A multi-sensory community gathering called “Seduction of the Senses” was held from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, May 8, at the Strange Family Tasting Room in Los Olivos.

This unique event showcased the collaborative efforts of three local professions: Chef Brittany Rice, artist Michelle Feldman, and apothecary Cassaundra Einolander. The evening was designed to captivate and delight all of the senses. Set within the aesthetically captivating Strange Family Tasting Room, guests enjoyed an evening exploring a multitude of senses. Along with wine tasting and mocktail delights, still-life paintings of Feldman were on exhibit, and small bites by Rice, of Rustik Farm Co., enhanced the taste dimension accompanied by four of the Strange Family’s finest wines. Additionally, Einolander, of Goat Barn Apothecary, presented a selection of herbal remedies and body care.

“I initiated this collaboration, envisioning a holistic sensory experience in an inviting environment for everyone to enjoy,” said Feldman. “This evening promises to be an enchanting journey through taste, smell, feel, and sight.”

Feldman describes what inspired her to form this collaboration.

“When I first entered the Strange Family Tasting Room, I was immediately struck by how closely its atmosphere resonated with my still-life artwork. The jewel tones and classic ambiance perfectly complemented my still-life style. I was so inspired by the space that I created still-life oil paintings of objects in the tasting room that will be displayed the evening of the event,” said Feldman. 

“The tasting room permanently features a diverse range of art in a salon-style display, aligning well with my genre,” she continued. “I was thrilled when they agreed to showcase my work and saw an opportunity to curate a larger event that would involve our greater artistic community. From the outset, the tasting room manager, Nicole Nalius, emphasized the importance of the space as a community gathering place. This inspired me to collaborate with other vendors to enhance the sensory experience.”

Feldman said the different senses blend together perfectly in her event.

“I believe viewing art as well as tasting wine are profound sensory experiences, essential for human exploration,” she said. “When you compliment those with additional experiences, they only heighten each other.”

Feldman also praised her partners in this undertaking.

“Bringing in chef Brittany Rice to do the food was an easy fit. Her expertise as the winemaker at Sunstone gives her the unique qualification to create a special food-wine pairing,” she said. “I was also looking to bring in a vendor that explores body care and touch and I was thrilled Cassaundra Einolander from Goat Barn Apothecary, could join. Cassaundra is also a chef and an artist, and she understands the importance of well-being and quality products. Her locally grown and handcrafted herbal wellness products are carefully formulated for an enhanced lifestyle. 

“Everything for this event fell easily into place. The community is encouraged to gather during our event. There is no pressure to purchase anything. My hope is that it brings the sensation of joy and good feelings to everyone in attendance.” 

Feldman is an accomplished artist who studied the fundamentals of oil painting through the lens of classical realism, focusing on still life, while cultivating a unique style that showcases her passion for paper, text, and the interplay of light and shadow. She views art as an immersive experience that engages the senses, evoking sight, memory, and emotion. 

Rice combines culinary mastery with a deep understanding of agriculture wellness, creating a sensory experience that delights the palate.

Goat Barn Apothecary is located on a small family homestead atop Figueroa Mountain. All of its herbs are either organically grown in its garden or sustainably wild-harvested from the family land, carefully hand-processed in small batches to create nourishing wellness products.

The Strange Family Tasting Room features botanical décor and a warm vibe, creating an inviting atmosphere that encourages relaxation, conversation, and enjoyment. 

This event was free to attend, with a limited number of food and wine pairings, that could be purchased in advance by contacting the tasting room at (805) 315-3662.

For more details, visit Michelle Juliet Feldman at www.michellejuliet.com, on Instagram, and Facebook;  Rustik Chef  at www.rustikchef.com, on Instagram and Facebook; Cassaundra Einolander on Instagram @goat_barn_apothecary; and Strange Family Vineyards at www.strangefamilyvineyards.com

For more information, visit michelle@thegivingink.com or email hello@thegivingink.com 

The Strange Family Tasting Room is at 2933 Grand Ave., Los Olivos.

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Several years ago, the Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce put a call out to artists in the Valley to paint a series of wooden horses that would be displayed throughout Santa Ynez. The call was answered, and many local artists painted large wooden horses, which can be seen at various locations throughout the township. 

One of the artists was Maryvonne LaParliere, who specializes in decorative painting, intricate hand-painted furnishings and décor, murals, trompe l’oeil, and fine and decorative art. She painted a colorful scene of the surrounding environs. It was displayed on the corner of Edison Street and Highway 246. Then in August 2023, it was stolen. This was the second piece of art she’d had stolen, the first being a mural she’d painted for Santa Barbara.

