Santa Maria Sun / Art

Living is art: 2015 was a year brimming with creative output by local artists of every flavor

By JOE PAYNE

Every year brings its own unique challenges, and 2015 wasn’t any different, especially if you paid attention to some of the issues churning through the national and local news cycles. But as always, artists soldier through the world with a brave face, choosing to bring beauty into it, and sharing that beauty with the rest of us.

The output by the variety of visual and performing artists on the Central Coast was astounding, and especially when looking back, we can see a common thread running through everyone’s work in 2015. First, the dedication to quality was ever present in our multi-faceted arts community, but secondly, so was the passion for outreach to the young or vulnerable, revealing that art is for everyone, from the finest plein air paintings to goings on at the civic theater.

The arts section this week highlights an incomplete but nevertheless representative recap of our arts and entertainment coverage during 2015, rehashing the incredibly diverse talents of our creative community.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEE VOLKER COX

Pastoral photographs

The work of local photographer Lee-Volker Cox showed at the Santa Maria Library’s Shepard Hall in the exhibit Berries, Blooms, Broccoli, and Bulls: Working the Land on California’s Central Coast, which showcased the various modes of agriculture in the area and the people who make it happen.

IMAGE COURTESY OF CHARLES HUFFINES

A special place

Transitions-Mental Health Association presented its annual Art of Recovery show in Santa Maria this year at its Growing Grounds Gallery in May, featuring the piece Transitions Landscape by Charles Huffines.

PHOTO BY JOE PAYNE

Witchy world

CovenTree Books and Gifts got a permanent location in Santa Maria this year, providing a home for anything mystical, magical, and fantastical, including chainmail classes, spiritual groups, and art events.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY HOLLY

Running wild

The Wildling Museum in Solvang teamed up with the Return to Freedom wild horse sanctuary in Lompoc to showcase visual art inspired by the unfettered stallions and mares who call the sanctuary home, with paintings, sketches, and photography of the majestic mammals.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GLENN GRISHKOFF

Bones and bristles

Sculptor and ceramicist Glenn Grishkoff shared his unique bone brushes at Allan Hancock College’s Ann Foxworthy Gallery in the exhibit A Brush with China: Family Markings, which included an artistic performance by Grishkoff. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF RICHARD LINDEKENS

Capturing culture

Local photographer Richard Lindekens shared shots from his world travels at the Elverhoj Museum in Solvang in the show Traditions on the Edge, which included images of people from Myanmar (pictured) and Mongolia. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF LUIS ESCOBAR/REFLECTIONS PHOTOGRAPHY

Magical theater

PCPA The Pacific Conservatory Theatre began its 52nd season this November with the magical musical production of Disney’s Cinderella.

PHOTO BY JOE PAYNE

Art of imagination

The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum received a mural unveiled on June 6 that was created by students from local high schools thanks to collaboration between The Arts Fund, Allan Hancock College professor John Hood, and the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department.

IMAGE COURTESY OF ERICA BARTNIK

Inner world comes out

Lompoc resident Erica Bartnik presented her first full solo exhibition at the Cypress Gallery in Lompoc titled the Duality of Reality, which explored the artist’s own bipolar disorder with composite photography.

PHOTO BY JOE PAYNE

Incredible collection

Descendants of the famous painter Julian Ritter opened up a new gallery in Guadalupe, Ritter928, which showcases some of the artist’s enormous output.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GWEN CATES

Cosmic inspiration

The C Gallery in Los Alamos featured a variety of abstract and contemporary art, including the work of Gwen Cates in the show Cosmic Monologues, which showed in May and June.

PHOTO BY JOE PAYNE

New play, new home

The Poetic Justice Project got a new location, the PJP Micro Theatre in Town Center West, where the theater group presented an original play in October titled Wizard of Grey Bar Hotel.

Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.