Art sure to excite

By Monica Fiscalini

Arts Obispo promises that this Friday’s Art After Dark will be the largest and most exciting one of the year. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m.

Several new venues are on board for a grand total of 34. First I’ll point out highlights chosen by Arts Obispo, and then I’ll give you my pick of the night.

Arts Obispo chose the following sampling:

Art Central: 1329 Monterey St. “Mythological Mischief,” an explosion of imaginary creatures and mythological figures by local fine artists. 6 to 8 p.m.

Bluebird Salon: 722 Marsh St. “The Future is Now” features more than 15 artists and a silent short film at 8 p.m.

Eatz: 851 Higuera St. Rylie Houston paints dreamy landscapes and exotically beautiful women of mixed heritage, with vivid colors.

Performing Arts Center: 1 Grand Ave. Featuring guitar-themed art by Dale Evers and others. Part of La Guitarra California Festival. Refreshments and free shuttle to downtown.

Art After Dark is held the first Friday of the month to promote artists, galleries and venues that showcase the visual, literary and performing arts. Get an electronic version of the art listings and map on Sept. 3 at artsobispo.org/artafterdark.php.

I’m most intrigued by a group show with a reception Friday.

Peg Grady invited fellow artists Josephine Crawford, Neal Breton and Lena Rushing to join her in creating at least 10 narrative pieces of artwork. They submitted them to Peter Steynberg to curate and display at Steynberg Gallery, 1531 Monterey St. “Small Stories” starts Sept. 1 and runs through Oct. 26.

The show will celebrate the small moments in life through paintings, drawings, fiber art, and assemblage. The works range in size from the miniature to the massive … whatever is needed to tell the tale, Grady says.

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Arts Obispo also oversees First Saturdays: Wine and the Arts in Paso Robles. The buzz is clearly on Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine St., for a 5 to 8 p.m. reception Saturday for “Brushes With Nature,” a celebration of the San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment’s 20 years of painting and preserving the Central Coast.

The exhibit features original works by current and former SLOPE members to benefit the REC Foundation dedicated to recreational experiences in Paso Robles.

Expect 46 paintings covering 20 years of SLOPE subject matter. I wrote about the yearlong SLOPE exhibit at Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo a few months back.