California Nature Art Museum

A Deeper Love: New Paintings Inspired by Coral Reefs is now officially open to the public.

A Deeper Love offers an artistic examination into some of the ocean’s most vibrant, ecologically productive, and fragile landscapes, worldwide. “While it may be easy for most people to walk outside and appreciate nature in the hills, forests, or meadows where they live, it is much harder to visit a coral reef fifty feet below the surface of the ocean at the edge of civilization,” state Nansi and David. “By sharing what we’ve seen, what we’ve learned, and what has inspired us, we hope to make the world’s coral reefs a little more present in the hearts and minds of our community.”

Visit the California Nature Art Museum now through February 24th, 2025 to see our newest exhibition!

Photos by George Rose.

Join the California Nature Art Museum and Head Games Trivia for a special bonus round of trivia on coral reefs in celebration of the opening of our latest exhibition, "A Deeper Love: New Paintings Inspired by Coral Reefs" on September 24th 2024, from 6PM-8PM. You can expect a night of colorful competition, fun and food as we test your knowledge of one of the most precious and in-need-of-protection places in the ocean. Our sponsored bonus round will include two prizes from the Museum gift store, and will not affect players' overall trivia score.

Hosted every Tuesday night on the second-floor of Figueroa Mountain Brewing in Buellton, Head Games Trivia is free to play and covers a wide range of general topics using interactive questions and diverse multimedia. Teams of up to six. Each member of the overall winning team will receive one free 4 oz. pour.
No tickets or reservations required.

For more information, please contact Rachel Metz at [email protected].

Check out this week's gift shop Item-of-the-Week! Remember, members receive 15% off the marked price of any non-consignment item.
Item: "Brilliant Bee Crayons" by Ooly

Join us for Santa Barbara County’s Coastal Cleanup Day!
Let’s help protect our coastlines! On September 21st, thousands of volunteers will come together to remove trash and plastic from our beaches, rivers, and lakes across California.
📅 When: September 21, 2024 (9:00 am to 12:00 pm)
📍 Where: Register here to sign up for your favorite site from Jalama to Carpinteria.
🌿 Why: To reduce pollution, protect marine life, and preserve our stunning coastlines for future generations!

Bring your friends, family, and a spirit of giving back. Every piece of trash collected makes a huge difference! You can find more information about the event at ExploreEcology/Coastal-Cleanup-Day.org or CoastalCleanupDay.org. Don’t forget to download the Clean Swell App to log data during the cleanup.




For further information, click the link below.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coastal-cleanup-day-2024-santa-barbara-county-registration-875397506507?aff=oddtdtcreator

Coming soon, this weekend!

The California Nature Art Museum is pleased to announce its forthcoming exhibition, A Deeper Love: New Paintings Inspired by Coral Reefs, coming September 14th 2024, with large-scale artwork by artists Nansi Bielanski Gallup and David Gallup.

Remember, CalNAM members are always invited to our free, MEMBERS-ONLY ARTIST RECEPTIONS at the opening of each new exhibition for a first look at our latest show, and a chance to meet our artists over delicious food and drinks! This reception will include decadent wine poured by Vincent Vineyards.
Interested in becoming a member? Sign-up on our website, or contact Development Associate Joe Romero at [email protected]

Check out this week's gift shop Item-of-the-Week! Remember, members receive 15% off the marked price of any non-consignment item.
Item: "The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs" by Kate Messner & Mathew Forsythe

The California Nature Art Museum would like to give a special shout out to non-profit organization, Latino Outdoors , this Hispanic Heritage Month. For more information on Latino Outdoors, please visit https://latinooutdoors.org/

Vote Your Favorite: "California, Quilted: Wild in the Oak Woodland," July-August.

We are excited to announce this round's winning piece, “The Foothills Are Our Home," which was voted the first-place favorite by 20 participating museum guests. Thank you to everyone who has already made their visit to this special exhibition, and an extra special thanks to the artist of this exhibit, Quiltmaker Julia Laraway.

