Santa Barbara, CA – Water, water, everywhere and there will be plenty of it to drink as Anderson ART Collective (http://www.andersonARTcollective.com) hosts the NIKA Clean Water Festival on Saturday, May 1st in conjunction with their “Just Add Water” show featuring the oil paintings of contemporary artist Benjamin Anderson (http://benjaminanderson.com).

“Each show at Anderson ART Collective benefits a non-profit chosen by the artist(s),” reports Leigh-Anne Anderson, gallery director. “For this one, Benjamin decided to donate a percentage of his sales to non-profit NIKA Water (http://www.nikawater.org) which donates 100% of their profits to creating drinkable water solutions in the developing world. We are stepping it up even more with a full on festival raising awareness of the global water crisis. The gallery is only steps from the beach and NIKA FEST will be the perfect Santa Barbara weekend afternoon happening with fine art, music, food, wine, a good cause, sun and perhaps a stroll on the sand.”

NIKA Clean Water Day Festival will take place at the gallery from noon-4pm on Saturday the first of May at the historic Henry Fish Seed Company Building 410 Palm Avenue in Carpinteria. Admission is free and the public is invited to come and experience fine art, tunes and tasty cuisine with proceeds going to NIKA. Island Brewing Company’s signature beers and local wines will be available for those of drinking age and Delgado’s of Carpinteria will provide some of the food that has made them famous. Two popular eco-minded bands, Free Radical Scavenger and Dalai Sonido will be adding their vibe to the festivities.

In the gallery, the water inspired paintings by Anderson carry the theme of the festival to another realm, with large, monumental oils, including a nearly 14 foot painting of a Spitfire plane, partially submerged in water. The show, which closes in Carpinteria on May 9, will open as a solo show for Anderson at the Blank Space Gallery in Chelsea, NY on June 10.

The word “nika” means “to give” in Zulu and giving is the intention of NIKA Water.
Donating 100 percent of its profits to alleviate global poverty and creating drinkable water solutions in the developing world, NIKA takes an environmentally responsible approach to combating this global crisis.  NIKA is CarbonFree® certified and offsets it carbon footprint, by funding the planting of trees in a “NIKA Forest” in Nicaragua to naturally absorb carbon from the atmosphere and by recycling one plastic bottle for every NIKA bottle created. Based in San Diego and founded by locals, the new brand is currently sold online in case quantities for home and business delivery. The water comes from the Sierras as the snow melts each year and then is purified through a state of the art, multi-stage vapor distilling process to create not only a crisp, carbon neutral beverage, but one that also gives back. NIKA representatives will be on hand at the gallery to share information about the global situation and NIKA’s current projects.

For more information about the festival and the gallery call 805.684.8783 or Google Anderson ART Collective and NIKA Water.

Anderson ART Collective is located at 410 Palm Avenue, A2, in Carpinteria, CA in the historic Henry Fish Seed Company building at the entrance to Carpinteria State Beach and is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon until 5pm or by appointment. The gallery features contemporary artwork by Ron Anderson, Benjamin Anderson and Sean Anderson and is a platform to promote the arts, to protect the environment and to support human rights. For more information go to www.andersonARTcollective.com or call 805.684.8783.

I have made no secret of the fact that I am a huge fan of the Anderson Art Collective in Carpinteria. Brothers Sean and Ben Anderson are talented, ambitious, and incredibly generous young artists, which is why I feel a bit guilty for not making the short trip to Carp to visit their gallery more often, especially considering that the Andersons are putting together some of the most exciting shows you are going to find anywhere in the Santa Barbara area. The upcoming show of work by Ben Anderson is a perfect example.

If you have only seen pictures of Ben’s work it is easy to see that they are beautiful, clever, and skillfully executed paintings. But as with all great paintings, you have to stand in front of the real thing to get a true sense of its worth. This is especially true for this series of paintings, many of which are of a scale that goes far beyond what the average viewer will have encountered before. At nearly 14 feet long, “Spitfire Deluded” (pictured below) is truly epic in proportion. And to fully take in work of this size you almost have to be standing 14 feet away.

However, as you approach the paintings and are no longer able to take in the entire image, the shapes become abstractions and the simple beauty of color and texture become the focus. The most spectacular example of this near/far duality is found in “7 Girls”, who dissolve into an Ab Ex collection of bright, gestural brushstrokes as you approach.

I could go on, but the point is that you must go to see them in person. The are any number of things you could do with yourself this Saturday, but if you are an art lover (and if you are reading this the chances are good), then the best thing you could possibly do in the Santa Barbara area this Saturday evening is go to the show to see for yourself.

See details below.

I was so busy last week that I neglected to get the word out about a new show down in Carpinteria at the Anderson Art Collective. Sean Anderson has a show of works up that were done in or inspired by his humanitarian trips to Bolivia. The opening was last weekend, but if you are in Carpinteria or heading down that way, make sure to put this exhibit on your itinerary. As with all the shows that the Andersons put on, this sales from the show help to raise money for their various philanthropic interests.

To learn the specifics of the show, click here.

And to learn more about the Anderson’s arsenal of artistic projects, check out their homepage here.

This new press release just landed in my inbox from the hard working Anderson family down in Carpinteria. You really have to give it to these guys for coming up with interesting and clever ideas. Complete with canvas, stencils, brushes and even glitter this new street art kit seems like a nice gift an young art-loving friend or family member.

I’ve posted the press release below. The opening reception is this Friday the 25th of September at 5pm. Make sure to stop by the Andersons’ beautiful gallery the next time you are in Carpinteria.

