Exactly 34 years ago there was a resilient, yet exhausted woman in a small Iowa town waiting to give birth to her first child, who was by that time a good three weeks overdue (it’s true, I swear). Finally on the 23rd of October her epic wait was over and yours truly was brought in to the world (You’re the best, Mom!). Now as I approach the ripe old age of 34 I have decided to make my first attempt at co-organizing an exhibition which will take place in the Funk Zone this Friday with the help of one of my favorite ladies, Ms. Andi Garcia.

For this show Andi and I came up with the idea of asking artists to illustrate “Missed Connections” from Craigslist, using iconic animation characters to bring these missed connections to life. The results that I have see so far have been beautiful and often extremely funny (see example below). For the exhibition space we were lucky enough to secure one of the most amazing loft spaces in Santa Barbara: Loft 48. Located at 48 Helena St., only half a block off the beach in the Funk Zone, this space is so cool it is worth the effort just to come to see the place. On top of that, the good people from La Tour Wine Merchants were gracious to offer to pour the wine for the event.

There is a good mix of local and regional artists that are included in the show.  And there will be an extra-special live painting performance going on during the event.

Finally, proceeds from sales of the paintings will to go to benefit the  Heart2Hand Youth Arts Fund of The Artillerist.com.

I’d absolutely love to fill the place with people and sell some art to benefit this great charity. So I ask of you, dear reader, please tell every single person that you know that they should come to see this show. When you see me, you can wish me Happy Birthday, or you can tell me how sorry you feel for my mother, but I’d rather you told me that you wanted to buy something you saw on the wall.

I hope to see you on Friday. Details below.

Happy Holidays!  Tonight is the night for a particularly festive First Thursday on State Street. The tree is up outside the Arlington, and the lights are out on all the trees that line the street I’ve been so busy preparing for tonight that my monthly recommendations are a bit late, but I hope you will put these stops on your itinerary for the evening.

Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative Art Crawl
After the success of the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative‘s  first ever First Thursday Art Crawl last month, we are going to be making it a monthly event. This month I got local contemporary art super hero, Andi Garcia to curate the crawl. She has put together a truly impressive line up of stops and Art Crawl exclusives that  should create a very special and unique evening. All you have to do to participate in the Art Crawl is show up at Coffee Cat at 5:30 tonight. Look for the lady with the Art Crawl badges. From Coffee Cat Andi will be making stops at many of the places listed below, and other unexpected places.

100 Grand at SULLIVAN GOSS
I’ve spent most of the last week preparing for this show. It is one of my favorite shows of the year and I’m not alone. People have been asking about his show for months already. The idea: 100 works prices at $1000 or less. The 2010 version of the show boasts a roster of 47 contemporary artists all in one room. The show gives the gallery to exhibit work by local contemporary and emerging artist, which is why I get so excited about the show, and why I want to highlight the show on the blog.

SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART
Two of the five exhibitions in the series Reframing America…will be on view: An American Century: 20th-Century Master Drawings from the Collection and American Modernism: Selections from the Permanent Collection. A selection of short (under 10 min) films by Stranger Than Fiction artists Erin Cosgrove and Allison Schulnik will be screened continuously in the Mary Craig Auditorium.

Family 1st Thursday: Picture This.
Bring the whole family to enjoy 1st Thursday together in SBMA’s Family Resource Center. Pose for a Polaroid, then play with places and create your own story by inserting yourself as a character in one of the photographs in the exhibition American Modernism. 5:30-7:30pm.

Quire of Voyces
This amazing group returns to Ludington Court to entertain SBMA 1st Thursday visitors. 6:30–7pm.

The 13th annual Brad Nack 100% Reindeer Art Show
Roy, 7 W. Carrillo St, Santa Barbara
Brad Nack‘s annual show of Reindeer paintings is one of this city’s most popular shows of the entire year.  A show so popular that even during the Great Recession it can sell out. This year’s “herd” is apparently quite limited, so if you want to get first pick of these awesome paintings, I suggest you get there early.

