Santa Cruz County Bank In The News

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Painter, arts administrator and restaurateur Manuel Santana has been chosen as the 2008 Artist of the Year by the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission. To celebrate the selection, the Santa Cruz County Bank Arts Collaborative presents "All Santana," featuring 50 of Santana's acrylics, lithographs and other art works to be on display in the four branches of the bank in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Capitola and Watsonville. The exhibit begins Monday. It takes place at: 819 Bay Ave., Capitola; 325 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz; 4604 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley; 595 Auto Center Drive, Watsonville. The child of a Mexican immigrant, Santana moved to Santa Cruz in 1961 and established himself as a community presence by serving on the board of the Bear Republic Theater Co. and as president of the board of the Cabrillo Music Festival, while opening and managing Manuel's in Seascape and Jardines de San Juan in San Juan Bautista. Twenty years ago, he retired from those endeavors to focus on his art and produced hundreds of paintings, prints and sculptures since. The Santa Cruz County Arts Commission will host a profile performance featuring Santana and his work on July 18 at the Museum of Art & History in Santa Cruz. An exhibition of Santana's work will be on display at the MAH from July 5 to Aug. 24. Details: 454-7901 or 429-1964.