Events

THE OAK GROUP PRESENTS THE GRACE OF THE WORLD

November 21 - December 21, 2024
Opening Reception: November 21, 4-6pm

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Landscape artists for the preservation of California's open spaces. 10% of proceeds will benefit the Oak Group, and 10% of proceeds will benefit the Museum.

Oak Group artists are passionate about nature and committed to preserving local lands for wildlife, recreation, ranching, and farming. Working with conservation groups and landowners, OAK members record the beauty of endangered landscapes, draw attention to protecting them, and through exhibitions raise funds to support their preservation.

The Oak Group was first inspired by conversations between Arturo Tello and Ray Strong back in December, 1985, after they read "Depths of Glory," a historical novel about Pissarro and his painting comrades. The two friends said, "Why couldn't we have such a group?" "Well, why not!"  That was the start. Using the example of the Canadian Group of Seven, the O.A.K. Group began with seven members, with O.A.K. standing for "Open Airing Club."

The first meeting was held January 29, 1986. That same year the group had their first three exhibitions in Santa Barbara, adding seven more members.  Santa Barbara, with its physical beauty and enlightened population, has a long tradition of attracting and supporting landscape painters. It is this shared spirit of love and concern for the land that gives meaning and purpose to the work of The Oak Group and our role as artists in the community.

After thirty-five years, The Oak Group now has twenty-five active members and over 100 exhibitions that have benefited more than twenty non-profit conservation organizations.

Past Events

ART IS RESTORATION

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An Oak Group Show Benefiting the UC Santa Barbara North Campus Open Space

October 2 - October 31, 2024

Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Central Library
40 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara

Artist Reception Thursday October 3, 2024; 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Celebrating the Protection of Nature

FOOTHILLS FOREVER

35th Anniversary Exhibit: Circle of Compassion

Dates: May 1 - May 28, 2021 at Santa Barbara Fine Art

THE LINK BETWEEN MAN AND NATURE

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THE OAK GROUP: State of Harmony

In Wildness: The Oak Group

January 25-March 22, 2019

Opening Reception: Friday, January 25, 4pm-6pm, H202

Artist Panel Discussion: Wednesday, February 27, 5pm, H11

To purchase a painting or view our online gallery of artwork featured in the exhibit, please visit LPFW.org/oakgroup, or contact Rebecca August at Los Padres ForestWatch at 805-617-4610 extension 5.

Oak Group Exhibition at SBCC Atkinson Gallery

Benefit for Los Padres ForestWatch

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the San Rafael Wilderness, the Oak Group's exhibition In Wildnesswill open January 25th at the Atkinson Gallery at Santa Barbara City College. A reception will be hosted by the Gallery on January 25 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. so the public can meet the artists and Los Padres ForestWatch staff as well as other lovers of wilderness and art.

The show will feature new landscape paintings by members of the Oak Group highlighting the Wilderness Area in Los Padres National Forest. Oak Group artists are passionate about nature and are committed to preserving local lands for wildlife, recreation, ranching, and farming. Working with conservation groups and landowners, Oak Group artists record the beauty of these endangered landscapes to draw public attention and to help generate funds to protect them. To date, Oak Group sales of $3 million have supported these goals. A panel discussion featuring Oak Group artists will be held Wednesday, February 27, 5pm, in SBCC Humanities Building, Room 111.

Located in the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara's backcountry, the San Rafael Wilderness was the first primitive area to be designated as wilderness under the Wilderness Act of 1964. The San Rafael is home to rare and endangered wildlife and among the wildest, most remote, and most rugged landscapes of California's central coast region. To earn permanent protection of the San Rafael Wilderness, local residents worked with members of Congress and conservation groups in Washington, D.C., laying the groundwork for citizen-based wilderness initiatives throughout the nation. Today, a half-century later, the San Rafael remains the largest permanently protected open space in Santa Barbara County, featuring landmarks like Hurricane Deck, Castle Rock, Manzana Creek, Sisquoc River, and Big Pine Mountain.

This art exhibition is inspired by the words of famed naturalist Henry David Thoreau, who wrote "In Wildness is the preservation of the world." A portion of the proceeds from each painting sold will benefit Los Padres ForestWatch, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of wilderness, wildlife, and clean water throughout the Los Padres National Forest, the Carrizo Plain National Monument, and other public lands along California's central coast.

Through legal and public advocacy, scientific collaboration, community outreach, and volunteer field work, Los Padres ForestWatch promotes sustainable public access and protects local public lands from oil development, commercial logging, and wildlife habitat degradation.

Atkinson Gallery at Santa Barbara City College is a learning laboratory that promotes visual literacy and critical thinking. The Gallery hosts contemporary art exhibitions featuring international, national, regional, and student artists working in a wide range of styles and media.

The exhibition is sponsored in part by the Foundation for Santa Barbara City College. It will be on display from January 25 through March 22, 2019, and can be seen during regular gallery hours noted on the website or by contacting the gallery for an appointment at 805.897.3484.

Featured artists: Whitney Abbott, Marcia Burtt, Chris Chapman, Bill Dewey, Rick Garcia, Carrie Givens, Kevin Gleason, Jeremy Harper, Ray Hunter, John Iwerks, Larry Iwerks, Linda Mutti, Rob Robinson, Ann Sanders, Richard Schloss, Skip Smith, Arturo Tello, and Thomas Van Stein

Oak Group Show Benefits The Nature Conservancy

November 2 through midday, November 30, 2018
Reception Friday evening, November 2, from 5:30 to 7:30

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The Oak Group continues its long-standing support of The Nature Conservancy with “Learning to Love,” an exhibition in Santa Barbara’s Faulkner Gallery in the Central Library. The show’s title comes from a quotation by the painter Claude Monet, who wrote, "Eventually, my eyes were opened, and I really understood nature. I learned to love at the same time.”

Forty-five percent of proceeds will directly benefit The Nature Conservancy and its projects, including nearby Carrizo Plain and Santa Cruz Island. The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization that creates innovative solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. TNC uses a collaborative approach that engages local communities and other partners. To learn more, see www.nature.org

Paintings and photographs in this show will include just-completed paintings by several Oak artists who’ve been able to visit The Nature Conservancy’s Dangermond Preserve on our own Gaviota coast. The preserve hosts fourteen endangered species.