We will count up the votes for our next winning piece on October 30th, so come in and share your favorite between now and then for the chance to see another piece featured!

"California, Quilted: Wild in the Oak Woodland" will be on display at CalNAM now - January 13th 2025.

Check out this week's gift shop Item-of-the-Week! Remember, members receive 15% off the marked price of any non-consignment item.
Item: "Stickers" by Big Moods

Favorite Museum Guestbook Sketch - August 2024🦞🐚
"Use reusable water bottles! Cuida el planeta (take care of the planet)🙂"

Do you enjoy coming to our exhibitions, programs and events? Are you happy to know that we are here in the heart of Santa Barbara County providing unique and informative exhibits and programs that inspire and educate our community and visitors? Your support through joining as a member helps us do all of this! And you get wonderful benefits like free admission for a year, a 15% discount in our shop (the holidays are coming!), discounts on many of our programs and more! Please consider joining us in our important and fun work to inspire a love of nature in all generations. https://www.calnatureartmuseum.org/membership

It's the final weekend of our bee-autiful exhibition, The Birds & the Bees & More: Pollinators!

Featuring six artists, unexpected mediums, and dozens of pollinating species, it's an exhibition you don't want to miss. Be sure to visit us on or before September 2nd, which is the last day to view these special pieces in our halls!

CalNAM is open weekends 10AM-5PM, and weekdays 11AM-4PM (except Tuesdays & Wednesdays). Remember, admission is free for members, children, and Cal Fresh/SNAP EBT recipients!

Photo by Bob Canepa.

Check out this week's gift shop Item-of-the-Week! Remember, members receive 15% off the marked price of any non-consignment item.
Item: "Enamel Nature Pins" by Botanical Bright

Check out this week's gift shop Item-of-the-Week! Remember, members receive 15% off the marked price of any non-consignment item.
Item: "Assorted Magnets" by Sarah Angst Art

Check out this week's gift shop Item-of-the-Week! Remember, members receive 15% off the marked price of any non-consignment item.
Item: "Plush Birds with Sound" By Wild Republic

CalNAM is proud to be this year's fiscal sponsor for Buellton’s “Exploring the Ocean” Community Art Project! (Buellton Chamber of Commerce)

August's featured piece includes artwork from Lillyn Andersen-Friend, Joeleen Lee, Noah Lufts, Juan Zarate, Nora Crookston, and Tori. Thank you to the artists, Buellton’s Art & Culture Program, and Sponsor Pacific Gas and Electric Company for making this fun, local project happen. Amazing things are possible when we come together to celebrate (and decorate!) our community!

See the original art and learn more at: https://buellton.art/2024-august-ocean-art-feature/

Favorite Museum Guestbook Quote - July 2024
"To every artist and hardworking employee,
Each piece is unique, you can almost feel, in your heart, exactly what the artists wanted to express through their work. The colours are very pleasing, giving the pieces an almost whimsical feel. The memory of this visit will forever be etched into my mind.
bless you all" - Reina Garcia 🦋

Check out this week's gift shop Item-of-the-Week! Remember, members receive 15% off the marked price of any non-consignment item.
Item: "Charley Harper Felt Birds" by Charley Harper

Get excited for our annual End-Of-Summer Family Day community festival! We're celebrating kids and families by offering free admission to the California Nature Art Museum on Saturday, August 10th from 10AM-3PM.

Create your own bee-themed hanging wall art (10AM-1PM), make friends with a lizard, snake, or tortoise from Mahni’s Reptiles (11AM-12PM), enjoy a free cheek or hand painting (1PM-3PM), wonder at live honeybees in an observation hive from Santa Barbara Hives (all day, 10AM-3PM), and shake paws with an adoptable pet from Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society & DAWG (all day, 10AM-3PM)!

We believe that kids are naturally some of the world's most inspired and innovative environmental stewards, and are proud to offer free admission, free school field trips, and free children's craft workshops year-round. If you're not a CalNAM member and are looking for ways to support the work that we do for our youngest eco-changemakers, including our annual End-of-Summer Family Day community festival, please visit https://www.calnatureartmuseum.org/membership

Join the global movement on World Conservation Day to raise awareness and take action for a greener, healthier planet!🌍🌿

California, Quilted: Wild in the Oak Woodland is now officially open to the public on the Second-Floor Valley Oak Gallery.

