Celebrate Arts and Humanities in Santa Clarita with ARTober

October is National Arts and Humanities Month, a time for individuals and organizations to take a moment to appreciate the importance of arts and culture in our community and lives. To celebrate this coast to coast initiative, the City of Santa Clarita will be offering ARTober during the month of October by hosting inspiring arts and humanities projects and events throughout the City.
“The arts are important because they allow us to explore ideas, express emotions and better appreciate cultures from around the world. The goal of ARTober is to spark excitement for the arts and help our residents recognize and appreciate the cultural gems available right here in their community,” says Mayor Cameron Smyth.
Santa Claritans won’t have to look far to find exceptional art in the City during ARTober.  Starting on the first of October, anyone with a digital device will be able to take a self-guided tour of public art installations in the City of Santa Clarita by downloading the new “Santa Clarita Public Art Tour” app.  Information on how to download the free app is available at www.SantaClaritaArts.com. The app offers a listing of public art pieces, including photos, artist information, details about each art piece, and a map with locations and directions.
Families visiting Canyon Country Park will notice new wardrobe pieces on the “Friends” sculpture. The contemporary abstract sculpture of a girl and her dog was created in stone by artist Madeline Wiener. The public art piece will be dressed in a large knitted scarf and beanie created by volunteers from Forge Ahead Arts and installed by City staff. The dressed up sculpture can be viewed throughout the month of October. “Friends” is located in the lower grass area of the park, adjacent to Soledad Canyon Road.
Pedestrians, runners and cyclists on the South Fork Trail will experience “Framing Santa Clarita,” a unique display of 10 picture frames by ARTree artists installed along the Santa Clara River. The pieces invite residents to view a new perspective of their surroundings and are sure to be popular to snap photos with for social media. Residents are encouraged to share their experience by tagging their posts with #ArtoberSC.
Newhall Community Center visitors will be greeted with a large and colorful crotched installation piece in the lobby created by fiber artist Ashley V. Blalock. The piece, which is crotched by hand, will be affixed to the walls, floor and ceiling of the lobby.  The installation will be on display in early October and will remain in place through April 1, 2018. On Wednesday, October 25, an art reception will be held at the Newhall Community Center, at 22421 Market Street in Newhall, celebrating the installment. ARTober will also bring two unique events to town. On Wednesday, October 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the City will host a VIP reception to celebrate the newest art exhibit inspired by the traditional Hoyle deck of playing cards, “Pick a Card, Any Card,” at the Town Center Art Space at the Westfield Valencia Town Center, located at 24201 Valencia Boulevard. The night will include light appetizers, a chance to meet the artist and a performance of card tricks.
On Saturday, October 14, a special afternoon concert of traditional Revolutionary War period music performed by the Los Angeles Fifes and Drums will be held at the Veterans Historical Plaza. The concert will begin at 2 p.m. and includes pieces of manuscript penned during the time of the American Civil War. The Veterans Historical Plaza is located at 24275 Walnut Street in Newhall.
ARTober will be a month devoted to appreciating the arts and humanities in our community, but you can explore the arts all year long. To learn more about art happenings in the City, visit the award-winning Santa Clarita Arts website at www.SantaClaritaArts.com. 

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