Arts

Apparently, muses don’t wear watches. At least that’s the case for artist Rocky Stroup, whose muse is a bit of a night owl. The painter, sculptor, and photographer said his inspiration comes to him in the twilight state between dreaming and waking. In that way, his art becomes his tangible dreams, which have given birth […]

Beauty and the Beast. Othello. Les Miserables. They aren’t just world-class productions in London or New York City—they’re productions delighting audiences in the Santa Maria Valley, courtesy of PCPA. Like many other theaters in the country, however, PCPA may not be able to produce such shows for much longer. In fact, the recession has trickled […]

Until recently, the outer walls of the Allan Hancock College Atkinson Lifelong Learning Center were bare—a stark contrast to the colorful environment of learning, community, and creativity fostered by the program. Some of the center’s excitement began to spill outside those walls, however, drawing together a group of people and resources that would make it […]

The Central Coast landscape, with its vine-snaked hills, has inspired many local artists. The beauty of simply meandering through lush vineyard grounds awakens the senses for artists and non-artists alike. Though the landscape provides a jumping-off point for artist Marilyn Dover Benson, her flash of inspiration came in the form of a venue. Benson found […]

Prior to the unveiling of the Lompoc Photographers Guild’s first exhibition, pictures covered in brown paper hung on the walls of the Southside Coffee Company in Lompoc. Suspense built. The obscured works were marked simply “Lompoc Photography Guild.” Growing curiosity ultimately prompted dozens of curious patrons to show up for the unveiling. “We were amazed […]

Sometimes a place to show art is as important as the use of a particular medium or style used to create a piece. Without an appropriate venue, after all, art has a difficult time finding an audience. The Betteravia Gallery is different than most show spaces. It’s tucked between the county clerk recorder-assessor’s office and […]