Arts Alive! December 

Humboldt State University's First Street Gallery presents its annual Regional Holiday Exhibition, a fundraiser featuring artwork by 32 North Coast artists working in diverse styles and mediums. The exhibition, running through Dec. 23, emphasizes works by four of our region's leading innovators in ceramic art: Scott North, Louis Marak, Keith Schneider and Nancy Frazier including functional vases and bowls for those looking for that perfect Holiday gift. Opening reception for the artists for Arts Alive!

Amy Granfield is the featured artist for the December holiday show at Sewell Gallery in Old Town Eureka, showing new paintings large and small. Ms. Granfield paints birds and mammals in oils on wood panel with astute observation and great skill. Pushing the boundaries of realistic nature paintings, she considers herself a "surrealistic realist."

Accident Gallery features striking photographs by Adam Foster documenting the work of local graffiti artists. Foster says, "To me graffiti is one of the purest forms of art left, there is little to no recognition for the artists, they don't get paid for it, and it doesn't last. There has been talk about tearing down the legal wall behind the mall where a lot of these artists do their painting. I'd like to get people more interested in seeing it while it's there and hopefully gain some support in keeping a legal wall available for these artists. Beyond that, these photos allow some of this art to live on after they have been covered by someone else or just destroyed by time and weather." Reception for the artist, Dec. 3 during Arts Alive!

The Wine Spot features landscapes, seascapes, still life and portraits by Susan Cooper for the month of December. Cooper focuses on the interplay between light and shadow. "I am able to remember the interruption or brilliance of light through the years more vividly than I remember some people, " she says. "Bombarded with frenetic noisy techno-excess in today's world, I consider it an act of anarchy to tenderly record the simple, the quiet, the essential."