News — California Nature Art Museum

California National Parks: Stories of Water

September 23, 2023 - February 19, 2024

First Floor Main Gallery

The California Nature Art Museum is pleased to announce its third juried exhibition – California National Parks: Stories of Water – a showcase of fine art inspired by the nine National Parks located within the state of California. This exhibition will be on view September 23, 2023 – February 19, 2024 at the California Nature Art Museum.

The goal of this exhibition is to bring awareness to the wealth of national parks to be found in California as well as the various forms of water that can be found in them, or evidence of a lack of water. Lakes, waterfalls, dew, rain, and fog are just some of the ways water makes its mark throughout these parks. And the impacts of a lack of water are equally important, as persistent drought is a major issue in California.

Cash prizes for first, second, and third place will be awarded at the opening reception to be held Sunday, September 24, 2023, 3 – 5 p.m. The exhibition will be juried by Nathan Vonk, owner of Sullivan Goss – An American Gallery in Santa Barbara, California.

California's Changing Landscape: The Way of Water | George Rose

November 18, 2023 - July 8, 2024

Second Floor Valley Oak Gallery

The California Nature Art Museum is pleased to host California’s Changing Landscape: The Way of Water, a solo exhibition by renowned photographer George Rose on view November 18, 2023 through July 8, 2024.

Featuring more than 20 large-format documentary inkjet photographs of the Golden State, the exhibition showcases Rose’s recent expansive documentation of California's dramatic water story. His vast exploration of the state and its fraught relationship with water will culminate with the release of his forthcoming book of the same title, now available on our website and in the Museum gift shop.

June 29th | Saving Sedgwick: A Citizens’ Success Story

Join us for an evening talk by historic preservationist Lansing Duncan who will present a free lecture, “Saving Sedgwick: A Citizens' Success Story” on Thursday, June 29th, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the Tipton House, located at the UC Sedgwick Reserve.

His illustrated lecture will chronicle the fascinating and often-overlooked story of how local conservationists, university professors, artists, and others united in a grassroots effort to ensure that the entire Sedgwick Ranch became part of the University of California’s Natural Reserve System.

Past ExhibitRuben MislangJune 29, 2023Lansing Duncan, Sedgwick Reserve, Sedgwick

June 1st | Bringing Back Our Wetland: Community Film Screening & Panel Discussion

Learn how UC Santa Barbara, alongside a community of visionary environmentalists, restored a former Goleta golf course back into a wetland.

The UCSB Affiliates and the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity & Ecological Restoration present a FREE community screening of Bringing Back Our Wetland on Thursday, June 1st at 7 p.m. at the Marjorie Luke Theatre. The 65-minute documentary captures a decade-long project to restore the upper Devereux Slough in Goleta to its natural state.

May 21st | Wilderness Spirit Brunch Honoring Beth Pratt

Mark your calendars! We look forward to welcoming you to the Craft House at Corque for our Wilderness Spirit Brunch honoring wildlife activist Beth Pratt on Sunday, May 21, 2023. Our famous Mimosa and Bloody Mary Bar will be back, along with all your favorite brunch fixings. Look forward to a special live auction and the presentation of our 2023 Wilderness Spirit Award.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangMay 21, 2023Brunch, Fundraiser

October 30th - November 8th | 4th Annual Online Fall Silent Auction

Our fourth annual online silent auction is LIVE until November 8th, 4 p.m.

View Silent Auction Items »

We can’t wait to share relaxing getaways, unique jewelry, fine art, local wines and delights just for you. All proceeds benefit the Wildling Museum.

