Marlene Krueger is an innovative professional in the art therapy field, specializing in the design and development of original sensory light prototypes. A graduate of the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Marlene combines a deep understanding of psychological healing with hands-on technical innovation to create immersive, therapeutic art environments.

Driven by a personal understanding of trauma recovery, Marlene’s career is dedicated to helping individuals heal, find emotional balance, and build psychological resilience. During her time at SAIC, she pioneered the development of kinetic, light-based art installations engineered specifically for special education environments. These advanced prototypes serve as powerful therapeutic interventions, designed to help neurodivergent students process trauma, reduce sensory overload, and gently redirect severe behavioral distress.

By focusing on visual and tactile light cues, Marlene’s inventions provide individuals with the grounding tools necessary to find internal focus, manage emotional pain, and safely navigate the public sphere. Her work stands at the intersection of creative clinical therapy and modern wellness design, offering actionable, beautiful solutions that prevent self-harm and protect the well-being of the wider community. Today, Marlene continues to refine her light prototypes, offering consulting, installation designs, and trauma-informed art therapy solutions.

Photo Journal of an Illuminating Monterey

A photo Journal is like the magic of telling stories through pictures, where photography and journalism dance together beautifully. It mainly captures what’s happening now and the stories that make us human.

Capturing History at Lover’s Point: Where Art Meets Marine Science in Monterey

Discover the rich history behind the iconic view at Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove, featuring Dorothy Fowler’s bronze statue, Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

A peaceful, view of a tranquil Monterey Bay

The tranquil shoreline meets soft, rolling Pacific waves under the afternoon sky. In a distance, wind-swept ancient cypress trees stand guard along the rugged California coastline.

At the shoreline public parks, it’s easy to sit and mesmerize. Just imagine a deep canyon the size of the Grand Canyon, at the tip of my toes, underneath the Monterey Bay.

Misty Morning Serenity at Monterey Bay

At Monterey Beach, kayakers get ready for a long excursion starting at the crack of dawn, where the calm water glistens as the morning sun rises, and a light, hazy fog pierces through the cypress trees, creating an aura reminiscent of a classic 1950s mystery movie.

Mesmerized by the Open Sea: Wildlife Viewing at Monterey Bay Aquarium

Step into the breathtaking blue of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s largest community tank. This spectacular underwater photograph captures a massive school of shimmering sardines creating a synchronized display, alongside darting Pacific bluefin tuna, a gliding pelagic stingray, and a graceful green sea turtle.

In the foreground, the silhouettes of three awe-struck visitors look up in wonder, emphasizing the immense scale and magic of this marine sanctuary on Cannery Row.

I continue to wander through the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where I had a chance to look eye to eye at a sea otter staring at me.

The jellyfish paced with me as I walked to the sardines, tuna, and sea turtles, flow with a hypnotic pace that you just wish to stare for hours.

In PG there’s a massive boulder about a hundred feet out in the water, with crashing waves, close to Point Pinos. It has a story. Little did I know growing up, this image of an iconic boulder would be featured at the intro of the TV show “Big Little Lies.”

Imagine sitting for hours, waiting for the perfect monster wave to hit that boulder in the middle of the ocean.

Moss Landing

I began to explore how I could interpret nature in action, where they move artistically in my heart. For instance, at Moss Landing, while relaxing and watching my father fish one day, we saw a humpback whale breach right before our eyes.

What a vision, and startling. Not to mention the scary sea lions in numbers and shore birds appearing a few feet away grabbing my father’s fish. Like theater by the sea, where my dad fished. Imagine, thousands of shore birds flying above the dunes and wetlands.

Monterey Bay

Back on the Monterey Peninsula Recreation Trail, a novel for a book continues in my mind with words and pictures, that align with my photo journals of abstract art. Lively waves swirl with the sand creating patterns that make you look twice. Imagining.

I was captivated by a stunning wave-kissed rocky shore, at the Monterey Peninsula tip, complete with breathtaking sandy dunes.

In a heartbeat as the cormorants gather, the crashing waves and rocks are covered in a hazy mist.

I suddenly found myself walking through the old Del Monte Forest,

Lost under the skies and clouds that formed images of people’s faces.

Standing there frozen between the wind swept cypress trees, my heart kept pounding, it’s guiding me to be lost in a tapestry of inspiration.

Carmel

Carmel City Beach where friendly pets sniff my sandy toes, invited me to sit and watch them play with the other dogs.

Surprisingly, today, my walk through this area was fun, just like the dogs playing in the beach here.

As I turn a corner in Carmel, I follow a road down about seventeen steps to Carmel State Beach, photo journaling as I walk.  

I’m ready to drive to Point Lobos State Reserve, where there are fresh ideas for another photo journal.

Looking on the Coastal Trail here, there’s a seamless merge of land and water creating an imaginary getaway. Plus, the sun casts all sorts of rainbow-like patterns on everything on the ground, which is ever-changing.

The Whalers Cabin at Point Lobos

Did you know that Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is home to one of the only two remaining native Monterey Cypress forests on Earth? Or that its famous Whalers Cabin sits on a foundation supported by actual whale vertebrae?