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New Art Kit makes artists out of EVERYONE.

Ever fancied yourself an Artist? Now is your time to shine. Brothers and accomplished contemporary artists Benjamin Anderson and Sean Anderson have collaborated to create the first ever d-i-y “Street ART Kit”. Now this is no blank canvas. They give you all the tools and more to create a true masterpiece of urban art.

M-E-Y-K {made to – express – your – kinetics} is a creative platform empowering individuals to find their own creativity. {Kinetics – your energy or movement}. “It is our belief that through encouragement and guidance anyone can create a masterpiece…” claim the Anderson Brothers.

M-E-Y-K, born a year ago as a simple concept on the 405 hwy in traffic has been through the rigors of design to ensure that the idea of enabling all individuals to become artists and to be proud enough of their creation to hang it in their own home, has become a reality. A year later the brothers are releasing the all-inclusive “Street Art Kit”. A choice of 3 custom canvases, paintbrushes, paint, glitter, pens, and 15 stencils (sexy skulls, crowns, filigree and zebras to name a few) are certain to bring the Artist out in you. If you are looking for a more personal flare M-E-Y-K also offers custom stencils from their website store.

‘Because of the nature of street art and it’s many layered compositions, we felt a kit oriented toward urban art would allow for self-proclaimed ‘non-artists’ to create something that has no boundaries or limits’ states co-founder Benjamin Anderson

M-E-Y-K’s Street ART Kit will be released on Friday 25^th September at the Anderson ART Collective. With their father, veteran fine artist Ron Anderson, the trio opened Anderson ART Collective, a contemporary gallery located in the historic Henry Fish Seed Company in Carpinteria, CA [http://www.andersonARTcollective.com]. The show involves not only respected artists but also doctors, lawyers, teachers, students and other self-proclaimed ‘non-artists’ in an attempt to dispel the notion that if you’re not left handed you’re not an artist.

The show M-E-Y-K opens on Friday 25^th September at the Anderson ART Collective, 410 Palm Avenue, Carpinteria, with a celebratory launch party from 5:00pm onwards. The brothers are committed to giving back and are donating 5% of sales to children becoming involved in positive art projects. “Our aim is to provide these children a canvas and tools with which to create positive street art that gets kids OFF of the street and into a creative and safe environment.,” said Sean Anderson.

The kits can be purchased online through M-E-Y-K.com and through the Anderson ART Collective beginning the 25^th September. For more information and inquiries please contact the gallery at 805 684 8783 or drop a line to info@m-e-y-k.com.

The article below was sent to me from the Anderson Art Collective. The article features local artist Blankeney Sanford who created the sculpture that currently welcomes people into the “Rogue Wave” show at Anderson’s Carpinteria gallery. Blankeney’s work was also seen in this year’s Rumble Art Fair.

To learn more about the artist check out here website here.

Rogue Wave Sculpture Barrels Attendees

Santa Barbara, CA – It takes Mother Nature only moments to form the perfect wave at Rincon Point. It took artist Blakeney Sanford two weeks to install the twelve-foot-high wave she recently created for Anderson Art Collective’s contemporary surf art show entitled Rogue Wave. The wave, which arcs over the entrance to the historic Henry Fish Seed Company building in Carpinteria, appears to break through the wall into the gallery space beyond.

Sanford created the sculpture using her signature materials of rebar, fiberglass screen and pigmented epoxy resin and was guided by her knowledge in mathematics. “I want these sculptures to be as close to nature’s perfection as possible. We are each innately a part of nature, so what is nature appeals innately to us,” she explains. So the schematic for the work and her initial architectural sketches were based on her mathematical depiction of an actual wave. “It’s primarily geometry, circles and ellipses, circumferences, radii, and surface areas.  This gives me a general concept of the measurements for the piece, and in theory it should work, but it is after all art and it changes sometimes as the creative forces flow.”

In her work Sanford is inspired by her love of nature, particularly the ocean. “It comes from time spent above and beneath the ocean surface. When I dive through a wave and open my eyes and I see the way that the water spins around me or if I’m diving deep and then look up at the surface, the translucency of the water and the light inspires me.  Similarly, I am inspired if I’m riding on the face of a wave, with the wall next to me.  This piece evokes that viewpoint. I want the light and transparency and color to have an effect on the viewer without their having to do anything. They turn blue and become part of the wave as they enter the show.”

Gallery director Leigh-Anne Anderson notes that the response to the sculpture has been outstanding. “Depending on the time of day that you enter the gallery, your experience of getting barreled by this unique work of art will vary. The show is open from 1-6 Friday, Saturday and Sunday so you get the spectrum of direct sunlight and shadows. At night, with the lights on in the gallery, it casts shadows on the exterior wall that look like a set of waves coming in. Remarkable.

“The sculpture looks so natural here that people are surprised to learn that they can take it home and install it on any wall. While this particular Blakeney Sanford “blue wave” was constructed on site, it is not site specific and is in fact two separate sculptures that can stand alone, dramatic in any setting.”

The Rogue Wave contemporary surf art show runs through September 1st and features the work of twelve artists including surfing notables and the family of artists Ron Anderson, Benjamin Anderson and Sean Anderson, who founded the collective.

Anderson ART Collective (http://www.andersonartcollective.com) has six shows on the 2009 Santa Barbara art schedule, all of which will contribute a percentage of sales to non-profit organizations admired by this unique family of contemporary fine artists. The current show is donating 5% of sales to the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.

For more information go to http://www.andersonARTcollective.com or call 805.684.8783