“I reported the theft to the police and put the information on all manner of social media, but it was never located, nor was the thief,” said LaParliere. “By October I had heard nothing back, so I sent a letter to Linda Small, the executive director of the Chamber, as well as to every board member to express my disappointment, as I was still upset about the matter. Heather Bedford, the owner of Inkings, sent me a nice letter offering her horse to me. She had requested a horse to paint herself but had never gotten around to it, so she offered it to me to paint in compensation.” 

LaParliere painted it over the course of a year, here and there, whenever she had time, using high-end professional acrylic paint with three coats of primer and two coats of varnish to protect it from the elements.

In March, she received a call from Small asking how the project was coming along. Although LaParliere had just finished the piece, she was hesitant to donate it again. She wanted to make sure that it would be on display in a safe place.

“I wrote to Krissy Castillo, director of the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and Parks-Janeway Carriage House, my thought being to donate it to the museum, but she was on leave,” LaParliere said. “In March, she emailed me about the unveiling of my new horse on their patio, behind the wrought iron gate.”

An unveiling of the newly painted and donated “town horse” was held at the annual meeting of the Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce on March 20 at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum. The horse now resides outside the Carriage House in the patio section of the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum so passersby can see it in all its glory,and remain safe. Many of LaParliere’s art pieces are also in the homes of well-known celebrities.

“I was so happy to donate the horse, which I call ‘Lucky One,’ to the Museum and Carriage House,” said LaParliere.“Horse and Carriage, it’s perfect and protected.”

The Chamber was also happy to have another piece of art in the museum.

“The Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce is so pleased that we’ve been able to facilitate this donation of Maryvonne LaParliere’s beautiful pony ‘Lucky One’ to the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum.  It seems fitting to have had the pony unveiling at our Chamber’s Annual Meeting of Members,” said Small.

LaParliere is presently working on recreating one of Hans Christian Andersen’s papirklip pieces on a pillar upstairs in the newly reopened Hans Christian Andersen Museum.

For more information, visit laparliere.com, mv@laparliere.com or call (434) 962-3407.

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As the spring hits its peak, the Rancheros Visitadores will continue their annual tradition of parading through the streets of Solvang to old Mission Santa Inés on Saturday, May 3 at 2:30 p.m. Community members will gather to witness a blessing of the riders and a check presentation to the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara. More than 750 Rancheros from 37 states and six countries typically gather for this annual event.

Since 2012, in conjunction with their annual ride, the Rancheros Visitadores, in partnership with Wrangler, have raised funds for the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara. As the largest contributor to Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara funds a variety of research and supportive care programs at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, both in Santa Barbara and Solvang, to help residents on their journey with, through and beyond cancer.

Starting under the initiative and leadership of member Steve Beneto, Rancheros Visitadores have donated more than $1.73M to the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara over the last 12 years. This year the Rancheros Visitadores raised more than $200K, breaking previous annual fundraising records on their way to surpassing $2M by May of 2027. Steve Beneto believed deeply that Rancheros Vistadores should support the Santa Ynez community that has been so welcoming to the annual parade and ride. 

Corky Ullman, El Presidente of the Rancheros Visitadores, explains, “Many of our members know first-hand the challenges a cancer diagnosis brings. Our collaboration with the Cancer Foundation ensures our local members, their family, friends and neighbors have access to a host of services to support them during their diagnosis, treatment andrecovery. We are pleased to support this community that welcomes us back each year.”

“Our partnership with the Rancheros Visitadores provides important funding for programs such as oncology nutrition, genetic counseling, and oncology social work both in Solvang and Santa Barbara. The donations from the members of the Rancheros Visitadores are critical to helping patients navigate a period of uncertainty in their lives, often helping them to reduce stress, manage side effects and focus on healing,” shares Lori Willis, Executive Director of the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara.

The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara is tremendously appreciative for the continued support of the Rancheros Visitadores and looks forward to furthering our shared goal of making a significant difference in the lives of cancer patients in Santa Barbara County. 

About the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara 

The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara works to deliver superior cancer care to everyone in Santa Barbara County and provides significant philanthropic support to the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center. To learn more, visit the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara at cfsb.org. 

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The City of Buellton continues its year-long community art project, “Exploring the Ocean,” with April’s featured artwork now on display. Sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, this month’s selection includes vibrant pieces by local artists Lauren O., Alex H., and Olivia Uribe.

To view their original creations, visit: buellton.art/2025-april-ocean-art-feature.

