French Revolution
Designer Hélène Aumont's pièces de résistance
Designer Hélène Aumont's pièces de résistance
Photography by Matt Wier
Tricks of the Trade
Metal Tubs
“Free-standing metal tubs hold hot water for a long time…and you can drink champagne in them! Can’t do that in the shower, non?”
A Trellis
“A steel trellis mixed with natural reed for the incredible light it gives.”
Fabrics
“Raoul Textiles is my absolute favorite fabric house with the most endearing prints.”
Flooring
“I’m loving white oak and black limestone flooring at this moment—and NS Ceramic for the infinite possibilities of custom tiles.”
Pools
“A pool set in grass with surrounding stone appears more as a reflecting basin.”
Hélène’s Black Book
Summerland Antique Collective, 2192 Ortega Hill Rd., Summerland, 805-565-3189, summerlandantiquecollective.com, for the hunt for an unexpected treasure.
Give me a dozen of each—I love it all at Porch, 2346 Lillie Ave., Summerland, 805-684-0300, porchsb.com.
The best floors, fireplaces, and fountains are to be found at Charme d’Antan, 2337 Troutdale Dr., Agoura Hills, 818-889-0229, charmedantan.net. It's worth the drive. Jacques is a gem—and he is French!
If you are well-behaved, Michael will show you his secret room at Rugs & More, 410 Olive St., Santa Barbara, 805-962-2166, rugsandmore.com.
Nancy does beautiful custom work for our fabric lampshades at Santa Barbara Lampshades, 4287 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-683-8877, sb-lampshades.com.
Miri Mara Ceramics. "I could own every single vase he ever made," says Aumont.
See the story in our digital edition
SBIFF Springs Back to Life, On and Off Screen
Everything you might have missed at the 37th annual film festival
Scott Feinberg, Paul Thomas Anderson, Kenneth Branagh and SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling speak onstage during the Outstanding Directors of the Year Award program at the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on March 03, 2022 in Santa Barbara, California.
Everything you might have missed at the 37th annual film festival
Written by Josef Woodard | Photography by Rebecca Sapp & Tibrina Hobson
Following a two-plus-year hiatus due to the pandemic’s chokehold on normal cultural life, reel life became a welcome reality as the Santa Barbara International Film Festival triumphantly returned to local streets and theaters. In this, its 37th annual enterprise, the Santa Barbarian cultural institution rose to the renewal occasion with flourish and the requisite elements of glitz and cinematic sophistication which have made SBIFF prosper.
As usual, the primary treasures in the 200-plus list of screenings came from beyond America, with special focus on cinema from Nordic countries, Spain, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Some of this year’s finer films came south from Canada, including Islands, Scarborough, All My Puny Sorrows, and The Righteous.
The all-important celebrity tribute list, synchronized with current Oscar nominations, brought out the starry likes of Penélope Cruz (Parallel Mothers), KristenStewart (Spencer), Will Smith and his King Richard co-star Aunjanue Ellis, Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog), and Being the Ricardo stars Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman. The award for best unscripted moment in the tributes goes to the comically gifted Smith, who responded to an audible disturbance in The Arlington by telling Ellis, “See, that’s why it’s important to have white audiences, because that would’ve gone differently where you and I grew up.”
Behind the lens, the Outstanding Directors Arlington tribute toasted all Oscar-nominated directors this year—with Steven Spielberg (West Side Story), Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), and Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car) appearing via video from their respective quarantine outposts. Master American director P.T. Anderson (Licorice Pizza) alluded to his Robert Altman-influenced creative process as an auteur: “Ideally, you have a story at the center, and the center will hold. It’s a balancing act involving both a knowingness and a freedom of flight.”
Roger Durling, now in his 20th year as executive director, was a recurring and anchoring presence on stage, a charismatic rallying cheerleader, and also a champion for solidarity and fundraising for victims of the war in Ukraine. A goal of raising $100,000, through the Santa Barbara-based Direct Relief, fell short $4,000, a tab picked up by Cumberbatch. Durling also put in his finest moderator work to date, in a bright and personable exchange on Cruz’s tribute night.
As the self-effacing and, on this night, elegantly dressed Cruz noted, “I am very grateful and feel lucky for all that I’ve been able to do, but I also torture myself a lot. My rhythm is different at this stage [of my career], but I still have the same excitement as when I was 4 years old.”
