From the waves to the redwoods, it's all happening here.

Join us for Mothersong every first Friday of the month ~ sing and dance with us at our Main Library, Meeting Room at 10:30am. Audience: Families Se le invita a nuestro programa Mothersong cada primer viernes del mes ~ cante y baile con nosotros en nuestra Biblioteca Principal, Sala de Reuniones a las 10:30am. Audiencia: Familias

Photo: Ariel Taylor with artwork Deeper FIRST FRIDAY at TREEHOUSE! Celebrate the last month of Summer with us! Community over everything. <3 We offer specials on our featured cannabis brands, discounts on artists who have work on display, and a penny wheel for you to spin when you spend over $50! Specials run all day! Resident Artists on Display: Cole Lemke (aka Chump Magic), Ariel Taylor, Brittany Costanzo, & Mio Kamstra-Brown Featured Cannabis Brands (Some will be here in person from 11:00am – 1:00pm!): • Allswell • Arcata Fire • Auntie Aloha • BLOOM • Daze Off • Glass House Farms • Give Thanks/ Stony's Reserves • Greenline • Habitat • Heavy Hitters • Jetty • Kanha • KwikEase • Maven Genetics • Not Your Father's • Pabst • Pacific Stone • PLUS • Punch • Pure Beauty • Raw Garden • Shooters • Space Craft • St. Ides •. UpNorth • Follow us on Instagram @treehousedispensary_sc! Head to our website for all the details! www.OurTreehouse.io · (831) 471-8289 · 3651 Soquel Drive, Soquel CA · C10-0000105-LIC · 21+ only please We can't wait to see you there! 🙂 Swing by to look at the art on our walls & take advantage of our dope deals!

Make the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History your first stop this weekend with FREE First Friday. Explore all three floors of the museum and make sure to visit the brand new exhibition, Silica / SiO2: Northern California Ceramics, on its opening night! This exhibition will honor the deep legacy of ceramic art in Santa Cruz County and the broader Northern California, while celebrating the new community of ceramists producing amazing work. While you’re here, check out the MAH shop and hangout among art and history! Then stay into the night dancing to live music out in Abbott Square. First Friday hours are 12-8pm. See you then!

​“Time Zones” is a visual arts show at the Claraty Arts progressive art studio, curated by program artist Mariah Toomey. The show celebrates the collective diversity of all of our backgrounds and life-shaping events. By choosing artworks with bright colors that range from realistic to abstract, Toomey’s curation shares a variety of lenses through which Claraty artists express themselves, and some of the many ways we all process and reflect our experiences. “Time Zones are where we all come from, how we are different, but together.” – Mariah Toomey Whether it is location, time zone, identity, disability, or anything else that shapes the way we interact with and view the world, this exhibition celebrates them all. You are invited to join us for the initial reception on September 4th, 12pm–4pm at the studio, located on 1725 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. The show will be available for viewing until October 28th during regular studio visitor hours, which are 10am–2pm, Monday through Friday.

Opening celebration and Artist Talk on Saturday, August 15, 2-4:30pm. Light refreshments will be served. Re/View: Alumni Exhibition ReView: UCSC Arts Alumni Exhibition, on view August 13-September 19, 2026, features Arts Division alumni from the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas. Curated by Valéria Miranda, the Sesnon’s Director, includes a wide variety of media and technique highlighting the diversity of contemporary practice of alumni who graduated from 1972 to 2025. The exhibition title alludes to the portfolio critique process and suggests ideas of reflection and reevaluation—whether revisiting past work, rethinking materials, or tracing how a practice evolves over time. This exhibition celebrates the creative path of artists who began their journeys at UCSC. United by shared roots yet defined by distinct paths, the participating alumni reflect the lasting influence of the Arts Division programs. Their works speak to the spirit of inquiry, experimentation, and perseverance that has long shaped the university’s artistic community. ReView presents an opportunity for the campus and larger community to see the professional practice of these artists who continue to build on the creative foundation that they received at UCSC and to inspire our current students, offering visualization of their own future artistic journeys after graduation. ReView offers a unique opportunity for returning alumni to celebrate their creative expressions while reconnecting with classmates and the university community. Admission is free and open to the public. Summer Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 1-5pm

