The Central Coast is home to some exceptionally creative people. Painters, sculptors, actors, musicians, poets, novelists, dancers, photographers, and plenty of others make it a fantastic place to live, and 2016 didn’t slow anybody down in terms of output.
A year can go by so fast, but art is something that can slow that time down. Months or years pass in just an hour and half at the right theater. A painting or photograph hanging in a gallery can take you back years, or follow you for weeks after viewing it. Just getting lost in a work of art may change your day and affect you forever after.
The variety of local artists—young and old, experienced and amateur—shared a lot this year. A sampling of what they offered is here to remind us of the beauty that was brought into the world during 2016.
FOLLOW THE HERD: Roy Bozarth and other photographers led a group of camera-carrying horse enthusiasts through the Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary to shoot images of the wild steeds this summer.
LOCAL LIFE: The Wilding Museum commissioned painter John Iwerks in August to create a mural of a valley oak tree at the museum in Solvang.
STUDENT SHOWCASE: Allan Hancock College showcased student work in the Ann Foxworthy Gallery for the Fine Arts Student Art Show in February, like this portrait by Devyn Adams titled Michael.
CELEBRATE WITH PCPA: The Pacific Conservatory Theatre PCPA began its 53rd season this November with a powerful rendition of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
ART THAT STICKS: New Lows in Lompoc hosted the exhibit Adhesive Assault: A Showcase of Sticker Art curated by Cleveland Rewind, who amassed sticker art created around the globe that showed on Oct. 8.
PETALS AND PAPER: Honey Paper owner Michelle Castle, left, began a gallery space in her stationary store in March. The premiere exhibit featured the work of Karen Gearhart-Jensen, right, which consists of photographs of flowers pressed against Japanese calligraphy paper.
FACE OF A COMMUNITY: The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission hosted the traveling exhibit Campos de Ensueños, which features portraits of Mixteco artists and farmworkers starting in September, at the Betteravia Gallery in Santa Maria.
STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND: Santa Maria-based artist Brian Silveira and his wife, Lisa Nguyen, premiered the new graphic novel series in June with the first volume, Bun, about a boy transported to an otherworldly land.
TECHNO DRAMA: The Lompoc Civic Theatre got out of its technological comfort zone with its production of Two Point Oh in February, starring Sarrah Raines as Melanie, right, and Christopher Ford as Elliot Leeds, left on screen. The play is about a deceased computer programmer’s attempt at immortality and his wife’s relationship with the program itself.
KNOWING KNOWLES: The Elverhoj Museum of History and Art featured The Evolving Perspective by Joseph Knowles February through April this year. Knowles’ work fused nature, landscapes, and abstract expressionism.
CINEMA OF WORDS: Local poet Michael McLaughlin released a new book of poetry, Countless Cinemas in March, while hosting regular poetry readings at Core Winery in Orcutt.
INSPIRED BY SILK: Beverly Johnson led several silk painting classes at the Valley Art Gallery in Orcutt, teaching amateurs and experienced silk painters different techniques in June.
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 29, 2016 – Jan 5, 2017.