The Whalers Cabin at Point Lobos

Built by early Chinese fishermen in the 1850s, the historic Whalers Cabin at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is one of the last remaining wood-frame buildings of its kind on the Monterey coast. Tucked away on the cliffs of Carmel lies a humble pine cabin with a massive history. The Whalers Cabin at Point Lobos has been a home to Portuguese whalers, Japanese abalone harvesters, and WWII soldiers.Today, it operates as a museum preserving the region’s rich maritime history.

Inside the Museum: Cultural Artifacts Revealed

When state archaeologists excavated beneath the cabin’s sub-flooring in 1986, they unlocked a treasure trove of multicultural domestic and industrial items. Visitors can explore these key historical displays at the Whalers Cabin Museum:

• Whale Vertebrae Foundations: Six massive gray whale vertebrae were discovered under the floorboards, used by early residents as makeshift structural joist supports.
• Chinese Domestic Life: Displays feature authentic 19th-century chopsticks, bamboo skewer sticks, and intricately patterned Chinese ceramic and pottery shards.
• Abalone Button Workings: Pre-industrial tools and discarded shells highlighting how early Chinese and Japanese settlers manufactured decorative clothing buttons out of iridescent abalone.
• Whaling Tools: Harpoons, heavy blubber-cutting knives, and vintage photographs documenting the treacherous operations of the Carmel Whaling Company.
• The Outdoor “Try Pots”: Located just outside the cabin, these massive iron cauldrons were used to boil down whale blubber into oil.

At Point Lobos brilliant red of China Grove at Sunset, opens our minds with the depth of the ocean of imaginary resonance of the sound of the calm.

Deeper into the mystery Point Lobos, I came across a windswept cypress tree that framed the the everlasting history that intrigued the indigenous and the predecessors, and their secrets.

Cypress Grove Trail

One of only two naturally occurring Monterey Cypress forests left on Earth. Features dramatic ocean cliffs and orange lace lichen

After a brief walk breathing the fresh air, I took a short drive through Highway One, and glanced at the scenery from the shoulder, heading to Garrapata State Park.

Upon exiting the park, I snapped some photos north and south of the teal-blue horizon below. Afterwards, I head to Big Sur, where Bixby Bridge is approaching, where we pass by another scene that look like the scene in the intro of “Big Little Lies.”

Bixby Bridge at Night

While on a rocky mouth of Bixby Creek, I suddenly got lost on a dusty, rough Old Coast Road. Carefully I maneuver through the unpaved coastal hills and valleys, and then, with a dramatic finish, I’m back to the coast!

Furtheron, I made my way down to the Big Sur River, taking a moment to wander along the shore, slopes, and ridges of Andrew Molera State Park. I figured this would be the ideal spot to jot down my thoughts in the car. Moreover a safe distance from the crowd of people and the possibility of mountain lions or snakes. Afterwards, I continue my drive on Highway One and stop at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, where I set up camp enjoying the serenity..

I’m about to head back on Highway One, when suddenly I see a peak that I think’s perfect for California’s Coastal Trail Blazers. Located beyond a coastal range where the Ventana Wilderness reaches its highest point, crossing Cone Peak. This peak is the highest on California’s coastline, standing at just over five thousand feet.

In addition, it’s high enough and scenic enough to be worth a visit, located beyond a coastal ridge. Most interesting is how the lower route of Big Sur offers a highway-shoulder alternative. And when these routes intersect, they provide a 27-mile stretch of coastal Monterey County to explore, including Doud Creek, which is filled with Calle Lillies. But not this year, someone vandalized the area. So the flowers are destroyed.

Continuing south on Highway One, beams of light streamed through the majestic tall trees along the roadside. As we can see, there’s lovely beams of light through the tall Cypress trees from the afternoon sun, filtered by shades that let you know you’re in Big Sur.

Upon arrival at Pfeiffer Beach, where the huge boulder-like tower that everyone loves photographing at sunset sits, like between crashing waves, beach and wavy trails of purple marbling on the sand. Right below my bare feet — freezing masterpieces.

Thunderous crashing waves, was sort of like a Philip Glass arrangement, as if they were choreographed. I got a peek through the keyhole where the winter sun sparkled. I only took a few close up shots, before more people arrive. Eventually I was ready to leave driving south, for a quick walk at Julia Pfeiffer’s McWay Falls, to soak in all the sights and sounds. That teal is so unreal. But it’s real.

Finally, I drive passing the tiny town of Gorda. In minutes, I turned into Kirk Creek Campground. Mesmerized as I checked in. It’s time to search for my spot, next to a beach fifty feet below. It’s only a few feet away and looking down are the crashing waves. So this is where I rest. I lie on my back half-asleep, staring at a millions bright stars above that lit up the whole campground.

The morning began with the gentle sound of a raccoon rummaging through a garbage can, heralding the dawn of a new adventure. As I strolled along Willow Creek, the glimmering waters captivated my senses, guiding me toward the ocean.

The sight of a solitary fisherman perched precariously on a towering boulder amid the crashing waves evoked a mixture of awe and apprehension.

After a fruitless search for jade at Jade Beach, I continued southward to capture the breathtaking waterfall visible from Highway One at Salmon Creek, its soothing cascade resonating beautifully in the tranquil setting. My journey concluded with a reflective drive home, where the setting sun painted the sky in vibrant hues. 

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Instagram page as well: https://www.instagram.com/marlenemkrueger (mostly scenes by the coast.)

https://www.facebook.com/ArtistMarleneKrueger (needs updating, but when that’s done, it’s worth looking at my other photos.)