Originally born and raised in New York City, Moncho1929 has lived and worked in London, Italy, Korea, and currently in Los Angeles and has exhibited his works in various galleries in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, and London. Through all of these transitions, he has continued to be influenced by modern media and the urban artwork surrounding it.

His murals, art and story were recently featured in an on-air story with CNN Español and his work has been archived with the Los Angeles Mural Conservancy and the Google Street Art Project, used by The University of Southern California, numerous television shows, and national media outlets.

The solo art exhibit “The Vision of Gary Friedman” features several neo-impressionistic landscapes, cityscapes, and abstracts done in a unique, warm palette style. The award winning painter and teacher has studied with the world’s top watercolor talents, has traveled extensively, and tutored and exhibited locally for the past several years.

Mr. Friedman was also the band director at Arroyo Seco Junior High School from 1976 to 2011. When not painting, traveling, or teaching Gary plays music with the bluegrass band The Flaw and jazz with the Go Jazz Big Band and David Peter’s jazz combo.

January 31, 2018 through June 5, 2018

Canyon Country Library
18601 Soledad Canyon Rd.
Santa Clarita, CA 91351

Having grown up on the Los Padres National Forest, artist Steph Darling developed the perception that art is a creative expression derived from ones natural surroundings.  While drawing and sketching the surrounding plants and animals, the artist meditates on natures’ connection with people and the language we use to understand them.  Playing with words and the images they produce, the resulting twists and turns lead one in various directions.

Much in the same way writing is a necessity for authors, Darling’s work is the visual expression of her thoughts, moods, experiences and ideas.  These works of art are the voiceless stance of herself as a human being.  It is her love, life, passion, and confidante.  When painting, Darling, frequently reflects on the experiences her ancestors faced while living on this untamed landscape, when the coyotes and lions where once fearless and powerful.  This was a time when humans where not so prevalent and the Wild West was not about cowboys, but the wildness of nature. Here native lives were woven together, one existence bound to another.

March 1, 2018 through June 1, 2018

First Floor Gallery at City Hall
23920 Valencia Blvd.
Santa Clarita, CA 91355

“It’s Like, Totally Rad Art” is an exhibit that features a variety of art addressing the theme of the 1980’s.  The exhibition will be displayed in conjunction with the City’s One Story, One City program, which features the book “Ready Player One.”  Pop culture from the 1980’s is featured extensively in this book, and the art to be displayed will feature, highlight or use design elements from the 1980’s, as well as iconic pop culture figures, historic events and more.

A reception will be held Saturday, March 3, 2018, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy light appetizers and live music and will have a chance to meet the artists featured in the exhibition.

February 1, 2018 through June 1, 2018

Valencia Library
23743 Valencia Blvd
Santa Clarita, CA 91355 

“The Golden Oak Trees are the guardians of Santa Clarita.  They watch over us as they blanket our forests, line our streams and create breath taking canopies and pathways for us to hike and meditate in.   Besides their massiveness and beauty, the reason I love to photograph and paint the Golden Oak trees, is because they grow in very unique, random shapes and forms.   They remind me to be a strong, unique individual with a free creative spirit.  Santa Clarita is home to tens of thousands of native oaks which blanket our local mountains, line our streams and add a beautiful presence to our natural landscape. These native oak trees have a long history in Santa Clarita which date back to the 1800’s.”  Brad Sergi

Brad has been shooting photos on and off for almost 55 years. While Brad pursued his career in Film, T.V. and Theater as an actor, director, writer and producer he continued to work as a photographer shooting portraits, head shots, real estate photos, stills and video for private investigators, on-location film productions photos, taught photography in high schools and worked as a Lighting Director for stylized, period portraits. By 1999, Brad’s career in Film, TV and Theater took off. Even though he no longer had the time to work as a photographer, he continues to shoot for his own pleasure.

Brad is a member of the Santa Clarita Arts Association. His work has been displayed in the Santa Clarita Arts Gallery and in the B & R Gallery along with such artists as Bev Doolittle and Judy Larson. His images have been displayed in the Santa Clarita City Hall, the Valencia Mall and numerous libraries in Santa Clarita. Some of Brad’s images have been made into full wall murals for stage productions.

