Mad Men Yourself

Be Sleek, Be Stylish, Be Yourself! That's the name of the swanky "Mad Men Yourself" game.

The Season 3 premiere of Mad Men is almost two weeks away, but you can jump into a '60s retro scene now.

Yours truly & Don Draper

Betty Draper & Yours truly

Gambusia Affinis

Jennifer Nocon's "Gambusia Affinis" (2009)

While attending the Downtown Art & Wine Tour I came across the Bloom Projects at the Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Foundation (653 Paseo Nuevo) where Los Angeles based artist Jennifer Nocon's commissioned installation, "Gambusia Affinis" is housed.

Nocon is known for creating sculptural environments using hand-dyed wool felt inspired by naturally occurring patterns.

The wool felt sculptures form a repetitive and retro-esque pattern that have a visual language all their own.

Retrospective: Areno Collection

Joseph Areno's "East Beach Volleyball - Santa Barbara"

The historic University Club of Santa Barbara (1332 Santa Barbara St) will open its door to the public to present the Areno Collection at a special event on Thursday evening June 4th.

On view will be the Club's existing Areno collection along with over 50 never-before-displayed oils, sketches and watercolors. Sip, savor and delight in the regal setting. Contact: Chrissy Deferville, 805-966-0853 ext 13 / Chrissy@uclubsb.org

ICFF 2009: Gray is the new Green

For the first time I had a chance to attend the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York City. This worldwide wonder of design disciplines was truly innovative and inspirational.

Our favorite fair find comes from Seattle based graypants - the designers/inventors Seth and Johnathan are architects that desire to make a difference through design - instilling new spirit into salvaged pieces of corrugated cardboard, a scrap light’s lively play on light and shadow invigorates once lifeless materials.

Graypants scrap light shades are made entirely from salvaged corrugated cardboard. All lights are handmade - giving each a varied shape and size.

Graypants scrap lights can be purchased on their site and come in three different styles: DISK, HIVE and BELL.

Retrospective: Brett Weston's Out of the Shadow

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (1130 State St.) is presenting the largest retrospective of influential American photographer Brett Weston's work in over 30 years.

Running May 2-August 16, The Brett Weston: Out of the Shadow exhibition will display more than 130 of Weston's photographs that range from early vintage prints made in California & Mexico in the 1920s and 19030s, East Coast images from the 1940 to Hawaiian images made shortly before his death in 1993.

Brett Weston’s “Cactus, Santa Barbara” (1931)

Brett Weston’s “Garrapata Beach, California” (1954)