Ready to Hang 2021: A Large Show of Small Works

“Ready to Hang” presents an opportunity to see an incredible variety of new works by our entire community of artists, presented in a one-day show. “Ready to Hang” is a pop up art show open to all local artists for creations 12 inches by 12 inches in size. Because of the show’s openness and format requirements, most artists create new work special to the show, making Ready to Hang a unique opportunity to see new trends and developments in the local art scene.

“The format of the show levels the playing field of all the artists in the community,” said Show Organizer Michael Long. “We have artists who elsewhere sell $60,000 plein air pieces showing work side by side with people for whom it’s their first show. It concentrates everyone’s work into a small format that, when it’s all put up on the walls, creates an incredible experience.”

Ready to Hang is one of the region’s largest showcases of local art. In its first year, the show exhibited 418 pieces of art by more than 200 artists. In two nights, more than 600 people visited and 102 works of art were sold. At least 450 pieces are anticipated this year, and even more artists and visitors participating. 

Free and open to the public, Ready to Hang is held at the Community Arts Workshop and features works for sale by dozens of area painters, photographers, assemblage makers, tattoo artists, printmakers and more, including in this show and the last David Archer, Tony Askew, Jerelyn Barber, Tracey Beeler, Stuart Carey, Patricia Houghton Clarke, David Diamant, Perry Hoffman, Yuliya Lennon, Dan Levin, Karen Lehrer, Hugh Margerum, Michael Matheson, Adriana Arriaga, Marilyn McRae, Danny Meza, Ted Mills, Jessie Rand, Jane Bellevue Road, Matt Rodriguez, Kathleen Scarminach, Sheryl Schroeder, Diane Stevenett, Matt Straka, Ethan Turpin, Dug Uyesaka, Sue Van Horsen, Erika Van Wingerden, Thomas Van Stein, Chelsea Willett, Apricot Winsayer, and many others. 

“Ready to Hang gives you an opportunity to meet new artists and see first-hand our massive and eclectic community,” said Sue Van Horsen, an established local assemblage artist and past show participant. “One of the coolest perks of Ready To Hang is that it can open the door to those artists who are new to the SB art scene, or maybe they have never shown and/or sold their art before.”

“We’ve had such a long, sustained radio silence between artists,” said Show Organizer Michael Long. “This is a nice chance for folks to be able to see each other’s work and catch up, and it’s a really good opportunity for the public to purchase works from so many artists who have been shut up and not able to show.”

Purchases will be immediately available to “un-hang” and take home. Artists interested in participating can contact show organizer Michael Long: (805) 729-2425 or michaelevanlong@gmail.com, or visit sbcaw.org/hang for artist entry information.

WHO: Local artists

WHAT: “Ready to Hang” pop up art show

WHERE: Community Arts Workshop, 631 Garden Street, Santa Barbara.

WHEN: 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20

Ready to Hang will follow current COVID-19 guidance for mask-wearing, attendance, and airflow. The Community Arts Workshop is a space with abundant airflow from several large rolling garage doors and many windows around an outdoor patio.

Special thanks to our sponsors Sullivan Goss Gallery & Montecito Bank & Trust, and to collaborative co-organizers Mercury Lounge, Fishbon, and the Rondo.

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About the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative (SBAC) and The Santa Barbara Community Arts Workshop: Founded in 2007, the SBAC is a nonprofit organization committed to sustaining and growing all forms of the arts in Santa Barbara. Since 2014, it has worked to renovate and develop the Santa Barbara Community Arts Workshop to provide affordable workspace for local artists, performers, and students and to serve as a hub for creativity, inspiration, and dialogue. Learn more at www.sbcaw.org.