SHELLY CONE, Author at Santa Maria Sun

Christmas magic

A local production of The Nutcracker celebrates a milestone with this season’s performance

by SHELLY CONE November 16, 2011April 12, 2023

Nutcracker 25 years ago. Though the memory is vivid in her mind, she still can’t wrap her head around the fact that this month marks the 25th production. When she first moved to Santa Maria, Zink, artistic director for Everybody Can DANCE and the Santa Maria Civic Ballet, found some summer and mid-season productions, but […]

News

Love him or hate him, he’s leaving

Santa Maria says goodbye to City Manager Tim Ness and hello to Rick Haydon

by SHELLY CONE November 10, 2011September 5, 2024

People react to change in different ways. Some embrace it, while others view it with suspicion. Reactions of all types kicked into high gear after the recent cluster of retirement announcements within Santa Maria city management. Fire Chief Jeff Jones announced he would be retiring Dec. 19, Chief Deputy City Clerk Pat Perez will step […]

Music, Arts & Culture

Celebrate 25 years of Nutcracker on the Central Coast

by SHELLY CONE November 9, 2011August 5, 2023

Everybody Can DANCE and the Santa Maria Civic Ballet will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its Nutcracker production with performances at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27, at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks in Arroyo Grande. The performance will include international dances, music […]

Music, Arts & Culture

Get a taste of Latino art

by SHELLY CONE November 9, 2011April 12, 2023

“Sabor—A Taste of Latino Artists from the Central Coast” will feature the art of seven Latino artists exploring both traditional and contemporary Mexican subjects through Nov. 23 at Arts Space Obispo, 570 Higuera St., suite 175. Artists include Carlos Diaz of San Luis Obispo; Valinda Gallea of Nipomo; Alvaro Angeles Suman, Jorge Hernåndez, and Maria […]

Music, Arts & Culture

Light and water

Hancock instructors share their underwater explorations in an exhibit at Foxworthy Gallery

by SHELLY CONE November 9, 2011June 17, 2024

When they met, Tim Webb and Michele Simonsen discovered they shared a love of photography and filmmaking. Then Simonsen introduced Webb to Trininty River in Northern California, which inspired their latest show “Threshold: Over and Under Water Photography.” The show includes water-themed photography by the Allan Hancock College film and video instructors taken over years […]

Music, Arts & Culture

Peek into Santa Ynez artists’ studios

by SHELLY CONE November 1, 2011April 12, 2023

The seventh annual Santa Ynez Valley Artists’ Studio Tour will run from Nov. 18 to 20, allowing art patrons to tour the unique and private studios of 30 area artists. The tour kicks off on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. with a reception at the Wildling Art Museum in Los Olivos. The reception is […]

Music, Arts & Culture

See work by Sharon Tate

by SHELLY CONE November 1, 2011April 12, 2023

November is a month for Sharon Tate, whose work will be on display in the Guild Room at 2920 Grand Ave. in Los Olivos. The space is dedicated to members of the Artists Guild of the Santa Ynez Valley. She’s a UCLA graduate with a major in apparel design, which led to her spending several […]

Music, Arts & Culture

Burton Mesa exhibit reception

by SHELLY CONE November 1, 2011April 12, 2023

The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission will be host to a dedication and reception on Saturday, Nov. 5, for Allan Hancock College photography and graphics instructor Kam Jacoby’s installation, titled “Burton Mesa: A Closer Look.” The public is welcome to attend this community event, where, after a brief dedication ceremony at 3 p.m., everyone will […]

Music, Arts & Culture

Looking back

Mel Felix offers a retrospective on his photographic career

by SHELLY CONE November 1, 2011April 12, 2023

Photographer Mel Felix has a rebellious streak. He likes to break the rules. It’s an urge he’s had his whole life, but fortunately he keeps his rule breaking to his artwork. With a background in advertising design and marketing, Felix made a career of staying within the lines, so to speak. Now that his art […]

Music, Arts & Culture

Knowing when to quit

Even when it’s boring, troublesome and intrusive Facebook can be mighty addictive

by SHELLY CONE November 1, 2011April 12, 2023

A couple of weeks ago, I started feeling this slight knocking against my temple. It slowly built in intensity until suddenly it was a stinging slap upside the head. It was my Sense of Self-Respect, and it asked me, “Why aren’t you over this Facebook thing already?” Dazed, I replied, “I’m still having fun with […]

Music, Arts & Culture

Life on the inside

Poetic Justice Project delivers a performance of Women Behind the Walls at Alcatraz

by SHELLY CONE October 25, 2011August 17, 2023

A group of former inmates recently voluntarily went behind bars again, joining together to spend the night at Alcatraz as part of the Poetic Justice Project. “It was, for me, being an ex-con and having been locked up before, an awesome thing to be on the island and be with there with the other guys […]

Music, Arts & Culture

Creating a monster

Filmed mostly on the Central Coast, Primitive premieres at the Palm

by SHELLY CONE October 19, 2011April 12, 2023

How do you create a monster? Where does the scare come from? When Allan Hancock College film alum and former Arroyo Grande resident Benjamin Cooper developed the monster for his latest film Primitive, he grappled with finding the best way to manifest that one thing that frightens everyone. “I was trying to figure out what […]