There’s a thin line between love and hate and sometimes, it’s the barrier between balconies. That’s the premise of Noel Coward’s Private Lives. Two divorced lovers find themselves spending their new honeymoons next door to one another at the same hotel. Both are egotistical, passionate, and selfish, so how are they going to manage to live next to each other at a hotel? Better yet, how are they going to live without each other? This laugh-out-loud comedy is rich, witty and as sharp as Cupid’s arrow. See the play on Friday, September 4th for a matinee preview or check out one of the multiple showings through October 4th. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz

Richard Curtin, Santa Cruz Open Studios Artist (’22 & ’25 in Photography) will be hosting a reception at the store, Sept. 4 from 4-7pm. The exhibition is entitled “Daydreaming” Daydreaming is natural and can be very beneficial. It enables your mind to wander, which can then spark creativity and reduce stress. The images in this show are some of his daydream-inducing favorites 😊 Richard’s images will be on display from September 1 through October 31.

Celebrating the life of Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, and Bob Weir, the latest members of the Grateful Dead to have passed. Between the Dark and the Light- is a very personal slideshow as a 90 min. retrospective of Grateful Dead Rock n Roll Photography by Jay Blakesberg @Nicely.SantaCruz. 7:30-9 pm. (must have a ticket) We will be hosting a private event, slide show with stories and more from Jay and special guests via Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jay-blakesberg-between-the-dark-and-the-light-nicely-gallery-tickets-1995021735716?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true Come on down and shake your bones while enjoying company and wonderful memories of “The Boys”. We will have something special ALL “The Days Between” in the gallery; 1/2 LOADED with Rock n Roll Photography and 15 other local artists. Memorabilia and Memorial Gathering GATEFUL FOREVER.

Important News from The Puppetry Institute Like many arts organizations, we’ve been navigating the realities of a challenging economic landscape. Running two separate locations has become increasingly difficult, and after a great deal of thought we’ve made the decision to move from our previous location and reopen our art school inside our MIDDLEOF space, unit D-06 in the Capitola Mall. While change is never easy, we truly believe this move creates something exciting. By bringing everything together under one roof, we’ll be able to continue offering our incredible workshops while also having enough space for our interactive puppetry installations, art gallery, and live performances. It allows us to create a home where imagination, education, and immersive art can exist side by side. These are difficult times for the arts, and organizations like ours are constantly finding creative ways to keep the magic alive. We believe this move will help ensure that we can continue sharing our unique brand of creativity, storytelling, and wonder with the Central Coast community we’re proud to call home for the past 10 years Thank you to everyone who has supported us through every chapter of this journey. Your encouragement, attendance, donations, and belief in what we do continue to make all of this possible. We’re excited for this next adventure and can’t wait to welcome you into this new chapter of The Puppetry Institute. Learn more about who we are and what we do please visit us Sept 4th from 4-7pm for a tour of our classroom and our magical 5000 sq ft

September First Friday at The Green Spot Celebrate First Friday with us at The Green Spot, as we introduce our September Artist of the Month, Nico of Zardi Creations. Nico’s handcrafted stained glass pieces will be featured throughout the shop all month long, with artwork available for purchase. Stop in during First Friday to meet Nico, connect with the artist, and explore his one-of-a-kind creations. Adding to the evening, Salif Kone will be joining us for a live musical performance, creating the perfect soundtrack for an evening of art, music, and community. Come visit The Green Spot, discover something new, meet the artists, and enjoy an evening celebrating local creativity.

This September we’re celebrating all things migration! Each changing seasons brings different species to the Santa Cruz region as they search for food, breeding grounds, and safe shelter. Explore our exhibits and join us as we dive into the fascinating phenomena of migration. Enjoy FREE admission to the Museum all day with special activities indoors from 5-8pm, featuring community partners, a collective art project, vendors, a bar and more!

