This edition of ON Culture was originally emailed to subscribers on January 5, 2024. Sign up at independent.com/newsletters to receive Leslie Dinaberg’s arts newsletter in your inbox on Fridays.
On the page
I’m an avid user of all the year-end best book lists and love that we’ve been able to put together a new feature in the annual “Year in Pictures” issue: the “Year in Words” list. Indie Staff favorite books they read. Not only did I get some great recommendations, but I also gained a little more insight into my co-workers, which is always fun. Read “The Year in Words” here. The California Review of Books team, who generously provide our weekly book reviews. Independent.comHere is also a great list.
I haven’t been blogging much lately, but I did take the time to put together my annual book list for 2023, which you can read here if you’re so inclined. Among my favorites this year were: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (a beautiful story about a mother telling her daughters the story of a long summer romance); Clara and Suraj by Kazuo Ishiguro (a futuristic novel that brings elements of AI and its possible role in our future); Hello! Beautiful by Anne Napolitano (a moving story about family bonds); A remarkably bright creature by Shelby Van Pelt (a book club pick about a widow and an octopus that I was sure I’d hate, but ended up loving); Foreverland: On the divine tedium of marriage by Heather Haluriski (the only nonfiction pick on my favorites list, a series of articles about, you guessed it, marriage); pale face by RF Kwang (a really great novel about the world of literature and what stories get told in an age of cultural appropriation); The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (a page-turner ’till the bitter end); Nothing to see here. by Kevin Wilson (a very original story full of quirky characters, including a pair of twins who set fires when angry); And It is always like this. by Lori Frankel (really good and eye-opening story about a family with a transgender child).
On the web
I took my whole family to Miriam Dance’s Gospel Brunch last month after reading Rebecca Horrigan’s story. Boy, can she sing! We had a great time, and Joe Woodard wrote about the show here . Meanwhile, I knew nothing of the talented singer’s background, other than that she teaches at Riviera Ridge School with Rebecca. Then this incredible story of her successful battle with cancer showed up in my inbox from Ridley-Tree Cancer Center. Click here to read all about it. Another online story that caught my eye was the announcement that The New York Times Hired Quartz co-founder Zach Seward as its first editorial director of artificial intelligence initiatives. You can read more about it here.
On the walls
Vice Gallery in La Cumbre Plaza is hosting a retrospective show on the work of oil painter and illustrator Dorothy Churchill Johnson (1942–2023), who died last year, leaving a long legacy of outstanding work. Curated by Lynn M. Holley, the exhibit — on view through Jan. 28 — includes neo-pop, abstract, surreal landscapes, floral, succulent, and still life paintings, as well as some pen and ink drawings. Best known in Santa Barbara as a fine artist working only in oils, Churchill Johnson’s work is widely recognized in museums across the country, from LACMA to the Butler Institute/Museum of American Painting, as well as Russia. And is also known to exhibit in Belgium. for more information click here.
On the stage
Free community performance of Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! One of the best things going on in town. They return this month with a free community performance by America’s first all-female mariachi group, Mariachi Reina de Los Angeles. A collaboration between UCSB Arts and Lectures, the Marjorie Luke Theater, the Guadalupe-Napomo Dance Center, and the Isla Vista School Parent Teacher Association, this program is dedicated to bringing the rich cultural heritage of Latin America to Santa Barbara County community members and students. . .
Here’s the scoop on their three free public performances:
Friday, January 19 | 7 PM | Isla Vista Elementary School, 6875 El Colegio Rd., Goleta
Saturday, January 20 | 7 PM | Guadalupe City Hall, 918 Obispo St., Guadalupe
Sunday, January 21 | 6 pm | Marjorie Luke Theatre, 721 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara
on air
Lisa Engels Literary Gumbo 2.0 The series just concluded its first season with a fascinating interview with writing guru Shelley Loewenkoff, a longtime Santa Barbara resident. The 10-episode series also has sections on using AI in writing, working with Kickstarter, audiobooks, and more. Click here to watch the entire season and learn more about the show.
On the calendar
How much do you know about Pearl Chase, the visionary, formidable, well-connected woman who lived in Santa Barbara for 80 years and shaped the city we live in today? On Wednesday, January 10, at 5:30pm at Workzones, author and civic activist Cheri Rae will talk about her new intimate biography of a woman before her time, A string of pearlswhich he researched through personal letters, professional correspondence, private diaries and interviews. She will share previously untold stories about Chase’s friendships with presidents, politicians, conservationists, activists and other influential women. Lesser Known Causes of Chase; and a star-crossed romance set against the backdrop of World War I. For more details and to RSVP for this event, presented by AWC Santa Barbara, click here.
For more details about Cheri and the book, read my interview here. Visit for a full calendar of events this week and beyond. independent.com/events/.
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