Santa Barbara Calendar of Events

Exhibition Opening: This fall the Museum will highlight its collection of contemporary art from Asia, Europe, and the Americas. This exhibition of paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and photographs from 1980 to the present explores the theme of identity as both a collective consciousness and individual reflection.

90 minute Docent-led walking tours of Casa del Herrero, House of the Blacksmith, historic house, garden and workshop in Montecito designed in 1925 by architect George Washington Smith for industrialist George Fox Steedman. Considered one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Listed on National Register of Historic Places. Antique furnishings bought in Spain in 1920's.Gardens designed during Golden Age of American Gardens. Tours Wed. & Sat.@ 10 AND 2.Advance reservations required.805-565-5653 ext.202; e-mail:casatour@silcom.com.

Step back in time – 135 million years ago – when dinosaurs roamed the Sahara Desert in Africa. GIANTS: African Dinosaurs showcases the African finds of world-renowned paleontologist Dr. Paul Sereno. Through this interactive dinosaur experience, visitors will learn about fossil discovery, be amazed by the art and beauty of ancient bones, and even search and dig for hidden fossils.

Marine predators and prey alike cloak themselves in camouflage to hide in plain sight. Visit CAMOUFLAGE and learn the secrets of background matching, disruptive coloration and mimicry. Sharpen your observation skills and see if you can find the clever critters that deceive to survive. They’re hiding right in front of you at the Ty Warner Sea Center. Exhibit entrance included with general admission. Free parking for 90 minutes with validation. Get the SB Nature Pass and visit both CAMOUFLAGE and GIANTS: African Dinosaurs at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History for one low price.

A committed mid-century California modernist and an active participant in the Case Study House movement, Edward A. Killingsworth pushed the boundaries of John Entenza's program to envision not just the single family house, but multi-dwelling units including apartment houses, as well as commercial and office buildings which made up the fabric of daily life during the 1950s and 1960s.In his resort and hotel designs, Killingsworth helped to "leisurize" the Case Study House movement adding important new recreational dimensions to modern living.

Mary Bowling’s rarely seen photographs from the 1950s-60s, are striking from their critical and candid assessment of the dramatic architectural transformation of Bunker Hill and downtown Los Angeles. They trace the changes in the decaying downtown community from its adobe roots to the high-density core it has become.

In the early ‘70s, Hébert became one of the world’s first artists to co-opt computer code as a significant art-making tool, writing all of his own software. Referring to computers as “excellent tools for the mind,” he expresses ideas in code and “proves them” by connecting his computer to devices—often of his own design—which he creates. These drawings are beyond the capability of the human hand and his investigations have resulted in an oeuvre that is simultaneously analytical, lyrical, and meditative. Hébert’s exhibition will be the highlight of CAF’s programming during Off-Axis 2008.

Every now and then a museum enjoys nothing more than showing off its collection and displaying the work of the most important artists. By any reckoning, Pablo Picasso was one of a small handful of the most important artists of the last 100 years. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art owns some spectacular drawings and prints by Picasso that represent his career, from beginning to end. With this exhibition of 25 exceptional drawings and prints, we're taking the opportunity to present this rich material in its complete form.

Join our team of enthusiastic educators, and share your passion for all things maritime. As a docent at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, you will have the unique opportunity to be both teacher and student. Our September/October docent training features a variety of esteemed guest speakers and will provide you with a broad understanding of both maritime history and our museum’s collections. Join us for the Thursday, September 4th orientation meeting to receive more information. Orientation Meeting Thursday, September 4: 2 pm Contact Volunteer Coordinator Lindsay Downing for more information & to RSVP. (805) 962– 8404 ext. 109 or ldowning@sbmm.org

Darren Lemming is a major league superstar: handsome, talented, rich, unapproachable … in other words, a god. But he's just announced to the world that he's gay. And the locker room will never be the same.In this comic drama by one of America's hottest contemporary playwrights and author of the Broadway hits Eastern Standard and Three Days of Rain, Richard Greenberg examines – with his usual intellectual prowess and verbal wit – the dynamics of homophobia, racial tension, and the cult of celebrity. (contains nudity)A shocking, funny, twisted love letter to that classic American sport: baseball. 

SBMA celebrates the gifts made possible by PhotoFutures - now celebrating their tenth year. Founded in 1998 by William Brian Little and Mrs. Kingman Douglass, the avid collectors have helped to build the permanent photography collection as well as support the photographic exhibitions. Showcased in this exhibition are important areas of focus within the photography collection – the intersection of art and science, California masters, Western Pacific Rim artists, and the 19th century American West, among others. PhotoFutures collectors have made many of these acquisitions possible. With the generous, informed, and enthusiastic support of our committed members, the permanent photography collection is now richer than ever…and the legacy continues.

Elegant weavings, painted silks, imaginative felting, knitting, embroidery, crocheting, quilting and much more! Visit the Bi-Annual Santa Barbara Fiber Arts Guild Show in the Faulkner Gallery of the Main Library (across the street from the Courthouse). Free. Open all the hours the Library is open

Edward Cella Art+Architecture announces a solo exhibition of a new series of works on paper by Ann Diener. Entitled, Cathedrals of Commerce, the suite of large format graphite and gouache drawings survey the shifting agricultural landscape of California.  Diener’s intricate yet dynamic drawings interweave the industrial and mechanical forms that characterize today’s modern greenhouses with representations of the natural forms of seeds, leaves, insects and animals that populate these “farms.”   

Santa Barbara favorite and Grammy Award winner, Santana returns to the Santa Barbara Bowl for one-night only on Monday, October 6 to close out the season. Carlos Santana has been reinventing and reshaping the landscape of the know universe’s musical culture for close the four decades. A visionary artist with no regards for genre boundaries, Carlos’ fluid sound long ago laid claim to the concept of “world music” before the term ever surfaced on pop culture radar. Last show of the season!

