Activities

The Santa Cruz County Museums’ Partnership is proud to kick off this year’s National Museum Month with a host of county-wide activities, including an installation on the Community Wall at the County Government building on Ocean Street.

Community Wall: Featuring a large map of our county, with photos/info about our county-wide museum and gallery organizations. Artwork representing several of the galleries is also on display. Join us on First Friday, May 4, to help us kick off “May is Museum Month”.

Long "stitched together" view of Community Wall

Left Side of Wall / Poster & Brochures

Map starts with the North Coast

Map ends in South County, Watsonville, Pajaro areas

Artwork (L - R) Brenda Berg, "CA Crate Series: Asparagus", Oil & Encaustic, (Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center);

Louise Cunningham, "Felton", historic painting from SLV Museum; Hedwig Heerchop, "The Brown Fleet", Photograph (Pajaro Valley Arts Council)

Artwork (Center - R) Kristen Gautier-Downes "Swaying Forest", Acrylic on Paper (Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery);

Doreen Davis, "From the Hill", Oil (Santa Cruz Art League)

View down the hallway of Community Wall, Santa Cruz Government Center - Santa Cruz County Museums Partnership exhibit

View of "Activities" wall, Santa Cruz Government Center - Santa Cruz County Museums Partnership exhibit

· May 2, 5 – 7 p.m. at the Codiga Center near the entrance to the SC County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville, featuring 2 new exhibits “Portraits of Pajaronians”, and “Weaver’s Delight”. Free event. For more information, contact Agricultural History Project at 831.724.5898 or visit the website

· Watsonville Public Library (2^nd floor): Japanese exhibit featuring Mr. Harry Okamura’s hand carved & painted bird brooches made while he and his family were interned during WWII.

· McDonald’s Restaurant on Main Street in Watsonville: An exhibit of “Dolls of Many Lands” in the main dining area.

· May 5, 2012, 10 a.m. to noon. Meet at parking lot to the right of the UCSC entry sign, corner of Bay and High Streets. Join plant experts Angel Guerzon and Suzanne Schettler, and historian Frank Perry, for a leisurely exploration of the 30-acre historic district. We will see both native and garden plants and examine historical photos of the area documenting the transition from lime works to cattle ranch to university. $3 donation requested.

· Saturday, May 12, 12 – 6 p.m. Open House & Mother’s Day Sale, FREE event

· Saturday, May 19, 7:30 p.m. The Muir Ramble Trail, meet local authors and adventurers Peter and Donna Thomas and enjoy a lively slide-show and discussion of their recreation of Muir’s travels from SF to Yosemite. FREE event.

· Sunday, May 20, 9:30 – 3:30 Plein Air Day @ Camp Joy Gardens, benefits youth scholarships for the non profit Art Center & Camp Joy.

· Gallery Exhibition, “In My Life”, featuring local artworks, Hrs, Wed. – Sun. 12 – 6 p.m. FREE to the public.

· Thurs, May 3rd at 7 - 9:30 pm at Park Hall, 9370 Mill Street, Ben Lomond- Award-winning historian, lecture, and author Sandy Lydon will speak on 'Snakes in Paradise - The Cycles of Racism in Santa Cruz County and the Ku Klux Klan' Tickets are: $20 - SLV Museum members and students, $25 - general public.

· Sat, May 12 , 12 - 4 pm at the SLV Museum, 12547 Highway, Boulder Creek. Look through dozens of unidentified photos from the well-known SLV photographer Fredda Carr. Fredda took photos for many years of the people, places, and events throughout San Lorenzo Valley. FREE Admission.

· April 30 – May 25, 2012, Student Exhibition 6 Cabrillo College Student Exhibition
Student Exhibition 6 is a comprehensive survey of student artwork completed at Cabrillo College during the spring 2012 semester.

· May 4, Free First Friday – Bike Night

FREE admission and extended hours. From 5-9 pm, enjoy a no-host bar and live music while enjoying art and mingling with friends. This month, we’re presenting a bike-filled evening of crafts, exhibits, and activities related to cycling. This program is presented in partnership with Ecology Action as the kickoff to Bike to Work week.

· May 5, Historic Landmark Blue Plaque Awards 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Join us as we present blue plaque awards to nine structures in Santa Cruz County for their architectural or historic significance. Refreshments and downtown walking tour follow presentations. 2012 Blue Plaque Award Recipients: Branciforte Grammar School, 1915, Santa Cruz Dr. Frederick P. Shenk Home, 1932, Santa Cruz American Railway Express Agency, c. 1918,

· Mar 21 – July 29, All You Need is Love

Love is in the air at the MAH this spring. This museum-wide exhibition explores the many ways that love is manifest in our everyday lives. The artworks and historical objects reflect everything from passionate love stories to love gone wrong to the fierce love between mother and child.

Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery www.pvarts.org

· Thursday May 3, 2012 - Sunday, June 17, 2012 Photo Alchemy: Alternative Processes in Photographic Media

· May 4 - 27, 2012, 57th Annual High School Show Reception: Sat., May 12, 3-5pm

· Thursday, May 3, 2-3:30 PM, Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour
Experience the wildlife and natural beauty that make Younger Lagoon an exceptional local treasure on this docent-led tour to the lagoon and its beach habitat.

· Sundays, May 6, 13, 20, & 27; 1-3 PM, Seaside Crafts at the Seymour Center
Join us with your small fry in the crafts room every Sunday for hands-on fun!

· Thursday, May 10, 2-3:30 PM, Marine Mammal Research Tour
Go behind the scenes at Long Marine Lab. Learn about the work of scientists and their studies of dolphins, seals, sea lions, and whales.

· Sunday, May 13, Mother’s Day
Kids, bring your moms to the Seymour Center for a day of Seaside Crafts, Science Sunday, hands-on encounters with animals, and more! Admission is free for mothers all day.

· Sunday, May 13, 2-3:30 PM, Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour
Experience the wildlife and natural beauty that make Younger Lagoon an exceptional local treasure on this docent-led tour to the lagoon and its beach habitat.

· Sunday, May 20, 1 PM, Science Sunday ~ It’s Not Who You Eat, It’s When You Eat Them: The Insidious Relationship Between Salmon and Anchovy
Join UCSC’s Baldo Marinovich for a look at Chinook salmon, anchovy, and krill, and the important role they play.

· Sunday, May 27, 2-3:30 PM, Marine Mammal Research Tour
Go behind the scenes at Long Marine Lab. Learn about the work of scientists and their studies of dolphins, seals, sea lions, and whales.

· May 25, 7 p.m. “2012 Artist of the Year, Gary Young, Profile Performance” at the Museum of Art & History. Join us for an evening that celebrates the convergence of literary and visual arts.

· May 23, 5 - 7 p.m. Opening Reception "Irwin Scholars 2012"; Showcases some of UCSC's most promisingyoung artists working in painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, installation, video and digital media. Show runs from May 23 - June 17.

· May 4, Free First Friday – Bike Night

· May 5, Historic Landmark Blue Plaque Awards 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

· Mar 21 – July 29, All You Need is Love

Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery www.pvarts.org