Arts & Culture

WATSONVILLE—Local author and former Pajaronian editor Michael Wallace has released the ninth installment of his ongoing Quill Gordon Mystery series. The series follows the private investigator as he solves mysteries, usually in familiar west coast settings. Wallace released the first book in 2012, and has...

APTOS—Cabrillo College’s on-campus art gallery is reopening to the public after being shuttered since March 2020. After holding a variety of virtual shows for the past 17 months, Cabrillo Gallery returns to in-person with its annual “12x12: An Open Invitational” exhibit. The exhibit invites artists...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) will present its fourth annual Día de los Muertos event at Watsonville City Plaza on Oct. 29, featuring a screening of the animated Disney/Pixar movie “Coco” as well as music, dance and art. The free event, which brought thousands of...

The County of Santa Cruz has named multi-media artist Guillermo “Yermo” Aranda as the 2021 Artist of the Year. Every year the Arts Commission presents the award to a local artist for their achievements in performing, visual or literary arts, as well as their contributions...

WATSONVILLE—Every year, Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) hosts an annual exhibit inspired by Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead in English), a traditional holiday in Mexico commemorating family and community members who have died. But this year, after almost two years of the Covid-19...

WATSONVILLE—Judy Gittelsohn has big plans for the downtown Watsonville arts scene. For the past two months, Gittelsohn has been slowly but surely moving her artwork, supplies and more into her new studio at 430 Main St. Large paintings line the walls of the small yet...

Nancy Russell’s “art house” in Moss Landing stands a chance of being one of the most outlandish stops on the upcoming 29th Annual Monterey County Artists Studio Tour.  “I’m looking forward to the tour this year,” Russell said at the front door of her home,...

WATSONVILLE—A year’s worth of work came to fruition on Oct. 1 as the third and largest mosaic that is part of the ongoing Watsonville Brillante project was installed at the Civic Plaza Parking Garage. The piece, “Hermanita,” was designed by Juan Fuentes, a graduate of...

Artists in Santa Cruz County are setting the stage for the annual Open Studios Art Tour which runs three consecutive weekends. After being mothballed last year during the pandemic, this year will offer the public a sweeping array of art, from paintings, photographs, assemblage and...

After a year and a half of pandemic challenges, Watsonville Yoga Dance & Healing Arts is once again finding its footing.  The business is settling into its new location (734 East Lake Ave. #16) while expanding its programming and services for children and adults both...