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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Calendar of Events

via quasi-holograms. The crux is video exposes humanity to content shaping public opinion and as an agent of socio-political change. The 70 works explore concepts from news, documentaries, music video, social media, digital art, CGI, and the current elephant in the room, AI.

Should that be a tad overloading, one can easily wind down to the classics on the 5th floor, with Henri Matisse’s Dance (I) [Paris, Boulevard des Invalides, early 1909] – his acknowledgement that photography took over details in art freeing the artist of it. Escape through walls of Gaugin, Seurat, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Dali.

Dedicating the 2nd floor to new photo works, we find the “Collection 1970s-present,” a revolving exhibit of different artists and mediums to capture alter egos, politics, cultures, personal experiences, heritages, and human nature. Most viewed are “Assembly,” which takes aim at American culture with found objects, and Mujinga’s “Flo” faux hologram about a person’s visibility in the world. The “New Photography 2023” exhibit with artists Kelani Abass, Akinbode Akinbiyi, Yagazie Emezi, Amanda Iheme, Abraham Oghobase, Karl Ohiri, and Logo Oluwamuyiwa, have art depicting the port city of Lagos, Nigeria. The artists are said to use photography as art not documentarism, but the viewer gets both.

A Literary Feast

The Polonsky Exhibition of the New York Public Library’s Treasures at its Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 5th Avenue is free with docent tours and an audio guide via QR code. This first-time exhibition has artifacts, books, furniture, and sculptures curated from its collection of 56 million items – a time capsule for certain. The hall is laid out by subject area, including the arts, cartography, public records, historical documents, literature, Women’s and Civil Rights, religions, literature, and Broadway. Key on view is the U.S. Declaration of Independence, George Washington’s resignation speech, Duke Ellington’s sheet music, Miles Davis’s liner notes, Shakespeare’s 1623 Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, the Birds of America (1827) by JJ Audubon, MLK artifacts, James Baldwin’s letter to his sister Angela Davis, Charles Dickens’ 1859 writing desk, chair, and lamp where he wrote Great Expectations and other books, the 1939 Grand Central Station drawing by William Wilgus, ballet shoes, tap shoes, and Broadway scripts. The oldest book acquired is a cookbook in the Exploration Collection, and the most checked out book is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, at over 485,000 check-outs. Finishing up, I noted a Royal Quiet De Luxe 1940s typewriter belonging to a New Yorker Magazine writer… and wondered, would my trusty computer make it in the collection?

History buffs need to visit The Morgan Library & Museum on Madison at 36th Street, it’s a museum, research center, and live performing arts center. The art and book

“[The Tea Fire] serves as a reminder of our extreme conditions and that regardless of past weather, it is important that we are all well prepared for wildfire,” he said.

Hardening Your Home Against Wildfire

Elmquist works alongside fellow Wildland Fire Specialist Maeve Juarez. The prolific rain year also brought prolific regrowth of vegetation that she and Elmquist are working hard to trim back before it becomes dangerously crisp.

“Now is the time to focus on your defensible space, harden your home and ensure you have a plan to be ready for wildfire,” Juarez said.

She says small, easy steps to “harden” your home can vastly improve your property’s chance of survival.

Her top tips include upgrading your roof to a noncombustible roof material such as tile or asphalt shingles, installing gutter guards to prevent dry material from collecting in your gutters, and retrofitting your home’s vents with fine, ember-resistant mesh.

Next, create and maintain defensible space.

“Defensible space does not mean bare dirt all around your home,” Juarez said. “We ask that you remove any dead vegetation, be diligent with your weed whipping, utilize hardscape, and landscape with fire-resistant plants.”

Defensible space gives firefighters an opportunity to safely defend your home from a wildfire while breaking up pathways for fire that can lead to home ignition.

Additionally, Juarez says a properly maintained driveway can affect your ability to evacuate quickly and whether first responders can get in to protect your home.

“Always maintain at least 13.5 feet of vertical clearance across the entire width of your driveway,” Juarez said. “As you can see in these pictures (page 11), our Engine 91 can barely make it into this driveway. If my pickup truck can’t fit down your driveway, fire engines cannot make it to your home.”

