February 1st Thursday

The Love for Art and Film is in the Air at February’s 1st Thursday!

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Visit Downtown Santa Barbara for Thursday, an evening filled with FREE art, culture, music and fun! The February 2nd event will include more than 35 cultural art venues eager to show off exciting new exhibits, welcoming artist receptions, intriguing demonstrations and energetic live music.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in full swing, this month’s 1st Thursday will be full of entertainment for all ages. Bring out your loved ones to enjoy another month of art, music, film and fun. Start off your charming evening at Divine Inspiration Gallery of Fine Art as featured artists Michael Harvan and Sharon Schock will display their romantic seascapes and their love for the sea and for Santa Barbara. Continue your stroll to Ultimate Bagels as three local non-profits come together to support efforts in East Africa. Valentine’s Day gifts will be on sale to support the women and children of East Africa. prAna at Santa Barbara Outfitters will be featuring artist Matt Moore. With film on the mind, there will also be a special performance by the Santa Barbara Middle School who will perform a scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream in addition to a representation of student artwork. Head over to Artamo Galleries as LA based actress and artist Ashleigh Sumner displays her newest work and solo exhibition that is inspired by urban environments that have a rough “street art” feel. Make your way to Gallery 113 in La Arcada Court for Beth Schmohr’s “Nine = One” show that represents the emotion of love, passion and incisiveness. Bring your favorite love poem to share at CASA Gallery as romance and sensuality are the focus of this month’s sculpture exhibit.

In preparation for the Film Festival, Coast Restaurant and Bar will feature the art of Academy Award-winning filmmaker Fred Wolf whose art emphasizes compositional challenges in figurative situations. The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is in the cinematic spirit with a screening of, The Flying A: A Silent Film in Santa Barbara that focuses on the studio’s influential and prolific operation in Santa Barbara between 1911 and 1921, when nearly 1,000 silent films were made. View this remarkable exhibit while appreciating Santa Barbara filmmaking history.

While 1st Thursday offers extraordinary exhibits and paintings indoors, be sure to check out the demonstrations, performance art and live music outdoors. La Bella Voce is a select group of singers from San Marcos High School’s Advanced Women’s Choir that is trying to raise money to compete at Carnegie Halls’ Winner’s Festival this March. Stop by the corner of State and Anapamu Streets to listen to their beautiful love songs and to support these talented singers by helping make their dreams come true! Want to send some love a long way this Valentine’s Day? Make sure to visit Marshall’s Patio at 900 State Street to create a Valentine-Gram for someone who truly deserves it alongside listening to the dreamy sounds of harpist, Rebecca Scorgin. These grams will be collected and sent to our troops overseas, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Finish off your lovely 1st Thursday in the Paseo Nuevo Center Court as youth band, Brooke and the Revolvers will perform fresh sounds from 5-7pm.

All of these attractions and many more are FREE during 1st Thursday on February 2nd. With over 35 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 www.santabarbaradowntown.com.

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