Pacific Grove is world-renowned for its dramatic coastlines, Monterey cypress trees, and rich maritime history. Capture here are the intersection of art, history, and science through the vantage view from Lover’s Point at Pacific Grove. A single photograph taken from this iconic rocky outcrop can tell a story that spans over a century of American marine biology.
If you stand at eye level near the shoreline, your camera can frame a stunning visual narrative: a detailed bronze statue of a young boy holding a toy sailboat in the foreground, looking directly across the glittering waters of Monterey Bay toward the historic Hopkins Marine Station and the Monterey Bay Aquarium at Pacific Grove, with the hazy silhouettes of distant mountain ranges anchoring at the horizon.
The morning I took this photograph of Monterey Bay, the horizon was completely swallowed by fog. Standing at the water’s edge, I watched the heavy mist slowly lift, revealing a vast, open expanse of deep blue. It was a beautiful transition from total obscurity to absolute clarity. As an educator, this visual immediately made me think of my at-risk students. Too often, trauma, academic anxiety, and difficult home environments act like that heavy coastal fog. These challenges cloud their potential, leaving them feeling lost and invisible in a traditional, rigid classroom setting.
That morning, looking at the shifting light on the water, I realized these kids didn’t need another standard textbook or a lecture. They needed an anchor—something tangible, moving, and fascinating that could cut through the mental fog and gently pull their focus back to the present moment. This specific view became the direct catalyst for my first kinetic light art device.
I went back to my workshop and began designing a prototype that mimicked the fluid, rolling motion of the Monterey tides. I engineered internal gears that allowed soft, colored lights to shift and pulse gently across a viewing screen. When I brought the finished device into the classroom, the result was incredible. The quiet, hypnotic movement of the light caught the attention of my most disengaged students. For the first time in weeks, the classroom chaos faded away, replaced by a calm, focused curiosity.
This photograph is not just a landscape; it is the exact moment my design journey began. It reminds me that with the right framework, we can help every student find their way out of the fog.
Professor Don Seiden evaluating Marlene Krueger on how she would work with the greater population with her light devices and how her work will have a positive impact on people’s well being.
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
Marlene Krueger
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.
From Lover’s Point across the timeless waters of Monterey Bay, where West Coast marine science truly began.
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.
“Named by legend and designed by nature.” Exploring Point Aulon (the old Spanish name for this abalone-rich coast)
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.
Where the forest meets the sea—a quiet, misty morning on the California coast.
Mesmerized by the Open Sea: Wildlife Viewing at Monterey Bay Aquarium
As hundreds of Pacific bluefin tuna, swirling schools of sardines, a pelagic stingray, and a green sea turtle glide through the million-gallon Open Sea exhibit, visitors are mesmerized for hours.
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.
Hammerhed shark dangerously along hundreds of sardinesSea otter staring at us at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
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.
Entangled Jelly Fish
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.
Scene at the Intro of “Big Little Lies”.
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.
Hunchback Whale Breaching at the Monterey Bay
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.
The Trail at Monterey Bay
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.
People lounging at Lover’s Point.
I was captivated by a stunning wave-kissed rocky shore, at the Monterey Peninsula tip, complete with breathtaking sandy dunes.
Bird Flying Over an Artistic SeaCalle Lilies and Harbor Seals
In a heartbeat as the cormorants gather, the crashing waves and rocks are covered in a hazy mist.
Cormorants at High Tide.
I suddenly found myself walking through the old Del Monte Forest,
Del Monte Forest at Pebble Beach
Lost under the skies and clouds that formed images of people’s faces.
Tall Monterey Pines Trees along a Sloap
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.
A Dog Breathing in the Sunset at the ocean.
Surprisingly, today, my walk through this area was fun, just like the dogs playing in the beach here.
Three Dogs at the beach playing on the sand.
As I turn a corner in Carmel, I follow a road down about seventeen steps to Carmel State Beach, photo journaling as I walk.
Dynamic Translucent Sea Green Waves at Carmel Beach
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?
Point Lobos with one of the popular boulders
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.
Point Lobos Museum formerly a fishing house
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.
Marlene studies the Effects of Light for a New Prototype
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.
Wind-swept Lone Cypress at Point Lobos
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.
Cypress at Veterans Trail by Marlene Krueger
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.