Evacuation Planning During 101 Construction

Travis Ederer, Montecito Fire Division Chief of Operations, says reviewing your evacuation plan is more important than ever due to the ongoing Highway 101 construction and ancillary roadwork throughout the area.

The “Ready, Set, Go!” guide is a helpful tool to prepare residents for wildfire and evacuation.

“Ready” means being aware of weather, traffic conditions, time of day, and other factors that may affect your ability to evacuate. “Set” means loading your vehicle and taking proactive steps to ease the process of evacuating. The last step, “Go,” simply means leave now.

“We always say, ‘leave early,’ and it’s because it is a very stressful scenario for people to evacuate. If you prepare early, that’s alleviating your future stress,” Ederer said. Leaving early is particularly important this fire season due to unpredictable traffic.

“It’s counterintuitive, but often faster to drive south to Sheffield to go north to Santa Barbara city. That’s why we say make a plan and reevaluate it consistently,” he said. “Depending on the time and conditions, we may not even want people evacuating to the 101. We may direct you up to Highway 192 south to get on the 101 in Carpinteria.”

Ederer explains that unified commanders managing a wildfire consider all components impacting the flow of evacuees. During construction, routing traffic efficiently will take some creative thinking.

“You may find yourself being directed on surface streets into Santa Barbara city,” he said. “Just be patient and leave early.”

He recommends testing out your evacuation plan at different times of day. Become familiar with local traffic patterns and how you may need to adapt based on whether it is a mid-morning evacuation with minimal traffic or afternoon evacuation with peak congestion.

Security

Commander Brad Welch with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has been patrolling the South Coast for 20+ years and asks residents to make security part of their preparedness actions.

“As law enforcement during an evacuation, we may need to access your property. Please check with your alarm company to make sure you have updated gate codes,” Commander Welch said. “Please share that gate code with Sheriff’s dispatch and Montecito Fire as well.”

Register for Emergency Alerts

Director of the County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Kelly Hubbard says social science has found that people typically check at least three sources before responding to an official emergency alert like the ones her team sends out.

“A standard person will check the news, talk to their neighbor, check a website, maybe check another website, and then start to react,” Hubbard said. “So, we use as many different methods as possible to get our message out.”

One of those methods is ReadySBC Alerts – the County’s emergency notification system that residents must register for in advance. You may register up to five different addresses such as your home, workplace, child’s school, and an at-risk loved one’s address. You must have at least one contact method (phone number, email address) and one physical address.

Hubbard says many residents report not receiving ReadySBC Alerts. Investigation into the failed delivery often finds a resident’s information was entered with a typo.

“I highly encourage you to go back to ReadySBC.org even if you’ve registered before and check to make sure you don’t have a typo or any other issues with the accuracy of your information,” Hubbard said.

OEM also uses wireless emergency alerts, which send messages to cell towers, the emergency alert system that is the banner that comes across your TV screen, as well as door-to-door notifications whenever feasible.

Fire Chief’s Message

Montecito Fire Chief David Neels has been at the helm of our department since April, but been part of numerous emergency responses over his 25+ years as a firefighter in Santa Barbara County.

“The year of the Zaca Fire, I remember that before the fire, residents had removed 50 tons of material. When that smoke column from the Zaca Fire went up, they cleared another 75 tons,” Neels said. “Sometimes we need that reminder. That’s why we’re reminding you that while we have many beautiful days ahead, the threat of wildfire is always there.”

Chief Neels asks all community members to take an active role in preparing for wildfire this season.

“As we know, it takes the entire community to be ready for an emergency,” Neels said. “That’s why we so appreciate you working with Nic, Maeve, and our engine companies on your defensible space and home hardening, as well as taking a close look at your evacuation plans, especially during the construction projects.”

To watch the entire Wildfire Preparedness Community Meeting, visit montecitofire.com.

“Walter Isaacson’s work, words, and wisdom bridge divides,…elevating discourse and our understanding of who we are as a Nation.”

– White House Citation granting Isaacson the National Humanities Medal

Speaking with Pico series

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“One of the best books I’ve read in my entire life.”

Combining a writer’s insight with a scholar’s mastery of the material, series host Pico Iyer returns with another inspiring roster of conversational partners. A perennial A&L audience favorite!