Gallery 125 at The Tannery is open for First Friday Santa Cruz on September 4 from 5pm to 8pm! Come visit us! Art works of every type, size and price range: paintings, prints, sculpture, cards, pastels, etc.

Calvary presents four local artists at this mixed media event. Photographer and Marine Biologist Allison Gong will present her photographs of microscopic organisms from our local ocean. Pegatha Hughes and Sarabeth Clevenger will show paintings. Kathleen Tyger Wright will read from her short story “Weather Magic”. Take a tour of the historic sanctuary with Chris Perin. Join us for an immersive event.

Rocky Wagers and Jack Howe bring together two distinctly different approaches to assemblage and the art of the found object. Through antique fragments, cast-offs, curious finds, and objects marked by time and use, each creates work with an unmistakably individual point of view. ROCKY WAGERS Rocky is set to bring some of the most unique creations to this September and October art show. He originally began his artistic career as a weaver, but his path shifted dramatically when he realized the artistic potential in worn-out items that most people simply labeled as “junk.” Turning his attention to antique assemblage, he began collecting broken parts and cast-offs from the Victorian era through the 1920s, transforming forgotten relics into striking, imaginative works of art. His creations are wildly eclectic, ranging from a demonic skull to a goblet made of women’s legs. For the September and October art show, Rocky’s work will prominently feature a wealth of beads and seashells. This specific aesthetic harks back to a 19th-century practice among sailors, who traditionally crafted pictures and notes framed in seashells to bring home to their loved ones. Rocky describes his creative process as something of a dream sequence. He hunts down individual components, often keeping them around for years with the steady confidence that they will eventually find a purpose. Because he works primarily with historical fragments, he ensures that the legacy of his materials is preserved. JACK HOWE Santa Cruz artist Jack Howe creates assemblages from the accumulated evidence of everyday life—old photographs, antique objects, broken pieces, curious finds, and things that have acquired character through age and use. A longtime collector of antiques, Jack began making assemblage in the late 1980s, finding new possibilities in objects and fragments that might otherwise have been discarded. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which damaged much of his collection, further shaped this direction in

What does it look like to be loved? How do we know that we are significant to someone? Love is an experience that manifests in many forms. From the passion of romance and the warmth of family to the bitterness of heartbreak, this exhibition features how artists in our community capture the ephemeral in physical form. For all the ways that exist to love and be loved, there are infinitely many ways to experience these emotions and express them through art. In this exhibition, we showcase a wide variety of interpretations and experiences.

On the first Friday evening of every month, Santa Cruz galleries, shops, and cultural venues open their doors to showcase the works of Santa Cruz County artists. With a block party-like vibe, the multi-venue event provides an opportunity to discover local creative talent in a fun and festive setting. Many venues entice attendees with yummy cheese-and-wine-filled spreads, while others have food trucks joining in on the fun.

First Fridays at The 418 Project 📅 First Friday of Every Month 5:00–9:00 PM The 418 Project | 155 River St. South, Santa Cruz, CA Join us for an evening of local art, live music, performances, and community. First Fridays at The 418 Project bring together artists, makers, musicians, performers, and neighbors to celebrate creativity in an inclusive and welcoming space. Browse original artwork, shop from local vendors, enjoy live performances, connect with local creatives, and experience everything The 418 Project has to offer. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. Are you an artist or performer? Vendor and performance opportunities are free! We’d love to feature visual artists, musicians, poets, dancers, filmmakers, comedians, and creatives of all kinds. Sign up through the link in our bio or contact us to get involved. Come experience the arts, support local creators, and be part of a growing creative community. We can also create a shorter version for Eventbrite, Facebook Events, or Instagram.

