Transition from Classic to Modern at October’s 1st Thursday! Visit Downtown Santa Barbara for an evening filled with FREE art, culture, music and fun! 1st Thursday on October 7th will include more than 35 cultural art venues eager to show off exciting new exhibits, welcoming artist receptions, intriguing demonstrations and energetic live music.
Celebrate art from the past and present in this month’s 1st Thursday programming. The Patty Look Lewis Gallery is celebrating the 100th birthday of Channing Peake with a retrospective of his work throughout the gallery. Stop in to view paintings that date back to the early 1950’s. Take a sneak peak at what’s in store for the 2010 Santa Barbara Concours d’Elegance at the Stratus Media Group exhibit, and then head over to Center Court at Paseo Nuevo to see a few examples of the “crème de la crème” in classic automobiles. Wander up to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art to check out Yosemite: Then and Now. This exhibition ranges from the 1860’s to 2004 and includes mammoth-plate images by the pioneers of the 19th century, the well-known views of Ansel Adams in the 20th century, and the time-lapse images of Trevor Paglen in the 21st century.
Next, make your way up to The Supply Room to view pieces by artist Rebekah Miles, whose work combines material and inspiration from the past to make textiles, ceramics and paintings that speak to the value of the handmade, of craft and of work.
Fast forward the evening to more recent work with a stop at The Book Den. Celebrating epicure.sb, here you will find a photography exhibition and book signing for photographer Mark Robert Halper and his new book Sunlight and Water: Celebrating the Winemakers of Santa Barbara County. Artamo Gallery is debuting Delicious Colors, an exhibition showing new works of Janet Bothne and Mick Reinman in delicious, bold and tasteful colors. Head on down to Gallery Ten-Twenty-Nine to view the Art of Conversation, a new exhibit featuring ten imaginative conversations using watercolor and paper. Finally, venture into Wall Space Gallery for the premiere of Charles Grogg’s newest series, Ascension.
While 1st Thursday offers extraordinary exhibits and paintings indoors, be sure to check out the performance art and live music outdoors. Café Buenos Aires will feature The Raiz Brazil Dance Group for Brazilian Carnival Night on their outdoor patio. BambooDNA will construct Halloween creatures made of bamboo on the corner of Victoria and State Streets. Local band Kalinka will dish out their Eastern European Klezmer Gypsy madness on the corner of Anapamu and State Streets, and the Borders patio will host a Taco Taste Off to reveal the best seafood taco in downtown Santa Barbara!
All of these attractions and many more are FREE during 1st Thursday on October 7. With over 35 stops on this month’s 1st Thursday map, there is sure to be something for everyone. For more information and a complete listing of the specific programming offered at each gallery as well as all public performances and interactive exhibits, go to the Downtown Organization website.