Opening night of the Rumble Art Fair 2009

Below is an article that I’m cross-posting about next years Rumble Art which was sent to me by the good people at Art From Scrap.

The organizers of Rumble Art have opened a call for artists until October.

You can find the submission form here.

“Santa Barbara Arts Scene Struck by ‘Rumble’ Thunder”

By Daniel Gutsche

Some say that in this economy, tourism is one of the most vital weapons against gross financial decay. We then, as residents of the paradisal 805, hold prime spectatorship in the slow, upward swing to recovery. From its historic Spanish landmarks to its exquisite beachside eateries, Santa Barbara is a dreamy destination for all. The sand is always warm, the people are always thriving, and the tourism is always up. Now, with the help of a new art fair in town, SoCal’s sunniest enclave might just shine brighter than ever.

When Rumble Art debuted this January, everyone was surprised. In spite of a few tenacious art spaces, Santa Barbara had yet to see a revolutionary outlet for creative thought. Rumble burst onto the scene with a worldly perspective on painting, sculpture, drawing, film, photography, and mixed media art – doing so, notably, without sacrificing a strong local presence. In addition to selecting from within the community, it showed artists from New York, Los Angeles, Argentina, and Macedonia. “I’m thrilled to have artists from around the globe participate in Rumble. Each one brings a unique story to the table, further engaging us in international discourse about the contemporary world,” says Rumble Art Director Ashley Woods.

After welcoming thousands of visitors during the grand opening, Rumble had established a new forum of expressive dialogue. Woods, alongside her swanky Rumble Art team, had flagged a previously unexplored front of Santa Barbara culture, and with minimal preparation. Crediting much of the fair’s success to artist, philanthropist, and financial backer Morris B. Squire, Woods comments, “Morris helped give rise to Rumble by blindly funding an idea of three young professionals. In five months, he gave us the tools we needed to put it into action, and he continues to mentor the fair with an immense devotion to the contemporary arts.”

With the second annual showcase around the corner, however, there is little time to celebrate the imperial success of Rumble ‘09. February 2010 flaunts a Rumble Art sophomore edition, to be themed “Sex and Politics.” Though the managers are accepting submissions through October, a few worthy virtuosos have already been selected for the upcoming showcase. Of particular interest is Rumble co-founder and world-traveled photographer Clinton Kyle Hollister, who will be returning to the exhibition with a fresh body of local and international artists.

Rumble expects that with this surplus of new faces, visitor turnouts will improve drastically from the previous year. Out-of-towners will already be aplenty – thanks to strategic coincidence with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival – but are expected to multiply with the Rumble craze. “As a sixth-generation native of Santa Barbara, I am excited to open up the community to the international art world” Hollister says in anticipation of Rumble 2010.

Leading into the fair, which is scheduled for February of 2010, Woods and company plan to attract Santa Barbara tourists with several interim projects. As of July 2nd, the Rumble team has begun a series of monthly film screenings, which will take place at hotspot restaurants Alcazar and Milk & Honey. Additionally, they have signed on with Design Within Reach for a Fall “teaser” gallery before the fair. In light of these endeavors, Rumble continues to underscore the Santa Barbara arts community in a novel approach. Under Woods’ guidance, the city has emerged not only as a major contender in the arts arena, but as a venue for tomorrow’s most promising virtuosos.