Key Hole through a large Rock at Phiefer Beach
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.
Search for Salmon Creek
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.
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.
From Lover’s Point across the timeless waters of Monterey Bay, where West Coast marine science truly began.
This is were we begin, as we capture history at Lover’s Point where art meets marine science in Monterey, 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, moody 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.
“Named by legend and designed by nature.” Exploring Point Aulon (the old Spanish name for this abalone-rich coast)
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.
Where the forest meets the sea—a quiet, misty morning on the California coast.
Mesmerized by the Open Sea: Wildlife Viewing at Monterey Bay Aquarium
As hundreds of Pacific bluefin tuna, swirling schools of sardines, a pelagic stingray, and a green sea turtle glide through the million-gallon Open Sea exhibit, visitors are mesmerized for hours.
Visualize all shades and values of blue from the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s largest community tank. This underwater photograph captures a massive school of shimmering sardines creating a synchronized display, with a halation of darting Pacific bluefin tuna, a gliding pelagic stingray, and a gentle teal green sea turtle.
In the foreground, the silhouettes of three awe-struck visitors look up in wonder, emphasizing an illuminating light show of this marine sanctuary on Cannery Row.
Hammerhed shark dangerously along hundreds of sardines Sea otter staring at us at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
The reflecting lights guide me in wander through the Monterey Bay Light show, where I had a chance to look eye to eye at a sea otter staring at me.
Entangled Jelly Fish
The luminous jellyfish paced with me as I gaze at the brightly lit sardines, tuna, and sea turtles, flow with a hypnotic pace that you just wish to flow with them.
Scene at the Intro of “Big Little Lies”.
In Pacific Grove there’s a massive boulder about a hundred feet out in the water, with crashing waves that display a rainbow-like mists, close to Point Pinos. 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.”
Moss Landing
I began to explore how I could interpret nature in action, where they appear with colors dispersing before my eyes.
For instance, at Moss Landing, while relaxing and watching my father fish one day, we saw a humpback whale breach right before our eyes.
Hunchback Whale Breaching at the Monterey Bay
What a vision, the rainbow splashed from its’ torso. Not to mention the scary sea lions in numbers and shore birds appearing a few feet away grabbing my father’s fish. Theatrics by the sea with shiny colors reflected everywhere. Imagine, thousands of shore birds flying above the dunes and wetlands.
Biking, Hiking, Trail at Monterey Bay
Monterey
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 of what we can imagine.
People lounging at Lover’s Point.
I was captivated by a stunning wave-kissed rocky shore, at the Monterey Peninsula tip, complete with breathtaking sandy dunes.
Bird Flying Over an Artistic SeaCalle Lilies and Harbor Seals
In a heartbeat as the cormorants gather, the crashing waves and rocks are covered in a hazy mist.
Cormorants at High Tide.
I suddenly found myself walking through the old Del Monte Forest,
Del Monte Forest at Pebble Beach
Lost under the skies and clouds that formed images of people’s faces.
Tall Monterey Pines Trees along a Sloap
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.
A Dog Breathing in the Sunset at the ocean.
Surprisingly, today, my walk through this area was fun, just like the dogs playing in the beach here.
Three Dogs at the beach playing on the sand.
As I turn a corner in Carmel, I follow a road down about seventeen steps to Carmel State Beach, photo journaling the sun through the luminous waves.
Dynamic Translucent Sea Green Waves at Carmel Beach
I’m ready to drive to Point Lobos State Reserve, where there are fresh ideas for another inspiring light project.
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?
Point Lobos with one of the popular boulders
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.
Point Lobos Museum formerly a fishing house
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.
Marlene studies the Effects of Light for a New Prototype
At Point Lobos there’s a brilliant red light show at China Grove at Sunset. The illumination opens our minds with the depth of the ocean of imaginary resonance of the calm.
Deeper into the mysterious Point Lobos, I came across a windswept cypress tree that framed the everlasting history that intrigued the indigenous and the predecessors, and their secrets.
Wind-swept Lone Cypress at Point Lobos
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.
Cypress at Veterans Trail by Marlene Krueger
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 at 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.
Key Hole through a large Rock at Phiefer Beach
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 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.
Search for Salmon Creek
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.
