Nature’s Palette: A Night to Remember
SCAPE’s Nature’s Palette Exhibition and Benefit was a huge success! Held at the Music Academy of the West, the event brought together a vibrant community of artists, art lovers, and supporters of environmental education for an evening filled with creativity, inspiration, and celebration.
Guests were treated to an impressive array of original artwork from local artists, curated by juror Michael Drury of the Oak Group. The exhibition highlighted the beauty of nature through diverse artistic styles. The gallery space was alive with color, texture, and imagination.
The evening wasn’t just about art. It was also a joyful gathering of Santa Barbara County’s artistic and environmental community. Attendees mingled over delicious food, enjoyed conversations with artists, and connected with other art enthusiasts, all while supporting Explore Ecology’s environmental education programs.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us. Your support helps fuel creativity, environmental awareness, and the next generation of artists and learners!
We are very grateful to SCAPE (Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment) for choosing Explore Ecology as the beneficiary of this event. For more information about SCAPE and how to become a member, visit their website.
Josh was born and raised in Santa Barbara, where his passion and curiosity for the environment began and has continued to grow. During his undergraduate studies, Josh pursued this interest at the University of California at Santa Cruz, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies.
Melissa Dodos developed her passion for creative reuse as a mother of four and elementary educator over the past 25 years. She loves to inspire creativity by connecting people with resources and ideas.
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife.
Stephanie began her journey as an educator over twenty years ago working as a preschool teacher in Washington state for a cooperative preschool program affiliated with Whatcom Community College. She loved observing the wonder and curiosity of the children and bringing them out into nature to explore the natural world. She continued her love for learning and got her teaching license and then her Montessori certification and worked as an elementary teacher in Tribal, Public, and Montessori schools. She collaborated to create a school garden and her students loved it so much that it became a special place where they could garden, read, explore, play, and it provided a safe sanctuary for students to calm down and reset when they were having difficult moments.
Morgan’s mermaid soul is always seeking adventure—swimming a relay across the Santa Barbara Channel and taking the first photo of a newborn orca off Anacapa Island being standout experiences close to home.
Lindsay Johnson
