This is the most brilliant idea since the invention of... well, SANTA CRUZ ITSELF…read more Started in Feb 2004 by a group of Artists, Patrons and Business partners who wanted to launch the Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Art in the city's mainstream. According to them, "The purpose of founding an ICA in Santa Cruz , CA is to provide both, creative and educational opportunities in the area of Contemporary Arts for this community, rich with creative resources and intellectual diversity. By forming an ICA in Santa Cruz, CA the SCICA has joined a distinctive group of ICAs in communities around the world who have devoted resources to the pursuit of encouraging the relationship of Contemporary arts in the areas of Film, Dance, Theater, Visual and Performing Arts to the community in which they reside." It's awesome! It's a living, working creative space that runs the Friday Art Tour! Their mission in establishing the Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts is to, "Provide leadership in the presentation and development of contemporary arts. Through exhibitions, performances, educational programs, and community partnerships, the SCICA has begun to engage the public by sharing in the experience, interpretation and understanding of the work of established and emerging artists. The SCICA enables artists and audiences alike to push the limits of artistic expression and explore provocative new ideas illuminating life here and now." Visit their website - it's really well-made and informative! http://scica.org/ Love the idea... SO COOL!

We saw some outstanding photography at Louden Nelson Center and some more unusual pieces at Felix…read moreKrupa Gallery. Closer to the main drag there were a variety of downtown shops with art of various kinds. It was nice to see big crowds in the olive oil & vinegar specialty store & Nut Kreations. On Pacific St. it was a bit harder to tell which venues were part of the art tour, but the atmosphere downtown was incredibly pleasant & festive, without the rowdiness & seediness one sometimes encounters in Surf City.

This place is a hidden gem in Palo Alto, in an industrial area surrounded by factories. It is a…read moremuseum of the work of Tony Foster, an artist from UK who paints beautiful watercolor landscapes. It's free, and a nice place to visit for an hour or so ... highly recommended.

We tried Story Time with Anna on Sunday. It was an hour experience that our grandson enjoyed. We…read moresigned up ahead of time and street parking was easy. There was also a sign that there is additional parking behind the museum. After checking in there was a craft/art activity with stickers and tempera paint sticks. Low mess :). Adjacent was a play area with colored scarves, a pretend campfire, felt board for the children to explore, and books. Before entering the museum area Anna gave an introductory talk describing what to expect. She made it interactive which was very nice. They also did a song to get their wiggles out. She then guided the group through the museum to the carpeted area with cushions for the kiddos. Ana talked about and asked questions about the art on the walls. She read Under the Same Sky to the children and made this an interactive experience also. It was just the right length of time, thirty minutes. This was just right for our 18 month old grandson.

Lisa is an extremely talented artist who specializes in acrylic paintings. Her use of the knife is…read moreexquisite and really brings her work to life. I particularly enjoy her many captures of nature and the calming effect of the environment. Lisa, like her art has a radiant personality and is truly a joy to be around.

I only recently met Lisa through my wife Kimmy and I must say Kimmy has very good taste in people…read more My mother was an accomplished artist herself and I think Lisa shows real talent. She uses mainly Acrylic Paint and a knife to paint and has a gift for perspective, color, and balance. I was especially impressed by her subtle use of blue in a small painting of birches, which really pops out at you almost like 3D. I know too how difficult painting water can be and she tackled that nicely in a recent boat painting. Again I was both surprised and pleased by her use of color here. I am getting ready to publish a new book of poetry and hoping that I will be able to talk Lisa into doing some painting that will capture the mood of my work! Keep your eye on this young lady! I know that I am!

Went to the opening last night...fabulous art!! If you are…read morean art lover and have never been here I highly recommend you check it out. This is a really unique studio which showcases art created by very talented disabled artists. This year there are a lot of textiles/wearable art for sale which are just incredible. There are also sculptural works, prints and paintings. I ended up spending less than $100 for 5 pieces of awe inspiring original art to brighten up my life. I am very pleased.

I was walking past this place & the doors were open! I didn't know anything about this place but…read morewhile walking through it the space was great!! & I saw that they are open to neurodiversity. I talked to the front desk she was awesome and told me that they house 140 neurodiverse individuals. Coming to yelp to give a review I learned more about the business and I am so happy to come across this hidden gem in this city. I learned that it is free & open to the public on Saturday's from 12-3 pm.

Whether you are visiting as a tourist or a resident of San Francisco, Artful Tour is an exciting…read moreway to experience the art scene within the city. Bernard is a great tour guide and will cater to your interest. He will guide you through the many art studios in the city or a tour of outdoor installations or both! Bernard has an incredible appreciation for SF's art and it really shows in his enthusiasm. Bernard is very knowledgable about each piece and not only explains the physical qualities of the work but also its cultural and social implications. Artful Tour is a must for the SF art scene!

Had an absolutely delightful time on Rohana's Art Tour! My husband and I enjoyed this as part of…read morehis 60th birthday celebration in Carmel. Rohana exposed us to a variety of galleries with very interesting and beautiful art mediums. Her knowledge of art and the local artists made it a very special experience. My husband and I walked away with a much greater appreciation of the vibrancy of the Carmel art scene!

I have been to Carmel many times And always enjoyed it. A tour with Rohana simply made it even…read morebetter: - She is very knowledgeable and chose a variety of galleries for us to experience - She is local and we were warmly welcomed by the gallery directors or artists; we were very lucky to speak to two artists during the tour, who walked us through how they usually creat art work and their work was influenced by the environment - The tour is very family friendly, we had a 4 years old artists and her grandparents who are also art lovers. I enjoyed my interactions with them too - Additionally, Rohana gave me some recommendations on places to go after the tour - Last but not least, I truly enjoyed my conversation about art, history and the world today with Rohana, who is compassionate and open-minded

I went to their "multi-sensory experience" Rock N roll Friday because they stated "you're invited…read moreto take in this extraordinary collection while reveling in the soundtrack of the psychedelic generation." And guess what that consisted of?: Someone's Spotify barely audible in the background. Completely misleading. Not sure what the point of the show was : there was no overarching show description anywhere , mostly B side prints and a few prints that weren't abstract at all thrown in.

Starting in July the Bedford Gallery will go to a "Pay What You Can" community model. I also…read morerecently attended one of their outdoor art walks which was well worth it for only $5. They have them on the third Saturday of each month.

Don't you hate when you ride a new trail system and it takes dozens of rides to figure out the best…read moresections. It always helps to have buddy that knows the trails...Darrin is, "that guy." He knows the trails, the conditions, he'll ride your speed, and match your skill level to the trails. He's not only a great rider, he also knows the biological and historical significance of each area. Darrin is a sharp dude that will offer you tips on what you're about to ride so you know what you're getting into. He does a great job setting expectations and will help you get the most of your time in the area. This business is only going to grow...I'm excited to see what else they'll do next.

Had an awesome ride with Darrin this past weekend. He was punctual, fun to hang out with and helped…read moreus experience an awesome part of the Santa Cruz mountains. He asked a handful of questions in advance and was able to quickly assess our skillset in person; he then took on on trails we would have never discovered on our own...we had a blast Would highly recommend Darrin.