Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

SANTA BARBARA COMMUNITY ART WORKSHOP “READY TO HANG” 2023 ANOTHER HUGE SUCCESS

The Santa Barbara Community Art Workshop 2023 “Ready to Hang” community art show attracted 450 artists who contributed a variety of art techniques on 12x12 surfaces, representing community art stars and Santa Barbara residents who are amateurs but wanted to support the fundraiser that raises funds to provide the important services provided at SBCAW. I am one of these resident amateurs and have so enjoyed entering my artwork and meeting up with friends and artists at a special celebration party held at the workshop during the event weekend.

Artist Michael Long, the sbcaw staff and volunteers do a fabulous job each year registering the 450 pieces, and hanging them for display, and arranging the sale of the art submitted. This year it was a great honor to have Lynda Weinmann as the official judge, who selected three winners, including Susan Tibbles, who took the first place ribbon. Many thanks to all the people who make this event possible each year, and if you would like information or to donate, please visit: www.sbcaw.org.

Wildling Museum of Art and Nature Announces Winners of Third National Juried
Exhibition Focusing on California National Parks during Opening Reception

39 Works Representing all Nine of California’s National Parks is on view through February 19, 2024

The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature (www.wildlingmuseum.org) is pleased to announce the winners of its third juried exhibition showcasing all nine of California’s national parks: Lassen, Joshua, Redwoods, Pinnacles, Channel Islands, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Death Valley all of which are featured in the show. California National Parks: Stories of Water features 37 artists and 39 selected artworks that were juried from a pool of more than 240 submissions by artists across the U.S., competing for $4,000 in awards. These artists reside in nine states including Georgia, Pennsylvania, Utah, Oregon, Arizona, Washington, New Mexico, Nevada, and California.

The mediums represented in this exhibition are as varied as the art itself and include oil, acrylic, watercolor, graphite, textile, and photography. The exhibition explores various impacts of water – or the lack of water due to drought – in California’s national parks. Other works capture water’s abundance – particularly in the aftermath of this year’s heavy rains – through a range of waterfalls and rivers.

Juror Nathan Vonk, owner of Sullivan Goss – An American Gallery, located in Santa Barbara, had the difficult task of judging the impressive number of entries, and Stacey Otte-Demangate,
Executive Director of the Wildling announced all the winners. Please see the sidebar for the complete list. “It is a great exhibition, focused on an important and worthy subject. I have a deep appreciation for our national parks, and the part that art has played in raising awareness of these treasured places,” said Vonk. “The submitted work was really extraordinary, making it wonderfully difficult to pick the final pieces.”

First Prize winner Nancy Yaki with her painting “Holding Stratus Pose, Tenaya Lake, Yosemite”. Photo by George Rose

Upon learning that she took the top prize, for her work “Holding Stratus Pose, Tenaya Lake” Lompoc artist Nancy Yaki, was surprised and pleased particularly since the piece represents a personal connection with water as a symbol of adaptability and enduring balance in embracing change. "Amid the challenging times during my chemo treatments, my soul craved the soothing presence of
water - driven by longing; I drove to Yosemite, where I discovered Tenaya Lake,” said Yaki. “There, amidst the beauty of nature's canvas, I embarked on an afternoon paddle-boarding excursion and welcomed the serene lake, experiencing an indescribable connection - a profound realization of the interplay between the ever-changing currents and the unyielding essence of my life. As I held a pose, captivated by the moisture in the atmosphere, the clouds mirrored in the water, and the body of water that held me up, I found a surreal
harmony—a moment of clarity that resonated with the
core of my being.”

Over 120 attended the opening reception including the
museum’s Founders, mosaic artist, Patti Jacquemain
and her husband, David Gledhill along with supporters
Pete and Beck Adams, Judy and Jack Stapelmann, along
with Board President Kevin Patterson and Board
Members Margaret Weiss and Richard Nagler. The
event featured live music from Michael Holland, and
renowned photographer George Rose documented the
event. All of the many diverse works of art featured in this exhibition are available for purchase with 40 percent of proceeds benefiting the Wildling Museum.

This important exhibition was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors: The Robert and Mercedes
Eichholz Foundation, Pete & Becky Adams, Penny & Joseph Knowles, The Poomer Fund for Anne Smith Towbes, George
& Denise Rose, Margaret Weiss, and donors to the Patti Jacquemain Exhibition Fund.

FIRST PLACE ($2500)
Nancy Yaki
“Holding Stratus Pose, Tenaya Lake, Yosemite”
Painting, oil on canvas

SECOND PLACE ($1,000)
Allegra Bick-Maurischat (winner not present)
“Public Domain (California), Yosemite”
Graphite, created using public domain photographs

THIRD PLACE ($500)
Vicki Conley (winner not present)
“Golden Canyon, Death Valley”
Quilt

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Nic Stover
“Perfection, Kings Canyon”
Photograph on aluminum

Bill Saltzstein
“Mount Lassen and the Milky Way in Reflection Lake”
Photograph