Our Story
Our Mission
Front Porch Gallery is an arts nonprofit and dynamic art space in Carlsbad, CA committed to increasing access to creative opportunities for older adults and adults with disabilities, providing an inclusive and inspiring environment for creative expression and meaningful connections.
With intergenerational exchange at the core of our mission, Front Porch Gallery offers a dynamic combination of rotating gallery exhibitions, creative programming, and community initiatives.
The Power of the Arts
Participation in the arts — whether as a maker, supporter, or observer — enhances the quality of life for individuals, providing opportunities for self-expression, social engagement, and personal growth.
For older adult participants, engagement in multi-disciplinary arts also contributes to their physical, intellectual, and emotional well-being, reduces isolation, stimulates cognitive functioning, promotes personal growth, and active lifestyle.
Our Beliefs
There are many ways to embrace your personal creativity
Daily creativity and socialization is good for one’s health
Creativity is an expansive quality that adds purpose and meaning to life
Art-making is not an activity that is exclusive to professional artists
Intergenerational connections are a key feature of an age-friendly community
Our History
Front Porch Gallery, which opened at its current location on April 2, 2005, is part of Front Porch, a nonprofit organization that supports senior living communities, affordable housing communities and programs and services nationwide. Front Porch communities in the San Diego area include Casa de Mañana, Wesley Palms, Fredericka Manor and Carlsbad By The Sea where the Front Porch Gallery is located.
Established with a generous grant from California Lutheran Homes, the original director, Steve Nossan, curated engaging exhibits until he retired in 2017 and Julie Weaverling took over and continued the excellent caliber of art exhibits. In 2023, Cathy Carey was appointed director. In addition to continuing the high quality exhibits, the mission of the gallery changed to accommodate creatively engaging programming and poetry as part of the shows.
Inspired by Ruth’s Table, our sister gallery in San Francisco, Front Porch Gallery continues to host invitational and juried exhibits of excellent art and poetry as well as offer free art classes that encourage creative engagements and social connections. The gallery places an emphasis on creating a space for adults over sixty and adults with learning differences.
Homesteader Captain John A. Frazier purchases 127 acres of sparkling oceanfront property for $1,200. While drilling for water he taps into a mineral spring that becomes well known to dusty travelers on the Southern California Railway for its healing properties.
1881
1887-1896
A eighty-five room, four-story hotel and spa is built on the site of the original mineral spring. It is Carlsbad’s first hotel. The hotel burns to the ground in 1896.
1929
After the paving of Highway 101, construction begins on the Spanish Revival Style “California-Carlsbad Mineral Springs Hotel” offering therapeutic spa treatments and ocean front accommodations. The hotel becomes a destination for many Hollywood stars and celebrities until 1939.
1957-1964
The Lutheran Services of San Diego purchases and repurposes the hotel as a retirement community. The building is eventually taken over by California Lutheran Homes in 1964.
1997
The original building is demolished and rebuilt to modern standards, while also preserving the charm of the front facade as a replica of the original. The building includes three store fronts and modern amenities.
2002
With a special grant to help and encourage seniors to express themselves through various artistic media from California Lutheran Homes, Founding Gallery Director, Steven Nossan develops a traveling pop-up gallery with art displayed on large hinged doors.
In the first two years of operation, the pop-up gallery travels to 10 Front Porch Communities.
2005
Front Porch Gallery Finds permanent home at Carlsbad by the Sea.
Grand opening celebration on April 2, 2005. The theme is “Seeing is Believing”.
2006
The exhibit, titled “Spiral Bound: The Spiritual Journey of Aging" strives to create an understanding of aging through art.
“Turn, Turn, Turn: A Season of Senior Art” debuts. It explores the journeys of several artists including those living at several Front Porch communities, as well as other seniors living in the greater San Diego area.
2009
The exhibit, “FIBER: It’s Good for Your Art” showcases works of the Fiber Artists' Collective, a nationally and internationally organizations for craftspeople in the art of fiber.
