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1st Thursday

1st Thursday is an award winning program highlighting downtown arts, culture and entertainment on the first Thursday of every month. All 1st Thursday attractions are free from 5-8pm.

The next 1st Thursday event is Thursday, February 2nd and the theme is Film/Cinema with a splash of Valentine's Day fun.

Click on one of the links below for more information:

About 1st Thursday
Download the 1st Thursday Map and Guide (PDF)
Galleries & Performing Arts Venues
Special Performances
Partner Events

ABOUT 1^st THURSDAY

1st Thursday is an evening of art and culture in downtown Santa Barbara. On the first Thursday of each month, participating galleries and art-related venues offer free access to visual and performing art in a fun and social environment from 5-8pm. 1st Thursday venues feature attractions, such as art openings, live music, artists' receptions, lectures, wine tastings and hands-on activities. Many Downtown partners partake in this event including non-conventional galleries, retailers and restaurants. In addition, State Street comes alive on 1st Thursday with performances and interactive exhibits. Look for previews of forthcoming plays, symphony performances, concerts and dance productions, as well as local up-and-coming performers. The Downtown Organization also partners with Santa Barbara cultural groups for one-time 1st Thursday attractions.

1st Thursday is for locals and visitors alike. It provides an opportunity for residents to indulge in local culture, mingle with neighbors and participate in the arts community. The program also offers visitors the chance to experience, in one evening, the diversity of downtown Santa Barbara’s visual and performing arts scene. is aimed at developing a lively atmosphere downtown as well as showcasing the cultural variety that Santa Barbara has to offer.

The 1st Thursday Passport is a printed guide and map to all of the 1st Thursday attractions and are available at participating galleries and venues, MTD shuttles, The Visitors’ Center, and hotel concierge desks. OR you can download a printable version above.

Expect something special in art and culture on the first Thursday of every month!

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GALLERIES & PERFORMING ARTS VENUES

		THE ARCHITECTURAL FOUNDATION OF SANTA BARBARA 229 East Victoria Street 805-965-6307 Celebrating a solo exhibition of photographs by Patrick Turner titled Quiet Light. Softly illuminated landscapes and seascapes reveal sculpted trees, rock formations and architectural elements in slightly mysterious, dream like sequences in Patrick Turner’s exquisite series of contemporary black and white photographs.
		ARTAMO GALLERY 11 West Anapamu Street 805-568-1400 ARTAMO GALLERY proudly presents Ashleigh Sumner and her newest work in a solo exhibition, Street Wise, a first in Santa Barbara. Ashleigh Sumner is a Los Angeles based actress and artist, originally from North Carolina. As an artist, she creates the most amazing paintings — comparable to an explosion on canvas. Her paintings are inspired by urban environments — the lines, frenetic energy and movement of a metropolis. The raw, gritty textures of industrial areas are oddly beautiful to her, and she tries to capture this essence in her work, integrating collage and incorporating text through a stenciling technique that has a rough “street art” feel. A raw, truthful, abstract representation of her emotional existence.
		BROOKS INSTITUTE 27 East Cota Street 805-690-4913 Featuring Jesse Alexander + Patricia Houghton Clarke Connection, sense of place and eyes wide open. Two photographers focus their lenses on people across the world, surrounded by details, crafting a larger vision of our communities and ourselves. Observations is a discussion of place, of people and ideas. Both artists look to people as their subjects, both identifying a community. These two artists allow us to see not only across the generations of ideas, but how our visual language has changed, or conversely, remained the same over time. www.facebook.com/brooksgallery27
		CHANNING PEAKE GALLERY 105 East Anapamu Street, 1st floor of the County Administration Building 805-568-3990 Threshold: An evocative new exhibition of water-themed photography, by Allan Hancock College film and video instructors Michele Simonsen and Tim Webb, explores the beauty of light flowing through water in the Trinity River in Northern California.
		CITY HALL GALLERY Santa Barbara City Hall, 1st Floor 735 Anacapa Street, De La Guerra Plaza Featuring the exhibit, Hidden Treasures of Santa Barbara. Remarks will be made by Mayor Helene Schneider at 6:15pm. Three photographers will have their work displayed. This includes: Rodger Dawson, Ken Pfeiffer and Fritz Pinney who capture the visible but not always discernible beauty of the Historic Downtown Cultural Arts District in an extraordinary way and awaken new enjoyment and appreciation for the beauty of our city.
		DIVINE INSPIRATIONAL GALLERY OF FINE ART 1528 State Street, 805-962-6444 Presenting the opening artists' reception featuring the romantic seascapes of Michael Harvan and new paintings by Sharon Schock. These Carpinteria artists both share a love of the sea and their town, and both use light to convey mood. Harvan's idyllic and finely detailed works evoke a time gone by in their romantic serenity, infused by his luminous seas and skies. Schock's masterful use of light and shadow, as well as her controlled, yet loose and luscious brushstrokes, draw in the viewer , making them feel at home in familiar local scenes." Stop by for live music by Michael Holland.
		GALLERY 113 1114 State Street located at # 8 La Arcada Court. 805-965-6611 Artist of the Month Beth Schmohr's, NINE = ONE show has nine abstract pieces worked in oil on canvas. Together they stand, yet alone they shine. Each piece represents an emotion of love, passion and incisiveness. Paul Longanbach, Peggy Buchanan and Virginia Butterfield are featured artists.
		JAMES MAIN FINE ART 27 East de le Guerra Street, 805-957-9100 Featuring early Santa Barbara artist Edward Borein, Elizabeth Eaton Burton, Fernand Lungren, Douglass Parshall, Frank Morley Fletcher and others. We also offer antiques and estate jewelry.
		JANE DEERING GALLERY 128 East Canon Perdido Street, 805-966-3334 The gallery opened in 2002 and presents contemporary art by established and emerging artists from the US and Europe. Artists from the UK and Ireland are shown in collaboration with Purdy Hicks Gallery of London. Marie Schoeff and her exhibit, TRACES includes new drawings and prints. Marie Schoeff has had solo exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Santa Barbara. Her works are in numerous museum, private and corporate collections. She was recently featured in ‘The View from Here’ works from the permanent collection at Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Schoeff received her MFA in Painting and Drawing from Hunter College, NY. She lives in Santa Barbara and teaches at Santa Barbara City College.
		KARPELES MANUSCRIPT MUSEUM 40 E. Anapamu Street, 805-962-7653 Exhibition of diverse two dimensional media by members of the S.B. Art Association.
		SANTA BARBARA ARTS 1114 State Street #26, in La Arcada Court, 805-884-1938 Wyllis Heaton is a landscape painter and designer based in Santa Barbara. While growing up in Pasadena, he lived 2 doors from the famous illustrator William Stout, and was a faithful onlooker to Bill's front porch painting studio. He studied at UCSB and then on to Pasadena's Art Center, earning a degree in illustration. While at UCSB, he formed a love for the Santa Barbara region and returned for good in 2007. He enjoys the challenge of painting out of doors, in an attempt to arrest the fleeting beauties of the area.
		SANTA BARBARA CONTEMPORARY ARTS FORUM 653 Paseo Nuevo, Upper Arts Terrace, 805-966-5373 San Francisco-based, integrated media artist and director Christine Marie strives to break new ground in her performance, Multiplying Spectacles. Based on the history of mirrors, her large-scale projected shadow theater performance is accompanied by a live score, incorporating video effects and 3D stereoscopic shadow work. Being intrinsically tied to ancient art forms, and metaphysical explorations of light, she creates images that invite one to remember a sense of being beyond the rational mind, where historic figures, dream sequences and present day mix with thought processes and memory.
		SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL MUSEUM 136 East de la Guerra Street, 805-966-1601 The Flying A: Silent Film In Santa Barbara. The Flying A will focus on the studio’s influential and prolific operation in Santa Barbara between 1911 and 1921, when nearly one thousand silent films were made by the company before it was disbanded. The exhibition will feature original Flying A artifacts, documents, photographs and a selection of original Flying A silent films (which will play on our Sala Gallery Wall Theatre). This groundbreaking exhibit, on view from January 25 through August 19, 2012, will run through two very special occasions: the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and marking the centennial anniversary of the Flying A’s incorporation in Santa Barbara. Join us for live music, wine and more. Family 1st Thursday: Bring the whole family for an art project for the kids that will be available in our lobby from 5-7pm.
		SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART 1130 State Street, 805-963-4364 Publicly Private: Enrico Natali and Doug Rickard This exhibition explores the documentary intent and style of two photographers working 50 years apart. Enrico Natali made surreptitious photographs on the New York subways in the 1960s. Doug Rickard’s 21st-century approach is to roam the forgotten streets of select cities without ever leaving his house. The recent reopening of SBMA’s Ridley-Tree Gallery offers a fresh perspective on the Museum’s extensive holdings in the area of European 19th-century art. New to the space is a special room devoted to the display of works on paper, which will be refreshed approximately every three months because of the light sensitivity of prints and drawings. Also on view is Van Gogh to Munch: European Masterworks from the Armand Hammer Foundation and Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation Major Loans Extended through 2012. Key works from the Armand Hammer Foundation and Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation have been reinstalled in the Museum’s Preston Morton Gallery. Family 1st Thursday: Bring the whole family to enjoy 1st Thursday together in SBMA’s Family Resource Center, located across from the Museum Café on the Lower Level. See-Through Subway Scenes: Publicly Private. Develop your own point of view while layering transparent reproductions of 1960’s photographs of everyday New Yorkers riding the subway to create window collage scenes inspired by Enrico Natali. Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm.
		SULLIVAN GOSS- AN AMERICAN GALLERY 7 & 11 East Anapamu Street, 805-730-1460 Combining ideas and perspectives from graphic design, architecture, LA’s Hard Edge school, and the Constructivist practice of his Argentinian home, Santa Barbara based artist Zack Paul will unveil a new body of work in his first solo show.
		THE PROJECT FINE ART ZONE 740 State Street, Suite 1, 805-895-7759 Featuring My Mother’s Sun and work from The Project Artists: Donna Ayscough, Liz Brady, Erika Carter, Theresa Carter, Lloyd Dallett, Ashley Dart Lisa Pedersen, Virginia McCracken and Susan Tibbles.
		FAULKNER GALLERY 40 East Anapamu Street, 805-962-7635 The Santa Barbara Art Association and the Santa Barbara Sculptors Guild present a joint show.
		WALL SPACE GALLERY 113 West Ortega Street, 805-637-3839 Featuring Carl Corey's, Wisconsin Tavern League. While documenting and focused on his home state of Wisconsin, Carl's images of local taverns, bars and clubs remind each of us of our favorite watering holes. His colorful, creative look at who we are and where we gather as a community is up on the walls of the gallery this month. Carl will be in the gallery during 1st Thursday to sign copies of his book , Tavern League.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES

		THE ART CRAWL The Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative will lead curated Art Crawl through the 1st Thursday festivities. The curator for February will once again be Nathan Vonk from the Santa Barbara Art Blog. This month the Art Crawl will start in De la Guerra Plaza on the back steps of City Hall (735 Anacapa Street, then head around to the back). The Crawl starts at 5:45pm.
		LA BELLA VOCE State and Anapamu Streets, 5-8pm La Bella Voce is a select group of singers from San Marcos High School's Advanced Women's choir, Enchante. They will be the featured choir at Carnegie Hall's Winner's Festival this March. This group is trying to raise money so they can travel to this event of a lifetime. Your support and contributions will help send these girls to Carnegie Hall this Spring.
		BROOKE AND THE REVOLVERS Paseo Nuevo Center Court, 5-7pm A talented Santa Barbara Youth Pop and Rock Band which plays contemporary pop and classic rock songs. They have performed all over the greater Santa Barbara area including: Avocado Festival, Fiesta, Summer Solstice, SB Fair and Expo, Lemon Festival, Aloha Festival, school festivals, Paseo Nuevo, La Cumbre Plaza, Soho, coffee houses, JDRF walks, and private parties. Brooke Wallace - Lead Singer, Austin Howard - Lead Guitar, Aliana Sherrill - Rhythm Guitar, Katelyn Mires - Drums and Aliana Sherrill- Rhythm and Bass Guitar.
		REBEKAH SCORGIN 900 State Street, Marshall's Patio Rebekah Scogin has been a performer and teacher in Santa Barbara since 1980. Her musical degrees are in performance and Ethnomusicology as she performs world music and instruments such as mandolin, balalaika, bouzouki and accordion as well as piano and harp. On the ethereal rare electric harp she performs pop, rock, folk rock, Latin jazz and blues as well as classical .
		VALENTINE-GRAMS 900 State Street, Marshall's Patio Open up your heart and make a Valentine-Gram for someone who truly deserves it. Create a special message or drawing that will be collected and send to our troops overseas. Send a little love a long way.

