Downtown 1st Thursday Line-up

Visit Downtown Santa Barbara for an evening filled with free art, culture, music and fun! 1st Thursday on August 5th will include more than 25 cultural art venues eager to show off exciting new exhibits, welcoming artist receptions, intriguing demonstrations and energetic live music.

Traces of the natural elements can be seen in this month’s 1st Thursday programming. Start out on land with a stop in Gallery Ten-Twenty-Nine to view Around Every Corner: a year-long project for four Santa Barbara watercolor artists to capture the beauty and wonder “around every corner” of Downtown Santa Barbara. Wander up to Gallery 113 in La Arcada Court to see Mariko Tabar’s exhibit I left My Heart In…where her focus is on both architecture and the natural beauty of places she has visited. Next, venture over to The Marquee to take in Johnson Dibbie Lyewell’s depiction of beauty through paintings of the great outdoors.

After you’ve enjoyed art inspired by the sights on land, spend the rest of your summer evening exploring water and space at some of the other participating venues. Stop by Bella Rosa Jewelers for a new show by local artist Alvaro Suman of captivating mermaids and visions of the Tea fire. Go on a deep sea adventure without even getting wet with underwater photographer Richard Salas at Sojourner Café. Check out original oil paintings of waves and Santa Barbara scenes by local artist Emily McBride at Live Culture. Transition from water into space at The Canary, who will be showing a set of works from Karen Lehrer’s Thought Form Floating in Space series. Finally, head down to Brooks Institute Gallery 27 to view the latest exhibit from J.T. Burke, Beautiful Again. Burke employs vintage and costume jewelry to create a unique series of visionary images that address man’s need for purpose and a meaningful existence.

While 1st Thursday offers extraordinary exhibits and paintings, be sure to check out the performance art and live music. Listen to Bruce Goldish, a local guitar player who performs sweet harmonic to caffeinated percussive fingerstyle guitar, on the Borders Patio. Keep with the Fiesta spirit in the Paseo Nuevo Center Court where the Linda Vega Dance Studio will be performing Flamenco dances. Or, head to the corner of Anapamu and State Streets to have Michael Beickel draw a 5-minute caricature portrait of you doing your favorite sport, occupation or pastime. An excellent keepsake to remember your 1st Thursday experience!

All of these attractions and many more are free during 1st Thursday on August 5th. With over 25 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’s website.