I'd Rather Be, Under the Sea
Artist: Karen Gelff
Sponsor: Team Beesley & Meals on Wheels of Monterey Peninsula
Location: Team Beesley, San Carlos btwn Ocean & 7th
Photos: Michael Troutman, DTM Imaging
About I'd Rather Be, Under the Sea
This Heart is a window into the underwater world of the Central Coast. At its crown, a serene coastal landscape unfolds. Rolling green hills meet a bright blue sky, gentle waves lap at the shore, and a sea otter floats peacefully among the kelp. Below the waterline lies a lush kelp forest, its swaying blades portrayed in vivid greens and teals, alive with schools of small fish darting through the current. The piece narrows into a sandy seafloor at its base, dotted with sea stars, shells, and a scuttling crab, grounding the sculpture in the rich biodiversity of the tide pools. Painted with fine detail and a naturalist's eye, this heart celebrates the delicate marine ecosystem that thrives just beneath the surface of Carmel's coastline.
About Karen Gelff
Karen Gelff is a Carmel-area artist and owner of Gelffware Art, based in Pacific Grove. Her public art includes "Pelagie the Pelagic Pup," a hand-painted sculpture created for Carmel's "Dogs of Carmel", fostered by La Balena on Junipero between 5th and 6th. Beyond her studio work, Gelff is deeply woven into the local community. She and her husband, Chris Mack, have long been active in Monterey Peninsula evironmental efforts, notably helping protect Fort Ord wilderness during the fight over Whispering Oaks, and the couple are known supporters of local arts organizations like the Youth Arts Collective. Her nature-inspired, detail-rich style reflects this lifelong connection to the Central Coast's coastline and ecosystems.