Posted by tracey on: Tue 30th Nov, 2010

Start with Atelier at SBMA  5 - 7pm

Chasing Moby-Dick  
Melville's masterpiece is at the center of this multi-faceted feast of interpretations. Listen in as featured artist Tony de los Reyes and composer Jake Heggie, whose opera Moby-Dick premiered in Dallas earlier this year, discuss the motifs and melodies that made this classic their mutual muse.

Don a literary tattoo created from Melville's text and given an artistic twist.  Sip your ration of grog at a rum tasting provided by The Hungry Cat, featuring five varieties from five ports of call, and get swept away with Whiteness of the Whale martinis and ocean-inspired hors d'oeuvres.

$50 Members / $60 Non-Members tickets HERE
(Includes hors d'oeuvres, wines, and signature cocktails) proceeds benefit art education programs at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

Then check out the Downtown Organization's Holiday Parade, 6:30pm

Miracle on State Street -- cheer on a colossal contingent of high-stepping marching bands, fabulous holiday floats, spectacular performance groups, local personalities, and of course, the most anticipated appearance of the evening the annual arrival of Santa Claus, dispensing holiday cheer from atop his festive sleigh. The Holiday Prince & Fairy officially light up the night with the lighting of the large Christmas tree at State & Victoria Streets.

as you cross over to Holiday Sound Check 6 - 11pm
a benefit for New Noise Music Foundation and Notes for Notes

1129 State St. (Behind Peet's Coffee On State)

Feat. DJ Sets By:
Martin Gore (Depeche Mode)
Marko (Sugarcult)
Matty Matt (Project M80)

**Silent Auction, Bar, Hours Devours + "Back Stage" Fun & More! 

More Info and tickets 

Tickets: $25.00
or you can get a VIP BACKSTAGE PASS: $50.00  (Entrance to party, - Access to VIP section, - Collectors Item: VIP Badge for event, Hosted wine & beer, from 6p-7p, Hosted light appetizers 6p-7p)

Stay tuned for the lowdown on some great Art & Craft fairs on Saturday....

Categories:

Tags: sblifestyle, art, music, Martin Gore, Depeche Mode, Tony de los Reyes, Hungry Cat, Atelier, Holiday Parade, Downtown Organization, New Noise, Notes for Notes

Posted by tracey on: Fri 26th Nov, 2010

Reasons why Mollycules' makes a great holiday gift:

1. Her children's books are wonderful and appropriate for boys and girls.

2. All the Things I Can Do! is just being released so your favorite kids won't already have three.

3. Under the Sneep Tree has really cute monsters.

4. Prints make wonderful gifts for kids, baby showers and the young at heart.

5. Mollycules' prints are half off RIGHT NOW. (get them before Nov 28!)

6. Greeting cards are great stocking stuffers.

7. Supporting local artists means we all benefit!

Other local arts ideas for holiday gifts:

Limited Edition

make.smith

and more to come!

Categories:

Tags: sblifestyle, Mollycules, local art, holiday shopping, Molly Hahn, santa barbara

Posted by tracey on: Mon 22nd Nov, 2010

While I want everyone to buy a Limited Edition print for holiday gifts, I realize that is not for everyone so I thought I'd highlight some local art and artisans for your holiday shopping.

Interested in items that will last a lifetime?  Handcrafted, carefully made here in Santa Barbara?  Check out Steven Soria's make.smith site or head to Presido Motel's Supply Room. Gorgeous pieces  - handbags and wallets, bags and belts - all looking for a good home.  These are practical works of art that will only get better with age.

and if anyone asks, the Mexican Blanket wallet is on my Christmas list....

make.smith

Presidio Motel

Limited Edition

Next up: Mollycules

Categories:

Tags: sblifestyle, Holiday 2010, artists, make.smith, Steven Soria, Supply Room, santa barbara, presidio motel

Posted by tracey on: Mon 15th Nov, 2010

"Never work with animals or children." -- WC Fields

Someone should have told Tom Hinshaw that when he signed up for Genesis West's newest production Curse of the Starving Class.  Upstaged by Poesy the lamb during a monologue, it was easy to lose the thread of his rambling as Weston in this excellent production.

If you don't already know, Genesis West is a homegrown theater company, headed by Maurice Lord.  Not only that, but Maurie is dedicated to producing the work of contemporary playwrights - Sam Shepard, Caryl Churchill, and my favorite, Martin McDonagh (writer of the film In Bruges too).

Working with local talent, Genesis West always produces interesting, thought-provoking work.  This is not some one-night-only traveling show, flying through Santa Barbara on its way to Los Angeles or San Francisco.  Genesis West productions are homegrown in the best sense of the word - nurtured in Santa Barbara's theater community, local, and satisfyingly good. (And it's not just me, they've won a bunch on Indie awards too!)

If you can, there's one more weekend to catch the show at Center Stage Theater.

Last but not least, volunteer or donate HERE 
Poesy needs some green....

Categories:

Tags: Genesis West, sblifestyle, Sam Shepard, Curse of the Starving Class, Center Stage, Theater

Posted by tracey on: Fri 12th Nov, 2010

Posted by tracey on: Wed 10th Nov, 2010

Posted by tracey on: Tue 9th Nov, 2010

Posted by tracey on: Tue 9th Nov, 2010

Posted by tracey on: Sat 6th Nov, 2010

Posted by tracey on: Sat 6th Nov, 2010

Posted by tracey on: Thu 4th Nov, 2010

Tonight the Contemporary Arts Forum is hosting the Forum Lounge, a performance series that is almost always interesting and often excellent.  I confess I hadn't paid much attention to the programming for November - it's been so busy and I thought to skip it entirely. 

Then I got a message from a friend who knows I'm interested in art and technology, usually in that order, and asked if I'd be interested in talking to Brody Condon, the artist-in-residence for the day at CAF.  It took a minute and then I realized, oh, THAT guy, the one who just did a project at the Hammer Museum that I'd missed.  Yes! Please! and really?

He's here working on a piece, Without Sun, that will be performed tonight (at 7 and 8:30pm) in the galleries at CAF.   The work takes as its departure found images and video from YouTube of people in altered states and uses their movements and expression as the base for a live performance with an actor and dancer.  It will be interesting to see if the performance holds up to the premise.

Of course, I took the opportunity to ask Brody about the work Level Five that was at the Hammer.  It was described as "a 3-day live role playing event with up to 75 players, based on popular self actualization seminars which originated in the West Coast in the early 1970's." Part theater, part real life Sims game, everyone is a participant, there is no audience. Putting on layers of artificiality to replicate self-actualization, the work has roots in installations by Ann Hamilton, and the game Dungeons and Dragons.  Some will remember Ann Hamilton's installations at CAF in the 1990's, so it seems appropriate that they're hosting the next generation as well.

Check out tonight's one-night-only performance.  Let me know what you think.

More about Brody Condon: http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/features/brody-condon/
http://www.tmpspace.com/

Categories:

Tags: Brody Condon, Without Sun, sblifestyle, contemporary arts forum

Posted by tracey on: Thu 4th Nov, 2010

Posted by tracey on: Sun 31st Oct, 2010

There's a new print available from artist Pamela Zwehl-Burke as of November 1.  The proceeds from the sales benefit the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative Direct-to-Artists grants.  

More about Pamela's work here: www.pamelazwehlburke.com

Buy one here: www.sbartscollaborative.org

Thanks!

Tags: Pamela Zwehl-Burke, sblifestyle, printmakers, art, limited edition, charity, sale, cat