PARTNER EVENTS

		ADAMA VEGAN COMFORT CUISINE 428 Chapala Street, 805-560-1348 Rebecca Stebbins and Lori Lenz will show new oil paintings of vintage Santa Barbara. See how times have changed...or not! Historic photos will hang with current interpretations!
		BELLA ROSA GALLERIES 1103-A State Street, 805-966-1707 Presenting the inventive and eclectic works of longtime local artist Van Scranton in More Than a Pretty Picture. These two dimensional works utilize non-traditional mediums by an artist who grew up on the Abstract Expressionism movement in the 1950's. His use of shapes as part of the framing becomes an integral part of the work; not an adornment. Curated by MONLLEO GALLERY. Wine tasting to benefit Breast Cancer Resource of Santa Barbara. Live guitar by Travis Loughridge.
		CASA MAGAZINE 23 East Canon Perdido Street, 805-965-6448 The romance and sensuality of sculpture will be the focus of CASA Gallery's February exhibit. Meet the 11 participating artists who welcome questions about their creations. Enjoy music with Harold Kono & refreshments. Bring your favorite love poem to share. Participating artists include: Elliott Chang, Rebecca Davis, JoAnne Duby, Chris Fletcher, Jorge Hernandez, Francine Kirsch, Nevin Littlehale, Kerry Methner, Chris Provenzano, Nina de Creeft Ward and John Whitehurst.
		COAST RESTAURANT AND BAR 31 West Carrillo Street, 805-884-0300 Featuring the art of Academy Award-winning filmmaker Fred Wolf whose art emphasizes compositional challenges in figurative situations. Light source and color choices add to the whimsy in a fantastical, if not surrealistic, manner. Many of his paintings invite the onlooker into a moment of some untold, but familiar story. The collection is comprised of original oils painted from 1994 to the present.
		PASEO NUEVO 651 Paseo Nuevo, 805-963-7147 Join us at Sephora to start 2012 with a new beauty attitude!! We are introducing new products that will help you get renewed skin and a new look! Join us any time to receive one of our Complimentary Express Services to learn about these new products and discover a New YOU for 2012!!! In honor of Our American Red Heart Celebration, we invite you to come in and try a Red Lipstick and a receive a complimentary goodie bag! Perfect for a Valentine’s Day or SBIFF!
		PLUM GOODS 909 State Street, 805-845-3900 Plum Goods is proud to host artist Cristina Hobbs for her first Santa Barbara show. Often incorporating found photographs her unique paintings play with abstraction and figuration to evoke memory and imagination. Meet the artist and join the Plum party from 5 to 8 p.m
		PRANA AT SANTA BARBARA OUTFITTERS 1200 State Street, 805-564-1007 Featured artist of the month, Matt Moore is a born and raised Carpinteria resident. Matt is a local surfer, talented board shaper, plein air oil painter and owner of Rincon Designs surf shop. Come join us for a glass of Oriana wine and see the new paintings Matt has been working on. Joining Matt's 1st Thursday reception will be some special highlights by Santa Barbara Middle School - the SBMS 9th graders will perform a scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream and there will be a representation of student art work, in mixed media which is inspired by local beaches and surf. During 1st Thursday hours, receive 10% off prAna clothing and with each purchase we donate 10% of the sale to local non-profit, Santa Barbara Channel Keeper.
		SANTA BARBARA FORGE & IRON 634 Anacapa Street, 805-965-7111Come visit Gallery Acero at Santa Barbara Forge + Iron, located in the historic Craviotto Bros. Ironworks building. You can tour the 1930's era metal fabrication shop and see the current projects on display, as well as sample boutique beer brewed on the premises by shop jefe Dan Patterson. We look forward to a great evening with you!
		SOJOURNER CAFE 134 East Canon Perdido Street, 805-965-7922 Featuring the Solstice Poster Contest entrants. Stop by for a wine tasting with Brad from Bradford Wine group and live music.
		THE BOOK DEN 15 East Anapamu Street, 805-962-3321 Actress, screenwriter, director, and now author Darlene Craviotto will be on-hand to discuss and sign copies of her new book An Agoraphobic's Guide to Hollywood: How Michael Jackson Got Me Out of the House. Before Michael Jackson's death, Darlene Craviotto was invited to write a Peter Pan film for Steven Spielberg to star Michael Jackson. Only problem was, since an auto accident years earlier, she had been battling agoraphoia and was afraid to leave the house.
		TONYRAY'S RESTAURANT AND CANTINA 731 De La Guerra Plaza - (805) 455-2274 We are no gallery, but we are no strangers to art either. We love good food and the art of cooking. Come have a good time with us this 1st Thursday to enjoy local and international art, live music, appetizers and drinks! Hosted at TonyRay's by Jorge Ricci of Papagallo's Restaurant.
		ULTIMATE BAGELS 1226 State Street, 805-845-2511 Benefit for the Women and Children of Africa: Three local non-profits come together to support East Africa. Sweet Hearts Bakery & Have a Heart for Rwanda will be celebrating health-conscious baking as a global project,owned and operated by Laura Waters, will promise to stimulate the palate and excite the eye! 100% of the profits go to feed starving orphan children of Rwanda. Because of Hope (BOH) is an organization that supports widows and orphans in Uganda, Africa. Our mission is to empower widows by providing them with opportunities to increase their livelihood through sustainable means. Beads of Esiteti is a fair-trade social business dedicated to empowering the Maasai community of Esiteti through the selling of their traditional beadwork.