Archive for the 'Explore SB' Category

Symphony Closes Its Season with Horn Solos and Summer Whimsy

Published on May 3, 2012 in Cultural Calendar and Explore SB.

Santa Barbara Symphony’s 2011-2012 Fantastique Season is drawing to a close, and Nir Kabaretti, the Symphony’s Music and Artistic Director (as well as Maestro), chose a refreshing final line-up to end a very successful musical year.

The Symphony will perform works by three different composers for their final show: Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 (a piece reminiscent of summer and the contentment it brings), Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 2 (solos for which will be performed by the symphony’s own Principal Horn, Teag Reaves), and a newly commissioned piece entitled Sidereus by Osvaldo Golijov, a Grammy award-winning composer from Argentina. Thirty-five different orchestras commissioned the piece, which Golijov describes as being inspired by Galileo’s celestial observations and discoveries.

This exciting end to the 59th season will certainly pave the way for the upcoming 60th anniversary season, starting in the fall. For more information on next year’s season, please click here.

The final show of the Santa Barbara Symphony’s 59th season will occur May 12th and 13th at the Granada.

-Taylor Micaela Davis

 

 

 

 

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Join the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Published on April 18, 2012 in Explore SB and Web Exclusives.

Do you want to become a member of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, receiving benefits such as free admission to all of its living museums and a year-long subscription to the garden’s publications? With Earth Day right around the corner, now is the perfect time.

Both new and renewing members who sign up by May 31 will be eligible to win one of five prize packages that are valued at over $150. Each package includes something for everyone, from baseball caps to wine to a box of chocolates.

For more information, visit www.sbbg.org.

-Alex Francis

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Lotusland Lecture

Published on April 16, 2012 in Explore SB and Web Exclusives.

Horticulturalist and Curator of the Lotusland Living Collection Virginia Hayes will discuss Lotuland, Montecito’s internationally famous botanic garden, in a free lecture, open to the public, on Tuesday, April 17, from 7-8 p.m. in Westmont’s Adams Center Room 216.

With more than 18 distinct gardens housing numerous rare and beautiful plants, Ganna Walska Lotusland is definitely a must-see in Montecito, and this lecture is a great opportunity to gain fascinating insight into this inspiring place.

In addition to this event, Westmont College is also featuring a Lotusland art exhibition in its Voskuyl Library throughout the spring semester. Visit http://libguides.westmont.edu/lotusland for more information.

Westmont College is located on 955 La Paz Rd., Santa Barbara.

-Alex Francis

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Hampstead Village Has New Digs

Published on November 27, 2011 in Explore SB.

The charming Hampstead Village now has a beautiful new location at 1100 State Street on the corner of Figeuroa in downtown Santa Barbara.

 

Hampstead Village Owner Angela Torin

In addition to a wide variety of Fine British Goods they also now offer Floris perfumes and aftershaves. Established in London in 1730, Floris has held a much sought after warrant to supply the British Royal Family with fragrances for over 200 years.

British delicacies just in time for the holidays.

And for this festive time of year for they have Christmas Puddings, Brandy Butter, Mince Pies, Bendicks Mints, Christmas Crackers and so much more! It is the largest selection of British Food on the Central Coast.

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Weekend Wine Tasting in Santa Barbara County

Published on November 26, 2011 in Explore SB.

Looking to do some wine tasting in Santa Barbara County this weekend. The Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association has provided this handy link to Thanksgiving holiday hours for our local wineries.

Cheers!

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Channel Islands Thanksgiving Fun

Published on November 23, 2011 in Explore SB.

In the fall issue of Seasons, Lori Rafferty shared her family’s Channel Island Thanksgiving tradition. Check out her fun video from last year’s celebration.

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Seasons’ Guide to Public Art and Education-Related Galleries

Published on November 16, 2011 in Explore SB and Galleries.

Public Art Treasures

Look up, look down, because these murals and sculptures are all around! Public art beautifies our cities and gives us an additional reason to get outside and explore. Here is a handy guide to the local sights from south to north. Listed numbers correspond to the map in the Explore section of our Magazine.

1. Lightning Gate steel sculpture by Michael McMillen, 1990. Rincon Beach upper parking lot.

2. Sun Compass copper and stone sculpture by Michael McMillen, 1996. Summerland Lookout Park.

3. Untitled ceramic mural by Marge Dunlap, 1991. Santa Barbara Social Services Building, 234 Camino Del Remedio.

4. Chromatic Gate painted steel sculpture by Herbert Bayer, 1991. 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd.

5. Syuxtun Story Circle unglazed ceramic tile by Lori Ann David, 2009. Cabrillo Blvd. at Ambassador Park. Honoring Chumash culture, this 20-foot-wide mosaic depicting the middle, upper and lower worlds was completed over the course of three months by 100 collaborators.

