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

After a pretty lackluster First Thursday last month, thanks in large part to bad weather, there is a lot of great events taking shape next week for February’s event. Word about the event I’m highlighting today comes to us from one of our favorite Santa Barbara expatriates, Joe Shea.

The Presidio Motel is hosting a pop-up show, put together by the woman who brought us the fabulous “Jill of All Trades” show, one of the cooler events to hit Santa Barbara in the last few years. This very fact alone should make this the most anticipated event for this month’s First Thursday. It is also a most welcome addition to a list of First Thursday venues that has dwindled on account of the great recession. But most importantly, it is also a venue that will be open passed 8pm, so  you can make this the last stop on your itinerary without missing any other art shows that night.

I would like to personally thank the folks at the Presidio Motel for providing State Street with some much needed local character. In the five years that I’ve lived in Santa Barbara I’ve watched all the funky local businesses on State Street go under, only to be replaced by chain stores. The Presidio is the one HUGE exception. Thanks, guys. Keep being awesome.

This is just the first of a series of cool events happening for February’s First Thursday in Santa Barbara. Stay tuned over the next few days for more.

I just discovered this notice in my inbox from this blog’s good friend, Joe Shea. If you have a few moments tonight make sure to stop by Paul Cumes Fine Art, one of Santa Barbara’s newest galleries, located just across from the sunken gardens on Anapamu St.

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greetings……..

thanks for listening……..

This just in from Joe Shea up in Portland. Thanks for sending this along, Joe.

Two red dots!

For anyone who has followed this blog over the past few weeks, I think I made it pretty clear that I was very excited about the show “Thrice” put on by Larry Mills, Tanner Goldbeck, and Joe Shea at the AFS Gallery.  And the show was no disappointment. What was slightly disappointing was the less than expected turn out for the show. I expected the place to be packed with these artists’ many friends and fans. And while there was a steady crowd there, it was not the standing room only event I had hoped it would be. I talked to Holly Mackay at Art From Scrap yesterday when I went back to the show for a second look, and she explained that Fiesta kept some people away but that many people showed up late so they kept the show going for an extra hour. Apparently I  left just before many arrived. And the people that came brought their check books since there are now quite a few red dots next to works that had sold.

Part of J Shea's "Silent Night"

The work in the show was of the high quality that is usual for each of  the artists, but there were also some nice surprises that re-emphasized the importance of seeing the work in person. For instance, I had previously seen many of Larry Mills’ photographs on his website. However, for the show these photos were mounted on wood panels and cleverly sanded around the edges, rounding the corners of the wood and wearing away the edges of the photos, giving the photos a worn and weathered look that echoes the themes of many of his photos.

There were also many great works there from J. Shea. His iconic wood box framed sculptures continue to surprise me with their wit and depth of character as in the wonderful “King of Kings” , but I was most surprised to find that my favorite of all of his pieces was a painting entitled “Silent Night”. The painting allowed Shea to present his characters in a specific setting, suggesting a plot, and giving an additional narrative complexity.

Another great example of the importance of seeing works in person came in the form of Tanner Goldbeck’s “Citizen No. One – Pale Rider”. This image was another that I was familiar with from the internet, but that representation does no justice to the actual work itself.  There is some kind of magic that comes with brush strokes and oil paints that digital creations cannot reproduce, and this painting is full of it.  The paint amplifies the frenetic action that is typical of Tanner’s work, imbuing it with all-important gravitas.

Tanner in front of "Citizen No. One". Photo by Larry Mills.

There is a lot to enjoy in this show. If you were one of the people who missed the opening, it will be up until September 12th so you have another month to catch it. Head over to Art From Scrap and check it  out for yourself, because you never know when you’ll see a show like this in town again.