Learn about how Filipino pioneers shaped Lompoc’s history at an exhibit inside the public library’s Grossman Gallery. The exhibit, “Manongs of the Central Coast: Forming Communities Across Generations,” will be featured in the gallery through April, including a public discussion on April 3 at 6 p.m. Bing Aradanas, a project contributor, was raised in Lompoc […]
Arts
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A few words from the Sun’s political cartoonist
Ross Mayfield claims that his almost 24-year tenure with the Sun fell into his lap, but really, it’s because a reporter saw his sketch of a former county supervisor shooting herself in the foot. Literally. The first time Mayfield appeared in the paper was on July 4, 2002, as the subject of a story. Arts […]
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CalNAM’s newest nature-focused exhibit in Solvang
The next time you’re strolling the streets of Solvang, take a pause to enjoy a gallery of art that celebrates the local environment. A juried exhibit called When the Earth Whispers Back: Nature’s Hope is up at California Nature Art Museum (CalNAM) through Sept. 6. “This exhibition will center on plant and animal species that […]
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Solvang Festival Theatre holds family-friendly ABBA tribute show
Catch ABRA Cadabra’s energetic, family-friendly concert at the Solvang Festival Theatre on April 7 at 7:30 p.m. Audience members will hear classic hits like “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia” from the ABBA tribute band at the intimate, outdoor amphitheater. “We don’t try to pretend we’re ABBA,” Jeanette O’Keefe, the band’s lead vocalist and co-founder, said […]
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A Central Coast artist paints today’s landscapes for tomorrow’s remembrance
When Katy Smith tells people she’s going painting in Orcutt, she gets puzzled looks in return. “They’re like, ‘Where do you paint in Orcutt?’ As if there’s not something here to paint,” Smith said. “There are so many beautiful places in Orcutt to paint, and you just have to stop long enough and take it […]
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Lompoc Pops presents an evening of hits by Ella Fitzgerald
Calling all fans of jazz and American pop hits. The Lompoc Pops Orchestra is performing a show dedicated to Ella Fitzgerald’s portfolio on March 29 at 4 p.m. Audience members will cherish the sounds of nostalgia from the era of soul, guided by the Great American Songbook. Though loosely defined, the songbook is a treasure […]
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A local writer hosts an encouraging book talk in Santa Maria
Paso Robles author Deborah Brasket will discuss why it’s never too late to pursue life’s creative endeavors at the Santa Maria Public Library on March 22. The catalyst for the book talk, Creativity Has No Expiration Date, was the publication of her 2025 debut novel, When Things Go Missing, which she wrote later in life. […]
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Indivisible Lompoc members use arts, crafts to stand up for their beliefs
Artistry has been intertwined with social justice activism for hundreds of years. Quilt patterns gave signals to slaves escaping through the Underground Railroad, one Lompoc resident said. Red knit caps symbolized resistance in Norway during Nazi occupation, another told the Sun. Calls for actionFor more information about joining Indivisible Lompoc’s events, visit indivisiblelompoc.org or follow […]
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Indah Gallery presents a site-specific multimedia exhibit
Roy Vessil’s art will be up at the Indah Gallery in Santa Ynez through April 5. There’s an opening reception for the show, titled Galls and The Secrets of the Universe, on March 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. The show is “an absurd mythos theory of the humble oak gall,” Vessil described in press […]
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Everyone’s welcome to a family dance in Santa Maria
Gather the whole family for some two-stepping and disco moves at the Japanese Community Center on March 28. The theme for this year’s dance is Under the Sea. “Families are invited to dance, play, and connect at this ocean-themed, family-friendly rave,” according to the city. “Enjoy high-energy music, interactive fun, and dazzling lights in a […]
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Discovery beckons all ages and experience levels to the Old Orcutt Yarnery
Lisa Long learned how to knit at a Del Taco 15 years ago. At that point in her life, her routine was a long cycle of working, cooking dinner, studying for her degree, and falling asleep in the early hours of the morning. She needed to reactivate her creative brain. “I called a friend of […]
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Santa Barbara County opens free public art workshop series
In March the county launched Make It: Building a Public Art Practice to help artists of all experience levels plan community-based projects. They’ll receive guidance about all the practical questions that arise when creating public art. The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, an umbrella for creative programs within the county, is offering […]