Well-known film critic Claudia Puig took the programming reins this year, with a new team, and filtered through a record number of entries (partly due to the closure of other film festivals this year) to create a substantial and diverse roster. Women filmmakers and issues asserted a prominent force, in films such as Quake, the Danish delight Miss Viborg, and even the nerve-tingling Hitchcockian Spanish thriller La Hija. Meanwhile, veteran director Campion, whose The Power of the Dog is a rare male-oriented saga in her filmography, explained that “with the #MeToo movement and more women working (in film), I felt free to go wherever I wanted to.”
Hybrid feature-documentaries accounted for some of the prized entries, including the fascinating 107 Women (Slovakian director Peter Kerekes’ film about pregnant women in a Ukrainian prison) and the gripping I Resemble You. Based on a true story, I Resemble You chronicles the back story of an Arab Frenchwoman falsely accused as a terrorist in the 2015 Bataclan bombing in Paris, winning director Dina Emer SBIFF’s Best Middle Eastern/Israeli award.
As testament to this festivaler’s obsessive hunger for the cinema experience again—in actual theaters with actual audiences—I managed to log 54 film screenings this year, along with tributes and panels. Sleep could wait.
On closing night at The Arlington, before the festivities ended with the sweet, songful documentary Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over, Durling issued a kind of proclamation: “Mission accomplished. The festival did what it had to do.”
A Movie Legend Passes
Ivan Reitman kicks back next to his Claes Oldenberg sculpture. Image by Larry Dale Gordon, from “The Talented Mr. Reitman”, Santa Barbara Magazine 2003
Our tribute to Ivan Reitman
Written by Josef Woodard
Ivan Reitman, who sadly passed away on February 12 at age 75, held a special position in the elite group of movie people who settled in Santa Barbara. Reitman, best known as director of a spate of timeless comedies—including Ghostbusters, Meatballs, Stripes, Dave, Twins, and Kindergarten Cop—managed the balancing act of being a working Hollywood legend in the 805, even calling his production company Montecito Picture Company (founded with partner Tom Pollock).
Reitman, with his lifelong partner/wife Geneviève, also “produced” director son Jason Reitman, who has carried the family name forward with such notable films as Up in the Air, Juno, and last year’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Also in the Reitman clan are multi-talent Catherine, whose resume includes being the creative force behind the CBC sitcom Workin’ Moms, and Caroline, an actress. Locally, Ivan Reitman was an active board member of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), and he and his wife contributed generously to the Cottage Hospital building campaign and the Unity Shoppe, among other causes.
Reitman, born in Czechoslovakia but raised in Canada, tapped into friendships and creative alliances with such Canadian comedians as Dan Aykroyd while forging a new giddy, hip comic sensibility. In an interview in 2000, before a SBIFF tribute, he commented on his role in helping pioneer the comedy style of an era. “Every generation has to find a voice for itself and a sort of comedy style,” he told me, citing Saturday Night Live in the ’70s and ’80s as the voice of the Baby Boomers. “But really, comedy remains the same. They all play with humor in much the same way. It comes from surprise, it comes from shock, it comes from irony. All the basic things that make us laugh are about the same. It’s just pulled through fresh voices with each generation.”
Referring to his status as a Hollywood icon, Reitman humbly shrugged, suggesting that “if you keep doing the same thing long enough, people sort of catch up to you.”
After Reitman’s passing, SBIFF executive director Roger Durling paid homage: “Ivan's legacy is the way he made generations laugh with his movies, and his filmography is filled with classic comedies. He also loved this town: he named his company after Montecito, where he resided. He was generous of many causes in Santa Barbara, including Cottage Hospital and SBIFF. We will be forever indebted to him.”
Pitching for the Island
Writer-director Gardner Grady Hall’s debut film, Winter Ball, premiers at SBIFF
Writer-director Gardner Grady Hall’s debut film, Winter Ball, premiers at SBIFF
Written by Josef Woodard | Portrait by John Russo
Baseball may be the centerpiece of writer-director Gardner Grady Hall’s debut film Winter Ball, a highlight of SBIFF’s “Santa Barbara Features” and sports film categories this year. But this is not your father's formula baseball movie outing.
The Santa Ynez Valley-based Hall takes “America's pastime” to the Dominican Republic, along with protagonist Gordie (Drew Roy), a rookie pitcher whose path to the Major Leagues is routed through a season in DR, the famously baseball-passionate island. He goes begrudgingly, a semi-Ugly American who speaks no Spanish, plays ball lazily and alienates locals, but undergoes an emotional warm-up, learning Spanish from a love interest (Stephany Liriano) and upping his game—as player and compassionate human in “baseball paradise.”
Winter Ball is a colorful and characterful portrayal of Dominican life—the place, people, communal spirit, music, dancing, and, yes, deep love of baseball. It's a different brand of sports film; an unpretentious character study and a feel-good film, in a good way.
