fbpx

5/13 Field Illustration Workshop: Tide Pools with Sami Chang

Join science illustrator Sami Chang for a guided field sketching experience at the tide pools where we will observe a diversity of ocean life and record what we find using science illustration techniques. Basic materials will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their favorite nature journaling and field sketching tools, such as a journal, watercolor palette, pencils, pens, hand lenses, etc.

This program is in support of the new exhibit The Art of Nature.

Saturday, May 13, 2023
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Capitola (exact location shared upon registration)
$15 Members | $25 General

Registration opens for Members on Tuesday, March 14 (must be logged in). Registration opens for all Wednesday, March 15.
Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registering.

About the Artist

Samantha (Sami) Chang is a proud East Bay Area Native. Growing up, she explored her jungle of a backyard, sketchbook and pens always in hand, and drew everything she saw. Though art was one of her first loves, she became passionate about marine sciences when she was 12 years old. This passion drove her to pursuing a Marine Science degree from California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and allowed her to focus her studies on a large range of marine organisms, from the Humpback whales that visit the bay during the summer months to feed on schools of sardines to the black abalone that hide deep within the rocky crevices of the intertidal to avoid being eaten by sea otters. Combining her love of art and science, she went on to gain her graduate certification in Science Illustration at CSUMB in hopes of educating large audiences on various marine organisms and ecological processes as well as how they are impacted by human interactions.

Website: https://www.schangstudios.com/

Accessibility

  • Wear sturdy footwear that you don’t mind getting wet. Sneakers, knee-length rubber boots, and surf booties are all good options. No sandals, please! It may be windy and chilly, so dress in layers and have a windproof outer layer.
  • Low tide is at 12:17 p.m.
  • We will walk down a flight of stairs to reach the intertidal zone.
  • Basic materials will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their favorite nature journaling and field sketching tools, such as a journal, watercolor palette, pencils, pens, hand lenses, etc.
  • Youth under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration fees apply to all ages.
  • Restrooms are available at the parking lot.
  • Please leave your pets at home. Trained service animals are permitted.
  • Please adhere to the latest local guidelines for COVID safety.

5/5 First Friday | The Art of Nature

Get to know Santa Cruz’s WILD SIDE at the Museum of Natural History. Nerd out on your night out during monthly after hours events every First Friday, featuring rotating themes, vendors, and activities. Free admission to the Museum all day 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with special outdoor festivities 5-8 p.m.

April’s event will feature over a dozen artist booths from local science illustrators featured in the annual exhibit, The Art of Nature. Support the artists by going home with prints, stickers, cards, cups, and more! Food from Areperia 831 and adult drinks will be for sale.

Friday, May 5, 2023
5-8 p.m.
Location: Outside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Featured artists

Katie McCullough
Noelle Valdez
Tina Somers
Kylene Gilmore
Meegan Painter
Suzy Radonsky
Kristen Burroughs
Melissa Eugene
Elizabeth Romanini
Kylie Kathleen Smith
Calene Luczo
Nicholas Ta
Hannah Kanne
Elizabeth Conway
Lindsay Newey
Kaelin O’Hare

Accessibility

  • Drop-by anytime 5-8 p.m. to join the festivities!
  • Admission to the Museum is free all day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Follow the latest guidelines for for covid safety.
  • Restrooms and water fountains are available inside the Museum.
  • Artist booths and activities will be on somewhat lumpy grass.

4/29 Makers Market | The Art of Nature

During this outdoor Makers Market, meet local artists featured in our annual science illustration exhibit, The Art of Nature, watch them at work, and support them by going home with prints, stickers, cards, cups, and more! There will be free admission to the Museum, making it the perfect time to explore this year’s science illustration display featuring over 30 local artists.

Saturday, April 29, 2023
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Outside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Featured artists

Katie McCullough
Noelle Valdez
Sami Chang
Tina Somers
Lora Roame
Jennifer Zee
Meegan Painter
Suzy Radonsky
Kristen Burroughs
Melissa Eugene
Andrea Dingeldein
Elizabeth Romanini
Kylie Kathleen Smith
Calene Luczo
Nicholas Ta
Hannah Kanne
Rebecca Bothelo
Elizabeth Conway
Rachel Strader
Connie Speer

Accessibility

  • Drop-by anytime 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to join the festivities!
  • Admission to the Museum is free all day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Follow the latest guidelines for for covid safety.
  • Restrooms and water fountains are available inside the Museum.
  • Parking permits are required if you park on the Museum-side of Pilkington Ave. They can be retrieved at the info booth or inside the Museum.
  • Artist booths will be on somewhat lumpy grass.

FULL 4/22 Natural Pigments Workshop with Patricia Larenas

The soils and rocks around us hold hidden potential for your next art project. Join artist Patricia Larenas for an exploration of local pigment sources — we will respectfully gather materials, transform them into paints, and practice using them as an artistic medium. All materials provided.

