Martin Johnsen notices the simple things in life. Despite how it sounds, it’s not an easy task. Most people don’t actually do it, he said. Think about what’s around us every day: a gritty old sign, a crumbling building, the way the light reflects off an empty street. When Johnsen sees them, he sees art. […]
SHELLY CONE
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Artists needed
The Shepard Hall Gallery is calling for artist submissions for its Small Works Juried Exhibition. The call is open for artists who live in Santa Barbara County as far south as Santa Ynez, up to the Five Cities area in San Luis Obispo County. The exhibition will run from March 5 through April 16. Entries […]
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PCPA wants you to ACT NOW
PCPA is seeking donors for its annual ACT NOW! Scholarship Appeal campaign. The campaign needs $125,000 to continue its support of the actors and technicians who support the work onstage, backstage, and in the classrooms and labs. PCPA Theaterfest awards more than $500,000 in scholarships each year. The funds allow interns, guest artists, and students […]
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Making it happen
Santa Maria musician Joe Chavira is making his mark with the release of an album
Santa Maria musician and artist Joe Chavira has a philosophy he likes to lay on beginning musicians: “The best way in life is just teach yourself everything.” And he has. After learning guitar from his father at the age of 7, Chavira went on to teach himself piano, drums, and just about every other instrument. […]
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On display
Student art takes center stage at Hancock
Art theory is great, but art in practice is even better. This month, Allan Hancock College art students get to bring their art lessons out of the classroom to put their creativity on display for the public. The annual Fine Arts Student Art Show is now up in Allan Hancock College’s Ann Foxworthy Gallery. […]
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Wildling is for the birds
The Wildling Art Museum is offering birding classes with noted naturalist and birder Dr. Fred Emerson from 9 to 11a.m. the third Saturday morning of the month Feb. 19 through May 21. Emerson will discuss the local ecology and natural history of each site visited. Because of the late rains last year, spring should arrive […]
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Views, big and small
The Town Center Gallery will display large and small views of the world: Martin Johnsen’s pastel drawings and Beth Ostapuik’s Pysanky Ukrainian eggs. The public is invited to a reception for the featured artists from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 18. Johnsen will show 12 pastel drawings he refers to as “cityscapes.” His subjects […]
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Notes from France
Pierre Bensusan will appear this month on the All About Guitar community access television show
World-renowned French guitarist Pierre Bensusan sat in the middle of the Santa Maria community television studio, waiting for his cue as a small cadre of guests and technicians looked on. He broke the silence by scatting. Then his guitar joined in, filling the room with a harmonious sound that was both familiar and foreign—definitely a […]
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Watch your Steps!
The 39 Steps is a must see for a good laugh
PCPA should run a disclaimer for audiences at its latest presentation, The 39 Steps: “Warning. Possible risk of whiplash.” That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The play is actually exciting, like a roller coaster or fast-paced carnival ride. There are moments of witty dialogue, incredibly funny on-stage costume changes, and unbelievable situations. The laughs come […]
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Rewriting history
A Santa Maria Red Cross volunteer introduces a Santa Barbara woman to a past she never knew
On any given day, people building family histories discover new information about their genealogy. The revelations tend to be interesting, but not often earth shattering. They may find a new relative here or there, maybe word of an interesting career or a love story. Nearly 1.4 million subscribers search Ancestry.com’s databases for help tracing their […]
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Grab your brush and palette
The 11th annual Brush & Palette Art Show will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 6 at the Foxenwood Tennis & Swim Club, 1087 Clubhouse Drive in Santa Maria. Enjoy complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres while browsing various works of art from eight artists. Enter to win a gift basket. Admission is […]
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Wildling announces new board members
The Wildling Art Museum announced the election of Kathleen Kalp and Judy Stapelmann to its Board of Directors. Kalp is a senior vice president of Northern Trust and has been the lead portfolio manager for the Northern Trust Large Cap Core Portfolio since 2004. She just completed two terms as a member of the Board […]
