The next time you’re strolling the streets of Solvang, take a pause to enjoy a gallery of art that celebrates the local environment. A juried exhibit called When the Earth Whispers Back: Nature’s Hope is up at California Nature Art Museum (CalNAM) through Sept. 6.
“This exhibition will center on plant and animal species that are endangered, or threatened, or even extinct, and areas of land set aside for the conservation and preservation of these species,” according to the gallery’s website. “Artists are presenting this show with the purpose of bringing attention to the beauty and fragility of their subjects, as well as promoting better protection and stewardship of our ecosystems.”
With more than 100 submissions, the show features almost 50 pieces from artists who are a part of Women Painters West. The organization is a nonprofit membership corporation that’s been around since 1921, mainly operating out of Southern California. Currently there are around 200 members.
The first through third place winners of the juried exhibit are Nancy Rossi, Lynette K. Henderson, and Nancy Flint, respectively. All artists will donate 40 percent of their sales during the exhibit to CalNAM.
Visit the museum at 1511-B Mission Drive in Solvang. It’s open on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more details visit calnatureartmuseum.org.
This article appears in March 26 – April 2, 2026.