The Wildling Museum invites the public to attend its third-annual free Summer Family Day on Sunday, August 20, 2023, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Visitors are invited to bring the whole family and enjoy free museum admission during event hours, an owl meet-and-greet, mermaid visit, nature-inspired art activities for all ages, and more.
Read MoreJoin The Wildling Museum on Thursday, August 17th, 4 - 5 p.m. for a special Zoom presentation by exhibiting artist Shae Warnick, one of four artists featured in Bird’s Eye View: Four Perspectives, currently on view at the California Nature Art Museum through September 4, 2023. Warnick will provide an inside look into her process and share more about her incredible work on view at the California Nature Art Museum, Aviary of the Reverend William J. Long, which features 260 stuffed bird dolls created by Warnick.
Read MoreJuly 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.
Read MoreJoin 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.
Read MoreLearn 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.
Read MoreMark 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.
Read MoreJoin 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.
Read MoreMay 2023 - November 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 November 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.
Read MoreMark 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.
Read MoreJanuary 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.
Read MoreSeptember 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.
Read MoreOctober 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.
Read MoreApril 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.
Read MoreMichele 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.
Read MoreApril 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.
Read MoreReady 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreJoin 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.
Read MoreStart the New Year off right and join artist Kathy Badrak in making your own nature journal on Sunday, January 29, 2023, 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. at the Wildling Museum. This class will provide a fun and easy introduction to the art of handmade bookmaking.
Attendees will create a simple bound journal perfect for setting intentions for the New Year, sketching, nature journaling, and more! Books will include pockets for collecting natural specimens and a magnifying glass to assist in your outdoor journal studies and doodles.
Class fee is $50 and includes all required materials. Class size is limited to 12 participants, advance registration required.
Read MoreJoin us for a very special gallery talk with featured wildlife photographer and cinematographer Roy Dunn on Sunday, January 22, 2023, 4 - 5 p.m. Dunn will provide a fascinating look behind camera trapping and ethical wildlife photography, and will discuss stories behind his photography on view as part of Wildlife on the Edge: Hilary Baker.
General admission is $10.00. Current Wildling Museum member admission is $5.00. Advance registration is encouraged.
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