Joe Payne

A public library should represent an entire community. Truly meant for everyone, a good library offers limitless access (other than hours of operation, of course) to information, art, and other important resources. To that end, the Santa Maria Public Library operates its Shepard Hall as a venue for artists to present their works for a […]

A good idea can arrive without a moment’s notice. Hopefully when that idea comes, you’ll be ready with pen and paper, as was local author James T. “Tom” Lanier when the idea for his debut book, Finney’s First Flight, came to him. “Frankly, the whole idea just popped in my head,” he said. “All the […]

The Central Coast is teeming with talent, and among the many artists who call the area home are actors. Many actors. Between PCPA, Cal Poly, UCSB, and the myriad community theaters dotting the coast, throngs of thespians make up quite the community. A rare chance for local actors is approaching in the form of a […]

Hearst Castle has been a landmark on the Central Coast ever since it was completed in the 1940s. But it wasn’t until 1957, when the location was donated to the state of California by the Hearst Corporation, that it became a national historical landmark. Before you visit the grand location, you should know that there […]

Santa Barbara County represents a diverse cultural palette and therefore yields a bevy of artistic institutions and groups. Viva el Arte de Santa Bàrbara is a coalition of local groups that aims to serve the community by spicing up the artistic offerings with free community performances of Latino music and dance. For its most recent […]

The bald eagle, apart from being our national bird and the subject of much patriotism, has come to symbolize triumph in its own right. The majestic bird has soared its way off the endangered species list and has been successfully repopulating its habitats for many years. Usually calling the northern part of the United States […]

Nature has always been the largest inspiration for the art world, and each generation of artists discovers a close relationship with the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. So is the case with local artist Marilyn Stankewich, whose exhibit “Take Nature Home” is showing through the month at Lompoc’s Grossman Gallery. A Lompoc resident herself, Stankewich […]