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High Notes

The Santa Barbara Symphony Celebrates 70 Years

The Santa Barbara Symphony Celebrates 70 Years

Written by Joan Tapper

With a spectacular performance of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” in October, the Santa Barbara Symphony kicked off its 70th season and a celebration of its history, which began with an appearance at the Lobero Theatre on December 12, 1953, as a community orchestra. By the time the symphony moved to the Arlington Theatre in 1976 it had gone on to acclaim for its professionalism and artistry, and over the last seven decades it has hosted international soloists, debuted works by noted contemporary composers, and collaborated with local institutions like the State Street Ballet, the Choral Society, and the Ensemble Theatre.

“It has been an honor to help define and shape the Santa Barbara Symphony,” says music director Nir Kabaretti, who has led the group since 2006. “We have worked with passion and enthusiasm to reflect and draw upon the treasures of our community.” With seven concerts still to come this season, there’s a lot more music in the air. thesymphony.org.

 

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Kitchen Confidence

A charming new children’s cookbook is promoting positive thinking one recipe at a time

A charming new children’s cookbook is promoting positive thinking one recipe at a time

Written by Joan Tapper

Bringing mindfulness to the kitchen, Santa Barbara’s Nati Smith has written Mish and the Recipe for Adventure (Wise Ink Creative Publishing, Kindle edition, $4; hardcover, $23), with illustrations by Guillermo Alonso, about a kid who enters a cooking competition against other talented chefs. As she advances to the finals, she wows the judges with a comforting childhood favorite, thanks to calming spiritual practices that help her through and a secret ingredient—love. The message is that big dreams are possible if you believe in yourself.

            Born in Jerusalem, Smith is an advocate for introducing children to international culture and has included fun recipes from around the world in this colorful, entertaining book. She says, “Mish is a journey of friendship, food, culture, believing in yourself, and overcoming obstacles with affirmation and love. My hope in writing this book was to connect with my readers and open their palate and mind to different cultures, dishes, and travels and encourage curiosity and friendship.” Available on Amazon.

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Continental Collab

Argentine designer Rocio Gonzalez’s eponymous brand Rocio G is known for its bohemian artisan leatherwork and its ’70s California-inspired vibes.

Gonzalez and her Rocio G partner, Lolo Tanoira, fit a model with designer Johanna Ortiz.

Written by Gina Tolleson

Argentine designer Rocio Gonzalez splits her time between Buenos Aires and her hillside home in Carpinteria.

Argentine designer Rocio Gonzalez’s eponymous brand Rocio G is known for its bohemian artisan leatherwork and its ’70s California-inspired vibes. Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz’s tropical resort wear is effortlessly seasonless and stands out as easily on the streets of Paris as on Coast Village Road. In honoring their rich Latin American cultural heritage, the two friends came together for a Moda Operandi collection that reflects the designers’ love for the sea. (Think jewel tops with hundreds of hand-stitched puka shells.) There are also handcrafted leather totes paired with fabrics woven by the indigenous Wichí community in Argentina and iraca pieces by Las Juanas, a native artisan collective in Colombia. “Spending time with Johanna and her family made us realize how similar we are. We work in our studios, then go to the polo club to watch our kids’ matches, drink maté…just like my life here in Santa Barbara,” says Gonzalez. The Johanna Ortiz x Rocio G collection is available through modaoperandi.com.


We Want


 

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Rare Treats

The Rare Society brand weaves inspiration from vintage Las Vegas steakhouses for a modern dining experience in The Funk Zone.

 The Rare Society brand weaves inspiration from vintage Las Vegas steakhouses for a modern dining experience in The Funk Zone.

