Chris Chapman came into the world with the eye of an artist. She was born in Pasadena, lived at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains and attended school in Las Virgenes Canyon. As a youth she appreciated and absorbed the detail of the beauty of the natural world that surrounded her. 

Developing her innate artistic nature, she became a plein air landscape painter and a member of the Pastel Society of America and Santa Barbara’s Oak Group of dedicated land preservation painters.

“By character, I’m very observant. I see the little things. I remember walking home from the bus stop, and I’d be the only one looking up at the sky and urging my friends to, ‘Look at the sky!’ but nobody looked. I had a fanciful head, I think. I started writing poetry at 9, and at 14 I began painting. At 18 I attended college in Oregon,” she said.

She moved from Oregon to San Francisco, living there for a couple of years, but the city wasn’t her cup of tea. She returned to Oregon, where she worked as a bookkeeper for 10 years. 

However, she came back to California and the Central Coast to be with her parents and eventually found her own place in Santa Barbara.

“I started working for Mike Love as an office manager for the Beach Boys,” she continued. 

Although deep in the managerial aspects of her job during the day, she continued painting in her spare time, joining the Santa Barbara Art Association and doing oil paintings and watercolors. It was there she met her life partner.

“I met my husband, John Iwerks, at Gallery 113 and became a member of the Santa Barbara Art Association,” she continued. “John was managing Gallery 113 at the time. I had been working as a bookkeeper and became the manager/treasurer for the gallery and showed my art there.” 

In Iwerks, who was born and raised in Burbank, California, Chapman found another person whose life was surroundedby art.

“I grew up in an artistic family,” said Iwerks. “My dad, Don, worked for Disney as the head of the machine and camera shop and was the recipient of an Academy Award for Lifetime Technical Achievement in the film industry. He created many of the filming innovations that were used by Disney Studio. My aunt Carlene painted, my uncle David was a portrait photographer, my sister Leslie is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, my brother Larry is a gifted landscape painter, and my grandfather, Ub Iwerks, created Mickey Mouse with Walt Disney in 1928.”

Iwerks was also one of the founding members of the aforementioned Oak Group that Chapman was a part of.

In 1995, Chapman became interested in geology and took geology and art classes at Santa Barbara City College. She also taught a number of art classes at the SBCC adult education campus for 15 years. 

“My first class was called ‘Nature in Collage.’ I also taught watercolor, pastel, and botanical illustration. I originally thought I would become a writer because I liked to write, but I ended up being a painter of landscapes, with a little writing on the side,” she said.

While working at Gallery 113 and with the Oak Group, she and John Iwerks discovered they had a lot in common, dated, and eventually married.

“John and I were married in 1999. We camped out on the Carrizo Plain and painted on our honeymoon while on our way to the Kern River,” she said.

In 2000, the couple was asked to manage Arroyo Hondo Preserve before it opened.

“In October 2001, J.J. Hollister III negotiated the sale of the ranch to the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, and since then the Land Trust has worked with great commitment to protect and restore Arroyo Hondo Preserve’s natural and historic resources, biodiversity, and native wildlife,” Chapman wrote in her book titled, “Stories of Arroyo Hondo.”

“I did all of the organizational work of setting up visitation summaries. There were researchers, biologists, habitat restoration people, the public, and school kids — all of that had to be on a spreadsheet to itemize the visitations,” she recalled. 

However, Chapman felt she was kept from her true calling. “Here I was in a painter’s paradise and spending all my time in front of the computer,” she said. 

After about five years, she asked her boss if he could show her Dos Pueblos Ranch so she could go there and paint. 

“He gave me permission to meet with the owners, and I just fell in love with Dos Pueblos Ranch. There was a little red hunting cabin under sycamore trees and avocado orchards near a watershed with trout,” she said. “He let us move in there. We lived there for nine years. They sold the up-canyon portion to an avocado company that restored the canyon. That’s when we moved to the Santa Ynez Valley. By that time, I was painting a lot and selling with the Oak Group.” 

She was commissioned to illustrate botanical watercolors in a book called “Chumash Ethnobotany” by Jan Timbrook, and the Carrizo Plain asked for her botanical paintings for its visitor’s center.

“They were printed on wood about 4 feet tall, so I had a room with printed botanicals and a big pastel painting in the main room of rain flowing over the Carrizo,” she described. “The Wildling, now called the California Natural Art Museum, produced a film about that, which John and I were both in. We were also in another film about Ray Strong. I was also on the board of the Wildling Museum.” 

Her book, “Stories of Arroyo Hondo,” was published in 2016 and contained not only her art but short stories and vintage photographs about the history of the region. 

“I wanted to write the history of the area in a way that was engaging and that paired with our paintings to assist the docents of Arroyo Hondo Preserve,” said Chapman.