This initiative is part of Buellton’s Art & Culture Program in partnership with the California Nature Art Museum, made possible through monthly sponsorships and strong community support.

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Kristine Kelly’s passion for art has been a lifelong pursuit, and in 2016, she began creating landscapes using fused glass, a technique she quickly fell in love with. Through classes with outstanding instructors, Kristine was able to explore various styles and methods, each instructor leaving a unique mark on her work. She thrives on experimenting with new techniques and adding her personal touch, creating vibrant, dynamic pieces that blend the precision of glasswork with the fluidity of landscape painting.

The public is invited to view the exhibition and meet the artist at her reception on Saturday, May 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. Thiswill be a great opportunity to learn more about Kristine’s creative process and explore the intricate beauty of her glass art.

The Cypress Gallery is located at 119 East Cypress Ave. in Lompoc, directly across from the Lompoc Museum. The Lompoc Valley Arts Association (LVAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley. The LVAA hosts a variety of arts programs and events that support local artists while benefiting the community.

For more information on the arts in the area, visit lompocart.org, and don’t forget to Like their Facebook page, “Cypress Gallery.”

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A native of Asheville, North Carolina, artist Mary Kay West has been on a journey of discovery since she was born. Accomplished as an artist, adept as a practicing yogi, learned as a psychologist, and elegant in style and carriage, West has a knowledge of self that emits an aura of beauty and peace from within and without.

She discovered her innate talent as an artist in 2003 when she was admitted to the Fine Arts League of Asheville with master artists Benjamin Long III and John Mac Kah. She completed studies in classical drawing and painting in 2007 and moved to the Santa Ynez Valley to paint full-time. West specializes in sharp-focus still life, birds, and, more recently, trompe l’oeil. Her work has been described as timeless, vibrant, and masterful, earning her the designation of Associate Living Master by the Art Renewal Center. She currently lives and works in Guadalupe and teaches painting classes in Los Alamos and Santa Barbara.

 “I sold my first painting at 12,” said West. “A neighbor commissioned me to do a portrait of her dog. My mother was a well-known artist in the area, so I used to accompany her to her art shows. She was a watercolorist, but she taught me the basics of color and drawing. My father built me an arts and crafts station in my home, and both my parents encouraged creativity.

“My father also encouraged critical thinking and to develop an inquiring mind. He didn’t teach me things, he taught me how to learn, and there’s a critical difference. I had an ideal childhood, but adolescence kicked in, and I left home at the tender age of 16. I was in love and pregnant, and in North Carolina at that time, that would have disgraced my parents.”

West decided to flee for freedom, and the free spirit in her would not be curtailed, even though the police were looking for the runaways.

“My boyfriend and I drove from North Carolina straight through to Santa Barbara in his little Austin Healey, with the police looking for us. We rented an apartment, got married, and my daughter was born. We remained there for about a year, telling no one where we were,” she said. “That is my one regret. At the time I didn’t realize the pain it would cause my parents. But I was a free spirit and needed to venture out on my own.”

Realizing it was time to go home after reconnecting with her parents, the couple returned to North Carolina where West attended college.

“I attended the University of North Carolina and the University of Tennessee and received a degree in clinical psychology,” she explained. “I worked for the state as a clinical psychologist for 14 years, all the while wanting nothing more than to be able to express myself creatively.” 

“On an existential level, I have always questioned the reason for being, what is the purpose of life, and I knew that being a psychologist wasn’t it,” she said emphatically. “As we mature, we hopefully realize the difference between living an authentic life or putting on an act. That’s what we are taught as kids — to do what we should do versus following our own inner drive.”

West decided to take up yoga because her job was not fulfilling,

“I started doing yoga as a clinical psychologist because I was so depressed,” she admitted. “What I discovered was that Western psychology was missing the boat. Western psychology focuses on dysfunctional behavior, while the higher yogic practice addresses the root of the problem, which is identification with the ego — our ego is the source of all our suffering. So, I quit psychology and started teaching yoga full-time and creating wearable art, which was sold at Macy’s. I then divorced my husband after a 14-year marriage. A year and a half later I remarried.

“A few years later I learned that master artist Benjamin Long III moved to Asheville from Italy. He started an atelierand I studied with him for four years. My second husband and I divorced after a 15-year marriage, and I subsequently moved back to Santa Barbara to be closer to my daughter, Lia. She had grown up in North Carolina but went to college at the University of California Santa Barbra. She has her doctorate in political science.” 

West continued to focus on her art, painting daily, teaching yoga, and eventually began teaching painting. 

