sbrobert
By Robert Bernstein
Santa Barbara Summer Solstice never ends! The fun and the fund raising! The White Winter Solstice celebration occurred this year on December 14 at the Anchor Rose Restaurant in the same building as the Maritime Museum.
Penny Little had been assistant director of Solstice for many years, preferring to quietly work behind the scenes. We are very fortunate that she has stepped up to be the new Executive Director. She is bursting with ideas of how to bring in new people and new ideas to Solstice. And she is eager to hear other ideas and very eager to have help to make these things happen! Here she was flying high!
For me, a highlight of the event was getting to meet and talk with Patrick Davis, who was the County Arts Commission’s Executive Director from 1988 until his retirement in 2006. Here is an article in The Independent at the time of his retirement, which summarizes some of the extraordinary changes he helped bring to our area and beyond.
He lives in Maine now, but he was back visiting. He is at the far left in this photo. Immediately next to him is Solstice Board President Stacie Bouffard, another powerhouse who quietly gets things done. Next to her is Claudia Bratton, who had been Solstice Executive Director for many years. At far right in the photo is Ron Glover, another quiet powerhouse behind the scenes. He helps create many local events and festivals, including Solstice, Lucidity and Fishbon. He helped create the wonderful Halloween in Isla Vista this year. To his left is Bryan Snyder, a performer and creator at those events as well.
At left in this photo is Alan Macy, local tech entrepreneur, who generously donates space at his Santa Barbara Center for Art, Science and Technology (SBCAST) for much creativity in all of those areas. His wife Cindy Macy is still amazing us with her aerial performances, among other skills. She is second from the right in the photo. Next to Alan is Justin Gunn, who should look familiar as the creator of a variety of motorized and illuminated art pieces at many local events.
I share his taste for lighted boas. His is fancier, but I think I had mine first! My wife Merlie is wearing a tie that belonged to wonderful swing dance teacher Jonathan Bixby, who passed in November of a rare brain disease. Jonathan’s sister Mary wanted to be sure each of his close friends got a tie that he had worn. At right you can see part of the silent auction offerings, too.
Jeff Dutcher was a creator of the World Of Magic store. Here he posed with his husband David Machacek (R). They had a delightful Rubber Ducky ensemble near the end of the Solstice Parade this year!
Jim Sun Bear was a key figure at the Solstice Workshop this year. He loves playing larger than life characters! Here he posed with his dear friend Serena.
Jim Grippo provided Middle Eastern music and you will recognize him from the Middle East Ensemble. The first of several musical performers of the evening.
No Solstice event is complete without Pali! Here he posed with his wife Raven and my wife.
La Boheme Dance Director Teresa Kuskey Nowak showed up a bit late, rushing from another event with a different color theme!
One highlight of the event was Bella Donna doing a drag performance to a modified version of “Jingle Bells”. I just learned this from our Early Music Ensemble music director Katie Saxon: “Jingle Bells” was originally published under the title “The One Horse Open Sleigh” in the autumn of 1857 by James Lord Pierpont as a Thanksgiving song!
Definitely a festive time for all! See https://www.solsticeparade.com/ for more information about Solstice!