Written by CW | Photography by Sara Prince

Yes, RARE SOCIETY is a neighborhood steakhouse, but first and foremost it’s a place of comfort. The dining room is warm and usually packed, with rows of booths decorated in marble, gold, and playing-card motifs, an homage to the restaurant’s ritzy, old-school Vegas inspiration. But there’s no spot more lively than the horseshoe bar in the front room, a haven for habitués of the nearby Funk Zone. The decadent starters—ahi tuna tartare with black sesame and jalapeño ponzu; a thick-cut slab of bacon with gochujang glaze; or lobster prepared in the shell with garlic and parsley butter—are almost a distraction from the dry-aged steaks that Chef Brad Wise grills using Santa Maria-style live-fire techniques. Almost. The fire-roasted cuts pair best with more extravagance, like potato rosti covered in fondue and black truffles, or one of many strong cocktails that go above and beyond even the most discerning palate’s taste test. 214 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-335-2088, raresociety.com.

 

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Quest Love

During the Covid shutdown in 2020, Valerie Madeira knew it was time for her eponymous antique shop’s next chapter.

A client’s rustic-chic stable decorated by sister-partners Valerie Madeira (right) and Claire Gallion.

Written by Anush J. Benliyan

During the Covid shutdown in 2020, Valerie Madeira knew it was time for her eponymous antique shop’s next chapter. In partnership with her sister and co-owner, Claire Gallion, the pair relocated VALERIE’S VINTAGE & SUPPLY CO. —which specializes in farmhouse and rustic ranch styles with a classical European twist—to a smaller space around the corner, and braced themselves for the unknown. Turns out, “it was a blessing in disguise,” says Madeira. “Santa Ynez has the best community. The love and support that we receive daily is what keeps us inspired—along with the thrill of the hunt.” While the boutique stocks an ever-changing inventory of one-of-a-kind décor and furnishings, the duo can also find and source specially requested pieces upon request. Let the hunt begin! 3568 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez, 805-693-2127, @Valeriesvintage17

 

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Head to Toe

A pair of trailblazing shopping destinations are ushering in a stylish new era on Santa Ynez’s historic Sagunto Street

House of Hackney’s Hollyhocks wallpaper sets the playful tone inside Brass Tack.

A pair of trailblazing shopping destinations are ushering in a stylish new era on Santa Ynez’s historic Sagunto Street

Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photography by Sara Prince

SANTA YNEZ GENERAL, the shop that ignited its namesake town’s retail boom, opened its stylish doors in 2019. The boutique’s original location now showcases lifestyle and home goods in a slightly refreshed space, while a second Santa Ynez location opened in 2021 and focuses on apparel. It currently features several new lines for fall including Etro, Rosie Assoulin, and Nili Lotan. Founded by Pearson and Spencer Turnbull—a fashion industry veteran and an accomplished attorney, respectively—both tastemakers with an eye for destination-worthy shopping, Santa Ynez General has continued to broaden its Santa Ynez Valley-rooted reach. Summer 2022 brought a pop-up shop to Montecito’s Upper Village, and when The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection, opens this winter in Los Olivos, the eagerly anticipated luxe property will include a Santa Ynez General outpost. 3558 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez, 805-691-9947, santaynezgeneral.com.

A stone’s throw away on Sagunto Street, BRASS TACK mingles cheeky, couture glam with Santa Ynez’s Victorian, cowgirl grit. Opened in March 2022, the bright boutique’s motto, “If Georgia O’Keeffe and Dolly Parton crashed Fashion Week,” is reflected in the stylings and stock, all housed in a 120-year-old building. Owner Melissa Kanarek, a couture upholsterer and seamstress by trade, once inhabited and worked in global urban centers but she’s now a Santa Ynez Valley resident, specializing in pieces with a strong sense of story, much like her own. Kanarek founded her retail concept in Laguna Beach but relocated her store after settling in the Valley with her husband on the couple’s homestead, Ranchy McRanch (see page 114). This fall, the women’s boutique and hat bar will welcome Kanarek’s Born in the Barn line, designed and sewn in her barn, featuring dead-stock, limited-edition runs created by Kanarek’s fevered imagination. 3553 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez, 949-351-8748, brasstackstudio.com.

 

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Heads Above the Rest

Custom hat maker Kevin “KJ” Murphy

Custom hat maker Kevin “KJ” Murphy

Kevin “KJ” Murphy; the master at work.

Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photography by KJ Murphy’s, Sara Prince

Last year custom hat maker Kevin “KJ” Murphy expanded his business, KJ MURPHY’S, into a large Santa Ynez space with swanky saloon vibes and a modern twist—complete with all of the entertaining bells and whistles essential to a bespoke accessories experience. Murphy’s clients often get to watch the custom crafter at work, while they sip some of the finest spirits stocked behind his hand-built, mahogany back bar. Under the pressed-tin ceiling, a stone fireplace centers the long room where outdoorsy apparel and hats by Stetson, Resistol, DOBBS, the fashionable Charlie 1 Horse, and KJ originals are beautifully showcased. 

Murphy’s hat-making trail began in 2009, when he purchased an old hat factory that included some machines dating back to the early 1900s. Months of mechanical refurbishing followed, leading to the opening of his first Santa Ynez Valley hat studio in 2011. Nowadays, patrons can listen to Murphy’s tales of his adventures while he designs their hats with custom touches like hand-tooled leather hatbands, beads, ribbons, horsehair, or other materials, transforming each piece of headgear into a unique, wearable, working piece of art. 3569 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez, 805-686-4790, kjmurphys.com.

 

WE LOVE

Get on Your High Horse

 

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Check List

Classic pieces with a fresh KULE twist and a wink to iconic autumn staples of the ’70s

Classic pieces with a fresh KULE twist and a wink to iconic autumn staples of the ’70s

All items available at KULE Pop Up at Montecito Country Mart through December 31, and kule.com.

 

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Don’t Miss…

The 38th annual Santa Barbara Vintners Festival’s Grand Tasting will be held at the Old Mission Santa Inés on Saturday, October 8

Written by Anush J. Benliyan

The 38th annual Santa Barbara Vintners Festival’s Grand Tasting will be held at the Old Mission Santa Inés on Saturday, October 8, and promises attendees the chance to taste vino from more than 50 nearby wineries, as well as gourmet fare from 30-plus regional restaurants and chefs. Enjoy live music as you meet and mingle with winemakers and winery owners. Pick up some new skills at a variety of culinary and viticulture demos, and don’t forget to stop by the Bubble Lounge to sample some bruts. 1760 Mission Dr., Solvang, sbvintnersweekend.com

 

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Surf ’n’ Turf

With their Coast Range restaurant, a powerhouse team of chefs is putting Solvang on the culinary map.

Leather banquettes, custom made-in-Italy sconces, and pressed-tin ceilings set the tone inside Solvang’s Coast Range restaurant.

With their Coast Range restaurant, a powerhouse team of chefs is putting Solvang on the culinary map

Written by Caitlin White | Photography by Sara Prince

Solvang is better known for Danish architecture than fine dining, but last year a trifecta of chefs and a James Beard-recognized sommelier put COAST RANGE on the map as a destination steakhouse. Helmed by Anthony Carron (800 Degrees Pizza), Steven Fretz (Church Key), and acclaimed pastry chef Lincoln Carson (Bon Temps, Mes Amis)—as well as partners Hillary Calhoun and Joseph Sabato—the place has a wine list from sommelier and winemaker Rajat Parr that’s the cherry on top. Flanked on one side by a casual sister spot, Vaquero Bar, which opened in April 2021, Coast Range started offering indoor and outdoor dining on Mission Drive last fall. 

Chef Anthony Carron, General manager and mixologist Joseph Sabato, Chef Steven Fretz

Head inside for a Victorian-meets-maritime feel—think leather booths, velvet curtains, and a sea captain’s portrait—and begin with a whole grilled California artichoke with “good butter” and melty pecorino, or try a spectacular daily fresh crudo bathed in shiro dashi, a Japanese chili paste called yuzu kosho, and baby cilantro. Next, a boatload of fritto misto including calamari, broccolini, and pepperoncinis is accompanied by furikake aïoli, Thai chili dipping sauce, and key lime. You’ll find those dishes on the brunch menu, served from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Monday.

