Santa Barbara Museum of Arts projects sold out crowd for Van Gogh exhibit

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - It’s not hard to attract visitors when you get to experience Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings with your own eyes. 

"It just makes me so happy … it’s so beautiful to see all these paintings … that I’ve had to go to Europe to see … right here in Santa Barbara," said visitor Carol Pillsbury.

The Santa Barbara museum of art attracted a sold out crowd in part because the entry fee was waived for those in Santa Barbra and Ventura counties.

Patsy Hicks, Santa Barbara Museum of arts, Director of education

"Sold out in a sense that people reserved a slot and they didn’t have to pay for it … I press the most exciting thing is that this is a Community show case as well as kind of an open house for the community," said director of education Patsy Hicks of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

So while visitors are enjoying the masterpieces of Van Gogh they’re also getting to see community art work along side the world renowned artist.

"So all our partners in the schools and the after school programs … all her artwork is on view things that students have been making since January," said Hicks.

The rising temperature across Southern California is also drawing more visitors to the air conditioned museum.

"I walked in and I took a big breath of this cool air and I said to my friend Kathleen oh my gosh I love breathing this verified museum air I don’t know what they do to it but it crisp and fresh and I don’t know," said Pillsbury.

About 1,600 visitors attended this free day exhibit.

And another free day is schedule later in May.

"This is a once in our life time opportunity to see art of this quality," said Pillsbury.