The California Nature Art Museum (CalNAM) will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a fundraiser, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 4 at Vincent Vineyards in Santa Ynez.
Founder and artist Patti Jacquemain, along with board members and key donors, will be honored at the luncheon.
Embracing a theme of nostalgia, attendees will enjoy an array of scrapbooks, photo collages, and exhibition monographs from the early days of the museum’s founding; staff and board presentations; a live auction; and lunch on the patio overlooking the vineyard.
A springtime-inspired luncheon from High on the Hog will offer locally sourced foods, including bites such as jidori chicken, tomato risotto, and a colorful southern succotash, accompanied by award-winning wines of Vincent Vineyard.
The meal will be followed by a floral birthday cake from Solvang Bakery.
The California Nature Art Museum was founded in 1997 by Jacquemain and her first board of directors. The museum’s doors were opened to the public in 2000 at the historic Keenan-Hartley House in Los Olivos.
In 2008, the museum moved to a larger facility in Los Olivos, and then, due to continued growth, moved again just five years later in 2013 to its home in Solvang.
Museum staff have organized some 125 art exhibits that celebrate wild spaces, designed to inspire stewardship of the natural world and its wild inhabitants.
“The small-but-mighty museum has grown their permanent art collection thoughtfully over the years, which now numbers over 150 artworks and features both nationally and locally respected artists such as Lockwood de Forest, Everett Ruess, John Fery, Ray Strong, Macduff Everton, John Iwerks, Bill Dewey, George Rose, Chris Chapman, Marcia Burtt, and many more,” CalNAM said.
“We are excited to kick off the celebration of our 25th anniversary with this lovely event and fundraiser at Vincent Vineyards to shine a light on our accomplishments, but more importantly, those of the many generous people who have helped to grow the museum over the years,” said Stacey Otte-Demangate, executive director.
“CalNAM has served tens of thousands of visitors and community members over the years through their creative and inspiring exhibitions, has toured hundreds of school groups with complimentary admission, and has hosted dozens of community art shows featuring artwork by local youth and seniors,” she said.
CalNAM offers free general admission for all children under the age 17, and participates in the Museums for All program, which gives complimentary admission to low-income families receiving food assistance.
Proceeds from the 25th Anniversary event will help to support these efforts and others that promote CalNAM’s mission to inspire stewardship of nature through art and education, the museum said.
For tickets, visit www.calnatureartmuseum.org/news/25th-anniversary-celebration.
The event is sponsored by Vincent Vineyards, the Schiele Family Foundation, and others.