Not to be confused with the other Grady Hall, who has worked extensively in television and music videos, the 805 Grady Hall—who moved here from Los Angeles 8 years ago—knows from whence he tale-spins, as a Chicago White Sox draft pick who once played “winter ball” in the DR. Hollywood work became his subsequent field of dreams, including developing TV’s Major League through Morgan Creek Productions.
“Every pitch, every play is a celebration”
For his debut, Hall says that “the motivation was sparked by the impact the culture and the people had on me. A lot of baseball fans knew the names of the players (including Sammy Sosa) but they knew little to nothing of where they were from. The people of the Dominican know how to celebrate, and somehow that gets into the DNA of the players and takes their love of the game to a higher level. Every pitch, every play is a celebration. It wasn't a goal to break with the formulas of the sports genre: sports was simply a lens through which to try and tell a different story.”
That story, and Hall’s official directorial filmography, hits the SBIFF big screen on March 6 and 7, which Hall says he “wasn't sure would happen given the past couple of years. That makes it even more special.”
Heading North + South
Cambria and Laguna Beach roadtrips
Heading North
For a quick change of coastal scenery, cozy Cambria is a convenient couple of hours away.
Written by Joan Tapper | Photographs by Jonny Valiant
STAY: White Water (shown), a 25-room lodge designed by Los Angeles–based Nina Freudenberger with a refreshing Californian/Scandinavian vibe, looks out to the boardwalk along Moonstone Beach. Rooms and suites offer fireplaces and sea views. From $329/night. WHITEWATERCAMBRIA.COM.
SHOP: Stock up on vintage wares in the antique shops and boutiques of Cambria’s walkable center. Sea + Green, for one, offers nature- and sea-inspired home goods and accessories. SEA-N-GREEN.COM.
PLAY: Hike the trails that crisscross the dramatic bluffs of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, with its views of sea life offshore and birds soaring overhead. FISCALINIRANCHPRESERVE.ORG.
DINE: Global cuisine is on the menu at Robin’s, where locals enjoy a garden setting that also features music throughout the year. The ocean’s delicacies abound at the Sea Chest, but be forewarned: There are no reservations and no credit cards accepted. ROBINSRESTAURANT.COM. SEACHESTOYSTERBAR.COM.
Heading South
Laguna Beach combines SoCal coves and beaches with a vibrant arts-colony heritage.
Written by Joan Tapper | Photographs: Lobby: Tim Street-Porter; Bedroom and exteriors: Jaime Kowal Photography.
STAY: The Spanish Colonial buildings of the maze-like 23-room Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa (shown) were renovated and redesigned by Martyn Lawrence Bullard to preserve their eclectic architecture and turn the property into a stylish, comfortable inn. From $329/night. CASALAGUNA.COM.
SHOP: Casually elegant clothes and accessories suited to the beachfront lifestyle are on offer at Simple Laguna. SIMPLELAGUNA.COM.
PLAY: Artists have clustered in Laguna Beach since the early 20th century. Today the First Thursdays Art Walk offers a way to sample what’s on display at the city’s 100-plus galleries and artist studios, and the Laguna Art Museum has a noted permanent collection. LAGUNAARTMUSEUM.ORG.
DINE: Nick’s Laguna Beach is a local institution, featuring seafood and a killer prime rib sandwich. La Sirena Grill serves up delicious organic Mexican fare and sustainable ideals. NICKSRESTAURANTS.COM. LASIRENAGRILL.COM.
See the story in our digital magazine
One to Watch: STUDIO
The Funk Zone is about to light up: Jeremy Wilson…
Written by Erik Torkells for Siteline
The Funk Zone is about to light up: Jeremy Wilson, a marketing and entertainment consultant who recently moved here from New York, had planned on opening an office next to the Brass Bear—but then decided to take it up a notch. The result is STUDIO, a bar, production space and sound room which he says will offer “experiments in liquid, light and sound.” Along with beer, wine, and cocktails, we can expect ever-changing light installations and “a wide-ranging music experience for those who want something outside of the typical club.” 28 Anacapa St., Unit C. @STUDIOSOUNDROOM.
See the story in our digital magazine
Beyond Denim
Beau Lawrence has been personally outfitting Santa Barbara creatives, chefs, athletes, and more in his sustainable Ace Rivington tailored denim since 2013.
