Art After Dark: SLO’s monthly celebration of creativity
Downtown San Luis Obispo comes alive with artistic energy on the first Friday of each month as Art After Dark transforms the city center into an open celebration of creativity and community.
The free, self-guided art walk, organized by SLO County Arts, invites residents and visitors to explore exhibitions across twenty downtown locations, offering an intimate look at the local art scene in a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere.
April’s event featured impressionist Rosemary Baur, who emphasized the mutual benefits these gatherings bring to both artists and attendees.
“It’s wonderful,” Baur said in a gallery humming with conversation. “The artists get to interact with the public, and it’s something that each side gains from, both the artist and the public. I think the arts are just beginning to grow more and more in San Luis Obispo.”
Many featured artists at Art After Dark, including Rosemary’s husband Mike Baur, find their creative spark in the landscapes that define the Central Coast region.
Mike, whose colorful pastel and oil paintings capture the essence of local vineyards and shorelines, describes San Luis Obispo County as “a target-rich area.”
“There’s just so many beautiful things to paint,” he said. “I think it enhances people’s life and it enhances the community’s life.”
As attendees wandered through the various exhibitions, the joy of artistic expression was palpable. For watercolor painter Kim Winberry, ensuring that art remains accessible to everyone is paramount.
“I believe that art brings joy,” Winberry said. “Art stirs something. Art can be a luxury item, but it doesn’t have to be exclusively a luxury item. My originals aren’t cheap, but my prints and my products and everything else is accessible because I want people to have that joy.”
SLO County Arts coordinates several other cultural initiatives throughout the year, including the Open Studios Art Tour, Poetry Out Loud and the Poet Laureate program.
The next Art After Dark will take place on May 2.
For more information about Art After Dark, including the exhibition map, visit slocountyarts.org/art-after-dark.