Soul Journey Jack Mento’s Abstract Expressionist Paintings A beautiful show of abstract paintings whose brilliance and color and freedom of line is transformative! Big Basin Tasting Room is open for First Friday Santa Cruz from 5-9pm, –open early and late, and are down at the beach end of Pacific Ave just past Evita Restaurant. Join us for a seat at one of the 2 fire-pit tables on our patio, or cozy up on a couch inside. We’ve been looking forward to this show– it’s all new work, recent work and we’ll be celebrating! See you there! Artist Bio Born in Hawaii and growing up in Syracuse, NY my nickname was Diamond, which in Hawaiian is Kaimana. Although Hawaii will always be my spiritual home, I have lived in different places including Hawaii, New York, Arizona, Colorado and currently in the beautiful Sierra Nevada foothills in Northern California. My art is a unique expression of the many roads I’ve traveled, the things I’ve felt and seen, and the countless colorful adventures this life has given me. I started painting in 1986 and realized it was a deep way to express myself. At first my art had more of a realistic style that depicted my everyday experiences. Over time my work developed into a visual impression of the world around me and the mystery within. The art always seems to take me beyond what I imagined. Sometimes when I paint, I realize I am merely a witness to what transpires while the brush is in hand. I hope my art reaches people on a level that evokes their imagination about their own inner landscape as well as their curiosity about the world outside themselves. I believe one function of Art is to make visible to you the Mysteries of life on an emotionally deeper level. It is the life within and without that truly has led me to create what you see here. All purchases are through the artist. Please contact the artist to arrange a sale! Email: [email protected] Website: www.kaimanaart.com Venmo: @John-Mento-7

First Friday at Santa Cruz Art Expressions 🎨🎶 Doors open at 5 PM for an evening of art, music, and creative connection at Santa Cruz Art Expressions. Enjoy a live DJ set, light refreshments, and the buzz of First Friday energy as the gallery comes alive. Meet featured artist Kelli C. Foss, known for her vibrant abstract paintings and unmistakable, intuitive style. Guests are invited beyond the gallery walls and into her personal studio for an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at her process, works in progress, and the creative world that shapes her art. In addition to Foss’s work, explore a curated selection of artists on display throughout the space, offering a rich mix of styles and perspectives. Come to mingle, move to the music, and immerse yourself in an inspired evening celebrating art and community in the heart of Santa Cruz.

Fernanda’s work explores nature and the city as interdependent systems, constantly shaping and adapting to one another. As her practice continues to evolve, one idea keeps emerging: the desire to connect people and places by representing familiar spaces, their surroundings, and the human relationships that exist within them. For Home is a verb, she created a new body of work that is centered on experimentation using various found and recycled materials. These reused materials carry traces of use, time, and adaptation, echoing the ways natural systems persist and evolve within urban environments. Through an intuitive process, materials are combined, layered, and reconfigured, allowing forms to emerge through response rather than predetermined outcomes. The ideas of place, belonging, and the relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit play an active role in shaping this work. By inviting personal connections to familiar environments, she hopes viewers become part of this exchange, encountering the works as evolving forms that encourage reflection, conversation, and a renewed sense of connection to the places they call their own.

13 artists from all over California create giant insect sculptures in a variety of innovative media Artists include: Ken Kalman,Ruth Santee,Alea Bone, Stephanie Brockway, Keith Millar, Adon Valenziano, Mary Tartaro, Cynthia Siegel,Tara de la Garza,Cheryl Moreno, Sarah Brothers Bot, Beth Purcell and Helen Cole Sept 4-Oct 30 receptions: Sept4 and Oct2 from 5-8pm Gallery Hours: Thurs-Sun 11-6pm

Freestanding Lace Embroidery Demo at Cosmo Chic SC Discover the magic of embroidery at Cosmo Chic SC during First Friday! Stop by for a live Freestanding Lace Embroidery Demo and watch as beautiful, intricate lace designs are created entirely with embroidery thread—no fabric required. See the process from start to finish and learn how this unique embroidery technique can be used to create ornaments, accessories, embellishments, and wearable art. Whether you love sewing and embroidery or are simply curious about how it’s done, come watch the machine in action, ask questions, and get inspired! ✨ Live embroidery demonstration 🧵 Learn how freestanding lace is created 💗 Explore the creative world of Cosmo Chic SC

Join us at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center in downtown Ben Lomond for an informal reception for our exhibit, Rhythms Within: Abstract Expressions on First Friday, September 4 from 5-7 pm. Abstract art can range from slightly altered depictions of reality to entirely non-representational works. When we let go of what we see and tap into images we find within us, we can connect with our own perspective on reality. For this open-invitational exhibit, local artists present strong work that focuses on emotion, ideas, or an internal reality, rather than a recognizable subject. You’ll find works ranging from painting and multi-media assemblage to ceramics and jewelry.

