August 2, 2015
By Monica Fiscalini
What better way to sample what Central Coast artists have to offer than to sample a few group shows this month and next?
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast's eighth annual GALA PRide Art Exhibit continues through Aug. 15 with two receptions for the artists set for 3 to 6 p.m. July 12 and 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 1. The GALA center at 1060 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo is open from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The 15 local artists from the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community include Nixon Borah, Shannon McNamara, Steve Clikc, Steven Deluque, Margaret (M.L.) Burdick, Kye Martin, Justin Neves, Jon Lomax, Paul La Riviere, Joey Salazar, Chuck Roche and Tuck Contreras. New artists to GALA are Mark Bieraugel, Vida Jacobson and Maria Christine Mahe.
The Central Coast Watercolor Society is sponsoring a juried show in Templeton. Myrna Wacknov was the juror for the Aquarius 2014 Pacific Regional Exhibition of watermedia paintings that opened yesterday and will run through Aug. 30 at Castoro Cellars, 1315 Bethel Road in Templeton. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The show was open to watermedia artists from California, Oregon and Washington.
Castoro Cellars is also the place to support Studios on the Park's Kids Art Smart program during a benefit concert with AJ Croce on Aug. 23. Call Salon Roux at 239-9499 or email info@salonroux.com for tickets. Here's another tidbit from Studios on the Park in Paso Robles: They are seeking volunteers for a variety of tasks including my new favorite verb, docenting. Call Sasha Irving at 238-9800 or email sasha@studiosonthepark.org.
SLOPE, San Luis Obispo Painters for the Environment, has a group show featuring scapes of the Pismo Preserve through July 31 at the offices of Blakeslee & Blakeslee, at 1101 Marsh St., in San Luis Obispo.
Member artists have joined wiht the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo to help purchase the 900-acre private ranch above Pismo Beach. The outdoor painters have worked to preserve land since 1993.
"Carved, Coiled and Thrown" continues through July 31 at the Gallery at the Network featuring ceramic potters including Richard Rowe, Charles Varni, Ben Trogden and the potters of Amphora Gallery in Cambria.
South County artist Lena Rushing is gearing up for a group show at La Luz de Jesus Gallery on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. The Coaster Show will run Sept. 5-28 as part of LA Beer Week. Last year featured more than 700 tiny round masterpieces priced $250 or less.
