Community Calendar

The Santa Barbara Literary Festival brings together readers and writers of every genre for a two day celebration of storytelling and inspiration from some of the world's biggest authors (Walter Mosley, Steven Rowley, Paula McLain, Susan Orlean). Engaging panels, enlightening workshops, pop-up events, and welcoming social gatherings, bring together established authors, emerging writers, and passionate readers in a uniquely intimate setting that fosters community centered around a shared love of the literary arts.

Passage Through, New York–based artist Peter Krashes’ first solo exhibition on the West Coast, uses paintings of old and new construction, atmospheric details of public meetings, and ordinary yet meaningful aspects of community work to focus on daily experience in an ever-changing world.

For nearly two decades, Krashes was deeply engaged as a community activist, and this lived experience shapes the work throughout the exhibition. Passage Through turns our attention to interstitial spaces and events—what is found in between, at the edges of our awareness, in the overlooked, and in the margins of our vision.

Exhibits runs through June.
 

The nine diverse works of American art in this exhibition span from 1915 to 2020, representing a remarkable slice of American art history. This selection weaves together ideas of identity, childhood, and environment. Through diverse mediums, styles, and cultural contexts, these works offer insights into the personal, cultural, and artistic conversations that shape our world. This project is made possible through our remarkable partnership with Art Bridges, whose mission is to bring art out of storage and into communities across America.

Together, these works explore social issues that feel especially relevant today in the American political landscape—ideas of home, belonging, community, and time. Each artwork tells its own story, but together they create a larger history and experience. This exhibition does more than reflect the world: it helps us understand it and imagine the future we want to create.

Exhibition runs through May.

Out of Bounds! is an open juried international exhibition offered by the Pastel Society of the West Coast of works in pastel (and other mediums) going beyond the traditional use of the pastel medium. Breaking the 80% rule for traditional pastel exhibits, this competition is one that requires the entries to be approximately 30-50% pastel to be combined with one or more other mediums creating two-dimensional works of art. If you relish experimental art and love art that moves outside of the usual boundaries of traditional pastel competitions, this show is for you.

Exhibition runs from April 2nd to May 11th.

This collaborative exhibition celebrates the intersection of art and environmental stewardship, highlighting the efforts of the Oak Group, the UCSB Cheadle Center for Biodiversity & Ecological Restoration, and Coal Oil Point Reserve to conserve the Devereux Slough.

Art in Service of the Land invites viewers to explore how art documents, interprets, and amplifies the ongoing work of conservation, revealing the beauty and complexity of the North Campus Open Space (NCOS) and inspiring engagement with our local environment.

This exhibition was curated and cosponsored by the Oak Group and the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, in collaboration with UCSB Library staff.

Exhibition runs from March 16 to June 26.

Passage Through, New York–based artist Peter Krashes’ first solo exhibition on the West Coast, uses paintings of old and new construction, atmospheric details of public meetings, and ordinary yet meaningful aspects of community work to focus on daily experience in an ever-changing world.

For nearly two decades, Krashes was deeply engaged as a community activist, and this lived experience shapes the work throughout the exhibition. Passage Through turns our attention to interstitial spaces and events—what is found in between, at the edges of our awareness, in the overlooked, and in the margins of our vision.

Exhibits runs through June.
 

The nine diverse works of American art in this exhibition span from 1915 to 2020, representing a remarkable slice of American art history. This selection weaves together ideas of identity, childhood, and environment. Through diverse mediums, styles, and cultural contexts, these works offer insights into the personal, cultural, and artistic conversations that shape our world. This project is made possible through our remarkable partnership with Art Bridges, whose mission is to bring art out of storage and into communities across America.

Together, these works explore social issues that feel especially relevant today in the American political landscape—ideas of home, belonging, community, and time. Each artwork tells its own story, but together they create a larger history and experience. This exhibition does more than reflect the world: it helps us understand it and imagine the future we want to create.

Exhibition runs through May.

Out of Bounds! is an open juried international exhibition offered by the Pastel Society of the West Coast of works in pastel (and other mediums) going beyond the traditional use of the pastel medium. Breaking the 80% rule for traditional pastel exhibits, this competition is one that requires the entries to be approximately 30-50% pastel to be combined with one or more other mediums creating two-dimensional works of art. If you relish experimental art and love art that moves outside of the usual boundaries of traditional pastel competitions, this show is for you.

Exhibition runs from April 2nd to May 11th.

Let’s Party! Join us for our biggest bash of the year for Lulu Hyggelig’s Birthday Party. We will be celebrating one of CalNAM’s biggest and most popular exhibitions yet, Lulu Hyggelig - Troll #154 by world-renowned Danish Artist Thomas Dambo.

This event-to-remember will include: DJ, exclusive troll photo-ops, raffle prizes, birthday cake, free crafts: birthday card and party hat decorating, appetizers, charcuterie, wine and mocktails, and our first public introduction to the new Executive Director.

Questions? Contact exec.director@calnatureartmuseum.org

Our inspiring event reflects the power of community supporting community and benefits Central Coast animals and pet families in need.

Enjoy a vegetarian dinner by Whiskey ’N Rye, drinks on the oceanfront terrace, exciting live and silent auctions, and “happy tail” stories from families we serve—all in support of keeping pets safe, healthy and with the people who love them.

For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and donating to our live and silent auctions, visit care4paws.org/happytails/ for more details.