Five years ago a small group of Lompoc-based artists inspired by street and urban art sought a venue where they could share their work. What began as an informal and underground event began to thrive. It’s continued since, and First Thursdays has welcomed artists of all ages and styles to take part in the pop-up-style quarterly art show.
There are four First Thursday events every year, explained Phrankie Guerrero, one of the founding artists of the series. The second event of the year happens June 2 from 6 to 10 p.m. at New Lows, a graphics, screen-printing, and urban apparel shop in Lompoc.
“That’s where First Thursdays was founded, between me and Ben Barrick, who basically opened up his doors and gave the community an opportunity to share their work,” Guerrero said. “And he’s hosted it ever since.”
Barrick is the owner of New Lows, Guerrero said, who continues to offer his business as First Thursdays’ home. Experienced artists contribute work to the themed events, which show next to the art of young artists showing for the first time.
Artists can submit a piece days in advance or show up the day of the event with their work, Guerrero said. As long as there is room on the wall, they can show.
“It’s very informal, we don’t discriminate,” he said. “The platform is that we’re not the art authority saying what is good art or bad art.”
The inclusiveness of First Thursdays has transformed the event over the years from a smaller, underground show, to a well-attended and respected community event.
Guerrero has backed off the planning a bit, and New Lows Art Director Louie Regalado currently organizes the First Thursdays events. Regalado has seen firsthand the varied audiences that make it out to First Thursdays, he told the Sun.
“I remember one show, [there was] this average guy with shorts and tattoos who has his kid up on his shoulders, and he’s looking at this piece,” Regalado said, “and he turns to the left and sees this guy in a suit, who’s the DA that is prosecuting a case against him, and they’re standing right there looking at the same art piece.”
The meeting was amicable, Regalado said, with both men shaking hands and chatting about the art show. It’s just one poignant but atypical illustration of the small town experience of Lompoc and its art community at First Thursdays.
Regalado explained that his own interest in street art—specifically graffiti—got him involved in some trouble in his youth. Part of the inspiration for First Thursdays was to give young and old artists alike a chance to share their creativity on even ground.
“It’s a blessing to be able to give opportunities to people in our community,” Regalado said. “Now people are happy with my artwork and what I’m doing. I’m doing the same thing—painting and making art with my friends—but now it’s through a positive outlet.”
The theme for the First Thursday event on June 2 is black and white photography, Regalado said, and the next event might be something more colorful, like neon that shines bright under a black light. By offering a theme, First Thursdays can help inspire artists to create something new or outside their comfort zone for one event while looking forward to the next one.
Each quarterly show also includes some kind of live performance, usually music, but first-time dancers or musicians are welcome as well. The inclusiveness is a way to bring the community together in Lompoc within the arts community and beyond, Guerrero explained.
“People believed there was that separation, of those who are the people who do art, and we’re over here doing street art, or art that wasn’t widely or publicly accepted as art,” he said. “But this was to bridge the gap and say, ‘Hey, this is all art,’ and we aren’t going to say one is better than the other, even if it’s counter culture or high brow or low brow.”
Arts Editor Joe Payne’s brows go high and low. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 2-9, 2016.