In her June 24th, 2021 article, author Joanne Calitri, captures the spirit of the collaboration between the artists who created art from vistas looking over a dozen trails and the organizations that came together to make a new exposition at the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature happen. The exhibit is titled Art from the Trail: Exploring the Natural Beauty of Santa Barbara County, which celebrates outdoor treasures here on the Central Coast. The exhibition is open now and runs through October 3rd.
Local member artists of the Oak Group, SLOPE (San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment), and SCAPE (Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment) were invited by Wildling to participate in this juried invitational exhibition showcasing the healthful and beautiful trail systems in Santa Barbara County. In partnership with Healthy People Healthy Trails and the Santa Barbara County Trails Council, a key goal of the exhibition is to raise awareness of the wealth of trails in Santa Barbara County and inspire visitors and community members to explore them while encouraging a healthier lifestyle. Trails highlighted in the show range across the county from Carpinteria Bluffs, Goleta’s Lake Los Carneros, and Ellwood Mesa to La Purisima Mission Trails.
“We are delighted with the new exhibit at the art museum because it celebrates the value and importance of trail access to nature,” says Mark Wilkinson, Executive Director at the Santa Barbara County Trails Council. “Collaborating with the Wildling Museum has resulted in an innovative way to encourage more people to get outdoors all across the county.“
The benefits of leading an active lifestyle with a heavy dose of nature are well known. The Healthy People Healthy Trails initiative makes it easier for people to benefit from spending more time walking in a natural environment. Matching the beauty of nature through artwork with a challenge to be active outdoors is one of the inventive ways Healthy People Healthy Trails and its partners are working to improve the community’s health and protect the environment.
“When people spend time outdoors, they are more likely to be active. Being in nature, whether it is on the beach, in the mountains, at a city park, or in your own backyard, has the added benefit of improving mood,” Margaret Weiss, Health Education Director at Sansum Clinic, said. “I appreciate that the beauty of the artwork in this exhibit motivates one to explore these natural places. From the Carpinteria Bluffs to the Santa Maria River, the art features places to enjoy nature, and many are close to home.“
Read the full article here:
https://sbtrails.org/docs/JoanneACalitri_WildingSBCTrailsExhibitJune2021_MontecitoJournal.jpg
On your next trip to Solvang, please take a few minutes and check out the art exhibit at the Wildling Museum. https://wildlingmuseum.org/news/art-from-the-trail