Designer Beau Lawrence in his State Street store
Written by Charlotte Bryant
Beau Lawrence has been personally outfitting Santa Barbara creatives, chefs, athletes, and more in his sustainable Ace Rivington tailored denim since 2013. He launched his line that fall—with an offering of French terry sweatshirts—after years of experience at Guess and Union Bay, and as vice president of design and merchandising for Neff Headwear. Outspoken activism and rigorous fundraising efforts to support community organizations and initiatives have gone hand in hand with the growth of the brand since its inception.
In addition to the core collection of men’s and women’s jeans, designed in Santa Barbara and made from premium Candiani Italian denim, the State Street store offers ultrasoft tees ($10 of the sale of each of the popular Monster Tour Tees supports local bars and restaurants through a tip fund), loungewear, flannels, accessories, and—most recently—Diadora Heritage Collection shoes. To celebrate the launch of the footwear collection, the brands have teamed up to produce DIADORA + AR HOMEGROWN, a series of short films featuring local residents like artist Wallace Piatt, Santa Barbara International Film Festival executive director Roger Durling, and restaurateur Alejandro Medina, to highlight homegrown talent and the creative drive of Santa Barbara influencers beyond the digital world. 1106A State St. ACERIVINGTON.COM.
See the story in our digital magazine
State Street Spice
Recently recognized by the Michelin Guide, BIBI JI has been a downtown destination since 2018 for favorites like the murgh tikka and uni biryani.
Owner Alejandro Medina
Written by Charlotte Bryant | Photographs by Sara Prince
Recently recognized by the Michelin Guide, BIBI JI has been a downtown destination since 2018 for favorites like the murgh tikka and uni biryani. The latest additions to the menu, by executive chef Kiran Bheemarao, introduce more tandoor items—the malai kebab, panir tikka, and stuffed naan
called kulcha are must-trys—along with an array of classic southern Indian street foods. Among the latter are Mysore bonda, which are potato-and-pea fritters served with an okra raita, and papri chaat, a salad with house-made crackers, chickpeas, yogurt, chutney, herbs, and a medley of other textures and flavors. The extensive list of low-intervention wines is updated weekly.
Owner Alejandro Medina explains, “Low-intervention wine is not just about farming practices but also wines made without the use of additives or manipulation in the cellar. We strive to educate people to think about where and how their wine is made in the same way they consider food. The beautiful local organic produce and seafood of Santa Barbara deserve to be enjoyed with wines of purpose.” Tables in the pastel-pink dining room and on the lively patios—with a progressive playlist and the smell of signature spices (roasted in-house) in the air—are just as likely to host Gen Z TikTokkers and Los Angeles weekenders as mainstay Montecito residents and celebrities. 734 State St. BIBIJISB.COM.
See the story in our digital magazine
Marvelous Mustique
With its glistening beaches and exclusive party atmosphere, the private Caribbean island of Mustique…
The infinity pool leads to a Caribbean view at Hummingbird, one of Mustique’s luxe villas.
Where to stay and play
Written by Joan Tapper
With its glistening beaches and exclusive party atmosphere, the private Caribbean island of Mustique, part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has been beloved by royals and rock stars alike since it was developed in the 1960s. Of course, the rest of us are welcome, too.
There are 80 villas here, designed in styles that range from contemporary to colonial Caribbean and accommodating a couple or a crowd. They generally include private pools as well as attentive staff members like private chefs, housekeepers, and butlers.
The 13 acres of Cotton House take in a pristine beach, superior accomodations, and quaint cottages; Basil Charles presides at his eponymous bar.
For a hotel experience there’s the fabled Cotton House, originally a cotton warehouse and now a chic boutique hostelry set on 13 acres of lush gardens close to Endeavour Bay. The 17 elegantly appointed suites, villas, and cottages are furnished with tropical flair and an appreciation for privacy and comfort. With a swimming pool, spa, and gym, there’s ample space for relaxation, but the heart of the Cotton House is the Great Room Bar, a gathering place for cocktails and conversation decorated with exuberance by theatrical designer Oliver Messel, who left his mark on several of the island’s villas as well.
Eventually everyone finds their way to Basil’s Bar, the legendary watering spot on Britannia Bay. Opened in 1968 and relaunched in 2019 after a two-year renovation by Philippe Starck, it’s a frequent venue for memorable music. This winter it once again hosts the Mustique Blues Festival, from January 26 to February 9. The performances by big-name artists go beyond great entertainment: Proceeds from the festival go to the Basil Charles Educational Foundation. Information at MUSTIQUE-ISLAND.COM.
See the story in our digital magazine
Positive Vibes
Season after season, UCSB Arts & Lectures provides Santa Barbara with an astounding array of cultural events geared to all ages and tastes.
