Morris B. Squire Foundation visits CIMWI ( Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute )

Visit @ CIMWI ( Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute ) in Central Coast California near Santa Barbara, non-profit foundation

Beside the "in depth" tour of the CIMWI facility, we were shown a very large tree, which the institute would like to have marine mammals carved into. The tree was burned during one of the fires of 1994, but it still remains intact in the ground. It stands over 18 ft. tall, featuring unique twisted branches. The Morris B. Squire Foundation is seeking to find solutions to having a series of marine mammals carved into it and sealed.
Traditional Vietnamese Lacquer paintings have been eyed by members, especially this one titled "Sea Lions" http://www.morrissquire.com/#!lacquer/albumphotos7=19

 Ashley Woods Hollister, Executive Director of Morris B. Squire Foundation (on right) with Ruth Dover, Executive Director and Chief Veterinarian of Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (CIMWI).   www.cimwi.org  

The institute is rapidly growing in size, looking to one day be open to the public at their location in Gaviota, CA (just outside the city of Santa Barbara) at the historic Vista Del Mar Union School. The organization is a member of the California Marine Mammal Stranding Network and continue to grows. All members of the institute are non-paid volunteers.
"The school grounds accommodate outdoor rehabilitation enclosures with pools, while the indoor facilities include a Hospital/Quarantine Room, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Fish Kitchen and Surgery/Treatment Room with a plan for future research facilities, administrative offices and education space." (Source: www.cimwi.org)

Replacement sculpture "Flame" with "Belly Dancer" at Ventura Government Center

March 16, 2013 Morris B. Squire Foundation replaced sculpture "Flame" with "Belly Dancer", at the Ventura Government Center, located outside the Administration Building. This was made possible from the help of Todd Collart, who has been helping the Ventura County Art Council ( VCAC ), with public art exhibits by VCAC members, and the temporary sculptures exhibited outside at the Ventura Government Center. Here's the story on "Flame", the previous sculpture installed:  http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/01/public-art-mystery-at-county-government-center-unv/

Morris B. Squire Foundation donation of Flamingo and Whale sculpture to Youth Interactive in Santa Barbara, CA Funk Zone May 15, 2013

Flamingo & Whale sculpture donated to Youth Interactive in Santa Barbara, CA Funk Zone on Anacapa St, May 2013.

Morris B. Squire Foundation donation of Flamingo & Whale sculpture to Youth Interactive in Santa Barbara, CA Funk Zone May 15, 2013

Youth Interactive received long-term loan, donation of sculpture "Flamingo & Whale". Earlier in the month Youth Interactive received a loan/donation of canvas painting "Model" from Morris B. Squire Foundation as well. Youth Interactive serves over 2,000 students worldwide through a global network of educational centers.

Weighing in at 500 pounds, "Whale & Flamingo" is a pop art sculpture created from steel and fiberglass, ( used in boat production ) and has a large amount of sculptures and paintings available for long term loans and donation  http://www.morrissquire.com/#!exhibited-art/c1ivi
Youth Interactive Santa Barbara prepares youth to live, work, and thrive in a highly connected world. Together with local organizations, experienced educators, authors, celebrities and artists, we provide youth 6-18 from all walks of life with ways to stay in school to college success, find a job or help them on the way to personalized economic independence by developing their creativity, selling their products in our shop and letting them keep the profits. Youth Interactive works together with local organizations, experienced educators, authors, celebrities and artists, we provide youth 6-18 from all walks of life with ways to stay in school to college success, find a job or help them on the way to personalized economic independence by developing their creativity, selling their products in our shop and letting them keep the profits.

The Morris B. Squire Art Foundation's Mission
We're a lending resource of contemporary art from the San Diego Zoo to Hillels through out Southern California. Mr. Squire seeks to continue to make his art available for exhibition at accredited institutions through out the world. The result is full time lending library of contemporary art that has been written up in papers nationally and internationally for the past couple of decades. Public institutions face numerous challenges in today's modern economic climate when breaking down art barriers and exhibiting contemporary art- increasing operating costs and shrinking donor support. The Morris B. Squire Art Foundation keeps pace with these challenges absorbing almost the entire cost of the exhibition of their works with a public-minded objective of enabling the display of art for study.

Youth Interactive's website: http://www.youthinteractive.us
Morris B. Squire Foundation: http://www.morrissquire.com


Canvas painting "Model" donated to Youth Interactive in Santa Barbara, CA Funk Zone on Anacapa St, last month in April 2013.

Interior of Youth Interactive in Santa Barbara, CA Funk Zone on Anacapa St, May 2013.

Questions & Answers, with artist Austin Danson

Questions & Answers, Artist Residence Program @ Morris B. Squire Foundation   

with Artist; Austin Danson

" Sooperfunction! " Installation view

November 2013

How long will you be staying at the foundation?


