The city of Santa Monica and Community Arts Resources (CARS), in partnership with Santa Monica Mountains Fund and West Marin Monarch Sanctuary, present There Once Were Millions, an art and ecology exhibition honoring the western monarch butterfly and its migration. The exhibition features Elizabeth Weber’s photography, original work by Studios 3026 resident and guest artists, a screening of filmmaker Ole Schell’s short film on restoring monarch habitat, a drop-in butterfly art workshop, and educational information about protecting the western monarch.

The opening reception includes light refreshments, the film screening, and a “Return of the Western Monarch Butterfly” panel discussion featuring Joey Algiers of the National Park Service, Isaac Yelchin of the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, Rachel Ray of Ventura County Resource Conservation District, and filmmaker Ole Schell. The exhibition runs October 3–18, 2026.