This textile arts exhibition features the exquisite collage-quilted wall hangings of Santa Barbara artist, Julia Laraway. Laraway's work is remarkable not only in the clear
demonstration of skill, or the highly-attractive color and textures synthesized in each piece, but also in its depiction of diverse species native to both the local region and the state. Often, her favorite subjects are what may be considered less “conventional” members of our ecosystems, such as condors and tarantulas.

“Sitting at my sewing machine, I hope to capture the wonder that these creatures inspire within me. They are our fellow travelers in life and they share their home with all of us, often to their detriment,” states Laraway on the subjects of her work. She adds, “The California Nature Art Museum’s commitment to putting our environment in front of us so we can see the natural world through the eyes of artists is a gift,
and I am incredibly grateful to be sharing my quilt pieces at this museum.”

Laraway’s work is available for purchase, and a portion of all sales support the Museum. Visit the California Nature Art Museum now through January 13th to learn more about the habitat that our region is famous for!

Photos by George Rose.

Check out this week's gift shop Item-of-the-Week! Remember, members receive 15% off the marked price of any non-consignment item.
Item: "The Insect Artist" by Ingram Publishing Services

As containment of the Lake Fire progresses, we would like to take a moment to express our immense gratitude to our local firefighters who have tirelessly fought to keep our local communities safe over the past few weeks.

Our hearts also go out to the families of the firefighters who are still on the front lines, and anyone else who has been affected by the recent fires. While wildfires are a natural and often beneficial process for California ecosystems, it is important for everyone to be well-versed in fire safety, especially because scientific findings strongly suggest that wildfires will continue to increase in frequency and intensity as a result of climate change.

We would also like to remind you that the Museum is open, and a great place to stay cool while you learn about the species, landscapes, and processes that make California special. Stay inspired, and safe out there!

Photo by George Rose, overlooking the Santa Ynez Valley

Join the California Nature Art Museum & Community Clayworks for an adult art workshop on Sunday, July 21st 2024 from 3:00PM- 5:00PM, creating bee baths for the home garden.

Participants will learn to sculpt an open flower with layered and elevated petals throughout to create safe landing spots for the bees, as well as paint their pieces with colorful underglazes. Completed bee baths will be taken back to the Community Clayworks studio for firing and clear glazing, and approximately two weeks later, will be available for pick up in-person at the Museum or can be shipped by request (for an additional fee).

All supplies included. Advance registration is required, 16 attendees max. This class is best suited for ages 15yrs+.

Tickets can be purchased on our website, or at the link below:
https://www.calnatureartmuseum.org/news/community-clayworks-adult-july-2024

Visit the California Nature Art Museum this Saturday, July 13th from 2:30PM-4:30PM for a chance to view a "live hive" from one of our favorite partners, Santa Barbara Hives. A "live hive" is a contained honeybee hive, housed in a frame with clear panels for safe observation - perfect for those who are pollinator-passionate!

Free with admission or membership. Remember, adult admission is just $5 and kids are always free!

Check out this week's gift shop Item-of-the-Week! Remember, members receive 15% off the marked price of any non-consignment item.
Item: "Handmade Glass Bubble Vases" by Blazing Star Arts

Coming soon, July 14th!

The California Nature Art Museum is pleased to announce its upcoming 2024 summer exhibition, 'California, Quilted: Wild in the Oak Woodland,' on view from July 14, 2024 – January 13, 2025, featuring new and recent works by artist Julia Laraway.

Remember, CalNAM members are always invited to our free, private Artist Receptions at the opening of each new exhibition for a first look at our latest show, and a chance to meet our artists over delicious food and drinks!

Check out this week's gift shop Item-of-the-Week!
Jr. Rangerland donates a portion of their profits for this item to NPS. Remember, members receive 15% off the marked price of any non-consignment item.