Ballet Hispánico
Season after season, UCSB Arts & Lectures provides Santa Barbara with an astounding array of cultural events geared to all ages and tastes. Programming for the 2021-2022 season, called Creating Hope, is dedicated to experiences that promote emotional well-being and envision positive change.
A few examples of inspiring events you won’t want to miss: Bluegrass wonder Béla Fleck plays the Arlington (Dec. 15); Amanda Nguyen, activist and CEO of Rise, explains grassroots activism
(Jan. 12); Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Andrea Elliott examines homelessness and poverty (Jan. 20); Ballet Hispánico celebrates Latinx cultures through dance (Jan. 21); comedian John Leguizamo tells funny stories (Feb. 2); Grammy winner Wynton Marsalis brings the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (Feb. 4); Kyle Abraham choreographs ballet and hip-hop to R&B legend D’Angelo’s music (Feb. 13); and Bad Feminist author Roxane Gay critiques modern culture (Feb. 25). 805-893-3535. ARTSANDLECTURES.UCSB.EDU
Written by L.D. Porter | Photography by Paula Lobo
See the story in our digital magazine
Dream Weaver
From sunrise to the tiny hours of the night, I am in my studio sewing. Mostly, I am alone, channeling all of these complicated emotions I have experienced into something beautiful and tangible.
Gray in his downtown studio.
Written by Gina Tolleson | Photography by Sara Prince
WHO Nathaniel Gray, designer and dressmaker.
WHAT “From sunrise to the tiny hours of the night, I am in my studio sewing. Mostly, I am alone, channeling all of these complicated emotions I have experienced into something beautiful and tangible. Sewing is a way for me to heal, a way for me to express myself, but most importantly, a way to show the world that fashion can be used as a compelling medium to express awareness and feelings. Even if the feelings are difficult to face, I want to present a story of life between every stitch.”
WEAR “In a world of fast, shabby fashion, my goal is to bring back timeless traditions of dressmaking. Each dress, no matter the complexities, is sewn with the utmost care and attention to detail, from the finest fabrics collected around the world. I design lavish dresses for every occasion, including weddings. Every design is one of a kind and sewn to precise measurements—truly unique, just like my clients.”
MASTER CLASS “I never see myself fitting into the standards of modern fashion. I design dresses out of pure love for craftsmanship, holding fast to strict standards of precision. I want everyone who wears my designs to feel powerful and sophisticated, as if they have stepped into my imagination, where everything is vibrant and decadent but also sharp and poisonous.”
LOOK FOR Looks each month to be displayed on @nathaniel_gray_couture and nathanielgraycouture.com. Gray will also be creating designs in collaborative partnerships with artists all over the world.
I am made of boundless emotions, relentless dreams, and a profound wonder for life. A beautiful madness of sorts. And within all of this, I am completely free to express myself as a designer and dressmaker.
S.B. DOS “I work seven days a week, so my time is spent sewing, but in the evenings and late at night, I find myself wandering around the city or casually strolling the beaches. It always feels mysterious and a bit dangerous, but once the fear passes, our beautiful city glows brilliantly and radiates an addictive force that fuels my creativity. Mostly, at night, you can catch me on the wet steps of Thousand Steps Beach, watching the tide roll in.”
EXPRESS YOURSELF “In my opinion, style should be a reflection of your inner self. I love bold colors exploding out from a piece that seems restrictive. In my work, we build dresses for everyone regardless of gender. Dresses are powerful and command the attention of others as they enter the room. Some of my favorite dresses were designed for men. I believe, no matter who you are or your beliefs, dress in a fashion that makes you feel powerful. Life is too damn short not to.”
A muslin takes shape.
See the story in our digital magazine
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes 2022
2022 will be a year filled with welcome and unwelcome surprises, phenomenal discoveries, galactic intensity, and clashes between extreme ideologies.
Written by Jennifer Freed | Photography by Gary Scott
2022 will be a year filled with welcome and unwelcome surprises, phenomenal discoveries, galactic intensity, and clashes between extreme ideologies. It will be an opportunity for each of us to radically change our perspective about what is enough and how to conserve what we have.
Squaring Off
The biggest planetary cycle of 2022 is what we call Saturn squared by Uranus. In the tension of a 90-degree angle, these two archetypes will reveal stress fractures in our political and financial systems. Saturn represents the need for stability, tradition, authority, and conservatism—and sometimes unbridled ambition. Uranus reflects our capacities for rebellion, innovation, and revolution. When these two archetypes face off, we can expect a true conflict between institutional authority and radical revolutionary behavior.
