Madame Ganna Walska, founder and creator of Lotusland in Montecito, loved to collect interesting and very valuable things.
Like millionaire husbands. (She was married six times).
And jewelry. (Gifted to her by those millionaire suitors.)
And HATS!
Ganna had an enormous collection to mark or enhance every occasion and appearance. And these were not just any ol’ hat — but the crème of the couture.
She did love turbans, and preferred a palate of a kind of icy blue (hmmm, maybe evocative of Tiffany boxes?) And of course, one-of-a-kind, superbly handcrafted and hand stitched.
Eccentric? Nah, Madame Walska did not like that term.
The former opera singer identified as a Student of the Stage. So her adornment was flamboyant and personal and befitting whatever “stage” she was on.
For instance in the opening shot above, we see that she loved entertaining and working in the garden. This would be the bonnet to wear when buzzing around the blossoms, ne’est-ce pas?
Even into the 1950s Ganna was still in search for the sensational chapeau, and met up with the man of the millinery moment.
Mr. John in the 1950s, was the head of haute hats in the fashion world. He started designing in Hollywood for movies, most famously Vivian Leigh’s exquisite hats in Gone with the Wind.
Mr. John and Ganna hit it off personally — both shared a penchant for their pet birds, antiques and the influences of artists.
Now she was buying his unique creations, but she was not necessarily going to wear them. Interestingly, she carefully put them aside in a special closet — choosing to safeguard them like a piece of treasured art.
An Event with Hat-itude
Soooo, Ladies and Gents — especially Ladies — want to see and learn more? Here is your opportunity!
Lotusland is featuring an afternoon of “Madame’s Millinery Masterpieces: Hats Throughout History” from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the luscious estate. It’s an exclusive event, however, and a very limited number people will be admitted to this affaire.
This event will be so ooh la la because you will get to gawk, gaze and gooseneck madame’s millinery up close. Most of the Madame Walska’s hats, in general, have never been seen.
And on this occasion, there will special access into the house to enjoy these hats.
This event is part of the “30 for 30 — Lotusland Forever” campaign. The anniversary marks 30 years that the Lotusland botanical gardens have been open to the public, demonstrating remarkable staying power!
The $30 million capital campaign will be used to enhance the century-old buildings, grounds and gardens, making them more accessible, and for light restoration and future preservation.
But Wait, There’s More! The afternoon will start with an intimate presentation by Kate Spilker, curator emerita of Costume and Textiles at LACMA | Los Angeles County Museum of Art!
At LACMA, Spilker has curated many exhibits — her favorite being one that introduced visitors to the fantastic collection of Madame Walska’s opera ensembles designed by Russian artist Erté and other famous courtiers.
So we are in for a treat when Spilker provides us this wonderful history of hats with a lens on Ganna’s collection.
She provided me with a bit of a preview of her remarks on how these hats truly illustrate millinery history over the last 700 years.
“My lecture is based on the ‘ancestors’ of Madame’s collection,” she said. “How 20th-century designers mined a rich inventory of design inspiration to reflect, appropriate or transform the headwear of the past’s kings, merchants and commoners.”
If you want “in,” click here to purchase tickets online.
And don’t forget to wear your hat!
Talk of the Town: Chatter on Books
Here is the headline from the Santa Barbara Daily News back in 1896. I think it fits perfectly to introduce all the scoops I have collected from around town.
Literary Luncheons
Mandy Jackson-Beverly is a local podcaster, author, teacher … and reader. Of books.
Books are her babes and, yes, she is a confessed bibliophile, which is why the Australian native is such a perfect guru to lead the Literary Luncheon Series that meets monthly at the El Encanto.
She curates a showcase of various authors and then interviews them informally about their recent books
Jackson-Beverly hosted Bruce Holsinger on his intriguing novel, The Displacements, a suspenseful page-turner about families caught up in a natural disaster, and the reactions, the outcomes and the fallout of all the moving parts.
It was a serious and thought-provoking look at how people behave in stress and life-altering events.
At another lunch, Jackson-Beverly held her casual conversation with the very amusing Paul Rudnick about his book Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style, which was decidedly the other end of the spectrum: a gay rom-com taking place in Manhattan to Hollywood.
The New York Times deemed Rudnick as “genuinely hilarious,” and he definitely kept the audience in stitches with his self-effacing story telling and his eye for the ironic.
From Bots to Boots to Books on the Bar Code
Speaking of books, our cowboy in the Santa Ynez Valley, Paul McEnroe, just published his memoir, The Barcode.
Ummmm that barcode? With all the little lines?
As a matter of fact, yes. McEnroe is the award-winning genius engineer who developed the Universal Product Code (UPC) … and while he was at it, the barcode scanner, and the magnetic code for Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) marking.
This is a fascinating book about the team, the vision, the technology, and even overcoming personal obstacles to pursue an idea that has been revolutionary in day-to-day life.
UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Henry Yang, praised the book, saying “The Barcode is a terrific retelling of the development of a technology that is hidden in plain sight, yet whose impact is immeasurable. This first-hand account of navigating unlikely events, overcoming obstacles, and pursuing dreams will resonate with inventive minds everywhere.”
Now if McEnroe’s name sounds familiar to you locally, it’s probably because you know him and his wife, Tina — an educator and also an author of children’s books — for their Rancho La Purisima, a horse breeding and boarding facility in Santa Ynez.
The couple also restored the historic Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse in Buellton.
Another Chapter in Rod Lathim’s Life
So y’all remember Rod Lathim: author, playwright, producer, director, actor, singer and (“I’m not done yet!”) … Artist! Sculptor!
What a talent! Lathim has created some REALLY interesting one-of-a-kind light sculptures … ehhh … it is just to hard to explain! You will have to see for yourself at his opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Helena Mason Art Gallery, 48 Helena Ave. in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone.
A Great Book Story to End With …
Everybody loves Mike Takeuchi over at Chaucer’s Books in Loreto Plaza as he is always knowledgeable and helpful.
A few weeks back, he was assisting a customer. It seems this nice lady had been invited by her friend to go to the Patti Smith Trio concert at the Lobero Theatre.
The friend knew Smith and so the two would be invited to go backstage after the concert to meet the rock star. Very exciting!
So this customer was wondering if there was a Patti Smith book to read ahead of time.
Takeuchi began by congratulating her on her good fortune, and the customer thanked him, adding with enthusiasm, “I really like her song ‘Warrior’!”
Yikes!
Quietly, Takeuchi judiciously explained that that song was by Patty Smyth & Scandal.
Upon realizing her misperception, the woman burst out laughing and then sincerely thanked Takeuchi, admitting “Omigosh, that would have been embarrassing!”