The OC Art Blog was created in 2004 as a way to build community and promote the marginalized but dynamic Orange County art scene.

In these uncertain times when galleries are closing left and right and it's getting harder and harder to show, especially in Orange County. It's going to be up to the artists to get creative about showing their work. Below is a perfect example, Diana Markessinis turned a yoga studio into a gallery for a night with positive results. Diana Markessinis @ Yoga Works from Dharma Bum on Vimeo. ...

25 January, 2009 /

Gustavo Arellano on the shut down of FOB II by Santa Ana city officialsDave Barton reviews Charming Decay at Hibbleton GalleryLayoffs begin at OC Arts organizationsChange is coming to Santa Ana's Rude Guerilla TheatreA certain OC "Arts" writer thinks I'm talking out my ass...

17 January, 2009 /

via ffffound ...

16 January, 2009 /

"A truer story would have focused on the fact that none of the three culture critics—let go from the {Times} in the last year or so was passionately engaged in the cultural dialogue of the city and the nation.""the truth is that {the critic} is known by the majority of artists, dealers, and curators in the city as the critic who never showed up.""Art has been persevering in {Seattle} without the help of its largest daily paper for quite some time now."Replace the Seattle Times with the Orange County Register and the...

08 January, 2009 /

It's been a little while since we did an Artist Interview. So to kick off the first interview of 2009 I asked David Michael Lee, who will be appearing in the exhibition Invasion at @Space Contemporary this Saturday night, if he would answer a few questions for our readers. Here ya go:Tell us about your work?The work is about observations, still or active, it does not matter. The observation deck from which I paint varies, high in the sky, real high in the sky or from a...

08 January, 2009 /

It seems that ever since Rick Stein has taking over leadership duties of Arts Orange County his first order of business has been to raise the profile of Arts OC to the general art fan. Did anybody other then the 10 people that financed the Performing Arts Center know what Arts Orange County's mission was 12 months ago?? I didn't. Anyway, there's a new happenings website SparkOC and they want your input on a new survey and there's even a new promotional video below that...

07 January, 2009 /

This Saturday night kicks off one of the first new openings of 2009. Invasion featuring Anthony Gordon and David Michael Lee opens on Saturday night from 6-9pm at @Space Contemporary. I will see you there. ...

06 January, 2009 /

Congrats to Huntington Beach based painter Sherie' Franssen for making Kenneth Baker's Top 5 List for 2008. As always it's nice to see an OC based artist get this kind of recognition. ...

05 January, 2009 /

The OC Art Grant is back. Three $500 grants for drawing, painting, photo and sculpture and one $500 grant for graduate students and one $400 grant for undergrad students will all be awarded on May 2nd in the Santa Ana Artists Village at 8pm.To be considered send your CV, Statement and ONLY 4 images on printed on heavy white paper with details by Feb 7th to:Grand Central Art Center125 N. BroadwaySanta Ana, CA 92706ATTN: DSABC Orange County Art Grant (w/SASE)Contact davidmichaellee@yahoo.com for more details. ...

04 January, 2009 /

January 4, 2009:  Huntington Beach, CA – The Hoff Foundation announced today that it will award quarterly grants totaling $1,500 to the following Artists and Arts Organizations based in Orange County and Long Beach. Diana Markessinis: $750 for studio equipment support.McLean Fahnestock: $750 for upcoming installation project.The Hoff Foundation is a private arts foundation formed in 2008 with a commitment to and passion for the arts. Since its inception one year ago The Hoff Foundation has distributed $13,500 to various individual artists and arts organizations....

04 January, 2009 /

Most of the financial drama circling museums has been coming out of LA but it seems some of the bad news is starting to bleed into Orange County. Looks like OCMA has delayed the upcoming Diebenkorn show 6 months due to financial reasons. Orange County already had shaky support for its arts organizations during the good times. Things could get pretty ugly around here before it gets better. More to come I'm sure. ...

24 December, 2008 /