Saturn is currently in the sign of Aquarius, which is about authority within community and tradition within groups and organizations. Expressed skillfully, this placement is about taking responsibility for every single person in our community, regardless of status or identity. The unskillful side of Saturn in Aquarius is a sense of moral righteousness and a dictatorial certainty about who in our community should and should not be honored.
Uranus is in the sign of Taurus, which is about an upheaval in our sense of security and real challenges to rigid, stubborn unyielding tendencies. We are invited to let go of our own material greed in favor of supporting others in having the basics of what they need to survive. The downside of this energy can be destruction of property, materials, even social order—just to feel the juvenile thrill of anarchy.
Ideally, the energies of Saturn in Aquarius squared by Uranus in Taurus will promote divine possibilities: inspiring us to come together to invent new ideas of community and to creatively solve widespread economic and ecological problems. Most importantly, we need to focus on empowering the wisdom of elders to help us avoid reckless or impulsive choices and to make value-based changes with the past and the future in mind.
Jupiter Dancing With Neptune
Jupiter will be conjoined with Neptune in Pisces off and on throughout 2022. Jupiter is the archetype of abundance, higher learning and the search for meaning. It also points to spiritual learning, and the quest for compassion and true understanding. Neptune is the archetype of the collective dream; it represents our unlimited and undivided nature. Jupiter dancing with Neptune means a magnification of our capacity to dream a new world into being, together: a world where everyone belongs and has what they need.
Because both these planets will be in the sign of Pisces—a water sign ruled by Neptune—we should expect an outpouring of love and compassion and empathy previously unseen. This combination will also support an outpouring of collective music events and artistic inspirations.
This infusion of tidal energy in the water sign of Pisces will also mean some big news around water and water events.
In Summary
Get ready for a Class 5 river-raft ride! As any of you who have ridden the rapids know, an advanced ride like this one means you need all hands on deck. Everyone must be ready and willing to flow and move with the big waters rushing in. You’ll need to be able to scream and shout and release tension when you’re scared. The trick is to not aim your upset at anyone else and to realize that big feelings need to be acknowledged without adding more drama or trauma to others. You can also aim to feel the rapture and exhilaration that come from being part of a magnificent and thrilling ride of history filled with twists and turns.
We can feel much closer and unified once we move through these epic waves of social change and amplified feelings. If we lean into listening and learning instead of certitude, we can create innovative, wise, heartfelt solutions to many of our existing problems.
There will be a few periods of calmer waters throughout this year. That’s when we will need to hold everyone close in the lifeboat and reassure each other that we can do hard things. Deep appreciation for what each of us brings to this wild journey will provide great solace in 2022.
Jennifer Freed
“I love to write about the planetary cycles and evoke a sense of wonder about our place in this vast and animated cosmos,” says the author and chief content officer of AHA! (an organization providing social-emotional education for teens and educators), who alerts us to the challenges and opportunities of the coming year in “Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes 2022”. S.B. MUST-DOS The Mermaid Cottage on Padaro Beach. • An intimate dinner at Tre Lune. • Swimming at Butterfly Beach, because the sharks are at Santa Claus Beach. jenniferfreed.com @drjenniferfreedSee the story in our digital magazine
Full Moon Magic
Global flavors bring the world to Santa Barbara
Global flavors bring the world to Santa Barbara
Written by Charlotte Bryant | Photography by Sara Prince
Nestled behind Magic Hour in Ojai, IZAKAYA FULL MOON is a true hidden gem, with the loyal following to prove it. Housed in the space formerly occupied by Hip Vegan, the small-plate concept opened just over a year ago with a robust offering of bento boxes for takeout. After initial worry that guests might struggle to find the restaurant, owners Asaka and Yuya Ueno were overwhelmed by the positive response. Fast-forward to this winter, and five cozy patio tables are now available by reservation only; the seven-seat sushi bar—amid a a mixed collection of tokkuri (ceramic sake bottles) and ochoko (cups) and a wash of blue tile from Heath Ceramics—is for lucky walk-ins. Beautiful chopsticks handmade in Fukuoka, Japan, from a soot-colored susudake (smoked bamboo) by Asaka’s father are available for purchase.
After meeting in college, the Uenos dreamed for over a decade of opening an authentic izakaya.
