We look forward to welcoming you back to the Wildling’s annual Holiday Marketplace on Sunday, December 5, 2021, featuring beautiful unique handmade gifts by local artisans.

Woodworker Gabriel Bustamante, jewelry artist Anne Miller, copper artist Gretchen Foran, and glass artist Joellen Chrones will all be here with greatly expanded offerings than what we have in the store; and newcomer Lou Ann Smith will be selling her gorgeous pottery. Mark your calendars for this not-to-be-missed shopping event!

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangDecember 5, 2021Holiday Marketplace, Holidays

2021 Virtual Fall Fundraiser

Our Fall Fundraiser is back! Mark your calendars and tune in on Sunday, November 7 at 4 p.m. for another exciting evening filled with unique silent and live auction items, fun video content, the debut of our new documentary short, surprise guests, and more!

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangNovember 7, 2021Fundraiser, Virtual, Silent Auction, Live Auction

Bio/Mass: Summer Artist Talk Series

The Wildling's three-part series, Bio/Mass: Summer Artist Talks, will highlight six artists from the Wildling’s current exhibition, Bio/Mass: Contemporary Meditations on Nature, in conversation with one another – Karen Kitchel and Catherine Eaton Skinner, Scott Chatenever and Dorothy Churchill-Johnson, and Maria Rendón and Sommer Roman.

Register to attend online discussions with the artists on Tuesday, July 20; Tuesday, August 24; and Wednesday, September 1.

August 29th | Summer Open House

Mark your calendars! We're excited to welcome you to the Wildling's Summer Open House on Sunday, August 29, 2 - 6 p.m. Bring the whole family and enjoy free museum admission during event hours, a princess visit by Parties and Paint by Kate, activities, and more! We’ll also be hosting a food truck in our parking lot, so stick around for dinner.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangAugust 29, 2021Open House, Solvang, Community, Community Event

Plein Air Painting Weekend with Libby Smith and Kevin Gleason

Visit the Wildling for a Plein Air Painting Weekend with artists Kevin Gleason and Libby Smith taking place Saturday, June 26 and Sunday, June 27, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Inspiring visitors to get outdoors is at the heart of the Wildling Museum’s current Valley Oak Gallery exhibition, Art from the Trail: Exploring the Natural Beauty of Santa Barbara County. Libby Smith and Kevin Gleason are among the 27 local artists featured in the show, which celebrates the outdoor treasures of the Central Coast. The two artists will be bringing their talents to the museum for live painting demonstrations, providing visitors with a behind-the-scenes look at how artists bring outdoor inspiration to the canvas.

Virtual Wilderness Spirit Award Event & Fundraiser

You're invited to join the Wildling Museum in honoring our Wilderness Spirit Awardee, renowned underwater photographer Richard Salas on Sunday, June 6, 2021, 4 p.m.!

Richard has spent a lifetime under water, capturing amazing images of marine creatures large and small, plus has written and published three gorgeous books documenting his adventures. He is a passionate advocate for the oceans and their inhabitants, and embodies the values of the Wildling Museum. We are thrilled to be hosting Richard for this virtual tribute.

Guests will enjoy an inspiring virtual event featuring live and prerecorded tributes to Richard, as well as a live presentation by the man of the hour himself, along with some incredible underwater video footage!

Featured Local Artist | Kelly Hine

This summer, enjoy new works by featured local artist Kelly Hine in the Wildling Museum Store! Hine is a self-taught artist and grew up in Santa Barbara before moving to the Santa Ynez Valley in 1988, where she finds her artistic inspiration during daily runs with her dog, Bear. She is a member of the Pastel Society of America and the Pastel Society of the West Coast.

More than 20 framed pastels showcasing local landscapes and subjects are now available in the Wildling Museum Store from June 4 - September 5, 2021.

Celebrate Earth Day with the Wildling Museum!

Earth Day 2021 is right around the corner and we look forward to celebrating with you! The Wildling has put together an activity guide for all ages to learn more about Earth Day and take part in this year’s event. Write your own haiku poetry, learn more about the origins of the first Earth Day in 1970, and more.

