“A Whale of a Tale”- News Release

See the Undersea World Through the Eyes of a Child

Opening At the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum April 14, 2022

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Rita Serotkin

(805) 456-5865 rserotkin@sbmm.org 

Santa Barbara, CA. March 8, 2022 – Did you know that whales are superheroes? Whales help maintain the stability and health of the ocean and minimize some of the worst impacts of climate change. This April, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) presents a collection of exhibits and programs that explore the many wonders of whales, entitled Whales Are Superheroes! To kick off the opening of all these events, SBMM has planned an unusual month-long immersive experience,  “A Whale of a Tale,” on display from Thursday, April 14 through Sunday, May 15, 2022. Free with museum admission.

During January and February of this year, SBMM invited local kids in grades K-6 to submit their interpretation of a whale, a whale’s activities, and/or anything ocean-related, such as kelp, starfish, dolphins, and other sea creatures. Now, their artwork has been turned into life-size reproductions that form the highlights of this unusual and immersive sensory experience. Combining those images with the harmonious sounds of whales as they sing to each other, along with video components, and dramatic lighting, “A Whale of a Tale,” brings the kids’ artwork to life and allows audiences to experience whales and their underwater environment through the eyes of a child. 

The “A Whale of a Tale” experience is just one part of the multi-faceted exhibit, Whales Are Superheroes! which will explore the effect whales have on the ocean, climate and climate change, and air quality. As part of this effort and in addition to the “A Whale of a Tale” three-dimensional art and sound experience, SBMM will feature Whales Are Superheroes! Saving the Planet one CO₂ Molecule at a Time, a student art exhibit of SBMM’s work with local elementary and middle schools; The Wonder of Whales: Two Artists’ Perspectives, an ocean-themed exhibit of artwork by Kelly Clause and John Baran; “Santa Barbara Channel’s Whales and Their Climate Connection,” a lecture by Holly Lohuis about how whales affect the climate and about Santa Barbara’s application to be designated an international Whale Heritage Site; and, finally, Whales Are Superheroes! a new permanent exhibit on whales and climate change, which is also part of a joint climate-awareness effort with the Environmental Alliance of Santa Barbara County Museums (https://www.sbmuseumsalliance.org/).

The ”Whale of a Tale” multimedia immersive experience is presented thanks to the generosity of the following sponsors: Chevron, Dreier Family, Emmett Foundation, Hank and Mari Mitchel, Jack Mithun and Mercedes Millington.

Thanks also to these supporting partners:  

Ambient: https://ambientevent.com/; 

Ann Johnson Events: https://www.annjohnsonevents.com/;

Gavin Roy Presents: https://www.gavinroypresents.com/;

Metal Teepee: https://www.instagram.com/metalteepee/?hl=en;

Simply Cocktails: http://simplycocktailssb.com/;

Tri-Co Reprographics: https://www.tricoblue.com/

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Since 2000, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has featured many artifacts and stories to share the history of the Santa Barbara Channel with more than 40,000 visitors annually and provides year-round experiential maritime history and marine science education for local youth. Featuring the impressive First-Order Fresnel Lighthouse Lens from Point Conception, SBMM’s current exhibits explore the History of Oil in Santa Barbara Channel & Chumash Use of Asphaltum, the Honda Disaster, and Wives and Daughters: Keepers of the Light.

SBMM is located at the historic Santa Barbara Harbor at 113 Harbor Way, Suite 190, Santa Barbara, CA 93109.  Visit sbmm.org or call (805) 962-8404 for details.