SHELLY CONE

In a world of technological advances capable of creating devastating weapons, one of the most powerful weapons remains something innate to humans: a voice. Sometimes that voice starts simply and quietly, as in a diary, before building in power. Other times it starts out as a personal, yet powerful testament that delivers a great message […]

Discover it. Howl at it. Dance under it. Halloween weekend revelers can bask in the moon’s glory in a variety of creative ways at the Lunacy Music and Arts Festival at Live Oak Campground. Whether it’s dancing to some funky beats or seeking inner tranquility, Lunacy revelers can find the perfect place to fit in […]

For people who have a creative streak but who haven’t pursued a career in the arts, there may be few opportunities to exhibit. That reality is what made the return of the National Arts Program to Santa Maria so exciting for city and school district employees. The program gives artists who wouldn’t ordinarily have the […]

Cloudy, rainy, and muddy. There’s no better weather to take a trip to the pumpkin patch—if you’re a preschooler. Though the weather was less than ideal, a troop of preschoolers from the YMCA didn’t seem to mind as they stomped and splashed their way around Avila Valley Barn on their annual trip to the pumpkin […]

This year’s Dimensions in Dance will welcome back the talent and creative footwork of two alumni who have been making their mark in the professional world of dance. Courtney Rosemont and Marco Cruz will add their choreography to the upcoming annual fall production of Dimensions in Dance, which runs Oct. 11 to 14 in the […]

There’s something strange going on around Dr. Seward’s Asylum for the Insane, and it’s not just the antics of the patients. A difficult patient, a sick young ward, and a mysterious newcomer create the setup for a spooky and humorous evening as Lompoc Civic Theatre presents Count Dracula by Ted Tiller. Based on Bram Stoker’s […]

Standing in front of businesses, sitting on benches, perched on the sidewalk, scarecrows will soon take over Solvang, acting as ambassadors of the fall season and giving the city a festive atmosphere. The Scarecrow Festival and Fall Frolic takes place throughout the Solvang downtown area and the greater Santa Ynez Valley. Merchants are encouraged to […]

Known as the Valley of Arts and Flowers, Lompoc offers an abundance of inspirational scenes, and Sylvia Cummings Kokatnur can count herself among the artists for whom the Lompoc Valley has become a muse. Her locally inspired work makes up “Around Town and Beyond,” the latest exhibit at the Lompoc Museum of Art. Kokatnur likes […]

Old Orcutt been coming alive recently with a host of new restaurants, wine tasting rooms, and boutiques. It’s also set to come alive in temporary, vivid, colorful strokes of chalk as the Old Orcutt Street Paining and Art Festival takes place. Families, the community, and professional artists will come together to focus on kids for […]

What does it take to get a community to come together to discuss topics that affect everyone? It takes the effort of dedicated people, some well-developed events, and a bit of fiscal assistance. Thanks to a grant from the Cal Humanities department, an independent nonprofit state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Lompoc […]