Then, on Thursday, April 22, 2021 be sure to tune in to Santa Barbara Earth Day’s online celebration, featuring a live poetry reading by our three “Why Earth Day Matters” poetry competition finalists. A huge congratulations to our three finalists, Gabrielle Terzian (Youth), Ruby Bargiel (Youth), and Jack Clymer (Adult), who will all share their work, joined in conversation with poetry judge Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, former Santa Barbara Poet Laureate (2015 - 2017).

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangApril 22, 2021Earth Day, Poetry

Chuck Graham: Hidden Wonders of the Carrizo Plain

The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is pleased to announce its April virtual program, Chuck Graham: Hidden Wonders of the Carrizo Plain, taking place Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 4 – 5 p.m.

Photographer and author Chuck Graham released his new book, Carrizo Plain: Where the Mountains Meet the Grasslands, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Carrizo Plain National Monument in January 2021. In his upcoming presentation with the Wildling Museum, Graham will share his experiences photographing the wild landscape, native flora and fauna of the Carrizo Plain over the last 15 years.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangApril 14, 2021Carrizo Plain, Chuck Graham, Photography

Art Through the Window: A Conversation with Holli Harmon & Nicole Strasburg

The Wildling is pleased to announce its March virtual program, Art Through the Window: A Conversation with Holli Harmon & Nicole Strasburg, taking place Wednesday, March 24, 2021, 4 – 5 p.m.

Artists Holli Harmon and Nicole Strasburg are the creative force behind the Wildling’s two new art installations. Both Holli Harmon: The Nature of Clouds and Wintering: A Fox Tale by Nicole Strasburg were designed specifically to be viewed from the outside-in during the Wildling’s mandated Covid-19 closure. In their upcoming presentation, the two will discuss their process and the work that went on behind-the-scenes while creating these site-specific installations.

Poetry Competition | Why Earth Day Matters

This year, the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is thrilled to be sponsoring an environmental poetry competition with the theme “Why Earth Day Matters,” inviting writers to interpret Earth Day in a variety of ways. The competition is open to Santa Barbara County residents of all ages.

The competition is a celebration of Earth Day, taking place this year on April 22, 2021, and is intended to highlight the importance of standing up to protect the planet’s dwindling natural resources and working against the threats of climate change.

Poetry entries will be judged by poet Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, former Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara (2015-2017), and the top three poems will be announced and read at the annual Santa Barbara Earth Day virtual celebration organized by the Community Environmental Council (CEC).

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangMarch 22, 2021Poetry, Earth Day, Environment, Sojourner Kincaid Rolle

Nocturnes & Envisioning the Night Sky: A Conversation with Nathan Huff & Nathan Vonk

Join us for the Wildling Museum’s February virtual program, Nocturnes & Envisioning the Night Sky: A Conversation with Nathan Huff & Nathan Vonk, taking place Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 4 – 5 p.m.

The expanse of the open night sky has served as a source of wonder for artists for centuries. In this conversation, artist Nathan Huff and Nathan Vonk, owner of Santa Barbara’s Sullivan Goss – An American Gallery, will explore some of the history of nocturne painting and how the night sky continues to serve as a rich source of inspiration for artists working today.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangFebruary 10, 2021Nathan Huff, Nathan Vonk, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Nocturnes, Night Sky

Wintering: A Fox Tale | Window Installation by Nicole Strasburg

The Wildling Museum is thrilled to announce a window art installation, Wintering: A Fox Tale by artist Nicole Strasburg. The series of papercut fox silhouettes was specially designed by Strasburg to bring joy and wonder to passersby during the museum’s extended closure and bring art to the sidewalk for visitors to enjoy from the outside-in. The public is invited to enjoy the ongoing installation, which is illuminated at night.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangJanuary 27, 2021Nicole Strasburg, Papercut

Virtual Art Class | Serenity Stone Wrapping Workshop with Kathy Badrak

Join us on Sunday, January 24, 2021, 1:30 - 3 p.m. and Sunday, February 21, 2021, 1:30 - 3 p.m. for a fun virtual art class led by artist Kathy Badrak. Learn the basics of wrapping stones with waxed linen to make one-of-a-kind serenity stones, each as individual as you are!

