Last summer, Westmont’s Center for Applied Technology (CATLab) hosted four Art | Tech Nights where technology workers presented the artistic elements of their jobs and artists discussed the technological aspects of their work. CATLab held these events at two innovative spaces in Santa Barbara.

Our first two Art | Tech Nights were a great success — we were thrilled to see so many people from the community show up! We loved exploring the Santa Barbara Center of Art, Science and Technology (SB CAST), enjoying vibraphone music by Jonathan Palmquist, experiencing Adam Scott’s Autonomic Orchestra, and munching on custom cookies from Lucy 

Lou’s Bakery. On our opening night, we learned from software entrepreneur Jim Semick and sculpture artist Inga Guzyte. For our second Art | Tech Night, Kathy Chill told us the story of one of her most challenging jobs, and Robin Eley shared his personal journey of using art to explore his relationship to technology. These two events were truly inspiring, making us excited to do more.

Our second set of Art | Tech Nights took place at Santa Barbara’s Community Arts Workshop (CAW). During the networking time before and after the talks, we enjoyed live music by Naomi Pulver and charcuterie by the Cheese 

Shop. At Art | Tech Night No. 3, attendees got the chance to listen to the wisdom of Hollywood media executive Rashi Bahri and local assemblage artist Dug Uyesaka. For our fourth and final night, we heard talks from Dane Howard ’94, a strategic design leader and entrepreneur with more than 20 years' experience, and Lynn Aldrich, a renowned fine artist who uses ordinary objects to create striking sculptures and installations. We had a hard time leaving the rich conversations and great space at the CAW, and we're so thankful to everyone who helped make this event series a success!

Want a copy of the CATLab magazine? Call and request one at 805-565-6000.