“Shoreline Symmetry” features the work of Karen Hochman Brown, an artist who makes mandala-like works that begin with photographs she spins and adorns into digital prints mounted on aluminum. Layer upon layer of detail come together to make one image. She meticulously alters light and shadow to create an illusion of depth.

The inspiration for this works comes from her childhood in her mother’s garden, when she held her first kaleidoscope up to her eye. She now uses computer software and hardware to replace the simple handmade kaleidoscope of her youth. She turns, layers and spins her photographic reflections, brightly illuminated by her computer monitor. No longer restricted to a three-way reflection or a flat mirror, her artwork plays in the realm of infinite images.

Her passion for art began in her early primary school years. In high school, she discovered geometry and began fusing mathematics with her artwork, exploring intersecting circles and patterns. To the artist, there was a distinct and immediate marriage of mathematical precision and aesthetic beauty. After she received a B.A. in Art from Pitzer College in Claremont, she continued to study math and did post-graduate work at California College of Arts and Crafts, creating a course titled Construction Geometry via Art that she taught at Arts Magnet High School in Oakland and at the Waldorf School in Altadena.

In 1984, after buying her first Macintosh computer, she further tightened the role and interconnection of art and math via the medium of technology. She went back to school again, taking classes at UCLA and Art Center College of Design, to study computer-based graphic design.

The exhibit will be available for viewing during all events at The MAIN, as well as Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The community is invited to meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments at an art reception on Thursday, April 19, 2018 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

January 12, 2018 through May 11, 2018

Old Town Newhall Library
24500 Main Street
Newhall, CA 91321

This exhibit features original paintings and multimedia by Naomi Young, an artist born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel, which translates to “The City of Peace.” Forty years ago, she had to leave Jerusalem, but her love for the city never diminished and can be seen in her artwork on display in the “Domes” exhibit.

“Jerusalem is in the hearts and souls of people from all around the world. It is built on mountains with glorious towers, arches and domes and it is surrounded by ancient walls,” says Naomi. Its captivating, majestic beauty is the source of Naomi’s artistic inspiration. “I pour the yearnings for my beloved city through my paintings, mosaics and poetry books. I may have left the city of Jerusalem but it never left me,” adds Naomi. www.naomiyoung.com

Meet the artist at a reception with live music and appetizers on January 17 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm.

Jan 9, 2018 through May 4, 2018

Town Center Art Space
Westfield Valencia Town Center
24201 Valencia Blvd.
Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Zen Space features the work of BiJian Fan, an internationally recognized artist born in Beijing, China, and currently residing in Camarillo, California. His start in the arts world began in China, where he learned paper art from his grandmother. He still creates cutting-edge paper sculptures to carry on the tradition, but his use of media has expanded to include metal, polymer, and other materials.

In addition to being multi-cultural, having studied in China, Japan, and the USA, BiJian is also inter-disciplinary. He earned his BS and MS in Mathematics and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. After an accomplished career in biopharmaceutical research and development, BiJian moved on to visual art and education. He combines science and art, explores aesthetic and physical properties of various materials, transforms 2D static material into 3D kinetic sculptures. His spatial and temporal transformation represents an evolution in space and time.

You are invited to a free art reception on January 10 from 6 pm to 8 pm.  Meet the artist, talk to others that are excited about art, and enjoy light appetizers and entertainment. It will be held

Masks are an important part of American Indian culture.  Some masks relating to the clan families were used in healing, coming of age, and ghost feast (grief) ceremonies.  In addition to masks with animal characteristics, portrait masks were also of importance in teaching children.  There are three different types of masks.  One is a single face which is just a simple mask. Then there is a mechanical mask that can contain moving parts. Lastly, there is the transformation mask. This is more like two or more masks in one.

Native American masks are constructed out of the materials on hand; wood, gourds and paints and items such as feathers, horse hair, straw, and other elements may be added for further embellishment. Each mask is unique and carries its own charm.

YOU’RE INVITED to the free art reception being held on Wednesday, July 11, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Old Town Newhall Library. Come meet the artists, enjoy light appetizers, live music and view this unique exhibit.