Santa Barbara’s Public Arts Initiative, a project of the Santa Barbara Sculptors Guild, will launch its first exhibition dedicated to public art proposals for the region. Entitled “Artists Reimagine Public Art in Santa Barbara,” the display opens Thursday, September 3, alongside the Abstract Art Collective Fall Member Show. This exhibit of scaled mockups for new public artworks is generously supported by Santa Barbara Beautiful.
We invite the community to engage directly with artists’ concepts at the earliest stage of the creative process. Visitors will be able to explore the proposals, speak with the artists, leave comments, and vote for the piece they find most inspiring. The exhibition also offers a valuable opportunity for local arts leaders and cultural stakeholders to hear directly from the public and gain insight into what resonates most with the Santa Barbara community. Too often, the public encounters a public art proposal only after major creative decisions have already been made and selections finalized. The goal of this initiative is to open the process, allowing the community to participate from the beginning. While none of the proposals currently have funding for implementation, the hope is that this exhibition will generate interest to spark future support.
Where: Voice Gallery, La Cumbre Plaza
Reception: Thursday, Sept. 3, 5–8 p.m.
Exhibition: Sept. 1–29
Mon–Fri: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sat–Sun: 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
Participating Artists:
Misa Art • Shelby Scudder • Patrick McGinnis • Erica Huff • Ariana Rose • Kathryn Lape • Rich Kaplan • Skip Lau • Eric Saint Georges • Lisa Trevell • JJ Reuben Lee
Everyone is invited to share their thoughts, offer feedback, and make their voice heard.
The Santa Barbara Sculptors Guild extends its thanks to Santa Barbara Beautiful for the grant that makes this exhibition possible and to the Abstract Art Collective for their invitation to share the space of their Fall Member Show at the Voice Gallery.