Saturday, April 22, 2023
10 a.m. to noon
Location: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
$15 Members | $25 General

Registration opens for Members on Tuesday, March 14. Registration opens for all Wednesday, March 15.
Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registering.

This program has reached capacity. Emails events@santacruzmuseum.org to be added to a waitlist.

About the Artist

Patricia Larenas has a special interest the iconic trees of the San Francisco Bay Area, especially the native species. Her tree portraits of individual trees, are intended to bring attention to their profound beauty and their critical role in our global ecosystem. She believes that the health of our trees is a reflection of the health of our planet, and currently both are in crisis. Patricia is currently Artist in Residence with Canopy, a non-profit dedicated to growing the urban forest in the Bay Area (www.canopy.org). She studied in the Filoli Botanical Art Certificate Program in Woodside CA, and is an exhibiting member of the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists. She received her B.A. degree in Studio Art from San Jose State University. Patricia was born in Chile and currently lives in Mountain View with her husband and a menagerie of trees.

Website: www.plarenasonpaper.com
Instagram: @plarenas_onpaper

Accessibility and Logistics

  • Wear layers and be prepared to be out in the sun for long stretches of time.
  • This program will occur in the amphitheater behind the Museum. There is a ramp to get down to the amphitheater, but at the end are steps. We will also head across the street to Seabright Beach for a portion of the walk, including being on sand (we’ll head about 50 feet out onto the sand from the beach entrance).
  • Leave your pets at home. Trained service animals are allowed.
  • Restrooms are available inside the Museum.
  • Parking permits are required on Pilkington Ave. adjacent to the Museum. Staff will provide one for any participant who parks there.
  • All materials provided, but bring a breath mint tin (or something similar) should you like to take home a wet palate.
  • Youth under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration fees apply to all ages.
  • Follow the latest guidelines for COVID safety at the time of the event.

4/20 BIPOC Bonfires

Be in community for monthly bonfire talks at Seabright Beach led by local leaders of color. April’s theme: TBD.

Thursday, April 20, 2023

BIPOC Hours: 4-5 p.m.
Location: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

BIPOC Bonfire Talks: 5-6:30 p.m.
Location: Seabright Beach
RSVP here

About the Series

Check out the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History during special extended hours for our BIPOC community, then walk over to the beach to enjoy time together around the fire learning about historic or significant BIPOC figures, amazing natural wonders or discussion of issues we face today. This series continues on the 3rd Thursdays of the month 4-5 p.m. at the museum and 5-6:30 p.m. at the beach!

Visite el Museo de Historia Natural de Santa Cruz durante el horario extendido especial (el mismo día 4-5) para nuestra comunidad BIPOC, luego camine hasta la playa para disfrutar del tiempo juntos alrededor del fuego aprendiendo sobre figuras históricas o significativas de BIPOC, asombrosas maravillas naturales o discusión de los problemas que enfrentamos hoy. ¡Esta serie continúa los terceros jueves del mes de 4 a 5 p. m. en el museo y de 5 a 6:30 p. m. en la playa!

4/15 Insect Walk with Peter Oboyski

Explore Mima Meadow alongside Dr. Peter Oboyski, Executive Director of the Essig Museum of Entomology at UC Berkeley, as we search for insects, spiders, and other hidden gems of Santa Cruz’s meadows and woodlands.

Saturday, April 15, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
Location: Mima Meadow, UC Santa Cruz

$10 General | Free for Members

Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registering.

Accessibility

  • Exact location details will be shared upon registration.
  • As is customary with entomological, botanical, and geological explorations, we might not make it far. Even so, you should be prepared to walk on uneven terrain and for up to a few miles.
  • Wear layers and be prepared to be out in the sun for long stretches of time.
  • Leave your pets at home. Trained service animals are permitted.
  • We will provide resources, but feel free to bring along your favorite insect observation tools (we have a number of field guides in our online store and Members receive 10% off).
  • Youth under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Follow the latest guidelines for COVID safety at the time of the event.

4/15 Saturdays in the Soil

It’s time to get your hands dirty! Learn about local ecology, native plants, and sustainable gardening while coming together as a community to steward Tyrrell Park through the City’s Adopt-A-Park program.

Saturday, April 15 | 10 a.m. to noon
Every third Saturday at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Email volunteer@santacruzmuseum.org to RSVP

What to Expect

  • This native plant garden requires general landscaping, occasional watering, weeding, and replanting.
  • This program happens rain or shine, but we will cancel in the case of muddy conditions or inclement weather.
  • All ages are welcome; children under 14 require adult supervision.
  • Please follow latest state and local guidelines for covid safety at the time of the program.

FULL 4/13 Nudibranch Painting Party with Nicholas Ta

Connect with fellow nudibranch lovers during this guided painting experience inside the Museum. Materials, drinks, and treats provided and all participants will go home with their own hand-painted nudibranch sculpture. We’ll open with social time 5:30-6 and will begin the workshop by 6 p.m.