Previously she wrote a book featuring her artwork titled “Portraits of Gaviota,” which was published in 2005. 

Chapman and Iwerks are also a part of “The Tuesday Group,” a group of artists that meet every Tuesday. It was startedby two female artists who wanted to paint plein air, and it has since grown into a large group that meets weekly at a variety of art-inspiring locations.

When asked about her hobbies and her life in the Valley, it seems that her day-to-day life is her hobby, for the most part.

“Gardening and painting are my two favorite things to do,” said Chapman. “But a lot of my time is taken up withrunning our art business.”

“What I appreciate most about my life is that John and I are best friends and teammates and that we both appreciate the spiritual nature of our earth and beyond,” she concluded.

For more information, visit chapmaniwerks.com

The post A love story inspired by art, nature, preservation, and friendship appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

R & B funk band Tower of Power will make its return to the Chumash Casino Resort’s Samala Showroom at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. Tickets for the show are $39, $49, $59, $69, and $79. 

Formed in 1968, Tower of Power is a 10-member band that has been performing and releasing music for almost 60 years. Currently featuring founding members Emilio Castillo and Stephen “Doc” Kupka, the group is known for its horn section and distinctive blend of funk, soul, and R&B. With a total of 26 studio albums, the band has featured an array of instruments over the decades, including saxophone, drums, keyboard, trumpet, trombone, and bass guitar.

Tower of Power earned the SoulTracks Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and have had eight songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100, including hits like “You’re Still a Young Man,” “So Very Hard to Go,” and “Don’t Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream).” From its first album, “East Bay Grease” released in 1970, to its most recent holiday album, “It’s Christmas” released in September of 2024, the group continues to be celebrated for their iconic sound and enduring legacy.

With one of the most influential horn sections in the music industry, the band has collaborated with numerous musicians across various genres, adding their signature sound to tracks by artists like Santana, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks and more. 

Don’t miss an opportunity to experience this legendary band perform live in one of the most popular venues in Santa Barbara County.

Located on Highway 246 in Santa Ynez, the Chumash Casino Resort is an age 21-and-older venue. Tickets for all events are available at the THE CLUB at Chumash or online at chumashcasino.com

The post Tower Of Power to perform at Chumash Casino Resort on Feb. 14 appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Many patrons of the Solvang Library may have noticed the absence of a familiar and friendly face from behind the front desk and the stacks of books at the library. And indeed, you would be right. After 25 years of serving the community and its children, Carey McKinnon, the branch supervisor of the Solvang, Los Olivos, and Santa Ynez libraries, has decided to retire. Her last day was Dec. 14.

“It was time,” said McKinnon. “My husband Jeff McKinnon, who, for many years, was the drama teacher and the director of the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Theater Group, retired earlier this year, and we thought it was time to open the next chapter of our lives.”

It was either by luck or serendipity that McKinnon found her way to working at the Solvang Library all those years ago. 

“My husband and I had been living in Chicago with our two children when he decided he had an urgent desire to return to California,” she said. “I was hesitant at first because I loved my life in Chicago. I had a job working as a researcher for a law firm, which I enjoyed. We had two children, and there was so much to do there, with great theater and restaurants.”

But she agreed to the move, with one stipulation: that they return to the Santa Ynez Valley to live. Carey had grown up for the most part during the ’70s and ’80s in Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley, where her grandparents had a winery called Carey Cellars on Alamo Pintado Road, now the site of Lincourt Vineyards. Plus, she and Jeff had a history locally, having initially met each other while doing an internship at PCPA. They both went their separate ways to different universities, Carey going on to graduate school to receive her Master’s degree in theater and communications from Temple University in Philadelphia. But they remained in touch with each other over the years and were married in 1990. 

Settling in Solvang, Jeff had found a teaching job in Carpinteria, and while raising their two daughters, Carey thought a part-time job would be fun. 

A friend of Carey’s mentioned seeing an ad in the local paper that the library was looking for help. She said she applied but didn’t get the job. Instead, she was told about another position that was open, that of branch supervisor. She applied, and instead of the part-time position she had initially looked for, she found herself with a full-time job and a new career.

“I took the job immediately because it was a great opportunity, and I love a challenge — plus it was close to home. So, my dream of living a relaxed life in the Valley with a part-time job went out the door,” she said. “It was my first and only library job. And I have loved everything about working at the Solvang Library these past 25 years.” 

McKinnon knows at least one thing she plans to do with her expanded leisure time.

“Now I will have more time to read some of the books that are on the shelves of the library,” she said. “I have great admiration for writers and there are so many to explore.” 

Over the years, she said she was fortunate enough to partner with community groups and create some interesting programs, such as Story Time and family-focused events, lectures, an online children’s book club during COVID, Community Reads, and Read Aloud events, to name but a few. 

