The Grand Opening of Cura Contemporary will take place on Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 17395 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill, CA 95037. The event will feature hands-on art experiences, artist demonstrations, and special surprises for all ages. The opening solo exhibition will feature Laura Crehuet Berman, a printmaker and Art Professor from Kansas City. Beginning Tuesday, November 19, 2024, Cura Contemporary will be open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.