Casa del Herrero Centennial Gala Tickets on Sale Now
Casa del Herrero Board of Trustees President Elizabeth Esrey is inviting the community to join in their Centennial Gala celebration on September 6, from 5:30-9 pm. Tickets are required and they are selling quickly.
I met with Esrey, the Gala committee, and two honorary chairs who are prior Board of Trustees Presidents at Casa del Herrero. It is significant to note that Honorary Chair / Board of Trustees Prior President, Donald H. Benson, is 92 years young, and will be attending the gala, as will Casa’s respected elder Albert P. Hinckley Jr., the grandson of George Fox Steedman. Both will most certainly provide interesting views on the history of the Casa at the Gala.
The gala features cocktails, dinner, and dancing. Speakers at the Gala are members of the Steedman Family who also serve as Board of Trustees: Albert P. Hinckley Jr., Annalisa Hinckley Savin, and Katherine Pharibe Wise. Also, remarks will be given by Executive Director and Head of CurationDr. Natalie Sanderson, and Executive Director of the California Missions Foundation David Bolton.
The who’s who are the Gala Co-Chairs: Elizabeth Esrey, Marc Normand Gelinas, and Nathan Vonk; the Gala Committee: David Bolton, Mari McAlister, Jenna Jobst Reichental, Gonzalo Sarmiento, and Isabel Wendt; and the Honorary Chairs: Donald H. Benson, Heather Biles, Laura Bridley, Karen Jones Clark, Joan Jackson, Susan Jackson, Charlie Knight, Travis Kranz, and Meghan Stoll.
In speaking about the gala, Esrey shared, “This Centennial Year has been an extraordinary milestone for Casa del Herrero, marked by both reflection and renewal. Thus far, we’ve embarked on several key initiatives to honor the past while investing in the future of our beloved Casa, a National Historic Landmark. One of the most transformative efforts to date is our successful application for a $750,000 Save America’s Treasures matching grant, made possible through the support of the California Mission Foundation and the leadership of David Bolton. This grant, awarded by the National Park Service, represents a pivotal moment in our mission to lovingly restore our beloved Casa to its full architectural and cultural glory. Upcoming initiatives include educational programming and more community partnerships. We are grateful for the community support in preserving the works of George Washington Smith, Lutah Maria Riggs, and the George Steedman family, whose contributions and stewardship have shaped this historic estate.”
Nathan Vonk – new Board of Trustees member and owner of Sullivan Goss Art Gallery – has been charged with selecting the artists whose bespoke birdhouses will drive the gala’s silent auction. The concept arose during the restoration of the Casa’s own outdoor birdhouse; designed as it was by the Casa’s founder, George Fox Steedman. The ten artists who created birdhouses for the silent auction are: Whitney Brooks Abbott, Phoebe Brunner, Patricia Chidlaw, Marc Normand Gelinas, Inga Guzyte, Wyllis Heaton, Nathan Huff, Michael Long, Jenna Jobst Reichental, and Sue Van Horsen. The silent auction starts online on August 24 and ends September 7 at 12 pm. Bidders can place a bid online or choose the option to purchase the birdhouse for the fee listed.
I queried Vonk on his decision to join the board and he said, “I got involved with the Casa because I care deeply about the cultural heritage of this community. It is our art, architecture, and history that gives Santa Barbara its international reputation. So, whether I’m exhibiting paintings at Sullivan Goss, or explaining the importance of George Washington Smith to visitors at the Casa, it is all a part of the same mission – to spread the word about our incredible aesthetic legacy.”
Two of the birdhouse artists, Chidlaw and Long, also met us at the Casa for a photo op for this story, their birdhouses in tow. Chidlaw used oil on art canvas for her construction from a painting of sunset on Foothill Road. Long, who worked for a summer at the Casa, said he was influenced by George Washington Smith architecture to make his two-story birdhouse intricately detailed. Long’s birdhouse includes a Spanish tile staircase, a roof of fired terra cotta, acrylics, and is polyurethane-coated for outdoor use. His creation is sized 20x20x18 inches and, yes, there are framed portraits of birds on the interior.
In summing up the importance of the Casa, Bolton informs, “Casa del Herrero is one of our treasured historic iconic sites that help to make Santa Barbara and Montecito such a special place. Nestled in the foothills of Montecito, the building and grounds reflect an architectural style that our area has become known for worldwide. Casa del Herrero is one of the finest examples of the Spanish mission revival architectural style. It has caught the eye of many, and its National Historic Landmark designation is a testament to the builders, architects, original owners, and the countless volunteers who keep this magical place alive. A big thank you is due to Joan Jackson whose vision, dedication, and understanding of the importance of this unique landmark led to the Casa’s national designation in 2008. The Casa truly is a special place,”
Noted Gala Sponsors are, George Fox Steedman Sponsor: Susan and Riley Bechtel; George Washington Smith Sponsor: The Ann Jackson Family Foundation; and Lutah Maria Riggs Sponsor: Ella and Scott Brittingham, Sharon and David Bradford, Louise and Tim Casey, Karen and Stephen Clark, Susan McCaw, and Perri Harcourt.
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