Gale Wrausmann and her Airedale
are a familiar sight walking around Carmel
followed by visitors interested in learning about the village.
Gale Wrausmann - in her own words
Contributor Kay Ambro intended to write a profile of Gale Wrausmann but a long power outage kept her from finishing. Because Gale had provided well-written, fascinating comments, we decided that they can stand on their own. Wrausmann, who holds a BA in math and a MBA from UC Berkeley, is a walking-tour guide, award-winning photographer, classical pianist, former corporate executive, and world traveler.
Carmel was always one of my favorite places to visit while living in San Francisco.
I particularly enjoyed running my dog leash-free on the white sand beach and photographing the natural environment. During my frequent visits, I had the opportunity to stay in the cabin that had belonged to the legendary photographer Edward Weston. At that time, his photographs covered the walls and his original darkroom was still intact. I spent my days photographing the area and my evenings reading the diary of his experiences in Carmel, while listening to Bach, his favorite composer.
I moved to Carmel in 1995 - lured by the natural beauty, extensive cultural offerings, golf, and the community’s love of dogs. Since I had played tournament golf on the Monterey Peninsula and won a division of the California State Women’s Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach, the Shivas Irons Golf Society offered me a part-time position. We organized a conference at Stanford University that explored golf as a vehicle for personal growth and transformation, with Michael Murphy, Ram Dass, George Leonard and Fred Shoemaker as featured speakers. I played the Stanford course with Murphy, and treasure my copy of his classic book, Golf in the Kingdom, which he inscribed: “For Gale – of gorgeous swing. With admiration, Michael Murphy.” Although I hadn’t played for some time, that day I couldn’t miss a putt. I discovered that the clarity of vision I developed looking through the viewfinder of my camera had sharpened my ability to read the contour of the greens. It was a lesson that our life experiences can’t be compartmentalized…everything we love to do enriches the other activities we love.
When I first saw photographs of the early days in Carmel, I felt an instant affinity with the unique character of the village. It originally developed as a bohemian art colony during the influential Arts & Crafts movement, which fostered the idea of living simply and in harmony with nature. I have always collected Arts & Crafts furniture and appreciated the ideals of that movement. I viewed the village as a haven for inspiration, creativity and spirituality.
I began taking pictures of Carmel and the surrounding area with the idea of producing a book. Among the sites I discovered through my research were the cottage where John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts first met, the apartment where Salvador Dalí and his wife Gala lived in the 1940s, Edward Weston’s photography studio, a cottage built by architect Julia Morgan along with tiles she designed for Hearst Castle, writer Mary Austin’s first log cabin home, the clubhouse of the first golf course built along the waterfront, and a house constructed of parts from 57 ships.
Fascinated by my discoveries, I began sharing them with friends and neighbors. This led me to develop Carmel Walks, a guided tour featuring the history, architecture, and artistic heritage of Carmel, which I’ve offered to the public for 15 years. Although Carmel is only a mile square, you can set off in any direction and find something of interest. I know of no other place like it. There are 60 hidden courtyards and lots of secret pathways worth exploring. You find both beauty and eccentricity in the details. After taking my tour, a writer for USA Today advised those visiting Carmel to “close your wallet and open your soul.”
Visitors from all 50 states and almost every country in the world have taken my tours. Inspired by the uniqueness of Carmel, they often bring home ideas to share with their own communities. Over the years, some have embraced their “inner bohemian” as we strolled through town. Broadway actors spontaneously performed for us on the stage of the Forest Theater. Poets recited haikus capturing the essence of Carmel. Architects discussed the influence of European styles on American buildings during the 1920s. The woman who inspired her husband to write “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” sang the song for our group.
During the tours, I often ask visitors from less familiar countries to share something we might not know about their homeland. Inevitably, this leads to a broader conversation about their culture and worldview. Many are visibly moved when they realize that Americans care. These interactions provide an opportunity for understanding, appreciation and healing that radiates far beyond the small village of Carmel.
Gale’s photography book on Carmel will be released later this year. You can view some of her photographs on the web site www.carmelwalks.com. Her photographs have been exhibited in museums and galleries in New York, Los Angeles, Santa Fe and San Francisco and have won international awards. — The Editor