Design Award Presented at Channing Peake Gallery
By Jesse Caverly / VOICE
Trending towards clean lines and mid-century modern sensibilities, the winners of this years AIA Santa Barbara’s annual juried Design Awards will be on view at the Channing Peake Gallery beginning February 6th and through March.
In addition to aesthetics, the teams address sustainability and integration within their respective environments. Showcasing the exceptional work of the region’s leading architects, the award-winning designs represent categories from Commercial Buildings to Single Family Residential, from Santa Barbara Heritage to Proposed/Unbuilt Projects.
The 2024 Honor Award recognized the firm AGPS for their Almost Off-Grid Ranch in Santa Ynez. A stunningly modern design, the house compliments a rural assemblage of barns and horse pastures, and “embodies the ranch in a contemporary interpretation of rural life achieved through minimal means,” said Sarah Graham, FAIA. “Rooftop rain water is collected in a cistern trough and used for irrigation. A septic system filters waste under a hay field. As with the entire ranch, the house is fully powered by the sun with all systems being electric.”
The selection of 2024’s winners was in the hands of a AIASB jury comprised of three distinguished architects: Patti Baker, AIA director of LA based Backen and Backen Architects; Erik Evens, AIA partner at Culver City based KAA Design Group; and Ted Flato, FAIA of Internationally recognized Lake|Flato Architects. They awarded one project with an Honor designation, four projects with Merit, and two projects with Honorable Mention.
“We are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with many great clients and amazing sites here in Santa Barbara,” said Dave Mendro, AIA, LEED AP, at NMA Architects, very happy to receive a Merit award for their Santa Barbara Foothills Residence. A colorful, classic, and Cypress tree lined affair, he noted, “Designed with preservation and sustainability in mind, this residence treads lightly in the natural setting, with a small footprint nestled within stunning sandstone boulders and majestic oak trees. Creating an indoor-outdoor ‘glass house’ that is sustainable for its exposed foothill environment, prone to high summer temperatures, strong winds, and wildfires, was quite challenging. The home is meticulously designed to provide a comfortable oasis for year-round living that is energy-efficient, fire-safe, and water-wise.”
Winning a Merit for their Santa Barbara Heritage/ Little Granada Residence, Appleton Partners LLP Architects was faced with the task of preserving the old, while incorporating with new features. “The best elements of the house were the sympathetic use of new wood doors and windows,” said John P. Margolis, AIA. “Their presence reinforces the historical bones of the original home. For some, the challenges of owning a 1921 historic home means small dark rooms with a limited circulation flow to the outside; however, the preferred open plan for modern California living can be easily attained with larger framed openings between adjacent spaces, while still preserving the best qualities of the original rooms.”
An exhibition of all the submissions to the 2024 Design Awards will be held in February through March at Channing Peake Gallery, County Admin Building, 105 E Anapamu St, Santa Barbara. Opening reception takes place on the 1st Thursday, February 6th, from 5pm to 8pm.
“AIA Santa Barbara organizes and hosts an annual Design Awards program to recognize and celebrate the design excellence of its Chapter members,” said Amy Tripp, President of AIA Santa Barbara. “This event consistently showcases the inspiring diversity of architectural designs created by our talented members. We deeply appreciate those who share their work, allowing us the privilege to honor and celebrate their contributions to the field of architecture and the Santa Barbara community.”
Artist & Disney Legend Joe Rohde at CAW
By Maria McCall / Special to VOICE
Disney Legend and Imagineer Joe Rohde addressed an art loving crowd of 60 gathered at the Community Arts Workshop, last Friday.
Exuberant and passionate, Rohde discussed his life path as an artist from early childhood. He focused on the collaborative nature of his work amongst a wide array of human cultures worldwide. Attendees also enjoyed Inner Light, an exhibit of Rohde’s exquisite series of beautifully painted Sycamore leaves. He chose the leaves based on their unusually complex topography, which allows the light to fall not only upon them, but through them. “They are,” he explained, “like California itself, dry but beautiful.”
Retiring in 2021 as a portfolio creative executive with 40 years at Walt Disney Imagineering, Rohde was the overall creative executive and supervising designer for Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, including later expansions such as Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain and Pandora – The World of Avatar. His other notable projects include The Adventurers Club (formerly a part of Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World); Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii; and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! at Disney’s California Adventure Park.
He was especially fond of his Aulani project, which he told the audience provided an authentic Hawaiian cultural experience to visitors.
The event was attended by members of Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub, members of The Art Foundation of Santa Barbara, students from the Visual Arts & Design Academy of SB High School, and supporters of the Community Arts Workshop, including former Mayor Helene Schneider, President of the CAW Board of Directors.
Rohde is generously presenting his series of paintings at CAW through February 7th as a fundraiser for the Arts Collaborative.
The Community Arts Workshop is a project of the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative located at 631 Garden Street. sbcaw.org
90 Great Reasons To Meet a 90-Year-Old
By Mark Whitehurst / VOICE
A creative photographer and professor, Joyce Wilson, 90, opened a retrospective exhibition of her work titled Opus 90 at Voice Gallery, on 1st Thursday, coinciding with her 90th birthday.
A native of Indiana, she began her professional career in the early 1960’s as a portrait photographer. Her husband Jim joined her as a partner in their studio and studied photography too. Together they explored the medium while raising three children, Leesa, Lori, and Jerry.
“Being curious is the root of artistic creation,” states Wilson in the 139 page Opus 90 exhibition catalog.
In the 60’s she studied with Adolf Fassbender, who introduced her to Pictorialism. Even as a single parent in 1970 she continued her professional development and earned a Masters of Photography degree in 1973. Then in 1976 she received a fellowship from the American Society of Photographers.
“I began using my clients to satisfy my need to create art,” she continued. Her muse at the time was the Biography of Edward Steichen, a book she continued to return to for inspiration.
She was appointed to the faculty of Brooks Institute in 1996 and was assigned to teach master’s students working towards an MFA.
“Photography is a way of emphasizing feelings and emotions,” said Wilson.
Her Opus: 90 includes over 90 pieces of her art work.
Opus 90 ends January 31st at Voice Gallery in La Cumbre Plaza, 110 S Hope Ave, #H124.
