Santa Barbara: Oasis of Arts and Culture | Luxury Realtor Cristal Clarke

RESIDENTS ENJOY MORE THAN BEAUTIFUL BEACHES AND PERFECT WEATHER

Stylized image of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

You may not consider the arts and culture when you think about Santa Barbara, but the area's location, climate, and topography are definitely good for the creative soul. Local artists are highly nurtured in Santa Barbara. From plein air painters to photographers and sculptors, they all have a place in the local art community. The work of local artists is featured at galleries and museums alongside the creations of internationally recognized artists.

New exhibits and openings happen at Santa Barbara’s various galleries and museums throughout the year. Residents also enjoy the popular outdoor arts and crafts show every weekend where resident and visitors alike can pick up something special. And thanks to the wealth and generosity of many famous residents; from Oprah and Rob Lowe to Ellen DeGeneres and Armie Hammer, Santa Barbara's cultural institutions rival those of major cities like neighboring Los Angeles – albeit on a more intimate scale.

Here are some of the arts and culture opportunities residents and visitors enjoy:

Santa Barbara Museum of Art

Boasting 27,000 works within its collection, including more Monet paintings than any other museum on the west coast, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art is truly world-class. Besides the Monets, the museum also features works from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, from the 19th to the 21st centuries. Established in 1941, it receives 150,000 visitors a year and puts on a robust series of lectures, exhibits, after-school classes, plus Thursday and Sunday art workshops and open-air studios for kids.

Waterhouse Gallery

If you’re into California artists, then this gallery is for you. For three decades the owners of the Waterhouse Gallery have been tracking painting trends and what buyers want; seeking out new talent and representing up-and-coming artists and painters from the Western states. Focusing heavily on oil paintings, the gallery showcases many plein-air works, the rich, light-filled canvases created outdoors by artists like Ellie Freudenstein and K. Gavin Brooks, as well as evocative portraits and figurative works by Adrian Gottlieb and Jeremy Lipking.

Elizabeth Gordon Gallery

Just off State Street, the Elizabeth Gordon Gallery offers a slice of contemporary art for sale in a light and relaxed vibe that welcomes serious buyers and the art curious alike. You’ll find the perfect addition to your contemporary home here. Plus, you are welcome to come into the gallery off the beach. A fine art emporium since 1984, the gallery specializes in fresh, provocative, captivating works from established contemporary artists from around the country, such as America Martin's Picasso-like figures of farmworkers, Mark Andrew Allen's bright pop art, and Jan Heaton's colorful, abstract botanicals.

Read: MOXI: Santa Barbara’s Newest Museum

Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show

Every Sunday on Santa Barbara's beachfront, artists who live in Santa Barbara County display and sell their drawings, paintings, graphic works, sculpture, crafts, and photography. The Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Shows take place on Cabrillo Boulevard from Stearns Wharf to Calle Cesar Chavez. The weekly event was started in 1965 by a group of local artists. Every piece on display is original and personally made by the artists. Official show hours are from 10 am until dusk.

Read: Top Residential Architects in Montecito and Santa Barbara History

Even the architecture of hundreds of local buildings -- including many Santa Barbara homes -- is considered to be works of art. Have a look at my portfolio of homes for sale and you’ll see what I mean. Here are 3 of my favorites:

Real Estate is part of the arts and culture in Santa Barbara. This amazing estate is for sale.

Here’s an Ocean & Mountain View Ennisbrook Estate that any art lover will appreciate, especially if you’re looking for a home that artfully combines Modernist ambiance with a Mediterranean soul. Resting atop a knoll on approximately 2.25-acres in Montecito's exclusive Ennisbrook community, it offers impressive ocean and mountain views throughout: a touch of Mother Nature’s impressive natural art. She also had a hand in creating the property’s crown jewel: its grounds. There's a vast terracotta-tiled terrace, as well as a dazzling pool, spa, expansive pergola, detached 2-bedroom guest house, an array of towering palms, planters with lush foliage and flowers, and incredible mountain views.

Contemporary home for sale in Santa Barbara.

Then there’s this Chic Montecito Contemporary, a prime example of contemporary architecture. Contemporary homes like this one are popular because they’ve broken the mold when it comes to changing architectural styles. Though contemporary design does hold a strong emphasis on individuality, there are a few defining characteristics that tie this style of home together including:

An irregular, asymmetrical façade
Strong emphasis on geometric shapes
Large windows
An open floor plan
Lots of natural light
A flexible layout suited to meet the family’s needs

This home, its spacious guest house and its detached pool cabana rest on approximately half an acre, with immaculate landscaping and deluxe amenities.

A Don Nulty-Designed Spanish Masterpiece, a prime example of the red-tile clay roofs, white stucco walls, and wood-beam ceilings that have become synonymous with Santa Barbara architecture.

Every art lover will fall in love with this Don Nulty-Designed Spanish Masterpiece, a prime example of the red-tile clay roofs, white stucco walls, and wood-beam ceilings that have become synonymous with Santa Barbara architecture. One could say this estate is infused with the spirit of Spain, as are many buildings in the area. There are certain things that imbue an estate with world-class status. Its location and its “bones” occupy that privileged list. This magnificent Spanish Colonial Revival-style Montecito property offers both.

As you can see, examples of the arts and culture can be found everywhere in Santa Barbara. There are many more artful estates like the 3 above on my comprehensive website. If you’re considering listing your home here, now is the best time to do it. Give me a call at +1 805.886.9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com and I’ll happily add your home to my portfolio. I also work with buyers who are looking for the perfect place to call home.

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Client Reviews

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch