GOINGS ON / SANTA BARBARA : Art as Peacemaker : Israeli exhibits of paintings and drawings by Arab and Jewish children are offered at 3 Santa Barbara sites.

On a visit to Israel, Rep. Tom Lantos (D-San Mateo) made a stop at the Givat Haviva Institute’s Art Center for children. The congressman was so impressed with paintings and drawings he came across that samples are now making the rounds of the American art world.

“Children’s Art for Peace” exhibits are now on display at three locations in Santa Barbara County--the Contemporary Arts Forum (CAF), the Ridley-Tree Education Center and Westmont College’s Kerrwood Hall.

“There are probably 30 or 40 paintings at each place,” said Pamela Larsson, co-chairwoman of the Children’s Art for Peace committee. “There wasn’t one place we found that could house the whole show.”

The Givat Haviva Institute was founded in 1949 for Arab and Jewish children living in Israel to cultivate understanding and awareness between the two cultures. Larsson said the focus at the art center is on children, with the theory being that “prejudice is so deeply rooted by the time people are adults that it’s very hard to change it,” she said.

“Arab and Jewish children can take art classes in the same room,” said Larsson. “The hope is that by focusing on a neutral subject they can get to know each other as kids.”

Larsson was surprised to see how the artistic styles of the Arab and Jewish children differed. “The Arab children use really wonderful, bright colors and the Jewish children use a lot of pencil and they are more idea-oriented,” she said. “I don’t know why.”

The CAF exhibit will run through Oct. 17. The other two shows will run through Oct. 9. CAF is located in the Paseo Nuevo shopping center, 653 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, 966-5373; the Ridley-Tree Education Center is at 1600 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, 962-1661; and Westmont College is at 955 La Paz Road, Montecito, 565-6000.

*

Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara will host its seventh annual Baby Fair Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Information will be available on a variety of baby-esque topics including adoption, birthing methods, nanny services, diaper services and clothing. But of course, that’s all for the adults. For the kids, there will be jugglers, musicians, puppet shows and other entertainment. Raggedy Ann and Andy are also expected to make an appearance. The event will take place in the hospital parking lot at the corner of Castillo Street and Pueblo Street. Admission is free. For more information call 569-7226.

*

The biggest name players in Pro Beach Volleyball will be at Leadbetter Beach today through Saturday for the Santa Barbara stop on the 1992 Assn. of Volleyball Professionals/Miller Lite Tour. Competition will take place today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The championship match will be Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $28, $18, and $10, with free bleacher seating. Call (800) 793-TOUR for reservations.

*

If there’s a cultural festival in Santa Barbara, chances are it will be at Oak Park. And form holds true this weekend, with the Mexican Independence Day Festival Saturday and Sunday. There will be dancers--including Ballet Folklorico from Santa Barbara’s La Casa de la Raza--and musicians--including the Santa Barbara group Los Bandoleros del Norte.

There will also be a mural exhibition by local artist Manuel Unzueta and the mural created by Mexico’s Gustavo Bernal at last year’s celebration will be on display. Oak Park is located off U.S. 101. Going north take the Pueblo Street exit. Going south, take the Mission Street exit. Admission is free. For more information call 962-5500 or 966-9036.

*

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, on Sunday, will host Jill Knight and the Blissters in a “Music Under the Oaks” concert. The folk-rock quartet was scheduled to perform in July, but was rained out. Bring your own food and blankets. Admission is $8 (general) and $2 (children aged 12 and under). For more information call 563-0352. The Garden is located at 1212 Mission Canyon Road.

*

Chef Michael Hutchings of Michael’s Waterside restaurant is offering some cooking classes for The Santa Barbara School of Cooking. This week’s seminar schedule includes “California Cabernet Wine and Cheese Tasting” moderated by Mike Brooks, a sales representative for Southern Wine and Spirit. Cost is $45. The class will be held Monday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday’s class, “ ‘Quick and Easy’ Dinner and Demonstration,” will feature spinach soup, gruyere cheese souffle and red berry gratin.” Yep, sounds quick and easy, all right. Time is 6 to 8 p.m. Cost is $30. To reserve a spot send a check to Michael’s Waterside, 50 Los Patos Way, Santa Barbara. For more information call 969-0307.

*

Theatre Pacifica in Santa Barbara will kick off its second season this evening with the Neil Simon comedy “The Prisoner of Second Avenue.” The show will run Thursday and Friday nights through September at La Casa de la Raza, 601 E. Montecito St. Admission is $10 (general), $7 (students and seniors). For tickets or more information call 564-0815.

*

And now for the news portion of our column. Biologist Eric Hochberg, the curator of Invertebrate Zoology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, has discovered what is apparently a new species of octopus. He had gone to the Monterey Aquarium to study what he thought was your basic Flapjack Devil Fish. What he discovered was something else entirely.

This new sea creature is described as a “large, round blob of jelly with two fins and very small eyes.” Hochberg brought a specimen back to the museum and plans to do further studies.