Professor Alfred Moir, SBMA’s Consulting Curator of European Drawings, will explore the private life of Pablo Picasso in conjunction with the exhibition Picasso on Paper.   

Come have dinner, dance and be inspired at Soho's on October 8th 8:00 -10:30 p.m. It’s a fundraiser for the Center's Music Department, featuring Eje Lynn-Jacobs (Director), George Friedenthal, Randy Tico, Chris Thomas, Maitland Ward and Special Guest Artists. There will also be a 50/50 raffle at each event! The donation is $10 for admission.

SBMM Book Club Mine’s Bigger By David A. Kaplan $: FREE to the Public Join us on the 2nd Wednesday of each month for the SBMM Book Club. Take part in engaging discussions about a wide variety of maritime-related reads. Below is a summary of month’s selection. As the dominant venture capitalist of Silicon Valley, Tom Perkins had seemingly done it all—from amassing a billion-dollar fortune to getting himself convicted of manslaughter in France. But his ultimate dream was to create the biggest, fastest, riskiest, highest-tech, most self-indulgent sailboat ever built. With keen storytelling and biting wit, bestselling author David A. Kaplan takes us inside the mind of an American genius and behind the scenes of an extraordinary venture: the birth of Perkins's $130 million marvel The Maltese Falcon. This modern clipper ship is as long as a football field and forty-two feet wide, with three rotating masts, each twenty stories high, and a bridge straight out of Star Trek. The riveting biography of a remarkable ship and the remarkable man who built it, Mine's Bigger is an unforgettable profile of ambition, hubris, audacity, and the imagination of a legendary entrepreneur.

Fifty years ago, pianist Ahmad Jamal shattered jazz conventions with But Not for Me, a recording that showcased his revolutionary piano playing. Its single, “Poinciana,” was a nationwide hit. Since then, Jamal has remained an unrepentant jazz radical and has influenced generations of musicians. He’s just released a new CD, It’s Magic, his first since 2005’s critically acclaimed After Fajr. “Tremendous energy, finesse and sheer originality [are] present in It’s Magic,” says All About Jazz. “His playing is as sensitive, as passionate and as hypnotic as it’s ever been.” Jazz at the Lobero opens its ninth season with the return of jazz legend Ahmad Jamal, performing with his Trio (James Cammack, bass; James Johnson, drums; and Manola Badrena and percussion).

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s annual horticultural lecture series, emphasizing design, propagation, and cultivation of California native plants. Proceeds support the Garden’s horticulture internship program.

An intimate evening with winemaker Megan McGrath, owner/grower Louis Lucas, and owner Royce Lewellen at the exclusive Petersen Village Inn. Recognized for Chef Mini Dalfuoco's seasonally inspired menu, expert wine pairings, and the beautiful village setting of the private Petersen Inn dining room, this annual event is a Harvest weekend tradition. Seating limited to 40. $135 per person. Reserve by phoning Jim Colvin at 1.800.321.8985.

October 11 & 12: 5-7:30 pm Adventure Sails aboard the Spirit of Dana Point $: $40 Adults (13+) ? $19 Juniors (4-12) The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and the crew of the Spirit of Dana Point invite the public to sail back in time, and around the Santa Barbara Channel aboard the beautiful revolutionary war era replica tall ship the Spirit of Dana Point. Hoist sail and cruise into a piece of Santa Barbara’s rich maritime history, while enjoying the beauty of the central coast. Space is limited. Advanced ticket purchase is recommended. For tickets and/or information, please call 805-962-8404 ext. 115.

During this month-long event, choose from the very best selection of California native and Mediterranean-climate plants on the central coast. A terrific selection of gardening books is also available in the Garden Shop. Members enjoy a 10% discount on all Nursery and Garden Shop purchases.

The Cat Fanciers’ Association Southwest Region will present one of the finest all breed cat show in Southern California, at the Earl Warren Show Grounds in Santa Barbara on Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12, 2008. Cats, cats and more cats! Visitors can see an array of kittens and cats from hairless Sphinx to flowing Persians, slinky Siamese to ripped Ocicats and brawny Maine Coons. The show will feature up to 225 of the world's finest pedigreed cats and a special household pet competition. The kittens and cats will be judged in eight judging rings, showing off their beauty and style and hoping for a top-ten win. Adoption cats and kittens will be there, looking for a loving home. The vendor area of the exhibition hall will feature a "flea market" of cat related things. There will be thousands of items for cat lovers, ranging from gift novelties such as cat decorated t-shirts, personalized food and water bowls and exquisite hand-crafted cat theme jewelry. There will also be face painting for the kids. Come out and join the fun!

Showcasing Santa Barbara's historic working harbor, harbor businesses and the Maritime Museum, the family festival offers boat rides, live entertainment, diver demonstrations, Maritime Museum tours, craft booth raffles and plenty of fresh seafood.  

Set to the music of Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake is the most popular of all classical ballets. Under the direction of Artistic Director Rodney Gustafson, Swan Lake opens the ballet season. The orchestra will be conducted by Frank Fettas.

Opera Santa Barbara presents a family-friendly version of Mozart's masterpiece The Magic Flute. This one-hour presentation features storyteller Michael Katz and is a condensed version of the opera specially designed for children and families. The production is FREE for children under 12, and $13 for adults. The performance includes costumes and sets, as well as an 8-piece orchestra complete this remarkable presentation. There will be two performances, at 2pm and 4pm, with a special VIP children's party at 3pm for all $28 VIP ticket holders.

Come face-to-face with sharks and discover fascinating facts about their biology, anatomy, and struggle for survival. Learn more about the species found in the Santa Barbara Channel and the impact humans have on sharks and their habitats.