Love Letter to Cito
Written by Olivia Joffrey
Photography by Meg Sandu
The I ❤︎ Montecito exhibit is the Montecito Country Mart’s love letter to the town it belongs to, as well as the greater Santa Barbara region that created and sustains it. Our town is aching with stories, and I was privileged to interview all sorts of people and be aided by prolific collectors like James O’Mahoney and historians like Hattie Beresford. Trish Davis, the history chair at the Montecito Association, is a local treasure and spent hours with me. More than 40 people contributed objects (a Yater Spoon, a Klentner Ranch polo saddle) and photos (a full-length polaroid of Julia Child). From textile designers to old silent film studio photos to surfboard shapers to architects to farmers and sign-carvers, Montecito is a place of natural beauty, sophistication, and cultural richness. We are one facet of the California dream, and this jewel-box exhibit hopes to encapsulate that spirit for a few months. Open Saturdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m. montecitocountrymart.com
