Walking into New Lows on West Ocean Avenue in Lompoc’s old town, you will most likely be greeted by the smooth sound of reggae coming from the back of the shop. Owner Ben Barrick listens to the music as he scrapes globs of ink onto T-shirts through screens that rotate on a contraption made up of several presses—one for each layer of color.
New Lows is a screen printing shop that sells street wear (T-shirts, hats, jackets, etc.), signs, and other items with custom designs and logos. He makes it all in the back of the shop. Up front is the retail operation with a glass case filled with sunglasses and stickers—some bearing the face of late rapper Eazy-E with the word “Lompton” (a nickname for Lompoc)—and T-shirts hung on walls.
Originally, Barrick started making T-shirts with heat-transfer logos he purchased at Walmart. He got into screen printing at his mother’s former shop Creative Graphics, and now Barrick has more than a decade of experience in screen printing. With his own store, he wants to nurture the artistic side of Lompoc, which is also known as the city of arts and flowers.
Items in the retail shop are priced at anywhere from $5 to $65. Screen-printing service prices vary, but the more designs printed in an order, the bigger the discount. Anyone can submit a design, and Barrick will have it printed.
Although New Lows has been in business for three years, Barrick moved the shop from its original location at Maple and H streets a year ago because the location wasn’t as desirable as where he is now. Barrick employs one other person at the shop, and also receives a lot of support from a cadre of friends.
Barrick said his old shop was broken into at least a couple of times. But there are both pros and cons to the move, Barrick explains. The good: It’s safer, and with the new shop along the street, he gets more exposure to motorists and passersby. The bad: There’s no parking lot to host First Thursdays in, or the art show Barrick puts on four times a year.
When Barrick and his friend—a local artist by the name of VanTsa—started First Thursdays, it was originally held the first Thursday of every month, but he said it became too overwhelming, and he couldn’t get enough art vendors to fill the space. Now, it’s held in May, June, August, and November in front of the shop and in the alleyway next to it. The idea is to bring talented local artists into the spotlight and create a friendly environment where they can showcase their work. Barrick believes that art is important to the community because not only is it fun, but it also provides a medium for “unfiltered expression and truth.”
“We make it really comfortable for first-time artists,” Barrick said.
The next, and last, art show of the year is Thursday, Nov. 6. Also known as the Day of the Dead Show, it’s the biggest of the year and attracts hundreds of visitors. The show is held between the 5 to 10 p.m. and includes free pours from local wineries, live music, and a variety of art.
Any local artist who wants to display their art can contact Barrick at 741-7982, or get in touch with him through the New Lows Facebook page at facebook.com/n3wl0ws.
Staff Writer David Minsky wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, email, or mail.
This article appears in Nov 6-13, 2014.