“I continued to do my art, and by then I was displaying my work in Portico Gallery, and at Classic Art Gallery in Carmel,” she said. “I also continued to teach yoga, having done so for 40 years. I stopped teaching classes about eight years ago and have been focusing on my art ever since, although I still practice yoga on a personal basis. I have been teaching art for the past 18 years, once a week in Los Alamos, to carry on the classical realist tradition.”

West has recently been designated as a signature member of the California Art Club, a significant accomplishment.

“I am honored to represent the premier organization for artists in California,” she said. “Now my art can be seen at American Legacy Fine Arts in Pasadena.”

West’s art can also be viewed at Classic Art Gallery in Carmel, and Portico Gallery in Santa Barbara, as well as the permanent collection at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin.

Recently, her students from Central Coast Art League (CCAL), West’s atelier, held an exhibit at Café Joy at PARc PLACE in Solvang. The opening was extremely well attended and featured the art of some of her students: Nicole Burnett, Diane Connors, Michelle Feldman, Sally Jones, Pamela Macall, Karen Tuttle, and Rachelle Witt. West’s art was also on display. This impressive group of women meets once a week in Los Alamos under the guidance of West. The exhibit will remain at Café Joy until the end of June.

For more information, visit marykaywest.artspan.com or email mrykywest@yahoo.com

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Tom B. Burgher, the CEO of SLOPOKE Events, recently announced Derek Harrison as the featured artist and awards jurist for the 15th Anniversary SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibition and Sale, which will be held Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 at the Octagon Barn Event Center in San Luis Obispo.

“We are pleased to announce that Derek Harrison is our Featured Artist and Awards Jurist for SLOPOKE 2025,” said Burgher. “He joins an august group of professional artists serving as awards jurist and featured artists. He is a full-time realist painter residing and working in Santa Barbara, a juried member of the California Art Club, and he was featured by Southwest Magazine as one of the 21 artists under 31 collectors should watch.” 

After studying at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, Harrison continued learning at workshops, seminars, and mentoring with well-known Western artists Jeremy Lipking and Morgan Weistling, as well as popular figurative painter Sean Cheetham. 

“Derek’s work focuses on the human form in western landscape settings with a nod to 19th-century painting but with a 21st-century flare,” Burgher explained. “He has received significant recognition as a young artist in print, film, and social media. Typically creating 10 major works a year, he has shown in numerous art fairs and gallery exhibitions worldwide, has had his work featured in several magazines and books and has won awards for his portrait and figurative pieces. An adjunct professor at Westmont College, he also teaches at the Los Angeles Academy of Fine Arts, the Scottsdale Artists School, and his own workshops in southern California.”

Harrison is eager to be a part of the event.

“I’ve always heard wonderful things about SLOPOKE,” he said. “It is my honor to be the featured artist and awards jurist of this year’s SLOPOKE. I love San Luis Obispo and many of my recent pieces were done from that wonderful location.”

SLOPOKE 2025 is set for the weekend of Nov. 1-2 with the Opening Reception for ticket holders from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at the Octagon Barn Event Center in San Luis Obispo. It is the event’s first year in SLO after spending the previous eight years being held at Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Eventbrite.

The Octagon Barn Event Center is at 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo.

For more information, call 805-569-1235 or visit www.the-slopoke.com and Facebook/Instagram @slopokewesternartshow. 

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The Board of Directors and staff of the California Nature Art Museum (www.calnatureartmuseum.org) proudly announce their 25th anniversary celebration and fundraiser at Vincent Vineyards in Santa Ynez on Sunday, May 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Embracing nostalgia, guests will enjoy an array of scrapbooks, photo collages, and exhibition monographs from the early days of the museum’s founding, staff and board presentations, and a live auction to follow the delicious lunch on the patio which overlooks the vineyard. A springtime-inspired, locally sourced luncheon catered by High on the Hog promises delicious bites accompanied by the award-winning wines of Vincent Vineyard and floral birthday cake from Solvang Bakery. Key donors, board members, and founder and artist Patti Jacquemain will be honored at the luncheon.
Tickets are on sale now at www.calnatureartmuseum.org/news/25th-anniversary-celebration

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Local musician Davis Reinhart can still remember the inspiration that brought his and Sylvia Jiang’s musical collaborative its name.

“When our organization began to take shape, I remembered being in New York City when COVID hit in 2020,” Reinhart recalled. “I saw long lines of people at the foodbank there, and I likened the need for food for a community’s need to experience music and artistic expression.”

And from that, Reinhart came up with the name Muffin Music for the organization’s he started with New Zealand-born pianist and the group’s Artistic Director Sylvia Jiang in 2022.