2010
Front Porch Gallery presents an exhibit in partnership with TERI (Training, Education & Research Institute), a private, non-profit agency serving the news of children and adults with autism and other developmental and learning disabilities. The exhibits includes individual and collaborative art created by adults with developmental and learning disabilities
2016
Steve Nossan retires and Julie Weaverling takes over as General Manager, continuing the legacy of excellent exhibits and workshops.
2017
2024
The gallery produces an inaugural fashion show in connection with the exhibit, “Mentors: Collaboration and Inspiration”.
2024
The exhibit, titled, “Art as a Dynamic Force” featuring new work by the Sargent Art Group, an eclectic group of artists inspired by the work of famed San Diego artist and the group’s founder J. McNeil Sargent. The show includes painting, mixed media, photography and 3D works.
2018
The gallery establishes an annual juried exhibition featuring work from local contemporary artists.
2019
“The Six Word Story” - a photo exhibition and photo contest for Front Porch Residents in collaboration with the Oceanside Art Museum.
“Creating Meaning” - featuring the work of Front Porch Retirement Community residents, the exhibit features a myriad of mediums, including: painting, fiber arts, book arts, MessageGrams and collaborative floral mandalas. This exhibit is a precursor to Gallery Takeover.
2020
Amid COVID-19, Gallery Director, Julie Weaverling, establishes the Collaborative Quilt Project involving residents from all the Front Porch communities. The project involves creating a quilt consisting of squares by many residents and regular Zoom conference calls for participants to connect. The resulting quilts are displayed at the gallery and become a touring show to all of the Front Porch communities.
2021
“Creating Meaning” - In partnership with Women’s Woven Voices, a global women’s empowerment project, this art project features more than 300 hand-woven “story cloths” created by Front Porch residents, staff, family, friends and community members exploring women’s life stories and how those stories create meaning.
2022
Front Porch Gallery celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Palomar Handweavers and Spinners Guild and pays tribute to its founder Bill Rafnel with an exhibit.
2023
Front Porch Gallery presents “Lift the Sky”, a global art project that answers this evocative question through an installation of hanging three-part panels consisting of “messages” created in fiber art, paintings, mixed media, collage, and photography.
A union between Front Porch and Covia Communities forms to create Front Porch Communities: a non profit organization whose commitment to individuals includes providing inclusive and inspiring environments for creative, emotional, physical, cognitive and intellectual growth for older adults and adults with disabilities.
Cathy Carey is hired as the new Gallery Director. She leads the charge to develop new gallery programming inspired by Ruth’s Table, a sister gallery in the Front Porch Family in San Francisco.
2024
The gallery launches three new “drop-in” programs to encourage new kinds of participation:
Carlsbad Maker Meetup
Paper Craft & Collage Café
Chair Yoga
2024
The gallery co-hosts an “Intergenerational Leaders” meetup group in partnership with the Carlsbad Library.
2024
The gallery establishes a partnership with Beacons North County, a nonprofit empowering adults with diverse intellectual abilities.
CARL, a “Free Little Art Gallery”, is created in partnership with the Men’s Shed Group and celebrated with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
2024
Front Porch Gallery participates in their first Gallery Take Over, an annual presented by Ruth’s Table and Creative Spark. The exhibit features work from 25 participating partner organizations.
The gallery establishes a partnership with Surfing Madonna Oceans Project and presents “Save the Ocean 4”, a juried exhibit featuring close to 60 artists and poets from the region.
2025
The gallery begins the celebration of its 20th anniversary with the opening of the “Save the Ocean 5” art & poetry exhibit, featuring 85+ artists and poets.
Front Porch Gallery participates in the 2025 Creative Aging Symposium hosted by Creative Spark.
2025
The gallery takes a pause between formal exhibitions to reflect on its 20 year history and to think about what’s ahead during the search for a new gallery director following the departure of gallery director, Cathy Carey.
FPG launches a new website!