6. West Beach Public Art Project. Photo courtesy of Richard Irvine and Raphael Perea.

6. West Beach Public Art Project unglazed mosaic tile inset with bronze by Richard Irvine and Raphael Perea, 2010. Cabrillo Blvd. between Chapala and Bath streets. The artist-team behind this project focused on Los Baños swimming pool, the working harbor and the environmental movement in a series of mosaics that help beautify this heavily peopled stretch of beachfront.

7. Orama II kinetic sculpture by Miles Pepper, 1999, Leadbetter Beach.

8. Untitled bridge, play structure, compass by Susan Jordan, 1998. Chase Palm Park,  325 E. Cabrillo Blvd.

9. Untitled play structures, sculpture by Scott Peterson, 1998. Chase Palm Park, 325 E. Cabrillo Blvd.

10. Shaman’s Dream ceramic tiles by Viqui McCaslin, 1987. City Community Dev. Dept., 630 Garden St.

11. I Took a Trip on a Train ceramic tile bench by Blair Looker, 1992. RailroadStation, 209 State St.

12. Municipal Court's Andalusian Waterway

12. Municipal Court's Andalusian Waterway by Mary Heebner, courtesy photo.

12. Andalusian Waterway floor tiles and paintings by Mary Heebner, 1994.

Municipal Court, 118 E. Figueroa St. Taking a cue from the Andalusian-style architecture popular in this area and playing off of George Washington Smith’s majestic courthouse across the street, Heebner interwove themes of water with Islamic-inspired interlocking patterns that lead from the street upstairs.

Mural Room at the County Courthouse

13. Mural Room at the County Courthouse. Photo courtesy of Naryanan Naryanan.

13. Early California Figures painting by Channing Peake, 1985. Mural Room, County Courthouse, 1100 Anacapa St. The entire courthouse is full of art and free to the public.

14. Millenium Gate sculpture by Rich Peterson, 2000. County Administration Building, 105 E. Anapamu St.

15. Portrait of Mexico Today mural by David Alfaro Siqueiros, 1932. Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St.

16. Summer Solstice Celebration Murals by Richard McLaughlin and Benjamin Bottoms, 1995. West side of Granada parking garage. These energetic painting-murals were in storage since 1998, finally settling at their current location in 2009.

17. Jardin de las Granadas temporary outdoor sculptures. 21 E. Anapamu St.

18. Albatross kinetic sculpture by Dustin Shuler, 1996. Santa Barbara Airport.

19–23. Fiesta Mural by Channing Peake, 1984. Santa Barbara Airport. Using the building of a new terminal as reason to flaunt our artistic treasures new and old, the presentation of Peake’s exemplary sorbet-paletted murals is the jewel in the crown. Also in the new terminal, superb works by Colleen M. Kelly (Giant Brown Kelp), Lori Ann David (Santa Barbara 360˚), George Rhoads (Good Time Clock IV) and Vidya Gauci (Santa Barbara Star Gazing).

24. Untitled mural by Richard McLaughlin, 1994. Anisq’Oyo Park, Isla Vista.

25. Sea Look Out wood sculptures by Lloyd Hamerol, 1987. Isla Vista Beach, Del Playa at Camino Corto.

26. Wind-A-Ma-Jig kinetic sculpture by George Rhoads, 1989. Goleta Beach, 5986 Sandspit Rd. Propelled by the wind to create a collage of sound and movement, this large-scale installation is a treasured landmark.

Free education-related galleries

27. Atkinson Gallery at Santa Barbara City College SBCC’s showcase for the visual arts, Atkinson Gallery exhibits international and national artists as well as artists of the region. The gallery hosts six exhibitions of contemporary art each academic year, featuring a wide range of styles and mediums, and culminating in spring with the Annual Student Exhibition. Santa Barbara City College, 721 Cliff Drive (second floor of the Humanities building). Open Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 805/965–0581 x 3484, http://gallery.sbcc.edu

28. Art, Design & Architecture Museum at University California Santa Barbara UCSB’s AD&A holds an impressive fine art collection, as well as one of the largest architectural archives in North America, and includes drawings, photographs, manuscripts, and furniture by architects and designers. In addition it engages contemporary artists in exhibits and programs. UCSB. Open Wednesday–Sunday, noon–5 p.m. 805/893-2951, www.museum.ucsb.edu.

 29.  Contemporary Arts Forum The leading contemporary arts presenter in Central California, CAF is a nonprofit dedicated to exhibiting the highest quality of contemporary art while recognizing the artists of tomorrow with innovative exhibitions both inside its walls and throughout the community. 653 Paseo Nuevo. Open Tuesday–Saturday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday noon–5 p.m. 805/966-5373, www.sbcaf.org.

30. Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art Seeking to educate students and the larger community about the power and value of the visual arts in our world through physical, critical and spiritual engagement with the creative process and its result, Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art offers a wide variety of exhibitions. Westmont College, 955 La Paz Rd., Montecito. Open Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 805/565-6162, http://westmontmuseum.org.

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Bees, Bugs &Tractors Star at Opening of Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula

Published on September 16, 2011 in Explore SB and Web Exclusives.

