The Santa Maria Public Library will host an artistās reception and award ceremony for participants in the National Arts Program (NAP) at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 6 in the Shepard Hall Gallery. Mayor Larry Lavagnino will be speaking and giving out the ribbons to the award winners. NAP Program Coordinator Robyn Raskin and City Librarian Jack Buchanan will also be in attendance.
The program was open to all local city and school employees, retirees, family members, and volunteers.
Exhibitors will be delivering their artwork on Aug. 2 and 3 from 10 to 5 and installing on Aug. 4. Judging will be on Aug. 5 from 10 to noon. John Hood, art professor at Allan Hancock College, and well-known local artist Hattie Stoddard will be the judges.
NAP in is its 28th year, with 80 annual programs that encompass more than 450 cities in 42 states. Santa Maria is one of the newest venues.
The program aims to remove obstacles to artistic expression by giving people an easily accessible forum in which to develop and showcase their talent. Participants are given an opportunity to share their creativity with their co-workers, their family, their peers, and the community.
It will run from Aug. 6 to 27 in Shepard Hall and library display cases.
Arts Briefs is compiled by Arts Editor Shelly Cone. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Jul 29 – Aug 5, 2010.

