Salon Series Returns for Round Two

No organization does more to support the careers of Santa Barbara artists than The Arts Fund. Through a variety of programs, including the coveted and prestigious Individual Artist Awards and the Teen Arts Mentorship Program, the organization reaches the community with valuable assistance and invaluable exposure year in and year out. To augment and support their work in these areas, The Arts Fund has crafted a fascinating series of studio experiences that began in late May and continue through August 1. These events offer extraordinary opportunities to meet and interact with top Santa Barbara artists at exclusive locations throughout S.B. and Montecito. The brainchild of director Nina Dunbar and the product of the generosity of more than a dozen ardent supporters, these afternoons will thrill and satisfy in ways that no conventional gallery setting can. The cost—$125 per ticket—is in line with the intimacy and comprehensiveness of the experience, and all of it goes to support The Arts Fund’s outreach activities. Although the first of these special afternoons has already taken place, there are still five more chances to get in on one of the summer’s most unusual art opportunities. All events run from 4 to 6 p.m. For information, call 965-7321 or visit artsfundsb.org.

1] Sustainability San Roque Style: Sunday, June 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the home of landscape architect Isabelle Greene will include furniture designer and sculptor Bud Tullis in a discussion of personal expression in design and art.

2] Love in the Afternoon: Saturday, June 19, at the Montecito Valley Ranch home of Dwight and Tina Coffin will see the premiere of a plein air dance choreographed by Robin Bisio.

3] Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Saturday, July 10, at Jane Gottlieb’s home on the Riviera will pair Gottlieb with fellow artist Mary Heebner for a viewing and discussion of their recent work.

4] The Art of Disappearance: Sunday, July 18, in the home and garden of Penelope Gottlieb will focus on the plight of vanishing local species from the perspective of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden director of plant conservation Dieter Wilken and will include music by She’s My Band.

5] Artists or Mad Men…? Sunday, August 1, the historic Garden Street home of Lynn Montgomery and Richard Kriegler will feature a conversation between Kriegler, the art director for Infinity Ward Studio, and Justin Carroll, a principal in the Hamagami/Carroll graphic design firm in which the two will describe their experiences creating the billion dollar-selling video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.