SB Museum of Art Leadership Circle Event Celebrates its Exhibits

On a very rainy Monday evening, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art saw its celebratory event for the SBMA Circles of Leadership, benefactors, directors, and curators with special guests become its latest nouvelle vague. 

I was invited to attend and report for our readers by Lindsey Garrison SBMA director of marketing and communications, and SBMA’s Director of External Affairs Karen Kawaguchi. Garrison and I arranged for my taking an exclusive photo of Amada Cruz, the Eichholz Foundation Director, with SBMA Board Chair Michael C. Linnand his wifeCarol S. Linn. We all met prior to the event at the SBMA pop-up Paris café located à gauche et devant to the Ridley-Tree Gallery with its Tour Eiffel wallpaper. Cruz admirably donned the SBMA’s official t-shirt for the Monet to Matisse and Encore exhibits under her elegant winter white Chanel jacket. The long sleeve cotton t-shirt is white with French blue wording, “Show me the Matisse.” Fans can purchase the t-shirt and exhibit themed items and books at the museum shop located to the right of the Ridley-Tree Gallery.

The museum was abuzz with guests dressed to impress who had queued from the street to enter and were being greeted by SBMA staff and served golden champagne and exquisite hors d’oeuvres. Notables attending were newest SBMA Board members Briana Hesse of Black and Steel Studio Summerland and Wesley Moncrief, Daniel Erikson, SBMA Board Vice Chair and Gilded Gala Chair Lynn Cunningham Brown with husband Christopher Brown, Christine Emmons, Pam and Greg Breedlove, Merryl and Chuck Zegar. Legacy Society members of 30 years Thomas and Sheila Lambert, Julie and Peter Morley, and Carol and Mark Glasser. The cutest couple award goes to former board member Mavis with husband John Mayne seen holding hands while viewing the art. 

The event marked a new gathering theme for the SBMA Circle Patrons and its Board of Trustees to meet and mingle and do-learn-explore the art in the dual exhibitions curated by Chief Curator James Glisson. Guests were treated to Glisson’s private tour of the exhibits with his insider remarks about the art’s narratives. He reviewed what made Impressionist art controversial – its wash of unfinished brush strokes, and its subject matter taken from current everyday life, as compared to the highest paid painters of the time who painted historic events. Glisson’s personal favorite at the close of the tour is Alexei Jawlensky’s Abstract Head: Two Elements, oil on cardboard (1925) for its distinct abstract prelude of what’s to come next in art.

As I was setting up my photograph of the newest board members, a rumor swept through Ludington Court that a fashion designer icon had just entered. I went to the meet and greet area to find Amada Cruz, the Eichholz Foundation Director, welcoming Betsey Johnson with her beau, the architect and Zen sumi-e artist Edward D’Andrea.The couple had just arrived from their casa in Paradise Cove Malibu. Johnson is a recipient of the 2015 CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. 

In what would be million-to-one odds, my outfit for this soiree included my quilted Betsey Johnson black shoulder bag with her logo in gold metal on the front. Waiting for the right moment to approach, I greeted Johnson and showed her my bag, rather her bag! She laughed and said, “Oh how great! I don’t even have one of mine with me tonight! You know my design team is just wonderful, and they keep me on top of everything.” She introduced me to D’Andrea and we talked about his art, which he shows in a gallery in Malibu. Oh yes, we did take a number of photos together with Johnson pointing to her logo on my bag!

Midway into the cocktail reception, guests were called to hear the welcome remarks by Cruz. She began by saying, “We are about to do a reveal!” With that she opened her jacket to reveal the Monet t-shirt to oohs and aahs with a wild applause. Continuing on she said, “We are here to celebrate two important exhibits – Monet to Matisse and Encore – with our Circle members and new friends of friends of the museum. I cannot overstate how important these exhibitions are as they were quite revolutionary in their time. We now have eleven Monet’s under one roof here at the SBMA, four of which are our own Monets thanks to Leslie Ridley-Tree and members in this room. Friday was Monet’s birthday, so let’s celebrate that. [glasses clinking] The outpouring of support is amazing as this is your museum. The Historic Landmark Commission gave us support for the SBMA’s outdoor art signage painted front steps.” She concluded with providing thanks to exhibition sponsors, donors, local artists, and her team.

Do take the time to visit these exhibits, and why not take in a drawing class or a lecture while you’re at it?

These impressionist exhibits give us the space to breathe and exhale in a busy world, perhaps feeling that which Monet felt when he said [full quote], “I want to paint the air that surrounds the bridge, the house, the boat – the beauty of the air in which these objects are located. Yet it is nothing short of impossible.”  

411: www.sbma.net

And that’s a wrap till next week! Do email me if you have society news or an experience we can do together! Xx JAC