3D artist, professional scuba diver, and marine biologist Nicholas Ta will provide a variety of species to choose from while helping folks apply accurate coloration. These scientifically accurate 3D sea slug sculptures are made from soy-based resin and reusable products.

This program is in support of the new exhibit The Art of Nature.

Thursday, April 13, 2023
5:30-8:30 p.m.
$35 Members | $45 General

Registration opens for Members on Tuesday, March 14. Registration opens for all Wednesday, March 15.
Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registering.

This program has reached capacity. Emails events@santacruzmuseum.org to be added to a waitlist.

About the Artist

Nicholas Ta specializes in creating digital sculptures and printed models of marine animals in their environments. In under 1 year with the Monterey Peninsula College 3D Arts Program, he has become adept in multiple fields such as: digital sculpting, slicing, FDM & Resin, machine maintenance & repair, scanning, photogrammetry, and fabrication. These new skills are combined with his extensive background in professional SCUBA diving; and his undergraduate studies in Ecology and Animal Physiology. His foundational goal is to use 3D Arts to enhance scientific communication; creating more accessibility in marine science.

Aside from replicating animals, Nicholas fully utilizes his abilities by collaborating with institutions or individuals who wonder, “How can 3D art help me?” Restoration work with visitor centers, prototyping equipment with diving manufacturers, and one of his favorites, making elaborate custom cake toppers. Nicholas believes by casting this wide net, he is always pushing his abilities resulting in smoother workflows and creative problem solving. All while sharing his combined passion for 3D Arts and ocean accessibility.

Accessibility

  • All materials provided and participants will go home with their own hand-painted nudibranch sculpture.
  • Bring a breath mint tin (or something similar) if you’d like to bring a wet palate home with you. Here are instructions.
  • Snacks and drinks will also be provided. Feel free to bring additional food should you like.
  • Youth under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Follow the latest guidelines for covid safety.
  • Please leave your pets at home. Trained service animals are permitted.
  • Review more details on our Accessibility page.

4/12 Nature Journal Studio

Nature journaling can help us view the natural world with new perspectives, learn about our surroundings, and see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

During monthly Nature Journal Studio sessions at the Museum, Melinda Nakagawa will guide you through a topic as we practice skills in a group setting and share our learning with others. We will develop observation skills and awareness of nature, improve sketching skills, and practice strategies to bring the 3-dimensional world onto the page. Rather than an art class, nature journaling is about observation, curiosity, wonder, and honing these abilities.

Wednesday, April 12, 2023
6:30-8 p.m.

Location: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Free with Admission*

Sign-up for other Nature Journal Studio events.
*Free for Members and Youth under 18 | $4 General | $2 Students and Seniors

Accessibility and COVID protocol

  • All experience levels are welcome. Youth under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • You can attend one session or come each month.
  • It is likely that the programs will take place inside the Museum, but sometimes sessions are held outside (details in confirmation email).
  • Follow the latest guidelines for covid safety.
  • Basic materials are provided, but feel free to bring your favorite nature journal tools.
  • Please leave your pets at home. Trained service animals are permitted.
  • Review more details on our Accessibility page.

About Melinda Nakagawa

Melinda Nakagawa is a biologist, naturalist, and educator with a passion and skill for connecting people to nature. She founded Spark in Nature to guide participants to cultivate a deeper relationship with the natural world, slowing down to nature’s pace and seeing rather than just looking at the world.

With an approach that bridges nature, art, and heart, she welcomes all people regardless of their skill level or background. Through her gentle guidance, hundreds of participants have awakened their spark of curiosity, sense of wonder, and connection to the natural world.

Melinda has partnered with local institutions such as the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium and Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History to lead educator trainings on nature journaling. She leads the Monterey Bay Nature Journal Club’s free online Sunday sessions.

She has an M.S. degree in Marine Science, and has also worked as a naturalist guide, floral designer, and wildlife rehabilitator. For the past two decades Melinda has kept nature journals and continues to learn more from nature with each journal she fills.

Nature journal examples by Melinda Nakagawa.

4/8 Member Meet-Up: Norris Center at UCSC

Museum lovers unite! Join us for April’s Member Meet-Up where we will tour the new collections facility at the Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History at UC Santa Cruz. We’ll explore specimens not normally accessible to the public, learn about their collections care practices, and explore how they’re making an impact on the local naturalist community.

Saturday, April 8, 2023
10 a.m. to noon

Free for Members.
Not yet a Member? Join today!
Location details shared upon registration.

Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registering.

Accessibility

  • Location details shared upon registration. Be prepared to walk under a mile along paved paths to get to the location.
  • Youth under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. 
  • Follow the latest guidelines for COVID safety at the time of the event
  • Please leave your pets at home. Trained service animals are permitted.
  • Restrooms and water fountains will be available.