First Thursday is behind us, but the art activities keep coming and this weekend has a couple of great events to check out. The first will happen tomorrow night at the Santa Barbara Tennis Club. This monthly event showcases a wide variety of art from month to month and is quickly becoming a staple of the local art scene. I’m particularly excited about this month’s eclectic offering. If you haven’t been to one of these events, tomorrow is a great time to make your first visit.

Stay tuned for further art related events coming up this weekend.

Now there’s a post title that should get some attention…

This event is so exciting I almost didn’t want to post about it for fear of hurting my chances of getting some artwork by a great artist without breaking the bank. Seriously though, I would never do that. Art from Scrap is too wonderful an organization to hold back from helping them raise some money. And clearly I am not alone in thinking this, the list of artists who have signed up for this event range from national and international stars such as Yoko Ono (seriously?!?), and Jeff Bridges; local superstars like Penelope Gottlieb, Ann Diener and John Nava; old favorites from the Haley Collective like Yoskay Yamamoto,  J. Shea9, Tanner Goldbeck, and Larry Mills; and up-and-comers like Inga Guzyte and Zack Paul. It would not be a stretch to say that nearly everyone I have ever written about on this blog will be part of this show. And then there are all the other great artists that I haven’t mentioned.

The deal is that you don’t know who has done each piece until you drop the $200 bucks to buy it. So it pays to do your homework if you want something by a particular artist. For $100 bucks you can get in the door at 6:30 to get first pick, or wait until 7pm and get in for $20. But if you are at all interested in any of these artists it would be silly to wait until 7. Getting a piece of art for $300 bucks from any of these artists is a steal, and you’re helping Art From Scrap to boot.

All the info is listed below, but if you haven’t checked out the artist list you can find it here.  And make a note that this show is not at Art From Scrap. It will be at the Brooks Institute’s Gallery 27 at 27 West Cota St.

See you there.

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One Night Stand is a benefit in support of Art From Scrap, a leading environmental education and art organization, now in its 20^th year ofencouraging creative expression in the arts and promoting a greater understanding of environmental issues.

This art exhibition will be up for one night only - Saturday August 20, 2011 - at Gallery 27, a professional art gallery affiliated with Brooks Institute in downtown Santa Barbara. Contemporary artists from around the country are being personally invited to contribute artwork in all mediums.

Watch the Artist list grow! 

The element of surprise is essential to One Night Stand. The artist’s name will only be revealed after the artwork is purchased. Sophisticated art patrons and first time collectors will trust their instincts as they hunt for works of art that both intrigue and excite their sensibilities. Once selected, each work of art will be purchased for $200.

While this may be your first One Night Stand we guarantee you will feel great the next morning, knowing that your generosity helped support environmental education and the arts ….
and Art From Scrap will have the utmost respect for you! 

www.artfromscrap.org

Click Here to make your Reservations - Early Entry (6:30) $100;  General Entry(7:00) $20

As you hopefully know, this Thursday is 1st Thursday, the night where all sorts of interesting art related events take place all around town. The one that I am focusing on tonight is a bit off of the normal 1st Thursday route, but it is on one of my favorite streets in all of Santa Barbara.  It also has the distinct potential to be a very hip party with some really great art that manages to be edgy, unique, and beautiful all at once. Put these qualities together and you have a rare and wonderful kind of art that warrants a very primal response: “Wow.”

Check out the details below. I’ll definitely be checking  this out after the Art Crawl.  I hope to see you there.

‘YEAH RIGHT!’

The Underground Art Show Party is NOW! official and it is going to become one of the most fun and memorable events in the beginning of this already eventful year 2011! Therefore, we are inviting everyone who loves to be around rad art, fun music, a good drink and cool people at the same time in one night!

The featured artists of the night will be one of the amazing newcomer artists, Tony Buyalos, the founder of ‘SHORTYS Skateboards’, he will be showing a series of paintings with a big ‘splash’ of skateboard lifestyle influence. The other artist of the night, a fresh breeze as well, will be Inga Guzyte, Inga will be showing a new series of recycled skateboard sculptures! And please don’t mind her ‘tongue twisting’ last name!HA!

The Art Show Party will be not just about the art but also about YOU guys having an amazing time at the event, seeing and getting inspired, so bring yourself and your friends! DJ Aaron Mendoza will be pushing buttons music wise plus we will have a bar for drinks (only cash bar)! And again, for those who did not catch the date and time: the whole thing will be starting around 8pm till the break of dawn on March 3rd, 2011. It’s also 21 and over! Where? Presented by Urban Myth SB @ 48 Helena Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

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….

Tonight’s First Thursday is shaping up to be one of the best of the year. Not only because it is November and we finally have some beautiful weather, but this month’s art offerings are exceptional. Besides Pianos on State and the first ever Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative Art Crawl, there are some really exciting exhibits to check out, including the Bang Bang underground show which I’m particularly excited about.  Below are my selected highlights of places to make sure not to miss tonight as you hit the street.

125 E. Carrillo Street
The BANG BANG Underground Art Production is inviting everyone for the one-night event at 125 E. Carrillo Street ( orange door in the back). The event will start at 5pm and last till at least 10pm. The featured artist of the night are Sherry Wetzel, Inga Romualdo Guzyte and the musician Chris Wilson and more… They will have snacks and drinks for the hungry and thirsty ones!

This one is a bit off of the beaten path, but it is well worth it. The last show at this place nearly sold out. If you want first pick you better get there early.

THE SUPPLY ROOM @ PRESIDIO MOTEL
1620 State Street
(805) 963-1355
Featuring local artist Stephanie Dotson. She will be showcasing a collection of recent encaustic paintings layered with ink and resin. Stephanie currently lives and teaches printmaking in Santa Barbara.

CANARY HOTEL
31 West Carrillo Street
(805) 884-0300
Linda Stewart-Oaten, recipient of The Arts Fund’s 2010 Individual Artist Award (IAA) in General Fiction, will premier her winning piece, “Flames”, in a public reading. Also reading will be IAA Honorable Mention winners: Jim Alexander, Catherine Gee, and Fred Nadis.

BROOKS INSTITUTE GALLERY 27
27 East Cota Street
(805) 690-4913
Construction & Reconstruction: this group exhibition features samples of the culminating work of six emerging photographers from the Master of Fine Art Photography program. The selection of works from these groundbreaking artists ranges from the truly novel to reinterpretations of the familiar. The pieces reflect a variety of personal experiences, expressions, concerns and interests. Wine will be provided by Olive House.

SANTA BARBARA CONTEMPORARY ARTS FORUM
653 Paseo Nuevo, 2nd Floor
(805) 966-5373
Forum Lounge: Without Sun. In two showings, 7pm and 8pm, artist Brody Condon will present the live performance Without Sun: Modification (2009). This dance and spoken word piece is based on an edited compilation of “found online performances” of individuals on a psychedelic substance which will be screened before the performance. Condon worked with dancer Linda Austin and actor Russell Edge to re-interpret the erratic movements and verbalizations of people in the throes of revelatory and frightening psychoactive experiences.