After meeting in college, the Uenos dreamed for over a decade of opening an authentic izakaya (they also own a ramen outpost in Camarillo). They were immediately attracted by the energy of Ojai. The name Full Moon is a dedication to the city (the “Valley of the Moon”) and to the youngest of their three children, Yuzuki—whose name includes the Japanese word for “moon.” Both Yuya and Asaka bring elements of their respective hometown to the menu: the corn kaki-age (an addictive corn tempura) Yuya learned to make at home, and Asaka’s goma kampachi (amberjack sashimi marinated in soy sauce with sesame). Even the soy sauce is a regional version, from Asaka’s hometown on Kyushu, with slightly sweeter notes.
Don’t miss the creamy uni maze-soba or a decadent special-menu bite of nigiri topped with A5 Wagyu beef from Miyazaki and Santa Barbara uni. 928 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. FULLMOONOJAI.COM.
See the story in our digital magazine
True Colors
Local creatives who amaze and inspire us
Local creatives who amaze and inspire us
Written by L.D. Porter | Photography by Sam Frost
Row upon row of large prickly pear cactus paddles hang from a wood frame on the wall of textile artist PORFIRIO GUTIÉRREZ’s studio at the Bell Arts Factory in Ventura. From these paddles the artist will extract tiny insects—cochineals—to produce the beautiful carmine red dye that enhances his extraordinary weavings. The deep blue hues in his work come from indigo, a plant-based dye that also requires effort to reveal its beauty. In fact, every color he uses has a natural source and a laborious process behind it. It is also a sacred tradition. For Gutiérrez hails from a long line of indigenous Zapotec weavers and textile makers centered in the village of Teotitlán del Valle, near Oaxaca city in Mexico, and he is dedicated to preserving the knowledge of his ancestors.
“My work reinterprets the traditional textiles and redefines the techniques of natural dye and the designs as well.”
But he is also an artist, not a copyist, and his interpretation of traditional Zapotec iconography (often referencing intricate patterns adorning the ancient Mesoamerican site of Mitla) is a truly contemporary one. “I wanted to create a language that specifically expresses my understanding as a contemporary indigenous artist, and as a Zapotec Mexican American as well,” he says. “So my work reinterprets the traditional textiles and redefines the techniques of natural dye and the designs as well.” This includes the form of his signature woven into each of his pieces: It’s a stylized G that turns into a P, with a tail that calls to mind the Zapotec symbol for the cycle of life, a geometric spiral of steps, each representing a stage of life.
Gutiérrez travels widely giving lectures and demonstrations, and recently co-curated the exhibition “Wrapped in Color: Legacies of the Mexican Sarape,” currently on view at the Arizona State Museum at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He also holds dye workshops at his Ventura studio. PORFIRIOGUTIERREZ.COM.
See the story in our digital magazine
Holiday Must-Have
Montecito locals Alex Dessouky and Seth Epstein are making a play to bring relaxation back to midday with their new Ysidro grapefruit sake spritz
Montecito locals Alex Dessouky and Seth Epstein are making a play to bring relaxation back to midday with their new Ysidro grapefruit sake spritz, which is light and refreshing enough for a lunch break but sophisticated enough to slow down and savor. Drinkysidro.com. J.A.
Ysidro is available at Bettina and Merci at the Montecito Country Mart, as well as a subscription delivery online.
Cinema Paradiso
A new tome for cinephiles
A visual slice of All About My Mother, 1999, directed by Pedro Almodóvar
A new tome for cinephiles
Cinema in Flux by Roger Durling, $100, or $250 for an autographed copy.
Written by L.D. Porter
It takes courage and ingenuity—not to mention an ironic sense of humor—to pluck joy from a worldwide pandemic, but that’s exactly what the indefatigable Roger Durling, executive director of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), has achieved with his new book, Cinema in Flux: A Year of Connecting Through Film. What began as Durling’s daily email blast to SBIFF supporters recommending films to watch during the COVID lockdown, has morphed into a must-have coffee-table tome. Director Max Barbakow, whose film, Palm Springs, is profiled in the book, penned the introduction.
It’s a cinema master class in book form, containing a year’s worth of choices culled from every imaginable genre, including black-and-white classics, indies, horror, adventure, animation, documentary, rom-com, and more. Of these, 126 films receive thoughtful commentary combined with history, stylistic insights, and cogent revelations only a dedicated cinephile and film teacher like Durling could possibly arrive at. While acknowledging that some picks may not be an easy watch, Durling stresses the importance of confronting difficult themes, such as those in the late John Singleton’s groundbreaking 1991 film, Boyz n the Hood (which garnered Singleton an Academy Award nomination, the first such nomination for a Black director): “There are films that are ultimately so well-made and filled with so much truthfulness and artistry that despite the harshness of their subject, their experience becomes essential.” Bravo! Available at Sbiff.org.
