Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara is wrapping up another amazing season of big-name performances in Santa Barbara County. The series, which has featured mega-talented Hispanic music and dance ensembles performing and teaching their art, is geared toward youth and family outreach, with free attendance for each concert event.
The last show will feature Los TexManiacs, a Tex Mex and rock fusion group from San Antonio performing in Santa Barbara at Isla Vista School and the Marjorie Luke Theatre. North County is going to be treated to a concert by Los TexManiacs at the Guadalupe City Hall Auditorium; that show will be facilitated by volunteers with the Guadalupe Cultural Arts and Education Center. Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara is a collaboration between UCSB Arts and Lectures and local nonprofits, including the Guadalupe Cultural Arts and Education Center.
“Our goal, in partnership with UCSB, is to bring the arts to the community,” said Karen Evangelista, director for the Guadalupe Cultural Arts and Education Center. “It’s brought our community here in Guadalupe together, and we have received support from the city administration, fire, and police force.”
Los TexManiacs draws from an array of distinct Mexican, American, and Latino styles. The group is teeming with superstars of conjunto and Tex Mex music who all come together to resurrect the century-old style of music from the Texas Rio Grande Valley. The group won a Grammy in 2009 for its album Borders y Bailes and has toured the world since with its distinct, groovy style.
“Our community is excited [and] have heard of them before,” Evangelista said. “It definitely sounds like it is a dancing group, so it is going to be hopping that night.”
Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara was founded to attract big-name, celebrity-level performers to give youth outreach as well as performances to communities that wouldn’t otherwise enjoy a similar event.
“It’s a family program, so these performers usually charge top dollar, and families don’t get to see them,” Evangelista said. “So the idea is to bring the performances to the communities that don’t have the giant theaters and make it free so families can enjoy it.”
The local concert will be presented at the Guadalupe City Hall Auditorium, a large room that holds 300 seats and allows for 200 more standing-only spots before the building is at capacity. The concerts are facilitated and run by volunteers from the Guadalupe Cultural Arts and Education Center with help from the Community Action Committee’s Youth Corps.
“These youth that participate are so organized that I no longer have to put out chairs,” Evangelista said. “I don’t have to worry about set up or clean up; they always offer above and beyond what is needed.”
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts and Education Center recently changed homes with the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center on Guadalupe Street, which gives the former a larger footprint to hang community art shows and provide information about culture and art in Guadalupe.
“Our nonprofit has been expanding, not just as a family, but what we want to offer too,” Evangelista said. “We are going to open up our gift shop in May with an art exhibit; we are committed to providing space for local artists.”
The support the Guadalupe Cultural Arts and Education Center receives from the community and other fundraising methods help fund special outreach programs including Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara.
“It’s been really, really gratifying on our part as a partner in Viva,” Evangelista said. “When UCSB and the partners sit down together, you can feel it: We are all very proud.”
Words, wine, and music
Lucia’s Wine Co. offers an open mic featuring wine, poetry, and live music on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the tasting room, 126 East Clark Ave., Orcutt. More info: 332-3080.
Live at Addamo
The Addamo Tasting Room and Bistro presents “Wine Down Wednesdays” featuring live music on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 400 E. Clark, Old Orcutt. Free. More info: 937-6400 or Bethany@addamovineyards.com.
Live from L.A.
O’Sullivan’s Pub holds an open mic night for musicians and rappers accompanied by a musician on April 9 starting at 8 p.m. at 633 E. Main St., Santa Maria. More info: 925-0658 or osullivanspub.net.
Maverick music
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment, including live country by J.D. Bernal Band with Just Dave on April 5 at 8:45 p.m., followed by “Late Night with guest DJs” at 11:30 p.m. “Concert on the Deck” featuring Just Dave is April 6 at 3 p.m. The J.D. Bernal Band with Dave Bernal perform live on April 6 at 8:45 p.m., followed by “Late Night with guest DJs” at 11:30 p.m. at the saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 4-11, 2013.