On Dec. 12, The Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley gave her a going-away party, where close to 100 community members, library patrons, volunteers, and friends got together to wish her well in her new endeavors. She was presented with a crystal award in recognition of her years of service to the community. 

As the Valley grows, McKinnon sees the need to enlarge the library.

“I would very much like to work behind the scenes with the Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley and the City of Solvang to build a larger library for the community,” said McKinnon. “Our library is quite small, and I would like to see it expanded to incorporate spaces for a community meeting room, room for after-school homework help, and English as a second language tutoring. But there are many other things I would like to do as well, like gardening and hiking, and my list is growing.”

It has always been important to McKinnon to recognize what community service means.

“When you have a public service job, it’s important to remember that you aren’t working for the institution; your real job is working for the people you serve,” said McKinnon. “It has always been very important for me to recognize that.

“I have loved working at the library, but mostly I will miss seeing the faces of the children, the parents, and those of the community and the many visitors who find their way to the library.”

Feature Image: The Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley gave retiring Librarian Carey McKinnon a going-away party on Dec. 12, with close to 100 people attending. Pictured from left are Friends of the Library Board Members David Goldstein, Barbara Breza, Leslie Kirkby, Carey McKinnon, Valerie Kissell, Kristan Morrison, and Judine Victor. 

The post ‘It was time’: Valley Librarian Carey McKinnon retires appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series proudly announces the third concert of its 2024-25 season, featuring up-and-coming mezzo-soprano, Tivoli Treloar, and distinguished pianist, Lucy Tucker Yates, at St. Mark’s in the Valley Church  at 2901 Nojoqui Avenue in Los Olivos. This concert will take place on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m.

“I am delighted to introduce the talented mezzo-soprano, Tivoli Treloar to the Santa Ynez Valley,” said Artistic Director Dr. Robert Cassidy. “When I first heard her when she was a fellow at the Music Academy of the West, I was immediately captivated by her artistry and stage presence. She will be collaborating with the celebrated director and pianist Lucy Tucker Yates, who is on the faculty at UCLA.”

Treloar writes, “As for the recital program, I plan to include works in Spanish, German, French, and English,by composers including Korngold, Obradors, Poulenc, and Kurt Weill. The theme will center around pieces composed between the two world wars and will be entitled ‘In Between.'” 

Treloar is pursuing her Master of Music in Vocal Arts at The Juilliard School, where she is a proud recipient of the Kovner Fellowship. This season with Juilliard Opera, Treloar sings Dorabella in “Cosi fan tutte” and covers Blanche de la Force in “Dialogues des Carmélites.” Last season, she sang the title role in “Erismena” and covered Sesto in “La Clemenza di Tito.” As a studio artist at Wolf Trap Opera, Treloar also covered “Dorabella” in “Così fan tutte” and sang “Madeleine” in “Silent Night.” 

In 2023, Treloar made her professional debut with Long Beach Opera, singing the role of The Lover in the acclaimed premiere of Kate Soper’s “The Romance of the Rose,” directed by James Darrah and conducted by Christopher Rountree. In the summers of 2022 and 2023, Treloar was a Lehrer Vocal Institute Fellow at Music Academy of the West. Treloar is from Southern California, where she graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor’s degree in music from UCLA. With Opera UCLA, she performed as Galatea in “Acis and Galatea,” Cherubino in “Le Nozze di Figaro,” and Athena in the premiere of Kay Rhie’s “Quake.”

This year, Lucy Tucker Yates directed two premieres: Carolina Uccelli’s “Anna di Resburgo” for Teatro Nuovo, and Alyssa Weinberg’s “ISOLA” for Long Beach Opera. Her third opera by a woman composer in 2024 was Pauline Viardot’s “Le dernier sorcier” with Sing for Hope at the Bard Music Festival. She has performed as maestro al cembalo for Rossini’s Maometto II, Teatro Nuovo, Lincoln Center; and O+E (Orfeo ed Euridice), Seattle Opera, in her own elegantly poetic English version. For LA’s The Industry she played keyboards on “Star Choir, Sweet Land,” and”The workshop of the Comet/Poppea.” She was onstage continuo fortepianist for Aureliano in Palmira at the Rossini Opera Festival. Having begun her career as an internationally acclaimed soprano, Yates sang roles including Violetta, Gilda, Rosina, Beatrice di Tenda, Nedda, and Fiordiligi, with directors such as Gian Carlo Menotti and Franco Zeffirelli. Her time in Italy led to her teaching and translating Italian poetry. She is director of language studies at Teatro Nuovo; lecturer in opera at UCLA; a pianist-mentor for the Prima Voce Emerging Artist recital series in Los Angeles; a writer for the Santa Fe Opera; and Italian Diction Coach for the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program of the Metropolitan Opera.

