Stepping into an art gallery, as San Diego-based oil painter Tom Rogo explained, can feel like having an intimate conversation with your own thoughts, easily disrupted by the pressure of salesmanship.
Rogo likened the experience to entering a church for a private moment of prayer, only to have someone tap you on the shoulder and ask, “So what are you thinking?”
It’s an intrusion Rogo has often felt in other galleries — spaces where his creative expression was treated like a commercial commodity. But at Emerald C Gallery in Coronado, under the care of owner Penny Rothschild, things were different.
Rothschild never imposed her vision on her artists. She offered suggestions without stifling his creativity, never dictating what to paint.
“She let people feel very at ease,” Rogo said.
For other artists, including Kym De Los Reyes, a Temecula-based painter who has had her work featured in Emerald C since 2014, the gallery stood out because it was inviting, rather than self-important.
Exploring creativity without pressure
Since its opening in 2013, Emerald C Gallery has been more than just a place to display art — it has been a haven where both artists and visitors could explore creativity without pressure.
Artists rented space. Summer camps welcomed children. And, every Wednesday, locals gathered for free jazz concerts. As the gallery’s owner, Rothschild prided herself on fostering emerging talent, particularly artists who had never been showcased in a gallery before.
“We just kind of learned together,” she said.
For Coronado-based artist Jody Esquer, having her paintings featured at Emerald C Gallery wasn’t just a career milestone; it was a catalyst that helped her find confidence as an artist.
“Before that, I had none,” Esquer said. “Penny is a huge promoter … [She’s] always thinking of ways to get the community involved.”
With its focus on jewelry, pottery, paintings and more, Emerald C showcases a broad range of talent. Its pocket off Orange Avenue also hosted live music, parking lot concerts during the pandemic, wine-and-paint nights – even church services on Sundays.
“She was the Eveready battery,” Esquer said. “Ideas were just pounding out of her head, and you had to tell her to slow down, but she couldn’t — she just wanted to get it done.”
Bubbly and unapologetically candid, Rothschild’s Midwestern roots show in her no-filter style of communication, as though she is perpetually shooting from the hip.
“Every time Penny had an event, it was memorable,” Esquer said, like the time she led a wine-and-paint class with live miniature donkeys wandering through the gallery’s side patio. It was Rothschild’s idea — never one to shy away from bold or unconventional events — to incorporate live animals into the experience.
“I thought I was going to turn out these beautiful artists with my donkey painting, and then the donkey poops,” Esquer laughed. “It just became a routine at that point, no longer a painting lesson.”
When De Los Reyes transitioned into full-time artistry, Emerald C was the first gallery she approached, captivated by its atmosphere.
“It had good energy, a good vibe,” she said. “Penny was so friendly — that was the kind of person I wanted to represent me.”
The gallery became a home for her work, allowing her to showcase nostalgic Southern California scenes like vintage Volkswagens and sun-kissed beach girls.
Rothschild created various opportunities for De Los Reyes to participate in local events, including painting sessions at the Hotel del Coronado and collaborations with the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
For Rogo, Rothschild leveraged her connections to secure him the cover of “Coronado Magazine” and a spot on the cover of the town’s business directory.
“She just really helped promote me and give me a lot of great exposure, not just in the gallery, but beyond that,” he said.
The turning point
But after more than a decade of nurturing this space, Rothschild is stepping away. The decision wasn’t sudden, but rather a gradual realization, one that had been brewing since her granddaughter was born last year.
“I’ve had a few months to marinate in it,” she said. “It was scary, because this [the gallery] is such an integral part of me, my life.”
Yet the art world, for all its creative fulfillment, was not always lucrative.
The turning point came when the owner of a local golf cart rental company approached her earlier this year, offering to take over her lease.
The weight of financial strain, alongside the effort of managing the gallery and her wish to spend more time with family, led her to make the choice to close its doors.
“After the [COVID-19] pandemic, things never really came back 100%,” Rothschild said.
While Emerald C Gallery will no longer be a physical space, the gallery will transition its popular wine-and-paint events to a mobile format, continuing its partnership with the Hotel del Coronado.
Meanwhile, Rothschild said she’s looking forward to the next chapter of her life: retirement, travel and spending more time with family.
With the gallery’s imminent closure in November, Rogo, Esquer and De Los Reyes said they will feel the void it leaves behind.
“Penny was a rare supporter of artists, and that’s something I’ll never find again,” De Los Reyes said.
Through November 1, Rothschild will be at Emerald C Gallery for wine-and-paint nights and live jazz. A free farewell event will be held October 11 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the gallery.
