See the Islands Without a Boat!
Your island journey begins at the Chrisman California Islands Center.
Through our public exhibit space and courtyard gallery, learn what it means to save island history and tell their stories.
CCIC has thoughtfully curated exhibits, interactive displays, and fun activities for students of all ages.
Exhibits & Courtyard Gallery
Island Art
The Chrisman California Islands Center is home to the historical art collection of Dr. Carey Stanton. Dr. Stanton spent half a century collecting art of the California Channel Islands, most specifically Santa Cruz Island. Within the archives, there is also the extensive collection from the Santa Cruz Island Foundation. After Stanton’s death, Marla Daily, significantly expanded the Foundation’s art collection to not only include Santa Cruz Island but all eight California Channel Islands. Since then, other islands such as the Farallones have been added to the Foundation’s collection.
Historically, there are very few 19th century Island artists because it was difficult to travel to the islands and artists would have to bring all their equipment and camp for days to reach a location.
In addition to paintings, the Chrisman California Islands Center is also home to sculptures, murals, photography, videography, ceramics, metal work, etc.
A majority of pieces are displayed in the Archives which is available by appointment only.
Diebenkorn Gallery
Carey & Witz - A unique friendship. Dr. Carey Stanton and Richard Diebenkorn first met in 1940 as freshmen at Stanford University. This was the start of their 47 year friendship. Stanton was best man at Diebenkorn’s wedding to Phillis Gilman at Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara in 1943. He nicknamed Diebenkorn “Witz” from the time someone introduced the fledgling painter incorrectly as “Diebowitz.” After Stanton moved to Santa Cruz Island, over the next 30 years, Diebenkorn and his family made frequent island visits. Stanton began to acquire Diebenkorn's work, eventually accumulating 45 pieces. Many of the works were painted on Santa Cruz Island. The intimate but intense Diebenkorn works chart the friendship between the artist and Carey Stanton. After Carey Stanton's death in 1987, the collection of paintings became property of the Santa Cruz Island Foundation, which Stanton established in 1985 to preserve and document the culture of the Channel Islands.
The Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club (SBARC) was established in 1920 and has operated continuously ever since. SBARC promotes education for persons interested in telecommunications, to disseminate information about scientific discoveries and progress in the field, and to train communicators for public service and emergency communications.
Ham Radio Station
The station inside CCIC is dedicated to Ted Green: Ted Green (1934-2001) was a communications technician in civil service for the Department of Defense, Pacific Missile Test Center, Point Mugu. He served six years on Santa Cruz Island, where, during his spare time he designed, installed, and maintained radio telephone equipment. Ted Green founded the Santa Cruz Island Communications Company which, in 1973, leased two communication sites on the island from the Santa Cruz Island Company. Green was partners with Carey Stanton, Henry Duffield, Jr. and Rick Lagomarsino. The company installed and maintained communications equipment atop Picacho Diablo, Santa Cruz Island for decades. They also sublet space to others desiring a communication system on the island's peaks of Picacho Diablo and Mount Pleasant. In 1987 with the death of Carey Stanton, The Nature Conservancy cancelled the operations of the Santa Cruz Island Communications Company. Ted Green died of cancer on November 3, 2001.
Rotating Exhibit
No special reservations are required to visit the installations featured in CCIC’s rotating exhibit case.
Interlopings – Exploring the Warp and Weft of Ecological Entanglements
April 2024 - October 2024
Helén Svensson and Lisa Jevbratt use non-native plants growing on Santa Cruz to dye yarn and wool from Santa Cruz Island Sheep (a breed endemic to, but now removed from the island). The plants they use have a rich history of nutritional, magical, and medicinal uses in their countries of origin.
Santa Cruz Island is undergoing an intensive ecological restoration process. The project explores perceptions of “invasive species” and aims to complicate questions regarding who and what belongs on that island and by extension on any island, real or imagined. The work seeks to participate in discussions about the migration of plants and microorganisms, immigrants, and colonizers across our globe.
The exhibition consists of weavings and data visualizations showcasing and organizing the resulting colors in an attempt to create a deeper understanding of these plants and our relationship with them. In conjunction with the exhibition, there will be opportunities for the public to engage with the materials and processes directly through workshops and demonstrations.
Past Rotating Exhibits
Coming soon!