This just came to me through the CAF email list. If you are still looking for a place to host your company’s Holiday Party, this would be a cool place to have it and you’d be helping out a worthy cause. Everybody wins…

Party at CAF, Anyone?

The next time you feel like a nice Sushi dinner head to Arigato where local photographer Jeff Clark has some stunning large photos up on the wall. The subjects are various from the Bonneville Speed Week to the wing of an airplane, but all the photos share an intense level of detail which them quite hypnotic. Added to this is a strange surreal beauty with traces of past human presence, but a feeling of apocalyptic emptiness. One of the things that I have always loved about photography is the way a great photographer can find a way of looking at a scene that totally transforms it into something new and different. These photos are wonderful examples of this and really must be seen in person to fully appreciate their scale. Everything about them is immense.

It’s not like you really need a good excuse to head to Arigato, but try to find the time to get there before the end of the year to check out these wonderful photos. Jeff’s also got a great website where you can see more of his work.

First Thursdays are always fun. At the very least it gives a feeling of festivity and excitement to downtown that isn’t there any other night of the month. Last night was no exception.

John Nava's CHECK OUT

There were tons of people out enjoying the atmosphere, if not the art. However, there was lots of really wonderful shows up, so hopefully people put down the wine and cheese long enough to appreciate the art. I started the evening as I usually do at Sullivan Goss.

In the second room of the lower half of the gallery is a painting by John Nava that is worth a trip to the gallery all by itself. I could stand in front of this painting for ages. You really need to go and see this one for yourself. Next stop was across La Arcada to the Edward Cella Gallery. For the second month in a row, this gallery has some amazing work in it. Last month’s Ann Diener show was stunning and this month’s show is just as exciting.

George Legrady’s show Stardust consists of a series of prints that use data from NASA to create artistic renderings of objects in space and the results are gorgeous. Legrady is a professor in the Media Arts and Technology (MAT) department at UCSB.

George Legrady's STARDUST III

For those of you who are interested in high tech art or exploring the relationship between science and art, keep your eyes and ears out for anything coming out of the MAT. There is a lot of creative genius floating around in that department, which often leads to some mindblowing art.

Next stop was Studio 3 East, above the Starbucks on De la Guerra St. I had never been there before because from the street level it always looks overcrowded. Now I understand why. It is an incredible, intimate, quirky space that in my experience is totally unique in Santa Barbara. On my first trip around the space I didn’t even notice if there was any art being shown. Eventually I made my way into a very small studio away from the main space where Ashley Dart was showing a group of large paintings of anamorphic figures in textured silhouette. The paintings were grand in scale, but retained a feeling of playfulness that matched the fantasy of the figures themselves. However, in such a small space these large figures made the room feel crowded even when you were there by yourself. So I headed back down the stairs and back on to the street, checking out a lovely painting by Erika Carter at the top of the stairs as I went.

I had hoped to continue on from here to Frameworks and the Brooks Gallery, but decided it was time to call it a night. If you went to either of these shows, or any other great First Thursday exhibits, please let us know what you thought.

The Independent has a nice article explaining what to expect from Shana Lutker’s performance here.

This just in from City College:

small images 2008 November 14 – December 12

Ingathering: Saturday, November 8, 9–12am

Reception: Friday, November 14, 5–7pm

Awards ceremony at 6pm

To enter the small images competition artwork must be hand delivered to Atkinson Gallery on Saturday, November 8, between 9–12am.

Pick-up for non-selected work is the same day from 4–6pm.

Work can be no larger than 18 inches in any direction, including frame. Work will not be accepted unless it is ready to hang. 3D work also must be 18 inches or less in any direction, excluding pedestal.

Media accepted: Drawing, Ceramics, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Artists Books.

$15 entry fee; each additional entry $10. Maximum of 3 entries.

The Gallery is located in the Humanities building, East Campus

CASH AWARDS

Juror: Daniel Dove, Artist/ Assistant Professor in the Art Department

Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo. He exhibits with Jack

Shainman Gallery, New York City and Cherry and Martin Gallery, Los Angeles. Mr. Dove is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Texas.