Barn Raising
Lompoc’s latest lure is one for wine and design buffs alike
Backen & Gillam Architects and L.A.-based interior designer Amber Lewis collaborated on the restoration of The Barn at The Hilt
Lompoc’s latest lure is one for wine and design buffs alike
Written by Jessica Ritz
We’re in the wine business because we love to share our passion,” says Armand de Maigret, estate manager of Jonata and The Hilt. As of this past summer, THE BARN AT THE HILT ESTATE offers a distinctive experience in the Santa Rita Hills AVA. Howard J. Backen and Silvia Nobili of noted Backen & Gillam Architects helmed the restoration of the barn that dates from 1914. Also new is a sumptuously appointed tasting room by in-demand L.A. interior designer Amber Lewis and a 50,000-square-foot winemaking facility. The 3,600-acre site south of Lompoc is ideally located “for the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay we want to make—wines with elegance, with presence, with personality,” de Maigret notes. Now The Barn at The Hilt expresses those values in its physical environment, too. By appointment only. 2240 Santa Rosa Rd., Lompoc, 805-564-8581, THEHILTESTATE.COM.
Tailor Made
When Ryan Shand couldn’t find pieces that suited the sensibilities of a not-yet-30 female in a senior management position, she created her own.
Limited-edition pieces made with upcycled vintage fabrics
Written by Charlotte Bryant
When Ryan Shand couldn’t find pieces that suited the sensibilities of a not-yet-30 female in a senior management position, she created her own. “As a young professional, I am constantly looking at who inspired me,” explains Shand, 29, who had held positions at both Saatchi Art and Honey. SHAND’s eponymous women’s wear line—designed in a home studio and crafted in Los Angeles—features pleated vintage men’s trousers, altered to fit women, with silk paneling, antique military buttons sourced from around the world, and boxy blazers with oversize shoulders. The details are all indicative of how the designer herself wishes to be perceived—bold and brave with presence and power, like the women who have influenced her designs. The Hall, a mustard suit, is named for an ABC executive, and others in the collection honor celebrated designer Nina Freudenberger and Shand’s mother, Susan. Originally from Santa Barbara, Shand pursued her career in Chicago and Los Angeles before she realized that any professional limitations she had placed on life here were mental. The influence of the Central Coast’s natural surroundings is evidenced in her warm color palette, while her garments’ sophisticated tailoring harks back to Santa Barbara’s old Hollywood connections. Shand also casts an eye toward sustainability, with her use of dead stock, upcycled fabrics, and reworked vintage pieces from around the world. Available online and at The Shopkeepers. SHANDLA.COM.
Lindsey Nobel
Lindsey Nobel’s artwork invites your eyes to dance
Lindsey Nobel, Five People Just Got Out of the Pool (Gridded People series), 2020, acrylic and charcoal on canvas, 50 x 66 inches.
LINDSEY NOBEL’s artwork invites your eyes to dance. The expression of movement in her work is palpable; her Gridded People series packs a serious gestural punch, and her bronze sculptures exemplify suspended action. Nobel graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz with a BFA in painting and also attended Boston’s School of the Museum of Fine Arts and London’s Royal College of Art. She was one of five artists chosen this year for a residency at the Lucid Art Foundation in Inverness, California, and her work has been exhibited throughout the United States. Relocating her studio from Los Angeles to Carpinteria during the pandemic profoundly impacted Nobel’s work, especially her color palette, which now includes greens and browns, reflecting her more natural surroundings. “I feel much calmer and peaceful and more focused being in nature,” she says. LINDSEYNOBEL.COM. L.D.P.
Seed to Shelf
We’re not just a brand, we’re farmers first and foremost. I love that we are nurturing plants to their full potential.
Sara Rotman at her Buellton farm
“We’re not just a brand, we’re farmers first and foremost. I love that we are nurturing plants to their full potential.”
Full-spectrum CBD/THC capsules in three signature restore, relief, and relax formulas; most Wellfounded products are available at Farmacy Santa Barbara. For more information, follow @wellfoundedbotanicals, or visit WELLFOUNDED.COM.
WHO Sara Rotman, cannabis farmer and plant-based wellness CEO.
WHAT Wellfounded Botanicals launches its first full-spectrum tinctures, signature capsules, and a luxury fragrance.
WHERE At Rotman’s Buellton farm, the cannabis in Wellfounded products is sun grown, and her wellness/beauty line is developed with native California ingredients like safflower oil and antioxidant-rich pomegranate oil.
LOOK FOR A much-anticipated collection of high-end topicals for head-to-toe self-care including body balm, face oil, body splash, and body oil later this year.