First Friday Free Admission at MAH | May 4 (11 a.m.- 6 p.m.)

The museum is open Tue-Sun, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.. Its store, located in the street front octagon building, is open Tue-Sat, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun, noon-5 p.m.

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
831-429-1964, www.santacruzmah.org

MAH - Free Lunchtime Discussion Artist Talk | May 4 (noon)

Docents lead visitors on an up-close look at the current exhibition The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: A Century by the Sea.

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
831-429-1964, www.santacruzmah.org

Artist of the Year-Richard Deutsch | May 4 (7 p.m.)

Santa Cruz County Arts Commission presents its 23nd Artist of the Year award to sculptor Richard Deutsch. Award recipients are Santa Cruz Country residents who have gained national and/or international recognition for their work and contributed to the cultural enrichment of the local community. Deutsch will present a profile of his vision, creative process and works. Free.

Live Oak Community Center at Simpkins Swim Center
831-454-7901, www.scparks.com

"Illustrating Nature" | May 5 - June 10

Annual spring showing of best works of artists from the UC Science Illustration program. More than 60 works are displayed that are done in watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, colored pencil, graphite, scratch-board and digital media mediums.

Museum of Natural History 831- 420-6113, www.santacruzmuseums.org

Family Art Saturday at MAH | May 5 (1-3 p.m.)

Special hands-on art activities for families on the first Saturday of each month. The museum is open Tue-Sun, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.. Its store, located in the street front octagon building, is open Tue-Sat, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun, noon-5 p.m.

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
831-429-1964, www.santacruzmah.org

Artist Talk: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Series | May 10 (6:30 p.m.)

Artist Sherry Karver presents a multi-dimensional view of the Boardwalk using photography, digital technology, and oil painting that chronicles the amusement park through its busy summer months, the winter off-season, and those months in between. Members $3, non-members $5.

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
831-429-1964, www.santacruzmah.org

Artist Talk: Art through Textile Tradition-Constructed Canvasses and Embedded Images. | May 12

Studio artist, Virginia Davis, combines elements of arts and crafts in using an ikat form. This technique applies color to threads before they are woven into a textile for dimensional, historical and ethnographic impact. Davis adapts her unique applique to create intricate and elaborate weaving designs. Members: $3, non-members $5.

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
831-429-1964, www.santacruzmah.org

Mountain Art Center Open House & Mother's Day Sale | May 12 (noon-6 p.m.)

Santa Cruz Mountain Art Center
9341 Mill Rd. Ben Lomond
831-336-3513, www.mountainartcenter.org

Art at the Beach | May 13 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

A select group of area artists display works at the Esplanade's outdoor gallery. Some will be demonstrating their craft with works in progress. This is a free event.

Esplanade Park, Capitola
www.ci.capitola.ca.us

"Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: New Media Project, Part II" | May 22

Exhibition opening activities.

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
831-429-1964, www.santacruzmah.org