Reinhart had a desire to play music as long as he can remember.

“I learned piano early on and was always heavily involved in that,” he said. “Then going into school I picked up the trumpet and started playing that too. Through Oak Valley (Elementary) and then Santa Ynez High, I was always a band person.”

Reinhart and Jiang met in 2018 while attending the Music Academy of the West’s Summer Festival and found they both saw a need to provide music education to artistically underserved communities. 

“Our vision really took shape thanks to grant from the then-new Arts and Culture Program and I used it for the first-ever Buellton in the Park Festival, held at River View Park,” he said.

The festival was an amazing success, bringing eight hours of free performances to the community of local musicians and dancers, as well as internationally acclaimed musicians, as people celebrated Buellton’s 30th anniversary as an incorporated city. 

“Since that event, we’ve continued an annual Residency Program which involves Muffin Music visiting local schools to run music workshops and discussions, as well as free community concerts,” Reinhart said. “Just this past year we started a new program that brings instructors and live performances to Hope Refuge, a rehabilitation clinic based in Goleta for young girls from Santa Barbara County in need. Finally, we have our annual M2 Program, offering top notchmusical training for young musicians of all musical backgrounds.” 

This year, the M2 Program is particularly exciting as Muffin Music will be collaborating with the Dunn School to run the program. The group will be offering both an M2 Camp for local youth ages 8-18 of all musical backgrounds (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) day camp, and the M2 Piano Intensive for pianists from all over the world (boarding program). Students participating will have a chance to work with each other and learn from working professional musicians and world-class teachers, one of which being Yong Hi Moon, one of the greatest piano pedagogues who currently teaches at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University. This program will take place from July 11-20 this summer.

“I was able to get together with Dunn for this thanks to Guy Walker, who’s a graduate of Dunn and on the board of directors,” Reinhart said of the man who is also on the Santa Barbara County School Board. “He and C.J. Jackson, who owns Alisal Ranch, suggested I use Dunn for the camp. It’s got boarding facilities, and students can use that or just come to the day camp.”

Reinhart said that registration for the camps will open on May 1, and scholarships are available to attend.

Meanwhile, Reinhart and Jiang will be holding two community concerts this month, both in Santa Barbara County. The first will be at Unity of Santa Maria (1165 Stubblefield Road, Santa Maria) on Friday, April 11, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and the second at Shepherd of the Valley Church (3550 Baseline Ave., Santa Ynez) on Saturday, April 12, also from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The free concerts are open to the public.

For more information on Muffin Music, and the camps, go to muffinmusic.org. 

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As the Fossemalle Dance Studio is “bourree-ing” (a ballet term consisting of tiny steps in any direction, and in their case, forward) towards the 40th anniversary of its dedication to teaching the Art of Dance, it is announcing a special week of summer camps starting Monday, June 23, through Friday, June 27.

There will be four different camps to choose from according to age and level of expertise, each being limited to 10 students to provide proper instruction as well as attention to detail.

It will also celebrate the return home for the summer of one of the studio’s 2022 graduates, Miss Camryn Kemp, who will be instructing, as she has done before, alongside Christine Fossemalle, the founder and director of the studio.

“First it was Miss Amanda; it is now Miss Camryn who is returning for the summer to help teach the students who will beattending our summer camps. It makes me feel very content to witness their desire to contribute their talents to our cause,” said Fossemalle.

There are two camps in the morning from 9 a.m. to noon, one being a Ballet, Tap and Jazz Camp for 7-year-olds and up, taught by Kemp.

The other and most popular one will be the Nutcracker Camp for youngsters 8 years and up with some ballet expertise, which will also be taught by Kemp.

The afternoon camps will be from 1 until 3 p.m., which is a newly created Disney Camp for 5- and 6-year-old boys and girls. This is an educational and fun camp with the famous classical Disney tunes and instruction suited for that age group.

Finally, the Sleeping Beauty camp, taught by Fossemalle requires ballet expertise and is for 12-year-olds and up.

“These are exciting, fun, and educational camps that provide your children with the opportunity to discover the art of dance or enhance their technical and artistic skills, taught with tender loving care and attention to detail. It will be a week of joy, challenges, and camaraderie to celebrate our 40th year of dedication to the Art of Dance,” said Fossemalle. “We encourage prompt registration though as the enrollment is very limited.”

Fossemalle Dance Studio is at 3595 Numancia St., Santa Ynez. For more information, call (805) 688-8494 or visit www.fossemalledancestudio.com

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