THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION presents “The Essential Worker,” featuring pictures by 10 area photographers, Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Feb. 13 at the Betteravia Government Center, 511 E Lakeside, Santa Maria. Info: 568-3994.
THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY presents the art exhibit, A Window into Argentine Palettes, featuring the works of 11 Argentine artists through Feb. 27 at the Shepard Hall, Santa Maria Public Library, 421 McClelland St., Santa Maria. Info: 925-0951, Ext. 117.
THE LOMPOC PHOTOGRAPHERS GUILD presents its 2009 Exhibition through Feb. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Southside Coffee Company, 105 H St., Lompoc. Info: 733-4944 or gstroup200@yahoo.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 GALLERY ON BRIDGE STREET presents “Fine Art for Romantics,” featuring works by local artists Feb. 12 through March 16 at the gallery. An opening reception is Feb. 15 from 3 to 6 p.m. The gallery is located at 136 Bridge St., Arroyo Grande. Info: 489-8865 or galleryonbridgestreet.com.
THE SANTA BARBARA CONTEMPORARY ARTS FORUM presents Pink Elephants and Champagne, a benefit and auction featuring art, wine, and champagne on Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. at the forum, 653 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara. Info: 966-5373, Ext. 104.
THE C GALLERY presents “Flying and Dancing” featuring the art of Stephanie Bast and Albert McCurdy through Feb. 26 at the gallery, 466 Bell St., Los Alamos. Info: 344-3807 or thecgallery.com.
THE BROOKS INSTITUTE GALLERY presents the art show “Under the Sea” through Feb. 27 at the gallery, 27 East Cota St., Santa Barbara.
GALLERY LOS OLIVOS presents a “New Perspectives Show” through Feb. 28 at the gallery in Loc Olivos. Info: 969-2747.
THE SAN LUIS OBISPO ART CENTER presents “The Hungry Planet: What the World Eats” photo-documentary show through March 1 in the Gray Wing. “Season of Rice [agri]culture of the East and West” by Patty Arnold shows through Feb. 28. “Rollie Younger: Tea Time for Post-Industrialists,” is an exhibition of boiler teapots, through March 1 in the Art Center’s first gallery, 1010 Broad St., SLO. Info: 543-8562.
CAL POLY’S Kennedy Library presents “Strive and Struggle: Documenting the Civil Rights Movement at Cal Poly, 1967-1975” in the library through March 1 at the library, Cal Poly, SLO. Info: 756-2305 or lib.calpoly.edu/about/hours.
UC SANTA BARBARA’S University Art Museum presents the art of Shana Lutker, Anna Sew Hoy, and Brenna Youngblood through March 1 in the University Art Gallery, UCSB, Santa Barbara. Info: 893-2951 or uam.ucsb.edu.
THE SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART presents the exhibit Picasso on Paper: Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection through Feb. 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 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 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 Feb 12-19, 2009.