Reservations are highly recommended for the dinner menu, which is available starting at 5 p.m. Thursday to Monday and offers a hearty steak list filled with impeccable cuts from purveyors like Delmonico and Creekstone. Make any steak into a surf-and-turf combo with lobster tails always on offer, or indulge in oysters on the half shell and chilled shellfish for a seafood fix. Steakhouse staples like French onion soup and wedge salads round out the evening appetizers—or splurge on Regiis Ova caviar and call it a night. Before you go, brioche donuts with brown-butter glaze make for a fluffy, flawless finish, courtesy of Chef Carson. 1635 Mission Dr., Solvang, 805-624-5420, coastrange.restaurant

 

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Fessing Up—Twice

April 2022 brought a grand refresh of the legendary FESS PARKER WINERY’s tasting areas and experiences, at the portfolio’s Los Olivos vineyard property along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.

A Kodiak Greenwood photograph of Fess Parker’s favorite spot on the family ranch is printed on metal and hung as a triptych above the floor-to-ceiling fireplace in the refreshed Fess Parker Winery tasting room, on the Los Olivos vineyard property.

Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks

April 2022 brought a grand refresh of the legendary FESS PARKER WINERY’s tasting areas and experiences, at the portfolio’s Los Olivos vineyard property along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. Elevated updates and additions to the venue’s interiors and exterior tell the tale of the Parker family’s history in the Santa Barbara region. They also provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere for more private tastings and leisurely lounging while paying homage to the family’s famous patriarch, the late Fess Parker. Memorabilia from Parker’s acting career decorate the revamped space, and the family’s 30-plus years of winemaking history is showcased in the new Library Room Wine Tastings: private experiences with customizable tasting flights of four Fess Parker library wines. In September the Fess Parker Funk Zone tasting room opens in downtown Santa Barbara, offering wines from Fess Parker Winery and from the family’s boutique Epiphany and Fesstivity labels. 6200 Foxen Canyon Rd., Los Olivos, 805-688-1545 and 116 E. Yanonali St., Santa Barbara, 805-770-2041, fessparker.com

 

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Rebirth of an Icon

Slated to open in winter 2022, THE INN AT MATTEI’S TAVERN, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION, occupies a historic stagecoach stop in Los Olivos, adjacent to the site of the original Mattei’s Tavern from around 1886.

Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photography by James Baigrie

Slated to open in winter 2022, THE INN AT MATTEI’S TAVERN, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION, occupies a historic stagecoach stop in Los Olivos, adjacent to the site of the original Mattei’s Tavern from around 1886. The new property will include 67 guest rooms and cottages that evoke storied Central Coast ranches, farms, and vineyards. Awaiting guests are an outdoor pool with cabanas and a poolside bar called The Shed, a signature spa, and indoor-outdoor event spaces, as well as five venues for daylong dining. Mornings might begin with coffee and freshly baked goods from Felix Feed & Coffee—named for Felix Mattei, the old tavern’s owner—while nights might be capped at The Bar with moody, Western saloon-inspired cocktails. 

The historic cottages at Mattei’s, both historic and the face of the project from Los Olivos, were a unique challenge,” says Ryan Mills, principal designer with DMHA Architecture + Interior Design who worked with Auberge. “It was crucially important to find exactly the right balance to rehabilitate the architecture while elevating the guest experience suitable for a luxurious wine-country resort.

Dinner at The Tavern, the jewel of the resort’s culinary crown, will be directed by Filipino-American executive chef Rhoda Magbitang, whose kitchen creds include work with chefs Suzanne Goin and José Andrés, as well as executive-chef stints at West Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont and Petit Ermitage. The Tavern will feature California ranch cuisine and fresh ingredients, many of which will be harvested from the on-site garden; an extensive wine list culled from the large cellar; and cocktails incorporating house-infused spirits and botanic-driven tonics. Gin’s Tap Bar—a cozy smokehouse and bar—pays homage to the Goleta birthplace and Chinese heritage of old-time tavern chef Gin Lung Gin, with a menu that combines traditional ranch-smoking techniques with the flavors of Shanghai. 2350 Railway Ave., Los Olivos, 844-837-2999, aubergeresorts.com/matteistavern

 

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Perfect Pairing

Some collaborations seem destined to happen. Like the combination of art by COLETTE COSENTINO and two late-summer releases from ARTISTE WINERY—a sparkling rosé and a Chardonnay.

