Earlier this summer, the SunMoon Retreat Center hosted a solo concert with singer/songwriter, Jana Pochop, and a concert and art exhibition with L.A. band Cousin Kate, as a fundraiser at the Sun Temple within the SunMoon Retreat Center grounds.
Owner and 10-year Topanga resident Mary Guillermin wants to make the Sun Temple available, for free, to locals who want to showcase their art or acoustic music.
“My hope is that the Retreat Center will become a community resource that benefits the local Topanga community. What better way to encourage local talent and participation than to offer a beautiful space, free of charge, for intimate exhibitions or concerts.”
The venue is an enclosed area under shady oaks with a large platform for performances, fences to hang pictures and prints, an open area for seating and beautiful country views beyond the fence. Guillermin says it will easily hold a solo singer or a band of four musicians and 30 or so paintings plus a seated audience of 20 to 30 people.
Guillermin will supply the seating, two outdoor heaters if needed and promote any concert or exhibition through her e-mail newsletter and local advertising. Guillermin restricts performances to acoustic music with no amplification to regulate the volume for her neighbors.
She hopes that offering a free performance/exhibition space will encourage young people to experiment with putting on a show or art exhibition for their friends and family to showcase their talent.
Guillermin holds regular events for women, such as Full Moon Gatherings in the Moon Temple and SunMoon Card Reading Salons. She will be holding an Open Day in November in memory of her late husband, film director John Guillermin, where people are invited to watch films he directed and play pool on the beautiful table played on by Steve McQueen, Paul Newman and Fred Astaire.
For more information: sunmoonretreatcenter@gmail.com; or text: (310) 422 7915.