Event highlights for the week of February 28, 2018.
Green Fix
Community Art Fundraiser
The U.S. is facing the largest removal of protected lands ever, and the Monumental Action organization, a Felton-based grassroots organization, believes that the key to protecting our land is through art and creativity. The president recently shrunk Bears Ears National Monument and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and there are at least 10 more monuments on the chopping block, and many others at risk. Monumental Action will host its first community art fundraiser on First Friday to continue their mission in bringing awareness and visibility around the importance of the environment and public lands.
INFO: 7-10 p.m. Friday, March 2. Luma Yoga and Family Center, 1010 Center St., Santa Cruz. artfuluprisings.wixsite.com/monumentalaction. Free.
Art Seen
‘Imagining Safe Space: A Contemporary Fiber Arts Show’
At this show, “make the most with what you have” is an understatement. Professional textile artist Marilou Moschetti and emerging artist Laurie McCann collaborated on an exhibit to encompass what safe spaces mean and why they matter, using mostly recycled and repurposed materials. McCann says she was heartbroken by the lack of spaces for both animals and people, and wanted to create a show around the importance of safe spaces. Both fiber artists showcase 3D objects like cocoons, nests, caves and other forms made from sustainable cloth, twine and paper.
INFO: Show opens Friday, March 2. Reception 6-9 p.m. Resource Center for Nonviolence. 612 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. 423-1626. rcnv.org. Free.
Sunday 3/4
Gregg Levoy Workshop
Lecturer and best-selling author Gregg Levoy is a human potential expert. A former behavioral specialist at USA Today, Levoy has led self-empowerment talks and workshops at Microsoft, American Express, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Smithsonian Institution, just to name a few. Levoy will be coming to Santa Cruz to lead a psychological, spiritual and practical exploration workshop to help others respond to their life callings. Before quitting your job to become an entrepreneur, go to this workshop to better understand what a calling is, and how you can ensure success before you make the leap.
INFO: 10:30 a.m. Free talk and music, 12:30 p.m. workshop begins. The Center for Spiritual Living, 1818 Felt St., Santa Cruz. 462-9383. $30.
Friday 3/2-Sunday 3/11
‘A Raisin in the Sun’
UCSC Theater Arts and Cultural Arts and Diversity presents A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. The 1959 Broadway hit tells the story of a lower class African-American family’s experiences and struggle to gain middle-class acceptance in the face of racism and poverty. Renowned Hollywood actress and UCSC alum Adilah Barnes will play the lead role; you may know her as Anne Marie on ABC’s Roseanne. The title is a nod to Langston Hughes’s poem, “A Dream Deferred,” and the play centers around institutionalized racism and injustices still present today. A Raisin in the Sun is an opportunity for more discourse around racism and economic inequality, because Black history and experiences don’t end in the month of February.
INFO: UCSC Second Stage Theater Arts Center. 1156 High St., Santa Cruz. ucsctickets.com. General admission $18, student/senior $10. Free to UCSC undergraduates with identification, other UCSC affiliates $8.
Friday 3/2
Paul Richmond ‘The Naked Eye’ Opening Reception
Monterey-based Artist Paul Richmond has felt at odds with traditional notions of masculinity his entire life. To him, the concept of masculinity is flexible, nebulous and complex. With this in mind, Richmond painted a series of all-male portraits to explore masculinity in a variety of ways and expressions. From pigment application to color exploration, he invites others to reach beyond the immediate surface to better understand the complexity of what it means to be masculine. Show runs through Saturday, June 30.
INFO: Opening reception 5-9 p.m. Faust, 110 Cooper St. Ste 100F, Santa Cruz. paulrichmondstudio.com. 420-0701. Free.
Saturday 3/3
Diversity Mural Celebration
If you’ve driven past the Louden Nelson Community Center on Laurel Street recently, you may have seen members of the Diversity Center Youth Program hard at work on Santa Cruz’s newest mural. The LGBTQ+ youth inspired mural is called “Unify, Decolonize, Thrive” and represents the past, present and future of marginalized people through history. After nearly two years of collaboration, the mural is complete. There will be a ceremonial reception and guest speakers to celebrate the completion.
INFO: 1-3 p.m. Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz. 425-5422. Free.