Anna Rice (left) and Colette Cosentino in the painter’s Santa Barbara studio.

Written by Joan Tapper | Photography: Exterior, Sara Prince; portrait and bottle, Kim Reierson

Some collaborations seem destined to happen. Like the combination of art by COLETTE COSENTINO and two late-summer releases from ARTISTE WINERY—a sparkling rosé and a Chardonnay. 

“It was serendipitous,” says Anna Rice, who owns Artiste with her husband, winemaker
Bion Rice. The label had partnered with 50 artists over the years, but only a couple had been local, something Anna wanted to remedy. When she walked by Colette’s Santa Barbara studio and later happened to meet the artist, she felt “the universe had spoken.”

The labels feature details of a huge glittering woodland canvas Colette had worked on for the last five years. When they unrolled it, notes Anna, “the color and the notes of the rosé and Chardonnay seemed to coalesce.” The painting is “very effervescent. You can taste the bubbles! With the official launch [of the wines], we’ll feature Colette’s art in the tasting studio and gallery in Los Olivos through the fall.” The full mural will later be on display in Colette’s Anapamu Street studio.

“It was extra cool to do a wine label,” says Colette, who has created wallpaper and textiles in addition to her fine art. “I’m excited by the possibilities.”artiste.com; colettecosentino.com.

 

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Joie de Vivre

Under the rustic spell of the Santa Ynez Valley

Under the rustic spell of the Santa Ynez Valley

Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photography by Sara Prince

Seeking a lavish wine country retreat? SUNSTONE VILLA offers a taste of France in the Santa Ynez Valley to Sunstone Winery’s Club members and other private parties. The 8,500-square-foot residence—conceived, designed, and outfitted by the winery’s founders, Fred and Linda Rice—opened in 2012 after a decade of construction. Built with limestone salvaged from chateaus in Aix-en-Provence, Normandy, and the Loire Valley, the villa also features wood beams, rafters, and roof tiles reclaimed from a 19th-century French lavender factory. Now a private residence for Sunstone’s current owners, Teddy and Djamila Cabugos, the villa includes five master suites, eight fireplaces, a billiards room, an underground wine cellar, and multiple terraces and patios with sweeping mountain and vineyard views. Continuing enhancements to the property’s landscaping, furnishings, and fixtures elevate the luxe factor for wine club members; attendees of special celebrations, corporate events, and galas; and myriad photography and filming projects for which the villa often “stars” as a Provençal estate. 125 N. Refugio Rd., Santa Ynez, 805-688-9463, sunstonewinery.com

A taste of France perched on Refugio Road
 

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Easy Living

Set on three terraced levels with manicured gardens and ocean views, HOME CRUSH’s new Summerland showroom is a statement in coastal luxury.

Portia dining chairs, $789 each, Bowman table, $1,999, and Heatsail outdoor lamp, $5,497

Written by Danielle DiMeglio | Photography by Sara Prince

Set on three terraced levels with manicured gardens and ocean views, HOME CRUSH’s new Summerland showroom is a statement in coastal luxury. Oyster-shell-encrusted birdbaths, neutral-toned woven chairs, and sleek Belgian outdoor heat lamps round out the alfresco vignettes curated by Montecito-based Aimee Miller (a California residential designer for more than 20 years). “Walking up through the trumpet trees, visitors can see different designs and furnishings as they ascend to the top terraces,” she says of the quarter-acre venue. The interactive lifestyle and outdoor center—or “deconstructed store” as she describes it—is an extension of Home Crush’s downtown Santa Barbara shop and design studio. Find everything from padded picnic blankets from Germany and linen beach towels from Rome to herb-scented citronella candles and textured outdoor pillows. “Everything a visitor sees or touches is available with interior and exterior design services, as well as Smart Home Integration by California Smart Homes,” says Miller. (Think single-touch systems for lighting, music, and more.) 2500 Lillie Ave., Summerland, 805-837-8836, home-crush.com.

