The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature takes part in timely, meditative social media campaign, #MuseumMomentofZen

With galleries, museums, theaters, and other venues closed for the foreseeable future, the current state of the art world at large is almost exclusively online. The staff of the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature already had a strong handle (pun intended) on social media long before the COVID-19 outbreak (scroll through the museum’s Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter if you don’t believe me), but social distancing has encouraged the team to step up their game even further.

MUSEUM MEDITATION: Follow the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter. Virtual tours of the museum and more info can be found on wildlingmuseum.org. Call (805) 688-1082 for further details. The museum is located at 1511 Mission Drive, unit B, Solvang.

VIEW THE MUSEUM FROM HOME: The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is currently sharing virtual glimpses of its art exhibitions online through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Complete virtual tours of each exhibit are also available on the museum’s website (wildlingmuseum.org). Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WILDLING MUSEUM/ART BY NATHAN HUFF

Along with nearly 2,500 art museums around the world, the Wildling Museum is taking part in an international social media campaign, entitled #MuseumMomentofZen. Those who keep tabs (again, pun intended) on the hashtag can look forward to a newsfeed full of shared artworks—intended to break the bleak monotony of posts related to coronavirus—from participating museums.

“It’s a wonderful way for us to share amazing artworks we have here on loan for our exhibitions, as well as our permanent collection,” Stacey Otte-Demangate, executive director of the Wildling Museum, told the Sun. “Museums are full of creative people all over the country, and we all feel the duty to continue to serve our communities as best we can.”

WILD AND FREE: One of the Wildling Museum’s first #MuseumMomentofZen posts highlighted this photograph by student Isabella Rhea, featured in the museum’s Solvang School: Inspired in Nature exhibit. The theme of the exhibit is based on philosopher Henry David Thoreau’s quote: “All good things are wild and free.” Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF ISABELLA RHEA

Among the artworks the museum has shared so far include pieces from Starry Nights: Visions of the Night Sky; Solvang School: Inspired in Nature; and Santa Barbara County and Beyond: Recent Photographic Landscapes by George Rose. Although offering the artworks free and online doesn’t provide compensation to the artists involved, Otte-Demangate hopes grant-making agencies will soon alleviate the troubles of struggling artists during this unprecedented crisis.

“This is a tough time for the arts and artists, no question,” Otte-Demangate said. “Artists are driven to create and share their work. And there’s already been an incredible outpouring of their work online. But that doesn’t pay their bills. I’m hoping that there will be granting agencies that step up to help support us in the coming months.

OBSERVE FOR YOURSELF: Included in the Wildling Museum’s Starry Nights exhibit, this photograph of the Thor’s Helmet emission nebula was captured by BJ Fulton while conducting research at the Las Cumbres Observatory in Goleta. Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF BJ FULTON

“Of course social service agencies will be facing the most need, but I hope the arts sector isn’t forgotten,” Otte-Demangate added. “I just hope all of us as individuals really step up in compassion and generosity to our fellow citizens in the days ahead.”

The Wildling Museum’s social media campaign is spearheaded by Assistant Director Lauren Sharp, who provides verbal context to each artwork post, including info on each work’s respective artist. Complete virtual tours of each exhibition are also available on the museum’s website, for followers who prefer an even higher dose of Zen than their newsfeed picks up.

As the museum is one of both art and nature, it’s only appropriate for its social media accounts to encourage the community to “spend a little time in nature when you need to de-stress.”

“Art and nature are wonderful avenues of solace and inspiration during trying times,” Otte-Demangate said.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Oso Flaco Lake was one of Otte-Demangate’s favorite places to hike, but State Parks closed vehicle access to several Central Coast beach areas—including Oso Flaco—on March 27.

FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE: This landscape of Happy Canyon in Santa Ynez by photographer George Rose is featured in Santa Barbara County and Beyond, a photographic landscapes exhibit at the Wildling Museum. Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE ROSE

“I’d also recommend an easy walk to Nojoqui Falls,” she added, “which should be flowing pretty well—just check ahead of time to make sure it’s open as rainy weather can cause temporary closures.”

Also in light of COVID-19 shelter-in-place measures, the museum’s social media accounts are sharing arts and crafts projects for children and adults to complete at home together, Otte-Demangate said. One post on the museum’s Instagram encourages kids to take up recycled art projects, using discarded items from around their own households.

“We want to share art and craft activities families can do from home, now that schools are closed,” she said. “One of our main focuses is repurposing and reusing materials, like toilet paper tubes.”

Just when you thought the demand for toilet paper rolls couldn’t possibly get any higher.

Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood wants to see what you’ve been working on. Send your latest art projects to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.

This article appears in Apr 2-9, 2020.