The Wildling Thanks You for Delighting and Inspiring at our 15th Annual Spring Barbecue
Every year the Wildling Museum's spring barbecue fundraiser is in a unique, natural location where guests can mingle while enjoying a beautiful landscape. This year was notable because it included the first Legacy Awards and also because it ranked as one of the top fundraising events in the museum's 15-year history. The 2018 Barbecue took place at an extraordinary location, in the Santa Barbara mountains, off Mission Canyon road. The journey to arrive at this venue started with parking, courtesy of the Old Mission Santa Barbara, and then catching a ride with the Santa Barbara Airbus up the mountain.
Photo by George Rose.
After checking in, guests enjoyed appetizers and beverages and were free to explore the property of the Creekspirit Foundation. Our gracious hosts, Patti Jacquemain and Dave Gledhill, are founding members of the Wildling Museum and continue to serve on the board. Their beautiful venue is full of Patti's mosaic art and perfectly complemented the jazz guitar by Michael Holland, all combining to create an atmosphere filled with passion for art and nature! Decorations were courtesy of our exceptional Wildling Event Volunteers. Catering was by Feast & Fest with dessert donated by Olsen's Danish Village Bakery, wine pouring courtesy of Buttonwood Winery & Vineyard, Wandering Dog Wine Bar, and donated beverages thanks to M.Special Brew Co, Rusack, Hilliard Bruce, Kalyra, Nielsen, Dierberg, Bridlewood, and Alma Rosa wineries.
Photo by Samantha Demangate.
Thank You to our Award Winners
More than an afternoon of entertainment, this event is an opportunity to honor outstanding individuals for their accomplishments. Joan Easton Lentz received the Wilderness Spirit Award, and Pete & Becky Adams and Jack & Judy Stapelmann received our first Legacy Awards, created by sculptor Bud Bottoms and sponsored by Northern Trust.
From left; Judy Stapelmann, Jack Stapelmann, Andrew Chou, Stacey Otte-Demangate,
Joan Easton Lentz, Pete Adams, Becky Adams, Andrew Chou. Photos by George Rose.
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Wilderness Spirit Award
This year, the Wilding will be honoring Joan Easton Lentz with the Wilderness Spirit Award. Joan Easton Lentz is a naturalist and author who grew up in Santa Barbara, and has spent much of her life studying the region’s natural history.
Joan has written several books, but most significantly, A Naturalist’s Guide to the Santa Barbara Region, which celebrates the Santa Barbara region as an ecological hotspot, a truly unique place on our planet. This book has become a vital resource for the Wildling and helped shape their second floor gallery space. Joan’s thorough research has left a lasting legacy for all local nature lovers.
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Legacy Award
For their years of generous unwavering support, the Wildling is thrilled to honor Pete & Becky Adams and Jack & Judy Stapelmann with the first Legacy Award. Without their efforts, the Wildling would not be what is today. From serving faithfully on the Board of Directors, supporting strategic planning efforts, and then helping to purchase our building, the Wildling will forever be grateful for their generosity.
Pete Adams served on the Board for 6 years, the last three as Chair. He is proud of the strategic plan that he and the Board developed, which has led to the relocation, growth and stability of the museum. He remains on the Advisory Council, and is grateful that his business experience in finance, marketing and executive leadership has helped the Wildling flourish.
Judy Stapelmann served an extra year on the Wildling Board to help with fundraising for the purchase of the Museum building. Judy is a lifelong horseback rider and has organized trail ride fundraisers for the Museum.
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Abundant Contributions
An event of this caliber would not be possible without the businesses and individuals who share our mission to inspire our community and visitors to enjoy, value, and conserve wildlife and natural areas through art. It is with sincere gratitude that we acknowledge their contributions. Many generous individuals contributed in multiple categories such as donors, volunteers, sponsors, and patrons of this Spring BBQ event.
Photograph by Samantha Demangate.
Thank You to Our Auction Donors
| Buellton Chamber of Commerce Kathleen Kalp and Jim Balsitis Lida Grant Opera Santa Barbara A9 Designs Ballard Inn Charlie and Cheryl Stauffer Chaucer’s Books Chris Chapman Clairmont Farms Foxen Vineyard & Winery Gail Persoon Gene Sinser Gene Sinser and Patty DeDominic George and Denise Rose Global Gardens Halper Fine Art Hilliard Bruce Jessika Cardinahl John Iwerks Kalyra Winery Kate and Dick Godfrey Kristine Power |
Duncan & Suzanne Mellichamp Metropolitan Theaters PCPA Pure Order Brewing Riverbench Winery Rolled Oats Pottery Ron and Carole Colone Santa Barbara Symphony Sedgwick Reserve Solvang Friendship House Stacey Otte-Demangate Succulent Café Susan Belloni Suzi Schomer SY Kitchen Tales from the Tavern Telegraph Brewing The Landsby The Solvang Olive Press Jack & Judy Stapelmann Third Window Brewing Westerlay Orchid Zaca Mesa Winery |
Photo by George Rose.
Thank You to Our Volunteers
| Anne Hunter Barbara Weaver Beverly Benningfield Bonnie Bisoglio Christine Armstead Dave & Holly Cline Dave Gledhill Eric Demangate Kathy Thompson |
Kay Turbak Lida Grant Michael Holland Phyllis Grier Samantha Demangate Shirley Stacey Susan Del Real Susie Pierson Tim Hunter |
Photo by Stacey Otte-Demangate.
Last But Not Least
A final acknowledgment to the board, advisory council, and staff of the Wildling Museum who work year round to fulfill the mission to inspire our community and visitors to enjoy, value, and conserve wildlife and natural areas through art by providing artistic, educational, and field experiences of nature for that purpose.
Our vision is to be recognized as an exceptional and innovative leader in inspiring our communities and visitors to value wilderness and other natural areas through the lenses of a diversity of artists. The museum strives to collaborate with others for the betterment of our communities.
| Advisory Council Peter Adams Tony Askew Ed and Sue Birch Louise Clarke Raye Haskell Duncan and Suzanne Mellichamp Rod Nash Alexander Power Richard and Thekla Sanford Judy Stapelmann |
Board Kristine Power, President Kate Godfrey, Vice President David Gledhill, Treasurer Pat Moser, Secretary Jim Balsitis Susan Belloni Kevin Patterson Gail Persoon George Rose Suzi Schomer Gene Sinser June Sochel Charles Stauffer Patti Jacquemain, Founder, Emeritus |
Staff Stacey Otte-Demangate Executive Director Mitra Cline Janet Takara Jake Abraham |