 

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Gimme Shelter

What started about 10 years ago as a quest to create the ideal camp blanket has resulted in four rental cabins in Joshua Tree, an online home-goods shop, and, more recently, the opening of the first CAMPOVER store in Los Alamos.

Campover's modern essentials

Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photography by Jessica Sample

What started about 10 years ago as a quest to create the ideal camp blanket has resulted in four rental cabins in Joshua Tree, an online home-goods shop, and, more recently, the opening of the first CAMPOVER store in Los Alamos. Consciously sourced, handcrafted housewares and “modern shelter supplies” line the shelves in the retail space that reflects the company’s utilitarian-design ethos and approach to hospitality. Coming soon: An expanded array of online offerings—including proprietary Campover products—and a handful of Campover-renovated Central Coast accommodations. 235B Centennial St., Los Alamos, campover.com.

 

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Farm to Your Table

Elder Flat Farm, the 102-acre property organically farmed by Carla Malloy, has famously supplied many of the region’s best restaurants.

Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photography by Jessica Sample

Elder Flat Farm, the 102-acre property organically farmed by Carla Malloy, has famously supplied many of the region’s best restaurants. It now offers its goods to home cooks at the ELDER FLAT FARM SHOP in Los Alamos. Open Thursday through Sunday, the farm store displays Elder Flat’s bounty of organic produce and flowers and farm-fresh eggs along with curated collections of artisanal products and provisions. The venue also hosts live music and other events, including classes on cheese-and-charcuterie-board styling, “how-tos” on raising chickens, and canning workshops. 325 Bell St., Los Alamos, elderflatfarm.com.

 

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I Walk the Wine

An active wine-tasting experience awaits those who embark on the new hiking tours at renowned ALMA ROSA WINERY.

Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photography by Jessica Sample

An active wine-tasting experience awaits those who embark on the new hiking tours at renowned ALMA ROSA WINERY. The appointment-only hikes traverse the historic El Jabali estate, a 628-acre property in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. The two tours—Caracol Hike ($75 per person) and Attente Hike ($95 per person)—vary in duration and intensity and showcase different sides of the estate, rewarding adventurers with spectacular mountain and valley views plus glasses of wine, followed by a private wine tasting and cheese plate at Alma Rosa’s ranch house. Alma Rosa will offer a similar hiking excursion on July 23, during its third annual Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction fund-raising walk to benefit both One Mind and the Mental Wellness Center in Santa Barbara. almarosawinery.com.

 

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Immortal Femmes

Angela Perko is fascinated by precious objects, and her recent series of paintings focuses on ancient female fertility figures.

Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter

Angela Perko is fascinated by precious objects, and her recent series of paintings focuses on ancient female fertility figures. Perko’s paintings are always packed with quiet symbolism and deep layers of meaning; and while her new works acknowledge that women have been constantly reproduced as objects over time—from Paleolithic venus figurines to plastic Barbie dolls—the females showcased here were revered as powerful fertility symbols. At the same time, Perko has juxtaposed these symbols with carefully chosen background visuals that resonate with present day concerns, a dialogue-sparking device inspired by artist Kehinde Wiley’s dramatic Equestrian Portrait of Prince Tommaso of Savoy-Carignan (2015) displayed at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

Perko’s striking portrait of a prehistoric Japanese Dogū figurine, which floats on a background of bright red polka dots, is a direct reference to feminist artist Yayoi Kusama of Japan—known internationally for her commandingly beautiful and obsessive installations—who frequently employs a similar polka dot pattern in her art. Using a 10-by-10-inch square format, Perko’s exquisite figurine paintings are small but mighty. They are on view, along with other works by the artist, July 29 through September 26 at Sullivan Goss - An American Gallery. Don’t miss the opening August 4 (5 to 8 pm). 11 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, 805-730-1460; sullivangoss.com.

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Stoked

Jeff Divine’s iconic snap at Hollister Ranch, 1972

Jeff Divine’s iconic snap at Hollister Ranch, 1972

Chromogenic print, unframed, from $2,500, clic.com. Photographer Jeff Divine, who documented surf culture from 1970 to 2009, has one of the largest archives of surf photography in existence. jeffdivinesurf.com.

 

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