December 3rd | Holiday Marketplace

Mark your calendars and kick off the holiday season at The Wildling Museum’s 12th Annual Holiday Marketplace! We look forward to welcoming you back to this favorite museum tradition on Sunday, December 3rd, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Enjoy one-of-a-kind shopping featuring talented local artisans and unique gifts that celebrate wildlife, nature, and the outdoors.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangMay 12, 2023Holiday Marketplace, Holidays

May 3rd | Chris Maynard: The Art of Feather Carving

Join the The Wildling Museum on Wednesday, May 3rd, 4 - 5 p.m. for a special Zoom presentation by exhibiting artist Chris Maynard, one of four artists featured in Bird’s Eye View: Four Perspectives, currently on view at the Wildling through September 4, 2023. Maynard will provide an inside look into his process and allow attendees to further explore his intricate feather carvings that both inspire and mystify.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangMay 3, 2023Chris Maynard, Birds, Feathers, Artist Talk

Message in a Bottle | Elizabeth Criss

May 2023 - July 2024

Michele Kuelbs Tower Gallery

The California Nature Art Museum is pleased to announce its new 2023 site-specific installation featuring Northridge-based artist Elizabeth Criss, as well as work by glass artist Sari Scheer. Message in a Bottle, designed for the Michele Kuelbs Tower Gallery, is on view from May 2023 through July 2024. This long-term installation marks the third iteration of the Museum’s tower installation program, which aims to highlight Southern California artists inspired by the environment and provides an indoor-outdoor art experience for Solvang visitors.

Criss’ proposal was selected from the Museum’s 2023 request for artist proposals focusing on environmental impacts on the ocean.

April 22nd | Earth Day at the Wildling

Mark your calendars! Enjoy free admission all day this Earth Day, Saturday, April 22nd, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Wildling.

Enjoy exploring our two new spring exhibitions, Bird’s Eye View: Four Perspectives and Sedgwick Reserve: A Conservation Story, along with drop-in lobby crafts for all to take part in on one of our favorite holidays.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangApril 22, 2023Earth Day, Family

Prints from the Permanent Collection

January 28, 2022 - April 17, 2023

Third Floor George & Barbara Goodall Education Center

Enjoy historical and contemporary prints inspired by nature from the Wildling’s permanent collection, showcasing a diverse range of printmaking techniques and subject matter.

Featuring works by Edward Borein, Carl Oscar Borg, George Elbert Burr, Robert Allan Cale, Russell Chatham, Charles J. Fritz, Patti Jacquemain, Tom Killion, Bruce McCurdy, Everett Ruess, and Carl Rungius.

Past ExhibitRuben MislangApril 17, 2023Printmaking, Permanent Collection

Dunes: Visions of Sand, Light & Shadow

September 10, 2022 - April 3, 2023

Second Floor Valley Oak Gallery

Traverse the sand dunes with Central Coast photographer Bob Canepa in the Wildling Museum’s new Valley Oak Gallery exhibition, Dunes: Visions of Light, Sand & Shadow, on view September 10, 2022 - April 3, 2023.

The unique terrain of the Oceano Dunes, also referred to as the Pismo Beach Sand Dunes, has served as a wealth of inspiration for Canepa, who has visited these dunes weekly for years. From sweeping vistas of light and shadow to grains of sand caught in dewy moisture, Canepa has surveyed these weather-sculpted dunes from a range of perspectives, always finding something new in the shifting landscape.

Wildlife on the Edge: Hilary Baker

October 8, 2022 - March 6, 2023

First Floor Main Gallery

The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is pleased to announce its upcoming 2022 fall exhibition, Wildlife on the Edge: Hilary Baker, on view from October 8, 2022 - March 6, 2023. The public is invited to attend an opening reception on Sunday, October 9 from 3 – 5 p.m. at the Wildling Museum.

Wildlife on the Edge features new and recent acrylic paintings from Hilary Baker’s Predators series alongside a new series of animal portraits on birch wood. From a group of common pigeons to an elusive cougar, Baker’s subjects make themselves at home in urban locales inspired by Los Angeles landmarks past and present.

Past ExhibitRuben MislangMarch 6, 2023Hilary Baker, Urban Wilderness

Sedgwick Reserve: A Conservation Story

April 8 - October 16, 2023

Reception: Sunday, April 16th, 3 - 5 p.m.

Second Floor Valley Oak Gallery

The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is pleased to announce Sedgwick Reserve: A Conservation Story, on view from April 8 - October 16, 2023 in the Valley Oak Gallery. The public is invited to attend a reception celebrating the new show on Sunday, April 16th from 3 - 5 p.m. at the Wildling.