Rock wrapping is an art form rooted in Japanese tradition. Wrapped stones could be used in Japanese gardens to guide visitors along a prescribed route or the correct spiritual path. Today, there are many variations of rock wrapping using many different materials. For this workshop, attendees will learn two methods of rock wrapping to create your own serenity stone.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangJanuary 24, 2021Art Class, Workshop, Kathy Badrak, Digital Programming

UPDATE: Private, Appointment-Based Shopping Offered Wednesdays through Sundays at the Wildling through 12/23

UPDATE (December 6, 2020): Due to new regional stay-at-home orders, and in the interest of public safety and that of our staff, the Wildling has revised its holiday shopping weekend scheduled for December 11 - 13th to change it to private, appointment-based shopping.

Every Wednesday – Sunday, we are happy to accommodate private parties for shopping (or pick-ups of items ordered online) through December 23, 2020. Please call (805) 688-1082 to set up a private shopping appointment or shop our new store online here for all of your holiday needs. New items are being added to our online store every day, so if you haven't visited in a while, please check back! Please don’t hesitate to contact Julie Mock at julie@wildlingmuseum.org with any questions.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangDecember 11, 2020Holidays, Holiday Marketplace

Beth Pratt: The Wild Wonder of California—and Beyond

Join us on Wednesday, December 2, 4 - 5 p.m. via Zoom for a fun conversation with conservation leader and author Beth Pratt as she shares tales of wild wonder from California and beyond. Enjoy photos and videos from her extensive encounters with animals including pika, frogs, mountain lions, bears, and more! She’ll talk about how we all need to be a part of fostering a coexistence ethic with wildlife, and what we can do in our own backyard to help wild animals thrive.

Beth will also lead participants through a couple of the exercises from her new book, I Heart Wildlife: A Guided Activity Journal for Connecting with the Wild World. Be sure to come with questions about your wild neighbors!

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangDecember 2, 2020Beth Pratt

James Hines: Urban Wilderness & the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Overpass

Join us on Thursday, November 12, 2020, 4 - 5 p.m. for a virtual Zoom presentation by James Hines, Conservation Director for the Los Padres Chapter of the Sierra Club.

While serving as an activist for a wide range of conservation issues in the region and beyond, Hines’ presentation will largely focus on plans for the Wildlife Overpass at Liberty Canyon, a wildlife crossing planned in Agoura Hills that will provide a safe way for wildlife – including mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, deer, and many other species – to cross the eight-lane 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills.

Nature Takes the Wheel: A Public Art Project with Upcycled Hubcaps

Nature Takes the Wheel marks the Wildling Museum’s first public art initiative in collaboration with the City of Buellton Arts and Culture Committee. The installation features more than 55 upcycled hubcaps on view now at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden and on display in the Wildling Museum’s windows through October 31, 2020.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangOctober 31, 2020Buellton, Stacey Thompson, Public Art

20th Anniversary Virtual Fundraiser - Join Us in Celebrating 20 Years of Art and Nature!

Help us celebrate 20 years of art and nature! Grab a glass of something delicious and join our first ever online fundraising event on Friday, October 16, 2020, 5 - 6 p.m.!

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangOctober 16, 2020Fundraiser, Digital Programming

Holli Harmon: Musings of Califia and Beyond

The Wildling is thrilled to welcome artist Holli Harmon for our next Zoom presentation on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at 4 p.m. Harmon previously exhibited at the Wildling Museum as part of The River's Journey in 2018 and on July 31st, she opens a new exhibition at Santa Barbara's Sullivan Goss Gallery featuring her most recent body of work, Califia.

We'll talk to Harmon about her artistic process and enjoy an up-close look at her many different techniques, including monoprinting, oil painting, mixed media, and more.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangJuly 29, 2020Holli Harmon, Digital Programming

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