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August 22 – The works of some of the biggest names on the Santa Monica arts scene – ranging from John Baldessari to Barbara Drucker to Frank Gehry – are now on display at Santa Monica College’s Pete & Susan Barrett Art Gallery.

The exhibit “Emphasis on Santa Monica” – which will end October 18 – features an eclectic mix of works in all media by 49 artists who either live of work in the beachside city.

The exhibit coincides with the grand opening of the 499-seat Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center on Santa Monica Boulevard at 11th Street, where the gallery is located.

As part of the exhibit, Al Young, Poet Laureate of California, will give a free poetry reading from 7 to 9 p.m. October 4 in the Edye Second Space, also located at the SMC Performing Arts Center.

“Santa Monica’s Main Street, 4th Street, Franklin Street and the (Santa Monica) Airport have had a long list of artists who found their inspiration working there,” Bruria Finkel, an award-winning artist and curator whose works have been exhibited worldwide, said in the show’s catalogue.

“Painters such as Ed Moses, Charles Garabedian, Arlene Hendler, Roberto Chavez, Curtis Hoekzema and innovators such as John Baldessari created in studios on Main Street for years. Many more found the light and the community of artists a source of inspiration,” Finkel said.

Finkel has also created several public art pieces, and her work has been featured in books and is in archives of such institutions as the Smithsonian Art America Museum in Washington, D.C. She has curated shows throughout Southern California, including Arena 1 galleries and Track 16 at Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station.

The artists in the exhibit –some of whom teach at SMC – are Elena Allen, Don Bachardy, John Baldessari, Edith Baumann, Tony Berlant, Ruth Bornstein, Janet Bothne, Bob Burchman, Shirley Cannon, John Clendening, Eileen Cowin, Judith Davies, Jennifer Diener, Barbara Drucker, Thomas Eatherton, Sam Erenberg, Bruria Finkel, Steve Galloway, Helen K. Garber, Frank Gehry, Greg Gioiosa, Phyllis Green, Mark Hanauer, Arleen Hendler, Ann Isolde, Kathryn Jacobi, Jennifer Jesswein, Tom Lundquist, Michael C. McMillen, Robin Mitchell, Brian Moss, Sylvia Moss, Manfred Müller, Patrick Percy, Ave Pildas, Astrid Preston, Barbara Robertson, Ruth Rosen, Katsuhisa Sakai, Lawrence Shapiro, Malissa Shriver, Elena Siff, Jon Swihart, Maritta Tapanainen, Chris Wilder, Diana Wong, Miriam Wosk, Takako Yamaguchi and Jody Zellen.

The opening reception is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. (NOTE: The gallery is closed Saturday, Aug. 23.)