Cal Poly’s Student Affairs division will host Campus Comeback, a series of campus-wide events to be held Sept. 18-28 to help returning students re-engage with the Cal Poly community. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many students have been away from the Cal Poly campus for more than a year, while others haven’t had the opportunity to experience it at all. Campus Comeback will offer a wide selection of opportunities to help students find their sense of community, get familiar with the physical campus and surrounding area, and connect with faculty, advisors and support services. Students will also have opportunities to learn about and sign up for clubs and organizations, meet classmates, locate key campus resources, and attend in-person social events. Campus Comeback features nearly 40 on-campus events, including a Spirit Day and Photo Contest on Tuesday, Sept. 21; multiple welcome events on Wednesday, Sept. 22, by the Center for Service in Action, LGBTQ Campus Life, the Gender Equity Center, Multicultural Center, Athletics, and many more; and a community resource fair on Thursday, Sept. 23, among several other re-engagement activities. For more information and to view additional Campus Comeback events, go to now.calpoly.edu/organization/campuscomeback.
•••
The Morro Bay Art Association will hold a hold an opening reception for the exhibit Visionary Human and toMORROw’s Sculpture at Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., on Sun. Sept. 12 from 2 – 4 p.m. The event features live music by their artist in residence, Everet Lucero, and wine and snacks will be served. Attendees will find a wide scope of two and three dimensional art, including paintings, photography, mixed media, jewelry and extraordinary sculptures by Central Coast Sculptors in their simultaneous exhibit, toMORROw’s Sculpture.The exhibit runs through Nov 1.
•••
“Si Se Puede”, a presentation by Estella Vasquez, director of the Monarch Program at Cuesta College Monarch Program, takes place on Thursday September 23, at 7 p.m. at the South Bay Community Center in Los Osos. It will focus on DACA students, immigration help, ESL, and inspiration on continuing education. We have also invited our bilingual partners from SLCUSD, TMHA, and Prado. The goal is to motivate parents and students to continue their education and to know what services are available to them.
•••
There is a call for auditions for the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale on Sept. 13 at Saint Paul The Apostle Catholic Church, 800 Bello St. in Pismo Beach. Auditions for new members are held in anticipation of the upcoming performance of “The French Connection,” featuring the Fauré Requiem, Poulenc’s Gloria, and more. The concert will be held at the Performing Arts Center in SLO on November 21. For more information and to register for the audition, go to slomasterchorale.org/audition.
•••
Morro Coast Audubon will hold a Zoom community program called Birding Fast and Slow featuring speaker Alvar Jaramillo on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. As many people know, birding can be immensely gratifying. But there is a lot to it that is not thought about. Our brains engage in different ways to identify a bird. You have heard of the “reptilian brain” well there is something to that, and some aspects of what we do as birders is reflexive, other aspects are deeply thoughtful and contemplative. There is perhaps no activity as complete as birding, in that it can be enjoyed in a multitude of ways, by essentially every type of person. It adds to other outdoor activities, and even to mundane situations like doing outdoor chores. There is a lot to birding, and, perhaps what is forgotten, is that it makes connected with nature. This connection is not only fun, it is vital, and it is absolutely wonderful for your health. The meeting ID is 850 0306 3314 and the passcode is MorroCoast.
•••
The Great American Melodrama presents Frankenstein’s Bride Sept. 16 through Nov. 14 at 1863 Front St. in Oceano. This horror story spoof hilariously reconstructs the classic tale by injecting it with musical parodies, pop culture references, and witty one-liners. Fifteen years after the death of Frankenstein’s creation, a mad scientist attempts to reanimate the Creature. What could possibly go wrong? Tickets are $25-$32 plus a $4 to $5 surcharge. They can be purchased at americanmelodrama.com or call the box office at 805-489-2499.
Masks are mandatory for everyone over the age of 2 while in the theater, unless actively eating or drinking. In order to provide the best evening possible for the audience, performers will not be wearing masks on stage. All staff and performers are fully vaccinated.