Unknown to many visitors, and even some local residents, Sedgwick Nature Reserve is an important gem nestled in the foothills of the San Rafael Mountains here in the Santa Ynez Valley. One of seven reserves managed by the University of California Santa Barbara Natural Reserve System, Sedgwick is among the largest and most diverse reserves of its kind in the country. Through the eyes of 11 Central Coast artists, the exhibition will explore both the beauty of the reserve and the important work taking place on its grounds.

Past ExhibitRuben MislangMarch 1, 2023Sedgwick, Sedgwick Reserve

Request for Proposals - 2023 Michele Kuelbs Tower Gallery Installation

Michele Kuelbs Tower Gallery

The Wildling Museum is seeking proposals for its third annual Michele Kuelbs Tower Gallery installation. Our 10-month-long 2023 installation will focus on our oceans with an underwater theme, and should explore an environmental topic or issue—whether climate change, plastic pollution, overfishing, or similar.

This opportunity is open to artists in Santa Barbra County, San Luis County, Ventura County, or Los Angeles County. Application deadline is March 1, 2023.

Ruben MislangMarch 1, 2023Tower Gallery, Artist Opportunity, competition

Portals & Pathways by Kerrie Smith

April 2022 - February 2023

Michele Kuelbs Tower Gallery

The Wildling Museum is pleased to announce its new Michele Kuelbs Tower Gallery installation, Portals & Pathways by Santa Barbara-based artist Kerrie Smith, on view April 2022 through February 2023.

Smith’s multisensory installation features flowing banners printed with Smith’s vivid abstract paintings inspired by daily walks along Santa Barbara’s More Mesa, interspersed with hand-stamped poetry and nature photography. Smith will continue to update the gallery with the changing seasons, transforming the space throughout 2022-2023 as part of the Wildling Museum’s inaugural artist-in-residence program for the Michele Kuelbs Tower Gallery.

Past ExhibitRuben MislangFebruary 28, 2023Kerrie Smith, Tower Gallery, Installation

Selections from the Permanent Collection: California National Parks

July 13, 2023 - Ongoing

Third Floor George & Barbara Goodall Education Center

The California Nature Art Museum has a small permanent art collection with works that illustrate different elements of nature. California’s national parks are a rich source of inspiration for artists of the past and present. From the dramatic peaks and waterfalls of Yosemite to the shadowy dunes of Death Valley, there is no shortage of natural wonders to explore in the Golden State.

In the selection of works on display in the George and Barbara Goodall Education Center, visitors are invited to explore seven artists' perspectives of Yosemite, Death Valley, and the Channel Islands, three of the nine majestic national parks within California.

CANCELLED | Oceano Dunes Adventure with Bob Canepa

Ready for an Oceano Dunes adventure? Enjoy a unique opportunity to explore the dunes with exhibiting photographer Bob Canepa on Sunday, February 26th, 8 - 10 a.m. Bring your camera and enjoy a guided morning walk through the area's flora, fauna, and landscapes. Great for photographers of all skill levels, or just for those looking to experience walking through the dunes.

Registration is $25.00. Member rate is $20.00. Limited to 12 participants, advance registration required.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangFebruary 26, 2023Bob Canepa, Photography, Oceano Dunes

February 12th | Winter Family Day

The Wildling Museum invites the public to attend a free Winter Family Day on Sunday, February 12, 2022, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Visitors are invited to bring the whole family and enjoy free museum admission during event hours, an animal visit, art activities for all ages, and more.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangFebruary 12, 2023Open House, Community, Family, Winter Family Day

February 3rd | More Mesa Nature Walk with Larry Ballard

Join us for a guided nature walk through Goleta's More Mesa with naturalist Larry Ballard on Friday, February 3rd, 9 - 11 a.m. Enjoy looking for short-eared owls, white-tailed kites, northern harriers, and other local birds among the flora and fauna.

More Mesa is the inspiration behind Artist-in-Residence Kerrie Smith's Portals & Pathways installation, which has transformed the Wildling's Michele Kuelbs Tower Gallery into an exploration of the region's changing seasons.

Registration is $10.00. Member rate is $5.00. Limited to 15 participants. Advance registration required.

Past Programs/EventsRuben MislangFebruary 3, 2023More Mesa, Nature Walk, Larry Ballard

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