St. Mark’s in-the-Valley provides an intimate concert experience with seating for just over 100. St. Mark’s is pleased to offer the SYV Concert Series as a community arts enrichment program. All people are welcome to enjoy these concerts, and student tickets are free. Please secure tickets in advance online at smitv.ejoinme.org/SYVCSTickets

About St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church: Formed in 1926 and serving the Santa Ynez Valley at its present location in downtown Los Olivos since 1979, St. Mark’s practices a spacious Christianity and welcomes people of all faiths or none. St. Mark’s is a no-fee community center for non-profit groups and community meetings, an arts venue for musical and cultural events, a welcome center for residents and area visitors, and home to a vibrant, inclusive faith community. St. Mark’s top-flight, non-sectarian professional preschool serves Santa Ynez Valley families with quality early childhood education. The County-permitted SYV Community Kitchen at St. Mark’s serves as a regional food hub. St. Mark’s is also grateful to be home to the area’s Jewish community and a local Zen sangha (part of Santa Barbara Zen Center). Open doors, restrooms, free Wi-Fi, a shady courtyard, gardens, a labyrinth, and water for pets are available for visitors and area residents all day, every day. For more information, please visit St. Mark’s in the Valley Episcopal Church in Los Olivos (smitv.com).

The post Mezzo-soprano Tivoli Treloar teams with pianist Lucy Tucker Yates in next show of SYV Concert Series appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Students at Fossemalle Dance Studio had the opportunity of being taught a ballet class by the former ballet mistress for the New England Ballet, Miss Linda Giancaspro. The event took place early in October.

Straight from New York City, Giancaspro has been crisscrossing the United States with the desire to share her passion for the art of ballet through holding numerous dance conventions and classes.

“As teachers, we are always striving to enhance our advanced ballet students’ experience and expertise, so we were incredibly pleased and excited about Miss Linda Giancaspro’s visit,” said teacher and studio owner Christine Fossemalle. “Our ballerinas had the opportunity to take part in a master class, and it was an evening of joy, enthusiasm, and excitement. Our ballerinas lived up to the high expectations and rose to the challenges beautifully. The class was incredible, and each dancer had an experience of a lifetime.

“As their teacher, it was a treat for me to witness the work, the drive, and their accomplishments! Brilliant and uplifting for all involved! Each of them made me proud of their outstanding endeavors.”

Following the class, Giancaspro said, “Thank you, Mme. Fossemalle for hosting me and presenting the opportunity to work with your beautifully trained dancers! They have it all: focus, passion, and technique! Bravo ladies!”

“We wish to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Miss Linda for her exquisite and inspiring ballet class and for communicating her love and passion for the art of ballet,” Fossemalle said. “We will cherish the memories of this special moment for a long time to come. It encourages us to continue to strive for excellence in both technique and artistry. We are looking forward to welcoming her back.”

The post Fossemalle Dance Studio welcomes former ballet mistress Miss Linda Giancaspro appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The California Nature Art Museum in Solvang has announced its most ambitious project to date — commissioning Thomas Dambo, a world-renowned Danish artist who specializes in creating large, whimsical trolls made from recycled materials, to build his first permanent troll in California. 

Dambo who is celebrated for his imaginative and colossal sculptures, breathes new life into discarded resources, showcasing the boundless potential hidden within the world’s trash cans. The recycling artist chose to install his first permanent troll in Solvang, the Danish Capital of America, at the California Nature Art Museum. With the community’s help, this troll, whose name, back- story, and design will be kept a mystery until “she” (the only clue that has been revealed to date) will be constructed and installed in the latter half of January 2025.

Dambo has built well over 100 of these large trolls, each with its own unique story and name, in 16 countries, with 52 here in the United States, none of which are in California. This troll will be unique, as it will be the only one to behoused indoors. With the contract now finalized with the artist, the museum is launching an effort to complete the fundraising to build this troll which will quickly become a major visitor attraction in the Santa Ynez Valley and beyond. The museum has raised $120,000 to date and needs $180,000 to complete the campaign. It is also looking for in-kind donations to support the project, such as wooden pallets and used wine barrels. Given the large size of the troll, dozens of pallets and barrels will be required. Dambo always involves the local community during installation, so the museum will soon announce volunteer opportunities to be part of that effort.

“We are so excited and proud to be working with Thomas Dambo and to soon be hosting his first permanent troll in California as well as his only indoor troll. She will welcome visitors to Solvang and the Valley from our tower 24/7 and connect us to the unique Danish culture and heritage here in Solvang,” said Stacey Otte-Demangate, executive director for California Nature Art Museum.“ Most importantly she will be made out of recycled pallets and wine barrels, which speaks to our mission, and our love for the environment and desire to operate as a green business.”