Returning Home: Sculpture by Kristin Lindseth
San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad Street, presents Returning Home: Sculpture by Kristin Lindseth through Sept. 26. This series of sculptures explores the idea of home through miniature houses mounted on top of metal armatures. Reflecting on her experiences regarding the California wildfires of August 2020, Lindseth considers the implications of vulnerability, loss, and hope. Her sculptures suggest an alternate reality as safe havens from disaster. Their lights and music serve as beacons, welcoming those in their vicinity to safety.
•••
Morro Bay 4-H is getting ready for the new program year. Kids from 5 years of age to 19 are invited to join the club, one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, reaching close to 6 million kids in the U.S. alone. The Morro Bay Club will kick off the new program year at the club’s first general meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 5 starting at 6:30 pm held at the club’s farm. Information about Morro Bay 4-H and the projects that are being offered this year will be provided at this meeting. The current list of projects to be offered is: beef, poultry, gardening, rocketry, baking, swine, sheep, rabbits, leadership and goats.
For more information contact the community club leader, Carla Wixom, at 805-441-7057. More information is also available at the county website: ucanr.edu/sites/slo4-h.
•••
Walt Whitman Gay Men’s Book Club meets virtually via zoom every 2nd Monday of the month from 7 – 9 p.m. This club reads, studies, and discusses books chosen by the group that relate to their lives as gay men.
All are welcome. Contact email@galacc.org for the virtual meeting link.
•••
Art Center Morro Bay presents a free ceramics art demonstration by Shell Voorhees and Aimee Brantley, co-owners of The Ugly Mug Ceramics on Monday, September 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. 835 Main St. During this demonstration, Shell and Aimee will take folks through the steps needed to create a ceramic piece from start to finish. They will make a small planter from clay slab and discuss techniques in hand building and will cover the stages of drying, firing and glazing.
Wear facial coverings while in the gallery and classroom. For more information, call (805) 772-2504 or go to ArtCenterMorrBay.org.
•••
Don’t forget the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Morro Bay’s founding is from 2 – 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 at the Morro Bay Community Center. Admission is $1 and there’ll be birthday cake, too.
Morro Bay Beautiful will also unveil a custom, jigsaw puzzle created by world-renowned artist and puzzle maker, Eric Dowdle, who will be on hand to meet the public and unveil the special painting he’s done of Morro Bay.
He will also deliver the first run of jigsaw puzzles created from his artwork that MBB will sell at participating retailers in town as a fundraiser for the organization. The event also recognizes 9/11 and first responders.
For more information, go to morrobaybeautiful.org.
On Saturday, September 18 at 9:30 a.m., the Los Osos Valley Garden Club presents a Zoom Program: Waterwise Gardening. Are you interested in knowing more about waterwise gardening? This program discusses the benefits of gardening in a waterwise fashion, including plant selection and tips for success. It will be presented by Peggy Burhenn, a SLO Master Gardener. To Join Zoom Meeting, use the following link: bit.ly/3kRtZtB. The meeting ID is 864 0896 7390 and the passcode is lovgarden.
•••
ARTS Obispo’s monthly 2nd Sat Artwalk, “Art & About Los Osos” takes place Saturday, September 11 from 1- 4 p.m. at Costa Gallery, 2087 10th St. This event features an exclusive book signing and photo exhibit with acclaimed Los Osos photojournalist, reporter and college instructor, James Michael Raphael. The guest author will have 24 copies of his book “Life in Focus,“ with over 400 photos from his career working for Southern CA newspapers and FEMA. Check out his work at raphaelinfocus.wordpress.com. Raphael collaborated with 17 Cal Poly art, journalism and graphic communications students, along with project advisor Frank Ramano, professor emeritus of Rochester Institute of Technology, NY.
Also enjoy plein air painting demos by Costa Gallery artist Katy Smith, with her daughter Adeline’s recent artwork, lemonade and snacks. Explore unique new art and fine craft by Costa Gallery’s 20 local and West Coast artists, too. Attendance is free and open to the public. See ARTS Obispo’s complete list of Los Osos venues and maps at artsobispo.org/art-and-about. Masks required by mandate inside gallery. For more information, call 559.799.9632
