Arts

In a time when America is uncertain, teetering on change, watching as the American Dream is called into question by middle-class citizens, it’s comforting to be reminded that this country has always been that way. And that there’s always been glimmers of opportunity, hope, and the freedom to dream. In Ragtime, the characters struggle with […]

It’s hard to believe that, with its lunch hour traffic, expansive housing developments, and myriad big box stores, Santa Maria once housed a mere 3,500 people, a few horses, a train, and some oil drills. What’s harder to believe is that many of Santa Maria’s current senior citizens remember those days from their childhood. The […]

Elizabeth Monks Hack considers herself an “art person.” From crayons to paintbrushes, she feels most at home when she’s expressing herself on canvas—so much so that she doesn’t remember ever becoming an artist. She’s always been one. “I just remember doing very big crayon drawings and scraping the crayon off and creating different textures with […]

When it comes to painting, Barbara Alloway can’t help herself. She likens the art to tying her shoes: It’s something that has to be done, although she admits, “Tying your shoes isn’t as much fun.” Alloway is a Central Coast abstract painter who likes to mix acrylics, metals, and foil. Her collections have been shown […]

Ever walked into a building and thought “If only these walls could talk?” Well they do, to photographer Collette Christel. From the romanticism of a crumbling castle to the majesty of a towering bridge, Christel sees inspiration in the structures most people use on a daily basis, and through her photography she tries to convey that […]

Some people create art for a living and others are living works of art. Dawn Shute is the latter. Shute carries the philosophy that you should dare to be different in your clothing and in your life, that you have to be satisfied with yourself and in what you create. She also carries a denim […]

It’s a dream that’s been around as long as rock’n’roll itself: being in a band, being a rock star, playing music to adoring masses. While most dreamers actually only get as far as perfecting their air guitar and that fake, muffled audience scream, some get pretty close to the real thing. Santa Maria resident Paul […]

Inflation and a weak economy have given rise to a summer phenomenon called the “staycation”—in other words, staying home rather than taking a trip to Disney World. The trend stems from a budget-conscious mindset that Americans—especially families—are increasingly adopting. To celebrate the beginning of summer, I thought I’d try it. I laid out my plans […]

It was a sad day at the Town Center Gallery as artists filtered in and out of the space, taking their artwork down and packing boxes. On June 13, the walls were bare at the rent-free venue where local painters, sculptors, and other artisits have displayed their work for the last three years. A group […]