Celebrate Adopted Shelter Pets Please join us to celebrate the wonderful animals we’ve adopted at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. Tannery artists, Suzy Rad, Ann Miya, Katie Scott, and Linda Lord are joined by five Claraty Arts Project artists, Gabby Medina, Bianca Ramos, Theresa Willett, Adrienne Graves, and Cole Rossi have created shelter animal-themed pieces. See them on display at the Tannery Arts Center Studio 128 and Radius Gallery Annex. The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation will be there to let people know about the services the Shelter offers to our community. Tannery Arts Center, Studio 128 and Radius Gallery Annex 1050 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA From 5 to 8 pm. Adoptable Dogs will be there from 4-6 pm. Social dogs are always welcome. Hope to see you there!

Join us in welcoming local photographer and furniture maker, Michael Singer! Light snacks and drinks will be available. Artist Statement Photography has been a passion of mine for many years. Most of my work as a full time furniture designer/maker requires a great deal of creative iteration, detailed planning, forethought, and technical deliberateness. Photography gives me a more spontaneous creative outlet as a way to balance all of that left-brain structure. Images can be captured anywhere, either carefully planned, or in the spur of the moment. And modern digital editing tools allow for the revisiting and re-contemplation of images after the fact, permitting even further creativity in their interpretation and presentation. My photographs range from the documentary to the interpretive. I strive to illuminate the inherent line, tonality, and rhythm of a scene, often through the use of black and white presentation. I also enjoy highlighting the graphic nature of images from both the built and natural worlds, often through abstraction.

The Retrospective 15 Years of Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center September 4 – 20, 2026 “The Retrospective” celebrates fifteen years of Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center (TWDCC), tracing its evolution from its founding in 2011 as a cultural hub for modern, contemporary, and world dance to its role today as a vital home for movement, culture, and artistic expression. Through photography, film, memorabilia, and archival footage, the exhibition tells the story of TWDCC’s growth and its enduring impact on the local arts community. It documents the people, performances, and cultural traditions that have shaped the organization, including the work of legendary photographers who have captured dance rooted in and inspired by the Black/African diaspora. The exhibition spans fifteen years—from the very first students who entered TWDCC’s doors in 2011 to performances presented this summer—offering an intimate look at the discipline of dance and the evolving artistic community. “The Retrospective” is part of TWDCC’s “Marking 15 Years”, a season-long celebration of fifteen years of creativity, community, and cultural exchange. The festivities continue on September 12 with “An Evening Within”, an intimate dinner event, followed by a party on September 18. Throughout the season,”Marking 15 Years” will continue with the Annual All-Ages Halloween Bash, Deep Roots, and additional winter programming, honoring the organization’s remarkable contribution to the art and culture of dance. ARTISTS Crystal Birns, Rose Calucchia, Peter Nguyen, Devi Pride, Solomon Scott, Cliff Warner First Friday : : Sept 4, 5-8pm with a Storytelling Hour with Micha Scott and Angela Chambers at 7pm

Pole Fitness 101 is more than just aerial training. Get movement training you’ll use for life! ✅Pole technique with dance & fitness modules ✅Functional conditioning ✅Mobility & flexibility training ✅High level Xpert Xpole certified (L1-L4) ✅FRC certified Mobility Specialist (FRCms) Drop in on one class or attend the fully programmed module for 7 weeks! Fridays 6 pm. www.ohanastudiosantacruz.com