Opening September 25, the Museum of Ventura County‘s long awaited Agriculture Museum features Insects: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, spotlighting the museum’s own beehive and magnified images of bees taken with a scanning electron microscope by artist and photographer Rose-Lynn Fisher. The exhibit also focuses on the threat posed to farmers by the tiny but frightening Asian Citrus Psyllid insect. Eight vintage tractors, dating from 1914 to 1955, are found throughout the building, including one upon which children can sit. The machines are part of a rotating display of the museum’s nationally recognized collection of farm implements. display of the museum’s nationally recognized collection of farm implements.

 


Permanent exhibits using rare historical photographs and interactive elements, tell the story of Ventura County’s farming and ranching tradition. Starting with Mission times, visitors can trace the county’s evolution into one of the nation’s most productive growing regions, and learn what innovations are in store for an industry that presently employs more than 30,000 county residents.

The museum is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, with admission $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children 6-17, and children under 6 free. Membership in the Museum of Ventura County includes free admission to both their Agriculture Museum and the Museum of Ventura County’s primary location at 100 East Main Street in Ventura. For more information, go to www.venturamuseum.org.

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Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s NIGHTS is this Friday, Aug. 26

Published on August 22, 2011 in Cultural Calendar, Explore SB and Web Exclusives.

The first NIGHTS of the 2011/2012 season is August 26 when Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) welcomes guests to explore the world of portraits and still lifes  inspired by the current exhibitions Ori Gersht: Lost in Time, Distilled Moments: Still Lifes from the Permanent Collection, and New Faces of the Collection.

Each event features original participatory installations and artist-designed experiences inspired by current exhibitions.  In August, guests are treated to extraordinary performances and activities, including the Beautiful Destruction Multi-Media Dance Performance and Interactive Installation, the DeSTYLED Moments Studio and Pop-Up 80’s Dance Party, Insert Name Here One Man Show Collages, In Conversation (with yourself) Portrait Diptychs, and DJ and dance in the back plaza.

The event marks the eighth season of the ever-popular Nights that continue to inspire through time-based art, performance, and new media. These unique events offer a cultural cocktail of art, music, specialty martinis, and outrageous one-night-only interactive happenings in the Museum’s galleries.  SBMA invites guests to view world-class art collections, socialize, and enjoy the creative play that redefines what it means to engage with art.

This season, the Museum shakes things up by extending the events past the summer months with two, extended-hours extravaganzas (5:30 – 9:30 pm), and moving the events to Friday, in hopes to be more convenient for working guests.

Ticket Information

Individual tickets for Nights are $25 for SBMA Members, $35 for Non-Members.

For SBMA Members: Nights offers a Luxe Ticket option that includes admission to one event, access to VIP lounge with wine tasting by The Brander Vineyard and chef stations with Brenda Simon of the Museum Café, private entrance, separate lines at the bars and option to purchase discounted Luxe drink tickets. Only a limited number of Luxe passes and Luxe tickets are available. $50 each

Purchase tickets online at www.sbma.net/nights, or call 805.884.6414.

Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA.  Open Tuesday – Sunday 11 am to 5 pm. Closed Monday.  805.963.4364 www.sbma.net .

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Quick–Don’t miss the Quick Draw Art Festival

Published on August 17, 2011 in Cultural Calendar, Explore SB and Galleries.

The art scene has never been so action packed! Los Olivos’ 25th Annual Quick Draw Art Festival is here along with its main events—literally a “Quick Draw” creative challenge. Artists have only 60 minutes to create a painting, sculpture or drawing from a model, photo or simply pure imagination, while the public is encouraged to watch and cheer the artists on, which always lends to exciting and lively interaction. As soon as the hour is up, each piece is auctioned off to the highest bidder. Get a glimpse of some of what you might see by checking out this year’s participating artists:

Vicki Andersen
Betty Carr 
Howard Carr
Gwen Cates
Jim Farnum
Julie Fish
Priscilla Fossek
Ted Goerschner
Richard M. Greene
Ron Guthrie
Gary R. Johnson
Sheryl Knight
Lee Kromschroeder
George Lockwood
Joe Mancuso
Joe Milazzo
Vel Miller
Linda Mutti
Richard A. Myer
Cathy Quiel
Camille Renga-Dellar
Ray Sevilla
Marilyn Simandle
BJ Stapen

To allow room for all the activities, this year the festival runs two days—August 19 and 20. Creative art, wine, shopping and hospitality are featured throughout downtown Los Olivos. The festival kicks off Friday, August 19th with an art, wine and dessert pre-show reception. Saturday the 20th features the main event, with artists beginning their Quick Draw works around 11 a.m. and followed by the auction at 12:15. The afternoon is then dedicated to free artistic demonstrations and the chance to purchase more art. Proceeds support Los Olivos’ on-going beautification efforts, with a strong emphasis on the arts of course.

For more information, check out events at Los Olivos or the Wilding Art Museum.

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