Sullivan Goss’ monograph Kickstarter begins a full summer of Ray Strong exhibits

From left, Frank Goss, Nathan Vonk and Jeremy Tessmer are producing a book about artist Ray Strong. NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
From left, Frank Goss, Nathan Vonk and Jeremy Tessmer are producing a book about artist Ray Strong.
NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

When Ray Strong died in 2006 at age 101, he left behind an admirable legacy. The artist was well-known in Santa Barbara and a thorn in the side of those in power. He was well-loved but had no filter in speaking his mind.

To kick off a whole summer of shows celebrating Ray Strong’s work, a series that involves 11 art galleries and museums throughout Santa Barbara County, Frank Goss, Jeremy Tessmer and Nathan Vonk of Sullivan Goss have launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the first-ever monograph of this important painter.

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A home for Summer Solstice: Five-year lease of city building provides space to prepare floats and costumes

Members of the Santa Barbara Arts Collective, the Summer Solstice Celebration and dignitaries, including Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider, attend Friday's ribbon-cutting for the new home of the Solstice Parade.STEVE MALONE/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Members of the Santa Barbara Arts Collective, the Summer Solstice Celebration and dignitaries, including Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider, attend Friday’s ribbon-cutting for the new home of the Solstice Parade.

STEVE MALONE/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Wearing hard hats and holding shovels that were more metaphorical than practical, members of the City Council, the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission and the Summer Solstice broke ground Friday afternoon on a permanent home for the parade’s workshop.

The arts community also got a year-round work space in the bargain, a result of years of work by all involved.

With Friday’s ribbon-cutting, Summer Solstice returns to the complex at the corner of Ortega and Garden streets that it used from 2005 to 2011 on a year-to-year lease.

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