Guides

FALLARTSGUIDEUSEJohn_Everett_Millais_-_Ophelia_-_Google_Art_Project

Santa Cruz is a city of art. It may not have the population of San Francisco or Oakland, but the art scene thrives just like one of the biggest cities in the bay area. Fall, is a particularly vibrant time for art events too, whether it’s exhibits, art galleries, arts tours or classical music performances. People of all interests should easily find something going on that will fit exactly what they are looking for. Top Image: Ophelia by John Everett Millais

 

 

 

  • Open Studios Art Tour (Oct 18-19)

    Art studios throughout the county

    If you missed the Open Studios exhibits in North County and South County at the beginning of this month, fear not, dedicated art lover, this weekend is the encore two-day event which offers the opportunity to see all 243 artists throughout all of Santa Cruz County. Sound overwhelming? Thankfully the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County has produced a thorough booklet to serve as your guide with everything from a comprehensive catalog of all the artists and their work to their very own iTunes and Google app to a detailed map to help you on your way. This year features everything from the creepy to the serene, the natural to the synthetic, and the beautiful to the surreal. Whether it’s wearable, hang-able, or simply enjoyable, Open Studios has art for everyone. Above image by Open Studios artist Carol Riddle.

  • Santa Cruz County Symphony (Oct 4-5, Nov 8-9)

    Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Mello Center for the Performing Arts

    The Santa Cruz County Symphony 2014-2015 opens with the Northern California premiere of Thomas Ades' innovative 2008 composition, In Seven Days. On November 8-9, Dreams and Visions features soprano Ying Fang from the Metropolitan Opera performing Bach’s Wedding Cantata and Villa-Lobos’ Bachiana Brasileira No. 5. The Symphony performs two shows: Saturdays at 8 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in Downtown Santa Cruz and Sundays at 2 p.m. in Watsonville at the Mello Center for the Performing Arts.

  • Making it: Chicano Artists from the Mexican Museum Collection (Sept 5–Nov 30)

    Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History

    Latinos have contributed significantly to American’s art landscape. Their experience is not only unique, as a culture, but offers insight into the entire American experience, as we a nation of immigrants in the US. Leading Chicano artists Carlos Almaraz, Enrique Chagoya, John Valadez, Rupert Garcia, Carmen Lomas Garza Gonk, Patssi Valdez and Ester Hernandez have managed to find success in the art world, but they’ve done it on their own terms. That is the theme of this exhibit. The artists share their unique work and ask people to consider the whole concept of what it means to “make it” when viewing their art. Image: Sun Mad, 1982 by Ester Hernandez

  • 12x12(x12): An Open Invitational 2014 (Oct 6–31)

    Cabrillo College

    The theme for 12x12 is simple, but should yield some highly diverse results. It’s pretty much anything goes, so long as the artwork is 12” by 12” (and no more than 12” deep), and can hang on the wall. Everything else is up to the artist. Cabrillo will be accepting submissions from any California resident, so it’s bound to have a lot of variety.

  • Santa Cruz Glass & Ocean Art Festival (Nov 8-9)

    Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

    Of all the art festivals in town, one that is distinctly Santa Cruz, in its creativity and fun, is the sea glass and ocean art festival. It may not be a great thing that people toss their bottle in the ocean, but the Santa Cruz Glass festival takes a negative and makes it a positive. In fact, the colors and texture of the glass, after they’ve been in the ocean, is just stunning. Plus the artists carve some amazing shapes from the sea glass. There will be contests and plenty of sea glass for sale.

    More Info

  • Santa Cruz Antique Faire (2nd Sunday of the Month)

    Downtown Santa Cruz

    A great monthly event here in Santa Cruz is the Antique Faire. Whether someone is a collector or an artist looking for raw materials or inspiration, there is a lot of great things hidden gems to find at the monthly Antique Faire. There’s a little bit of everything too: clothing, trinkets, cameras, clocks—just whatever the vendors happen to bring out on that particular day.

  • Zephyr Pfotenhauer (Nov 11-Dec 10)

    Ristorante Casa Nostra, 9217 Highway 9, Ben Lomond

    Santa Cruz artist, Zephyr Pfotenhauer teams up with fellow bartender Shaver for an evening of art, music and fine dining at Ristorante Casa Nostra in Ben Lomond on Veterans Day, 11/11 at 7 p.m. Her work, inspired by a dream of a dandified gentleman with the head of a zebra, will be on display at the restaurant until December 10. Zephyr’s most recent paintings depict well-dressed wild animals posing against stark backgrounds and are a rumination on the boundaries between our civilized and animal natures – or the lack thereof. Other works are painted in memory of people or moments that are lost to time, dream houses imagined of a longing for home, and the verdant gardens and growth that followed such a home-coming and -making.