Dambo has been commissioned to create a large, wooden, sustainably built troll to be installed in the museum’s highly visible tower, which faces Mission Drive, a well-traveled entry point to Solvang. The troll will welcome and attract both tourists and locals to the museum and the Santa Ynez Valley and provide special opportunities to engage the community. Dambo’s method of community involvement and his artistic ethics are a perfect match for the museum’s mission, which is “to inspire a love of nature through art.” His trolls reflect an ancient tradition in Scandinavian culture that remains relevant today.

“My mission is ‘Waste No More.’ Our world is drowning in trash while we are running out of natural resources,”Dambo said. “I spend my life showing the world that beautiful things can be made from trash, and I give new life to discarded materials by turning them into large-scale artworks. These projects come to life using hundreds of tons of recycled materials, working in and with local communities — who are the co-creators of the art that I make — because the mission I follow needs the involvement of everybody. My aim is to build 1,000 trolls using recycled materials all over the world.” 

Dambo crafts a unique story for each troll about the importance of exploring and protecting nature. Several months ago, Dambo was featured on “CBS Sunday Morning” and his work was recently profiled in the Washington Post and USA Today. Dambo has an active social media presence and shares stories of his unique trolls from all over the world.Dambo has a large following who enjoy traveling to find his trolls, most of which live outdoors in nature, as an enticement to get people outside. He even has a “troll map” to assist searchers in locating his pieces.

This very special installation would not be possible without the generosity of our early sponsors including the Schiele Family Foundation, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Visit the Santa Ynez Valley, Allan Hancock College, Margaret Weiss and Sterling Collett, and Belinda and Robert Hart. More information about the troll project can be found at calnatureartmuseum.org/news/thomas-dambo-at-calnam?rq=dambo%20troll which also includes a link for online donations. Donations of $500 and above will be listed on a sponsor board in the museum lobby, near the entrance to the Michele Kuelbs Tower, where the troll will soon live.

The California Nature Art Museum is open weekdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except Tuesday and Wednesday) and weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is supported by the generosity of its sponsors and members. For more information, please visit calnatureartmuseum.org.

To see Dambo’s completed works, go to thomasdambo.com/works.

Feature image: The sculpture “Bruun Idun,” which sits in Lincoln Park in Seattle, is one of 153 troll sculptures made out of recycled materials by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. A new one will soon by installed at the California Nature Art Museum in Solvang. Contributed Photo.

The post California Nature and Art Museum soon to get ‘trolled’ appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Local artist Michelle Juliet Feldman is holding an art exhibit at the Los Olivos General Store from now through Nov. 10. Her exhibit includes unique landscapes that capture the hills, oaks, and light that are a special part of the Santa Ynez Valley, as well as abstract seascapes inspired by the Santa Barbara coast. The exhibit includes original oils on panel and rice paper. Most notably, there are exclusive prints of the Landscape Series printed on a special, archival rice paper, produced in her studio and only available through local exhibits.

Feldman received a BA degree in design from UCLA and studied printmaking at Tulane University. After successfully establishing her first stationery store, Honey Paper, in Los Olivos, she rebranded and opened a store in Solvang, The Giving Ink, a name that reflects her vision of art as a powerful medium to connect to the community. After the COVID pandemic, as a single mom, she said it became overwhelming for her to raise her twin children and run a business the way she wanted.  

Since the closing of her Solvang store, Feldman has blossomed from her love of paper and design to painting and printmaking, along with her passion to use art as a way to connect people and heal herself. 

“When I was a child I loved to draw and create art, and it was never supported,” said Feldman. “I never felt like I was good enough. And I struggled under that shadow most of my life.”

“I had a nest egg from the sale of my store in Solvang and began to create maps for weddings, wineries, and other commercial establishments. But I realized I was creating for clients, not for myself,” she said. “I felt the urge to pick up a paintbrush, and it felt good. Because I had so little faith in myself, I began to paint in secret, literally, in the darkness. I recognized that what I was doing made me feel good about myself and that it was something I should do more of. So, I began painting landscapes that were inspired by our local surroundings. It became like a kind of meditation which allowed me to look inward and connect with my inner self and my environment — a healing of sorts.”

It wasn’t just a solitary venture for Feldman, though.

“At the same time, I was fortunate enough to be invited into a small group of people to take art classes, which are given by a very well-known and accomplished classically trained artist and oil painter. I began taking her classes where she taught classic realism still life,” she explained. “She is teaching me the tools and skills I need to execute the kind of art I am interested in painting. All of this happened at the same time and both my art and I have blossomed since then, with my show at the Los Olivos General Store. The exhibit opened at the beginning of the year and has resonated with locals as well as visitors to the degree that it has surpassed sales of any artist previously in that space.”

Feldman said she built a little studio in her home, which allows her to be with her children, who turned 14 years old this month, and flexible to their needs. But she really misses her shop, the connection to her customers and the social aspect of owning a store.

