MARILYN DOVER BENSON presents a solo, two-day art show featuring her original paintings on March 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Foley Winery, 6121 E. Highway 246, Lompoc. Info: 937-8108 or donaldbenson@mac.com.
THE LOMPOC PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM presents in its Grossman Gallery the Lompoc Unified School District Youth Art Month exhibit for the month of March. See it at 501 E. North Ave., Lompoc. Info: 875-8775.
THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION presents the exhibit Visual Inquiry: Mixed Media, through May 22 at the Betteravia Government Center, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria. Info: 568-3994.
TRANSITIONS-MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION and the Healing Arts Council of Santa Barbara County are accepting art entries from locals suffering from mental illness for the 2009 “The Art of Recovery” show. Deadline for the featured piece is March 18 at 4 p.m.; the deadline for all art is April 10 at 4 p.m. Info: 739-8680 or patrick-bergin@excite.com.
ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE ART CLASSES include mixed media, painting, and drawing. Open to ages 18 and up, any time throughout the semester. Info: 922-6966, Ext. 3209.
WORTH THE DRIVE
THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY ARTISTS’ GUILD presents an Artists’ Reception on March 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cabrillo Arts Center Pavilion, 1116 E. Cabrillo, Santa Barbara. Info: 733-4079.
THE SAN LUIS OBISPO ART CENTER presents the exhibits “Charlie Clingman: Forever Stoked” March 4 through 30 in the First Gallery and “Arthur Tress: Central Coast Skateboard Park Series” March 6 through April 5 in the Gray Wing. An opening reception for both exhibits is March 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. Info: 543-8562 or sloartcenter.org.
THE CUESTA ART GALLERY presents the exhibit “The Fabric of Race: Racial Violence and Lynching in America” March 6 through April 2 at the Cuesta College Art Gallery, Highway 1, SLO. An artist talk is March 6 at 5 p.m. followed by a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the gallery. Info: 546-3100, Ext. 2753, or tanderso@cuesta.edu.
BROOKS INSTITUTE presents “Joyce Tenneson: A Life of Photography” March 9 through 27 at the Brook’s Institute Gallery, 27 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara. An opening reception is March 13 from 8 to 10 p.m. at the gallery. A sneak preview is part of the Art Walk on March 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the gallery. Info: 966-3888.
THE EL CAMINO ARTS ASSOCIATION presents its inaugural South County High School Art Show featuring student art through April at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande. An opening reception is March 10 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Clark Center. Info: 481-0394 or Wienermj48@yahoo.com.
THE SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART presents the exhibit Of Life and Loss: The Polish Photographs of Roman Vishniac and Jeffrey Gusky shows through March 15. The exhibition Ten: Gifts of SBMA Photofutures shows through April 5 at the museum. The museum is located at 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Info: 963-4364.
THE GALLERY ON BRIDGE STREET presents “Fine Art for Romantics,” featuring works by local artists through March 16 at the gallery. The gallery is located at 136 Bridge St., Arroyo Grande. Info: 489-8865 or galleryonbridgestreet.com.
THE GALLERY AT THE NETWORK presents “The Landscape Connection, Luxuriant, Luminous, and Local” featuring works by the gallery owners through March 31. The gallery is located at 778 Higuera St., suite B, SLO. Info: 788-0886 or thegalleryatthenetwork.com.
THE C GALLERY presents the paintings, photographs, and sculptures of Guy Rocky Stroup in the exhibition “Tangible Dreams” through April 15 at the gallery. Info: 344-3807 or thecgallery.com.
THE SANTA BARBARA JEWISH FEDERATION presents “Rita Blitt: Passionate Gestures on Canvas and Film” through April 17 at the Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center, Santa Barbara. Info: jewishsantabarbara.org or ritablitt.com.
SANTA BARBARA ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW seeks new artists in Santa Barbara County to join its ranks, displaying art every Sunday along Cabrillo Boulevard, Santa Barbara. It’s the only continuous, non-juried arts festival that caters to every medium, as long as it’s original art. Info: 897-1982 or sbaacs.com.
CARRIED AWAY ART offers art classes throughout the week on various media, including ceramics, drawing, painting, and collage. The gallery is located at 1200 E. Grande Ave., Arroyo Grande. Info: 481-4364.
ART AFTER DARK is the art walk in San Luis Obispo featuring local and guest artists’ receptions in open galleries, demonstrations, and conversations over glasses of wine on the first Friday of every month. Find the monthly event guides at sloartscouncil.org. Info: 544-9251.
This article appears in Mar 5-12, 2009.