‘HOHO’ UNDERGROUND ART SHOW
125 E. Carrillo
The ‘CHICA BOW WOW’ Team is pre-celebrating Christmas with their last Underground Art Show for this year 2010! We are inviting everyone who would like to celebrate with us not only Christmas but also Art, Creativity and Inspiration. The featured artists will be Ulrike Kerber from Viva Design Inc. and also the founder of lovetoread.com, Ulrike will be showing several experimental films. In collaboration with Ulrike Kerber, Inga Guzyte will be showing her new series of skateboard sculptures. Ms. Guzyte’s work is the hottest thing in Santa Barbara’s emerging artist market. Her show just last month sold out. And there is a good chance that this one will as well. The work is unique and beautiful, so this show should be on your “not to be missed” list.

Forum Lounge: Marco Pinter, Gravitational Forces
SANTA BARBARA CONTEMPORARY ARTS FORUM
653 Paseo Nuevo, 2nd Floor 7PM
Gravitational Forces explores technology as a medium for artistic expression by using dance and video to create a multi-sensory experience. This performance represents the emotions and struggles we face as humans through a fusion of dance, video, and generated sound. Dancers Anaya Cullen, Kaita Lepore, and Steven Jasso pull from the audience’s “kinesthetic sympathy” with the aid of Pinter’s direction and technological additions.

Dave Cooley at Elsie’s Tavern
117 West De La Guerra Street
I have been a fan of Dave Cooley’s work for a long time. It is completely unique, imaginative, and meticulously crafted. The more I see of his work, the more I love it. His latest show opens tonight at Elsie’s Tavern. This would make a great final stop once the main event on State Street closes down at 8pm.

I hope to see huge  crowds on State Street tonight taking part in the festivities. If you have any other recommendations to add to this list, please post a comment with the details. Also, if you see anything particularly wonderful and want to share it come back here and post a comment about what you saw. See you out there….

Muddy Waters is in need of our help. As one of the best places in Santa Barbara for young artists and musicians to get their work out into the world, it is a vital part of the Santa Barbara art environment. However, it is in need of some serious renovations that can help alleviate the capacity issues that have become more of an issue as bigger acts book the spot.  Andi Garcia has stepped up to the plate to begin a series of fund raising events to help with the cost of renovation.

However, if a charitable heart isn’t enough to get you join forces, go for the “Big Kahunas of tiki/zombie art culture”.     …Tiki + zombie!    Honestly, what more do you need to know?

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This Exotica/ Tiki themed art show with feature some Big Kahunas of tiki/zombie art culture with special friend , Tom BIG TOE Laura headlining

select guests like
Ken Ruzic
Mickey Edtinger
James Owens
John Mulder
Dave Cohen “SQUID”
Jen X
David Bird Designs
Candace McArthur Grant
Deborah Ramirez
Andy Proctor
many more .

Also featured will be several locals past and present

DONATED RAFFLE ITEMS by :
BOD Recording Studios
Andy Proctor
David Bird Designs
and many more

Muddy Waters hosts  the 8th Annual Noches de los Muertos Art Show  with a reception  on October 2nd  at 7pm .

This Day of the Dead inspired artshow  and exhibit , curated by Traci Lynn with assistance from Andi Garcia, will feature art from Santa Barbara’s local favorite and  works from Los Angeles and San Francisco guest artists.

Artists include :
: Brett Hess, FrankieBabylon DarkArtist, Vanae Rivera, Von Munster, Derek Harrison, Juan Solis Jen Smith-Mckee, Nicolas Caesar, Krissi Sandvik, Kim Klem, BoRo Fine Plush  Christopher Umana, Lauren Veach, Silvia Larroc, Tamara Wade,  Kristin Abhayada Dwan, J.MUNIZ , Evan Ames, Matt Trottino ( Cali Green ), Nome1

There will be a community celebratory alter to honor past loved ones and/or lost legends.
You are invited Bring an artifacts and an offering to honor past loved legends

A raffle of original art work will be held to benefit Heart2Hand youth art fund.

Music will be provided by  Darkling.
Art Showing until November 11, 2010
Food , BEER , FUN .. AMAZING ART

I can not wait to see you there !!

Contact : 805.966.9328 for more details
Andi Garcia 805.637.2521
Santa Barbara , Ca 93101

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Tomorrow the good folks from Stateside Magazine will be taking over the streets in the Funk Zone for a shindig that promises to be very exciting. Live art and fire performances, I mean really do you need another reason to go?  The event itself is a huge collaboration between many of the usual suspects mentioned on this blog. And its FREE. There will be a raffle and portions of the proceeds from the event will help support the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative. So make sure to put this event on your schedule for tomorrow. It ought to be a blast.