“My store was a part of my passion for art, for things that are meaningful and beautiful and creative,” she said. “I miss the social interaction. But the shop required me to do things for other people, thus it was called The Giving Ink. But my art, I do for myself. It became a journey inward to connect me to my authentic self. I’m now living my life using all of my senses to create and live a full life. I wake up every day and think ‘This day is awesome,’ which is something I never did before.” 

Feldman has been hard at work on several series of paintings, which are showcased on her website. These include Seascape Series, a reflective journey that seeks calm and clarity; Landscape Series, a celebration of nature’s beauty presented through oil on panel and rice paper; a Classic Realism Still Life Series, an exploration of how we perceive and translate the world onto a two-dimensional surface; Etching Series, dry point engravings of inspirational quotes and images, hand-painted to infuse personal touch and heart into each piece all of which is available online.

“I am so grateful to live in this beautiful Valley where I am continually inspired by the landscapes and to the Los Olivos General Store for their support in featuring my work,” she said.
 
Looking to the future, Feldman says she envisions hosting local exhibits, expanding online sales, and facilitating intimate workshops in her home to strengthen community ties.

The Los Olivos General Store is at 2900 Grand Ave., Los Olivos.

For more information, email hello@thegivingink.com, on Instagram @thegivingink_mjuliet, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

Feature image: “Letters” is a print by Michelle Juliet Feldman.

The post Local artist finds her authentic self through her art appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The 14th annual SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibition and Sale was held Sept. 27-29 at Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang. This was the eighth year the event was held at Monty and Pat Roberts’ thoroughbred horse ranch. 

Tom and Debbie Loucks who now operate the California Horse Center on Flag Is Up Farms welcomed the 30 painters, sculptors, and a photographer who exhibited more than 300 works of art in their beautifully renovated event barn.

“It is a perfect venue for this first-class art show, a reception, or convention,” said Tom Burgher, president of Entreprise LLC, which produces the Annual SLOPOKE exhibit.

The SLOPOKE opened Friday evening, Sept. 27, to the foot-tapping original music of Chris Murphy and the Silver Mountain String Band from Los Angeles.

The 2024 SLOPOKE featured artist and awards judge who juried the award-winning art was nationally renowned wildlife artist Ezra Tucker, who started his fine art career in Solvang, where he and his wife Nancy raised their three children until 1999 when they relocated to Monument, Colorado.

Photos by Devyn Marseilles

The artists selected for awards include Lisa Skelly, who won Best of Show for her painting “Rock Steady”; Ariel Anton, who won Best Painting for her oil on canvas titled “Saving Some for Later”; and Pat Roberts, who received Best Sculpture for her narrative bronze “Javalina Havoc.” Each received the coveted silver SLOPOKE western belt buckle.

Three other artists received sponsored awards: Rick Hill received the Best Wildlife/Animal Art award, sponsored by Art of the West magazine for his colored pencil painting “Team Work”; Lee Rue received Best Figurative Art award, sponsored by Western Art Collector magazine for “A Place Called Home”; and Barbara Freund was the first recipient of a new award category of Best Depiction of the 21st Century West, sponsored by Southwest Art Magazine for her painting “21st Century Chuckwagon.” 

The People’s Choice Award sponsored by Western Art and Architecture magazine was awarded to Kelly Lewis at the close of the SLOPOKE on Sunday.

“The voting included patrons and artists and was surprisingly tight across all 30 artists,” said Burgher. “People were impressed with the quality and attractiveness of the art in this year’s SLOPOKE. Each of these artists receives a full-page advertisement in a future issue of these fine art journals.” 

Finally, in a gesture of gratitude for Tucker’s service as awards judge, Burgher presented him with a specially minted SLOPOKE belt buckle of a different design from those awarded to the artists.

Next year the 15th Anniversary SLOPOKE is scheduled for Sept. 26-28, 2025.

“Mark the date on your calendar now so you don’t miss this spectacular event next year,” said Burgher. “We already have 11 artists seeking acceptance for SLOPOKE 2025, so artists who want to exhibit should request an application now at slopokeartshow.com.”

Feature image: SLOPOKE 2024 artists and their assistants pose outside the California Horse Center event barn at Solvang’s Flag Is Up Farms on opening night.

The post SLOPOKE 2024 wraps up at Flag Is Up Farms appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Ashley Jenkins continues to beat the drum for the work-in-progress Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum at the former Willemsen property on 202 Dairyland Road in Buellton.

The founder and board president hosted the latest fundraising event on Sept. 14, a Carnival event with several games for all ages, free tacos, and a silent auction for various prizes, as well as a separate option for a lot of homemade desserts.

During her speech, Jenkins brought up a shining example of what keeps her going in her effort to bring the museum to fruition.

