THE LOMPOC MUSEUM presents the exhibit “Desperate Land,” featuring the photographs of Betsy Weiner March 14 through May 30 in the museum’s Centeno Gallery, 200 South H St., Lompoc. An opening reception is March 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. Info: 736-3888 or lompocmuseum@verizon.net.
THE LOMPOC VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION presents local photographer Robert Hamilton’s exhibition “People, Places, and Pleasures” through March 28 at the Cypress Gallery, 119 East Cypress Ave., Lompoc. Info: 737-1129.
COFFEE AND COMPANY presents the art of Terrence McConnell through March 31 in the coffee shop’s Lucman Gallery, 245 Town Center West, Santa Maria. Info: 928-6492.
THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY presents its latest exhibit, “Art Inspired by Mathematics” by artist Fred Ventura, through March 31 in the library’s Shepard Hall Gallery, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. A “Historical Photo Essay of Hispanics on the Central Coast” shows through March 31 in the Santa Maria Public Library’s Popular Library, 421 S. McClelland, Santa Maria. Info: 925-0994, Ext. 177, or dhildinger@ci.santa-maria.ca.us.
THE TOWN CENTER GALLERY currently features the exhibit “Beauty Is …” at the gallery, 321 Town Center West, Santa Maria. Info: bangel4123@aol.com or 934-5152.
GOLD COAST ART AND FRAMES features the works of local artists in various media rotating every three months at 613 E. Main St., Santa Maria. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: 346-6099 or goldcoastartnframes.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 CUESTA COLLEGE ART GALLERY presents the exhibit “Peter Zaleski: Before the Horizon” March 11 through April 3 at the Cuesta College Art Gallery, Highway 1, SLO. An artist talk is in room 7120 on March 12 at 5:30 p.m. followed by a public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the gallery. Info: cuestacollege.edu.
WESTMONT’S REYNOLDS GALLERY presents the exhibits “American Viewing Stones: Selections from the James and Alice Greaves Collection” and “Kiyoshi Saito Prints,” both showing through March 11 in the Reynolds Gallery, Westmont, Santa Barbara. Info: 565-6162 or reynoldsgallery.org.
THE UCSB MULTICULTURAL CENTER presents the art exhibit Realidad Separada by Alvaro Angeles Suman through March 12 at the MultiCultural Center, UCSB, Santa Barbara. Info: 893-8411 or mcc.sa.ucsb.edu.
THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER SANTA BARBARA presents the exhibition “Spring at the JCC,” featuring the works of 40 artists in various media March 14 through June 11 at the Bronfman Family Center, 524 Chapala St., Santa Barbara. An opening reception is March 14 from 3 to 5 p.m. Info: 957-115 or info@sbjf.org.
THE SAN LUIS OBISPO ART CENTER presents “Enthusiastic Encaustic,” featuring works by the Oil, Pastel, and Acrylic Group through March 28 in the McMeen Gallery. The exhibits “Legends” and “Nick Spohrer: Stories” show through April 18. The Oil, Pastel, and Acrylic Group meets March 16 at 7 p.m. in the Nybak Wing. A life drawing class is March 17 from 9 a.m. to noon and 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Nybak Wing. The SLO Art Center is located at 1010 Broad St., SLO. Info: 543-8562 or sloartcenter.org.
THE WILDLING ART MUSEUM presents its new exhibition, “America’s Wilderness in Art: A Growing Collection,” through March 21 at the museum, 2928 San Marcos Ave., Los Olivos. Info: wildlingmuseum.org or 688-1082.
MARILYN DOVER BENSON is the featured artist through March 31 at the Phantom Winery, 211 E Branch St., Arroyo Grande. Info: 937-8108 or donaldbenson2@mac.com.
THE GALLERY AT THE NETWORK presents the featured artist ceramist Bill Shinn through March 31 at the gallery, 778 Higuera St., SLO. Info: 788-0886.
THE C GALLERY presents the art exhibit “Silence and Dirt” by painter Judy Moffson and root sculptor Albert McCurdy through April 14 at the gallery in Los Alamos. Info: 344-3807 or thecgallery.com.
THE ELVERHOJ MUSEUM AND ART presents Essential Landscapes, featuring the works of Phoebe Brunner and Pamela Kendall Schiffer through April 18 at the Elverhoj Museum, 1624 Elverhoy Way, Solvang. Info: 686-1211.
THE SANTA BARBARA CONTEMPORARY ARTS FORUM presents the exhibition “Sanford Bigger: Moon Medicine,” featuring the works of several prominent African American artists, and “Stones” by Melanie Schiff through May 2 at the Forum, 653 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara. Info: 966-5373 or sbcaf.org.
THE SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART presents Delacroix to Monet: Masterpieces of 19th Century Painting from the Walters Museum through May 30 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Info: 884-6430 or kcarl@sbma.net.
HOSPICE OF SANTA BARBARA hosts its first solo art exhibit featuring the art of Angel Valente in the Leigh Block Room, Hospice of Santa Barbara. Info: 563-8820 or hospiceofsantabarbara.org.
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.
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 11-18, 2010.