I will be staying here for about three and a half months; mid June to the end of September

What art projects will you be working on?

My main focus will be a continuation and exploration of my painting practice—a lifelong project of developing my own visual vocabulary for expression, communication, and intellectual stimulation through paint. It will be interesting to see how being back in Santa Barbara, where I grew up, will influence my paintings. I am looking forward to working on some more distinctly autobiographical work as well, which will focus on religion.
Additionally, Morris contacted me a few years ago about working on one of his projects. I didn’t have the skill set at the time to be able to, but now know how to create what he had in mind, and so would like to do that if we can find some sketches or writings about the proposed work.

"Before"

Sumi ink and water color on sized rice paper with mica

24"x56"

How did you hear about the program?


I wanted to come back home to Santa Barbara for the summer to process my last year in LA. I was looking around for any residency programs, and a friend told me about the foundation. I contacted Ashley Hollister with some ideas, she seems to have liked them, and here I am!

What are you looking forward to during your stay?


Having the time to focus solely on my artistic practice, and to be able to choose solitude when necessary, and yet experience the magic of our town when I choose to. As an artist (a young artist in particular), space and time are really luxuries and large amounts of them give you the opportunity to vastly grow your practice.I am also very excited about contributing to the artistic upwelling of Santa Barbara born people of my generation. We’re living in an exciting moment for the city. A lot is changing very quickly, and its great to see us grow and open up to a larger contemporary dialogue. There is an energy in this push for a more contemporary and active Santa Barbara that I am anxious to draw upon in my work.

What are your plans for the future?

I’ll be graduating UCLA next June, and then it’s off to grad school to pursue my MFA. After that, making, showing, thinking, writing, learning, and exploring for as long as I can.

"Gentle Thrills"

acrylic, oil, flash, and shaving cream on canvas

20"x20"

To learn more about Austin Danson & his art, visit:www.austindansonart.com

To learn more about the Artist Resident Program at the Morris B. Squire Foundation, a non profit art foundation in Santa Barbara, CA, visit:http://www.morrissquirefoundation.org/#!resident-artist-program/c1rwj

New artwork arrives at Morris B. Squire Foundation in Santa Barbara

Several mediums of new artwork collection arrives at Art Non-profit in Santa Barbara.

This week the Morris B. Squire Foundation transported a number of artworks owned by Mr. Squire from his residence in Chicago, IL to the foundation's office in Santa Barbara, CA. There's a variety of mixed media (yarn sewn into abstract compositions on the canvas), acrylics, watercolors, & more, which will be added to the current database of artwork on morrissquirefoundation.org which holds several sculptures created in a variety of mediums; steel, concrete, fiberglass, & dimensional digital giclee prints.

Several of the paintings were stored unframed to keep in good condition over the years. They will be properly cleaned before professionally being reframed.

The Morris B. Squire Foundation is a non-profit art foundation that donates art installations from their artwork collection, to public spaces that will help beautify the space. Some of exhibits are months long, with some of the sculpture installations being years to permanent. The non-profit helps out organizations that don't have funds set aside for artwork, and help cover the costs.

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara receives donation from Morris Squire Scholarship Fund

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara received a gift of $4,000 from the Morris Squire Foundation. $2,000 of this gift will be added to the Morris Squire Scholarship Fund, and $2,000 will be added to the Morris Squire Art Scholarship Fund. The commitment to scholarships for local students brings positive impact to the entire community. Rachel Scheib was the 2014 Morris Squire Art Award recipient in January.

"I don't think my interest in art ever began, I think it is there by nature." -Rachel Scheib 

She has been drawn to art since she was a child, especially ink drawing. Her experience at the Visual Art & Design Academy at Santa Barbara High has exposed her to a different artists. Here's a video of Rachel receiving her award:

IN FIGURE art exhibit at Michael Kate Interiors & Art Gallery, featuring 30 works of art.

IN FIGURE art exhibit at Michael Kate Interiors & Art Gallery, featuring 30 works of art. 

 Friday January 10 - Feburary 23, 2013 in the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara.

Artists: Wayne Hoffman, John Carlander, Tara Patrick, Allan Gibbons, Isabelle Greene, Jan Ziegler, Brad Nack, Morris B. Squire, Larry Iwerks, Dustin Pappas, Karin Aggeler.

The purple canvas & two canvases to the left were created by Morris Squire, provided by Morris Squire Foundation of Santa Barbara, CA

Open Mon. - Sat. 10 -6, 11-5 Sundays. Closed Wednesdays.

MichaelKate Interiors & Art Gallery | 132 Santa Barbara St | Santa Barbara, CA | (805) 963-1411