Nature Abstracted

Nature Abstracted will be on display in the Barbara Goodall Education Center from October 3rd through March 18th, 2019.

The Wildling Museum in Solvang collaborated with the Santa Barbara based Abstract Art Collective to produce Nature Abstracted. This show featured work from the Abstract Art Collective (AAC), a Santa Barbara community-based group of artists. Abstract art challenges the artist and audience to mine the depths of emotion and intellect—to journey far from real world imagery and into the imagination. In this exhibit you will see the artists’ response to various aspects of nature experiences—responses they’ve chosen to share. Nature Abstracted was an exquisite and intimate exhibition to be enjoyed by all ages, and at many levels. There were 29 works by 18 artists, accompanied by wall placards describing each work as to medium and thought process in the work’s production.

The Wildling’s Executive Director Stacey Otte-Demangate and Westmont College’s Nathan Huff juried the submissions from the members of the Abstract Art Collective for this exhibit. Awards included 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, Juror’s Choice and People’s Choice. Over 25 artworks were for sale, with 30% of the proceeds supporting the museum. The opening reception was on October 20th from 3-5 pm at the Wildling Museum.

About the Judges

NATHAN HUFF is an artist. He earned an MFA in Drawing and Painting from California State University Long Beach, a BA in art education from Azusa Pacific University, and has also studied art in Italy, France, the UK, and Spain. Actively exhibiting in Los Angeles and abroad, Huff’s installations have been featured in solo exhibitions at UCR Culver and Sweeney Galleries (Riverside), Los Angeles at D.E.N. Contemporary (West Hollywood), Minthorne Gallery, (Oregon), Gallerie View (Salambo, Tunisa), group exhibitions at JK Gallery (Culver City), Lotus Land (Santa Barbara), Westmont Ridely Tree Museum of Art (Santa Barbara), Angels Gate Cultural Center (San Pedro, CA), and at Concrete Walls gallery in (Los Angeles). In 2011 he was invited by the state department as a guest Curator with Art in Embassies for the US Ambassador in New Zealand to curate an exhibition "Encountering Place." Nathan has taught classes with art students at CSU Long Beach, LA Southwest College, Biola University, and Azusa Pacific University as an adjunct lecturer. Currently he teaches as an assistant professor of art at Westmont College in Santa Barbara.

STACEY OTTE-DEMANGATE is the executive director of the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature. Stacey Otte-Demangate has been the executive director of the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature for the past 8 years, curating many of the exhibitions and has judged several competitions as well. She has an MA in Museum Studies from Cooperstown Graduate Program and a BA in Anthropology from Arizona State University. Before coming to the Santa Ynez Valley, she was the director of the Catalina Island Museum where she helped to grow their exhibitions, improve their collections management, helped them buy property for a future expansion and forged a strong relation with a local plein air painters group. While not an artist herself, she has always loved the arts and greatly enjoys working with artists and helping to promote their works in concert with supporting the mission of the Wildling Museum--to raise awareness of the need to preserve open spaces through programs and exhibitions featuring inspired art.

About the Artists

The list of artists participating in Nature Abstracted are Pamela Benham, Charlene Broudy, Beverly Decker, Thore Edgren, Nancy Freeman, Cynthia Martin, A. Michael Marzolla, Margaret Ricks, Lynda Smythe, Marlene Struss, Mary Dee Thompson, Lawrence Wallin, Joyce Wilson, Sara Yerkes, Karen Zazon, all from Santa Barbara, Beth Schmohr of Carpinteria, Ines Monguio of Ventura, and Kerrie Smith from Santa Barbara and LA.

About the Abstract Art Collective

The Abstract Art Collective (AAC) is a Santa Barbara community-based group of artists who organized in 2011 to exhibit their work in an all-abstract environment. The co-founders, JT Turner and Thore Edgren are continuing members while the AAC now has 80-plus members.

The AAC has 4 exhibitions per year at various local venues including Channing Peake Gallery, Faulkner Gallery, The Karpeles Museum, the Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center, Bacara Resort, Cabrillo Pavilion, UCSB Faculty Club, the Meisel Gallery, TVSB Media Center, and the SB College of Law.

Several AAC exhibitions support the non-profit venues with donations from a percentage of art sales. Special benefit events have raised funds for the Waldorf School and the SMHS Performing Arts Department, and SEE International (Surgical Eye Expeditions). See more at: abstractartcollective.com