“There is one kid here tonight, over at that table,” Jenkins said, pointing toward young Paul Ortiz, who stood out with his Santa Ynez youth football jersey and a matching orange cast healing a forearm injury. “He wroter me a letter recently, and it was the cutest thing in the world and he did it all with a broken arm.”

Jenkins then displayed the letter: “It says ‘Hey, thanks for what you’re doing. Thanks for making a cool place for me to play, and thanks for giving me a safe place, a fun place.”

She then invited Paul over to join her and display the letter amid audience applause.

“It is because the kids appreciate it,” she said, answering her own question of “Why keep doing it”?

The Carnival event drew quite a crowd, offering plenty of fun exhibits, and a few improvements over last June’s event, thanks to some donated funds.

“We were able to raise money to put a shade over our Dirt Zone, which is one of our most popular exhibits,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins also noted that Rachel Van Pelt raised funds for an “ant hill,” an artificial mound with a grass covering.

“We want to make a bigger one with a tunnel through it so kids can crawl through,” said Jenkins, who praised Van Pelt for the funding, and Coastal Landscape for providing the hill.

Other improvements noted by Jenkins included a gazebo given to the museum by the Solvang Senior Center, and a new sandbox that marks a permanent home for the “Dino Dug” exhibit thanks to 805 Concrete.

“I love that we can show everyone where the money’s going into,” Jenkins said.

Later on, more money was raised thanks to the event’s Dessert Auction, where attendees bid on various goodies like cakes, pies, cookies, and more.

And near the end of the event, they had “Chicken Crap Bingo.”

Volunteer Amy Yeung brought her chicken, Miss Gandolph, to participate in a game where people bought squares on a grid; then, Miss Gandolph was put into a pen with the numbers on a bigger sheet on the ground, and whatever number Miss Gandolph “did her business” on would be the winner.

It was a good idea in theory, but unfortunately Miss Gandolph didn’t seem to want to relieve herself. It’s still unclear whether Miss Gandolph ever determined a winner.

The Children’s Museum was an idea welcomed by many parents at the event.

Mike and Brooke Volpe, attended the fundraiser with their children, Zackary, 10, and Katelynne, 8. The family recently moved from Dublin, California, to Solvang, where Brooke was in the process of opening a fitness business.

“One of the moms in the Fit for Moms business I’m starting is a volunteer here and suggested I come to this,” she said. “It’s a great place for everyone, and it’s good for all ages.”

Mike Volpe was equally impressed.

“I like how they’re blending science and art and bringing both together in the same museum,” he said. “And since I’m a history geek, I hope there’s some history mixed in too. But anything that get kids into learning is great.”

Jenkins hopes that attitude spreads across the Santa Ynez Valley

“We’re building more than a playground, though,” she said while addressing the crowd. “We’re building a resource for the whole community.”

Jenkins mentioned three ways to for people to help: Spread the word, take your story back into your communities and tell them about it; Volunteer with the museum, whether you can spare a couple hours a year, or a couple hours a month; and third, giving monthly, giving today, giving into the future.

You can donate on the museum website syvchildrenmuseum.com using the Donation button or visit their Amazon Wishlist to see some of their current needs. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram @SYVchildrensmuseum.

Feature image: Santa Ynez Children’s Museum found and Board President Ashley Jenkins displays a letter she received from Paul Ortiz (left, in SY Pirates jersey) thanking her for her efforts, at the Children’s Museum Carnival fundraiser on Sept. 14.

The post Carnival serves as fundraiser, sneak peek for Children’s Museum appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Author, artist, teacher, muralist, and carver, Bobbi Dooley Hunter has been writing children’s books for 40 years. She is the author of six books to date, with two additional books ready for publication. She both writes and illustrates her books.

Hunter was born in Portland, Oregon, and grew up with two older brothers. When she was 8 years old, her parents relocated the family in two cars and U-Haul trailers from Oregon through California deserts to Scottsdale, Arizona, leaving snow behind and finding the hot sun.

She was born with the heart of an artist, and her parents knew and supported it. She attended the University of Arizona and pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

“While in college, the director of the school told me that I would never make a living as an artist, and advised me to become a stenographer instead,” she said. “When I told my father what he had said, my father was furious and had a stern talk with the director, telling him in no uncertain terms, ‘My daughter needs to pursue what she loves most, and that’s art.’ I will always be grateful to my parents for fostering my creative gifts and for their support.”

Fate, she said, brought her to California with a passion to find work in the art field.

“I immediately found work in advertising agencies,” she said, “but after four years the pressure and the stress got to me, so I took a job as a bus driver, a job I thought would be much calmer. I became involved with Arts Outreach, and Connie Rohde asked me to teach mural design in her classroom.”