Latest Posts
Sunset Painted by Marlene Krueger of Phiefer Beach
The Monterey Bay Aquarium offers a serene sanctuary where the rhythmic, sun-dappled sway of the kelp forest induces a meditative calm. This tranquil environment, reminiscent of the slow, underwater tempo of ocean currents, serves as a powerful model for creating focused learning spaces. By mimicking this calming ambiance in a classroom setting through kinetic lighting, the hectic, high-stress energy of students can be transformed into a peaceful, engaged, and receptive state of wonder.
Moss Landing beach is a great location for whale watching, situated right on the edge of the Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon.
On a cloudy, windy day when this video was taken at Moss Landing Beach, we caught a view of the harbor mouth, where whales often follow schools of fish. They congregate near the beach, frequently surfacing when a school of krill is nearby. Pelicans and a flock of shore birds also dive for the meal. Despite the risk, these birds manage to make it through alive.
Consuming Krill and Small Fish That Swim in Groups
These whales, also known as baleen whales feast from spring through fall, primarily consuming krill and small fish that swim in groups. Humpback whales are “gulp feeders,” meaning they swallow their food in one large gulp. They widen their mouths by stretching the grooves and then push water out through the baleen. Here we could see a humpback whale enjoying a meal just a stone’s throw from the shore, near a rocky area.
Bubble-Net Feeding
To catch their prey, humpback whales employ a fascinating technique called bubble-net feeding. In this technique, a group of whales swims in a circle that gradually shrinks, while blowing air from their blowholes to create a bubble net above them. They may dive as deep as 20 meters (66 feet) while performing this technique. This can be done in two main ways: upward spirals and double loops.
In upward spirals, the whales blow air from their blowholes as they circle towards the surface, creating a spiral of bubbles. In double loops, they perform a deep, long loop of bubbles that gathers the prey, followed by a slap on the surface and then a smaller loop that prepares for the final catch.
Sometimes, people witness a combination of spiraling and looping. After forming the “nets,” the whales swim into them with their mouths open and they are ready to swallow.
If you’re hoping to spot whales, locals recommend visiting between spring and fall, from April to November, especially when humpback whales are most active. With their love of krill and baitfish, they often put on spectacular “lunge feeding” and breaching shows right at the surface. This spot offers one of the best free views because the deep canyon waters get quite close to the shore here. People can witness whales fin-slapping and lunge-feeding without the need for a boat.
In 1986, Don Seiden, Professor at the Art Institute of Chicago, had high respect for Marlene Krueger to pursue her lifelong aspiration. Marlene had always envisioned a future where people of all ages can engage in a simple gesture with light. This innovative approach sought to assist at-risk individuals in externalizing overwhelming emotions, processing trauma in a secure and non-threatening environment, enhancing self-assurance.
Marlene Develops a Prototype
Helping People Through Light Therapy With Prof. Don Sieden
“Throughout my life, I had a vision to develop a device that harnesses the therapeutic properties of light.
“Growing up at a ranch when I was six, I’d roam freely through rows of translucent sweet peas glistening from the sun light.
As the peas were illuminated, I experienced a calming transformation when the pods glowed.
A flood of light beamed, as I picked up one of the translucent pods, as if reassuring me. A connection with nature enveloped me, and the pain I had experienced earlier disappeared.
Since that moment, I’ve been driven by an unwavering desire to recreate that timely experience for others to experience.“
Light Therapy
High School teachers city-wide learn about kinetic light with Marlene Krueger, at the Museum of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Light therapy involves using light with a touch of a hand. There’s a sense of joy that ease anxiety and help the nervous system.
Teens having a light therapy experience as they study and takes notes in downtown Chicago.
According to the students, “watching light in motion is a great way to express overwhelming feelings, boost confidence, and work through trauma without having to talk about it. It’s a safe and non-threatening way for treatment”.
Collaborating With Light
College students work together to devise their own light ideas.
Projecting With Light
The light therapy acts as a mirror to our internal human state, that involves empathy, triggering dopamine-driven pleasure, that provide a type of non-evasive way of healing from complex issues, with emotions such as sorrow and fear.
High School Students gather around a device invented by Marlene Krueger
Here is a collaborative experience where high school students watch light patterns that shines through a light device invented by Marlene Krueger. Here students place their iridescent work in the central device, aimed at creating light with motion.
