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.

Calling all (b)artists!

This Saturday at Muddy Waters the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative will be holding the first of many “belly to belly” events. These events are designed to get people together to make connections and foster future resource sharing and collaborations… they are also supposed to be a blast.

I have been heavily involved with the planning of this event, so I can give my personal assurance that this will be a good time. It may also be an opportunity to get a very unique work of art by an artist whose work you’ve admired for years but couldn’t easily afford.

In the afternoon people are invited to come to Muddy Waters to work on their Bar Napkin masterpieces. Starting at 4pm the napkins will be put on display for a silent auction that will begin at 5:30 and end at 7:30. The proceeds from this auction will go to the SBAC’s direct-to-artist grant program.

There are already more than 100 people who have confirmed their attendance on the event’s Facebook page. I know that there are a wide range of artists (not all of whom are visual artists) that will be contributing napkins to the event, some of whom are very well known in town. However, we encourage everyone to take part.

I also happen to know that some extremely awesome SBAC t-shirts will make their world premiere at the event. These t-shirts will be sold for $20 (also to benefit the SBAC), so make sure to stop by an ATM before you come because Muddy Waters doesn’t take plastic.

We are also looking for any donations of supplies to help out with the event:

We are looking for white bar napkins, golf pencils, and art supplies for Saturday. We’d rather recycle or use what’s out there than buy more.

If you have access to any of these things please contact me at: nathan@sbartsblog.com

Also, if you would like to contribute to the event but can’t make it on Saturday, feel free to work on a napkin in advance and bring it (or have it delivered) to Muddy Waters on Saturday.

Here is a partial list of the artists whose napkins you can expect to see at the silent auction (I’ll update this list as more artists confirm).

Hugh Margerum                      http://www.hughmargerum.com/
Vanae Rivera                           http://www.maryandthemachine.com/
Bob DeBris                               http://www.bobdebris.com/
Jane Callister                           http://www.arts.ucsb.edu/faculty/janec/
Keith Puccinelli                       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcHtBffHGqA
Penelope Gottlieb                    http://www.penelopegottlieb.com/
Dane Goodman                       http://www.sbcc.edu/art/website/index.php?page=faculty&contact=25
David Starkey                          http://www.vimeo.com/5294834
Bob Mask                                 http://www.west.net/~bobsart/
Elizabeth Folk                          http://www.elizabethfolk.com/
Jim Connolly                            http://www.jimconnollymusic.com/
Sheryl Schroeder                     http://www.schroederville.com/
Anna Abbey                              http://www.myspace.com/radannabbey
Clay Bodine                              http://fishbonsb.ning.com/
Dominique Reboul                  http://fishbonsb.ning.com/
Ben Anderson                          http://www.benjaminanderson.com/
Sean Anderson                        http://www.seananderson.com/
Jimmy Bell                               http://www.jimmybellart.com/

UPDATE:

Colin Gardner (Chair, UCSB Art Department)   http://www.arts.ucsb.edu/content/colin-gardner
Ann Diener                              http://www.anndienerart.com/
Jeff Shelton                              http://www.jeffsheltonarchitect.com/

UPDATE #2

Molly Hahn                              http://mollycules.com/
Kimberly Hahn                       http://www.kimberlyhahn.com
James Van Arsdale              http://www.jamesvanarsdale.com/
Ken Bortolazzo                      http://www.sullivangoss.com/bortolazzo_ken/
Joe LaCorte                            http://www.josephlacorte.com/
Robert Redfield                    http://www.redfieldpictures.com/

If you are an artist who wants people to know that you’ll be at the event, just post your name in a comment on this post.

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.

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 Anderson family has put together a show of contemporary surf art, which opens at the end of the month. The opening reception is an all day party from 10am to 10pm on June 27th. This is another great chance to see their beautiful new space in Carpinteria. This is also the last weekend to see the Anderson Art Collective’s inaugural show. For more information about either show, check out their website by clicking here.