The Wildling Art Museum is housed in the restored Keenan-Hartley House, known as the oldest frame structure in Los Olivos, located on Jonata St. behind Mattei's Tavern and next door to St. Mark's Church.

Above, Short Creek, Az, a 1942 oil painting by Maynard Dixon are among the current show at the Wildling, running until Jan. 20, 2002

 Above, California Vulture, a colored engraving from 1838 by John James Audubon

A museum is newly born in the Valley, the Wildling Art Museum, nestled now in Los Olivos. Its destiny, if dreams of its founders are realized, is to be an outstanding national institution of fine art that promotes a deep understanding and appreciation of America's wilderness.

The dictionary defines its name, Wildling, as "a wild plant, bird or animal." Through painting, sculpture, photography and prints, it will present the history and geography of America as rendered by artists since this land was discovered.

In an ambitious start-up year, the Museum offered a stimulating agenda of exhibitions, events and educational activities, culminating in a grand opening presentation of America's Wilderness in Art, showing through

January 20. This collection, curated by Marlene Miller, brings to the Valley works by John James Audubon, Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Moran, Ansel Adams, John Marin and other great recorders of America's natural treasures. Much more is planned for 2002, according to Elizabeth "Penny" Knowles, who took over the role of executive director on July 1.

A photography exhibit will be on view later this winter, organized by Karen Sinsheimer, well-known curator with the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Sinsheimer and Miller, an art gallery professional, with Bruce McCurdy, UCSB professor emeritus of art., and Louise Clark, an art collector, make up the Wildling's committee for exhibitions and acquisitions.

Knowles works with a volunteer staff to welcome visitors. The gallery, offices and a small Museum Store are open Wednesday through Friday, 1-5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"I couldn't manage without them," she insists. "They insure that we can be open to the public with regular hours and stage special events." She is quick to acknowledge Bonnie Bisoglio, Lida Grant, Nancy Byrne, Cathy and Scott Ullery, Lea Petrick, Pat Sprowls and Martha Osborne as members of her team.

The historic Keenan-Hartley House is the Museum's charming setting. This

oldest frame structure in Los Olivos was recently moved to its present site at 2329 Jonata Street and restored by Adam Firestone and David Walker. According to Patti Jacquemain, president of the Wildling's board of directors, this struck the founders as the perfect site.

"How wonderful to be able to locate in a building registered as a Santa Barbara County Landmark on the doorstep of the whole Los Padres wilderness in an arts-centered community."

Another great asset is its hospitable neighbor, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, which has generously lent its Parish Hall for Museum programming. On the January agenda is a Thursday evening lecture series, beginning on the 10th with The Meaning of Wilderness and the Rights of Nature, by Dr. Roderick Nash with slide illustrations.

Kate McCurdy, park ranger at Yosemite National Park will present a slide illustrated lecture on The Re-wilding of Yosemite Bears Jan. 17. A multi-media art work, The Sequoias, by Inez Roberts, a Santa Barbara photographer, set to the music of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons is scheduled for Jan. 24.

Already on the wall of the Wildling's small lobby are plans for the future, drawn up by Santa Ynez architects Howard Marter and Douglas Jernberg. The board visualizes a professional accredited museum with a fine research library, using the property to the west of the museum's present site, which happens to be available for purchase.

"We want the outside to be as exciting as the inside," says Jacquemain, describing gardens that represent the habitats of America as settings for sculptures of "critters" from each area.

This will, of course, require finding many generous donors like the Schaeffer Foundation, which awarded $100,000 as "seed" money to initiate a capital campaign for the purchase, design and construction of the future museum.

Since space is a priority, Knowles explains that facilities will be the fund-raising focus before the Museum works to build a collection. However, the Museum in its first year did purchase Cascade on the Firehole by John Fery, a western landscape artist. Painted in 1912, it depicts the Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park and celebrates the significant role of artists in the development of the National Park

The Board's comprehensive plan allots 10% of unrestricted gifts of $1000 or more for an Art Acquisition Fund and 10% to build the Wildling Endowment Fund. All gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

It is Jacquemain, artist and environmentalist, who convened a circle of friends for lunch at her Santa Barbara home in Mission Canyon four years ago to propose her concept for this unique museum.

"I grew up riding in the back country and regretted the disappearing wilderness that I had known and loved." After digesting her idea for a month, they met again and voiced support for her vision of the Wildling.

These people made up the founding board of directors under Jacquemain as the first president. David Gledhill agreed to act as vice president and Warren Miller as secretary. Mary Hunt, Marlene Miller, Dr. Charles Markham, Virginia Sloan and McCurdy also committed to the venture.

Two Valley residents have since joined the board. They are Judith Hale, gallery owner and past president of the Los Olivos Business Organization, and J. Allen Russell, who is well known for his roles in education and the wine industry. A trustee for Dunn School and past president of the Santa Ynez Valley Hospital, Russell brings with him 35 years of experience with non-profit organizations.

Hale, who is a member of the General Plan Advisory Committee that is working on an updated plan for the Valley, sees the Wildling as a very significant presence in Los Olivos. "It raises the bar for the galleries," she suggests. "Each show has been different from the others, and all have been of such high caliber."

Jacquemain recounts the Board's nationwide search for its executive director, a person who would bring the depth of experience to realize their dream of a world class museum.

The museum opened under the temporary stewardship of Jacqueline Broughton, who had agreed to come out from Nashville's Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art with the understanding that she intended to retire in 18 months.

"We were so excited when we learned that Penny Knowles might be willing to return to California," she recalled. "We all knew her from her wonderful years as education director of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. She had left in 1986 for the East and in the interim has been executive director of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, CT, and most recently supervisor of education programs at the Mystic Seaport Museum."

Knowles explains, "I really wanted to get back but my husband had grown very comfortable in Connecticut. Joe agreed when he learned that we would be located in the Santa Ynez Valley and not in any city setting."

Her educational credentials include a BA in humanities from Stanford University and a master's degree in art history from UCSB. She also attended the Museum Management Institute at the J. Paul Getty Trust and the American Federation of the Arts.

The new director plans to schedule inviting special events like Wine and Wildflowers, that combined an art lesson and nature walk with a picnic and wine-tasting last April at the Sedgwick Reserve.

The best way to stay updated on the Museum and its many offerings is to sign up as a member or volunteer and receive its quarterly publication, The Fox Tale. Stop by to see the current exhibit or call (805) 688-1082. The Museum's Email is wildling@silcom.com.