Marlene Krueger’s life-long vision of creating a device that uses light to heal is her calling. When she was just six, she spent her days exploring the family ranch, surrounded by rows of sweet peas that sparkled in the sunlight. As the peas glowed, she felt a calming change, like the pods were whispering to her.
One day, a beam of light seemed to reach out, as if to reassure her. She picked up a translucent pod, and it felt like a connection with nature embracing her, and the pain she had felt before, vanished. From that moment on, she was determined to recreate that magical experience with others.
At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the top schools in the world, Marlene Krueger was determined to bring her vision to life. She wanted to invent a type of lumia light, just like the one she had imagined as a child, when her experience with pain went away.
In 1986, Marlene Krueger developed a prototype of her vision. A course in Kinetics, Electronics and Neon inspired her to proceed. Her dream of giving people the chance to heal through light therapy is about to actualize.
To make her dream a reality, she called Dr. Billy Kluver in New York. She saw a phone number in a magazine that listed his work with machines that move, and kinetic light. He was known for working with many pop artists in New York.
At first Marlene thought a receptionist would answer the phone, but instead, she spoke with Dr. Billy Kluver, himself, an engineer at Bell Laboratories who empathized with the pop artist requesting his expertise in engineering with their kinetic light devices. Marlene talked for almost an hour about everything under the sun, sharing her purpose in life.
Billy Kluver was so impressed with Marlene that he invited her to meet with him in New York City, along with his wife Julie Martin, a contributing writer with “Art in America.” She wrote many of Dr. Kluver’s experiments with a broad spectrum of kinetic light confiding with famous pop artists in the 1960s.
Marlene mentioned she could make it during Christmas break, and that was the plan. Dr. Kluver also gave her the number for Earl Riebeck, the inventor of the infinity mirror that was shown in “Star Trek.” He suggested Marlene call him up, and he’d be happy to share some of his insights. So Marlene did, and they actually talked for hours. Later, he invited her to visit him in New York City so he could show her all his inventions. She went.
Her trip to New York was unforgettable. The experience in New York sparked Marlene to devise a more advanced prototype.
After Marlene finished a prototype she allowed herself to test it out with her professors at the Art Institute, as well as city-wide high school teachers and college students who were at risk.
During her final year, she was determined to keep her dream alive. She graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Immediately she was invited to present and talk about her work with colleges in auditoriums filled with 4-500 people. In addition, her work was recognized, and she received an invitation to exhibit her prototypes and large-scale installations at a gallery located at Merchandise Mart, in downtown Chicago.
Within the Big Sur region of California, Pfeiffer Beach is known for its stunning Keyhole Rock. Every year, photographers from all over the world flock to the beach during the chilly months of December and January to capture the breathtaking sunset that peeks through the arch.
The steep cliffs that surround the Big Sur coastline has a unique view, making it one of the few spots you can easily access the ocean.
Tall Cypress Trees along Big Sur California
Los Padres National Forest
The road and beach at Pfeiffer Beach are located within the Los Padres National Forest. The road is named after the Western Sycamores that line its path and are close to the beach.
In the summer, from June to August, you can expect frequent fog and cool temperatures, a local phenomenon called “June Gloom.”
A Brief History
The Pfeiffer family first settled in Sycamore Canyon, near the coast, in the winter of 1869. Michael and Barbara Laquet Pfeiffer were traveling to the southern coast of Big Sur when they stopped in Sycamore Canyon. The area was so captivating that they decided not to move south again the following spring. Their eight children married and lived there for many generations. In 1910, the family opened the Pfeiffer Ranch Resort at their original home. Plus, there’s an Esslen midden site nearby.
Back in 1884, John Swetnam and his wife, Zulema Florence Swetnam, built a cabin right by the Big Sur River. John was so kind that he gave away the first 700 acres (280 hectares) of land, which later became Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
In the video below, I briefly show how I painted a sunset at Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur. The colors in this scene are just amazing! You can see the deep crimson red, warm orange, cool teal blue, vibrant ultramarine blue, and rich purple sand. I wanted to share a step-by-step guide on picking and mixing colors to make such a beautiful picture right there on the Big Sur coastline. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAhR0uI22CQ