Hunter went on to teach art at Santa Ynez Elementary, Los Olivos Elementary, and Solvang Elementary schools for children in grades 1 through 8. She also became a sign painter/carver, a mascot artist for most of the local schools in the Valley, and a muralist, teaching students how to create huge, long murals on interior school walls. She’s painted water towers, oil derricks, equipment at Dunn School, and T-shirts for the Sedgewick Reserve’s Outdoor Classroom sessions, to name a few of her numerous projects.

“I love to paint, to create, and to teach art,” she said. “Kids keep me young. While on scaffolding, painting interior and exterior walls, I thought up stories to illustrate for children. My goal was to educate with fun stories and bright-colored art. The art part is easier for me than the writing part.”

Hunter says she finds inspiration in varied places. Her first book, titled “The Legend of the African Baobab Tree,” was inspired by a trip she and her husband took to Botswana, Africa.

“My husband, Ken, and I saved for a two-year trip, from 1975 to 1977, following the equator overland, visiting other continents on a $6-a-day budget, carrying only our backpacks. I told my husband that if I was any older, the trip would have killed me,” she said. “In Botswana, we sat in a baobab tree. The people told us legends about living around the lonely trees on the wide desert plains. I knew it would be a good story, and soon my book, ‘The Legend of the African Baobab Tree,’ was born.” 

“Baobab trees are most unusual,” she explained. “They grow separately, not in forests. They are located on the African plains; they are not very tall, but they are very, very broad. I was told that some of the trees are so big around that even 50 men holding hands could not surround the trunk. We climbed into one of them, which was three stories tall with ladders reaching up to access each level. After I saw the tree, I sat down and drew it, made notes, and when I got home, I drew the pictures and made it into story form.”

Hunter then went to the effort of getting it out into the public.

Bobbi Hunter says she loves to paint, to create and to teach. Hunter is not afraid of heights as she paints the Spartan mascot on the side of the Los Olivos Elementary School.  Hunter has painted the mascots for most of the schools in the Valley. Pictured is the Spartan mascot. Photos courtesy of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School

“After it was finished, I went to the Solvang Library and looked for children’s book publishers who would be interested in publishing my book,” she continued. “I found one who paid me $5,000. It was sold all over the world. ‘The Legend of the African Baobab Tree’ book is in the Smithsonian Institute. But I didn’t receive 1 cent from those sales. So, eventually, I sent a reversion letter to the publisher asking him to relinquish ownership of my book. He refused at first, but eventually, he succumbed. He said he had 1,000 copies in his possession and would burn them, but I asked for them back. I retrieved them and got in touch with the Teddy Bear Foundation in Johannesburg, South Africa, asking if they would be interested in them. The woman I spoke to said she would, so I sent them to the Foundation, and they were distributed to underprivileged children.”

Hunter’s next book is titled “Scarecrows in the Garden.”

“I love scarecrows, so I thought I’d do a book called ‘Scarecrows in the Garden, the Alphabet Book A-Z,’ with directions on how to build a scarecrow and the different crops that scarecrows protect,” she said. “It’s an A-to-Z book about fruits and veggies, so children can see how plants grow before they are picked and eaten. Look out for the little gophers on each page. I really want to educate children with some cute pictures and a good story.”

Hunter continued to describe how some of her other books came about. One, “Dinosaurs, Dreams, and Ice Cream,” is inspired by a story by Barbra Goodyear Minar. 

“I dedicated it to Barbra and her grandson, Christopher, who loved dinosaurs, and to my grandchildren and their wondrous imaginations,” she said. “Christopher loves dinosaurs, but they are big and scary. One night, the dinosaurs invited him into their world. Suddenly, he finds himself in a forest, solving a mysterious problem for them. Christopher bravely marches forward, looking for the dinosaurs’ stolen ice cream.”

“’Savannah’s Family Farm’ was inspired by the fact that family farms are hard to find anymore. Big Ag has taken over,” she explained. “The story is about a mom and dad, their two children, and their dog, who grow all kinds of warm and cool weather crops on their farm. The book teaches kids about where their food comes from and about farming techniques.”

Hunter’s work is admired by her audience.

“Bobbi is a fabulous, creative, local artist and writer who uses vibrant colors and great visual expressions in all her books,” said Maggie Le Pley, a friend of Hunter’s.

“I am excited to get my stories and art into the hands of children around the world,” said Hunter. “And one more lesson for those budding artists — you can make a living doing what you love, and don’t let anyone tell you differently.”

All of Hunter’s books are available locally at The Book Loft in Solvang, on Amazon.com, and at Bookshop.org. A portion of the book sales are donated to your local bookstores through Bookshop.org only.

For more information, email bdhunter525@gmail.com. 

NOTE: This is an abridged version of the story. The complete story can be found at santaynezvalleystar.com.

The post Children’s book author, artist, captivates with color and creativity appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.