Artist Dinner at the Ranch

Join us for an evening of artist-led experiences and a 5 course dinner by Chef Mason at Rancho Santa Clara Del Norte and Botanical Gardens. You are invited to take part in the keystone evening of the 2026 Land+Sky Artist Residency weekend at Rancho Santa Clara del Norte. Land+Sky is a site-specific, multi-disciplinary artist residency, focused on the multitude of ecological, cultural, and scientific curiosities at Rancho Santa Clara Del Norte. Our evening begins with a Sound Walk through the Ranch led by Perri Lynch Howard, whose sonic observations are the foundation for her paintings and immersive environments. Next, Miroslava Munguia Ramos from the Santa Monica Mountains Fund tells us the story of collecting the imagery, aka "data sets" that became Chase Niesner's short film Signs of Life, a whimsical portrait starring our local flora and fauna. Chef Mason's 5 course menu, rooted in his values, will then be served to artists and guests alike on the veranda of the ranch house while the sun sets over the gardens designed by our host, Thomas Lloyd-Butler. Our evening concludes with the screening of Chase Niesner's Signs of Life. Everyone is welcome. This is a family friendly event and solo diners are encouraged to join us! 👋🏽 👐🏽 Community Building A portion of your ticket purchase will go toward Land+Sky artist stipends. 📋 The Menu: To be announced... Please note that we are unfortunately unable to accommodate specific dietary restrictions and requests. The menu will include vegetarian and dairy-free options. 🌟 What to expect: Being outdoors all evening. A short walk from the parking area to the house. A 40 minute guided sound walk across varied terrain with a slight incline. A 5 course dinner featuring California Cuisine, served family style. An outdoor screening of Signs of Life, a 40 minute art film. A short walk back to the parking area after dark. 👨🏻‍🍳 M eet Chef Mason, founder of Farm Dinner LA 🎟️ Tickets All-Inclusive: A $150 ticket includes everything! All sales are final and non-refundable. 🗒️ Event Program 5:00 pm: Doors open. Enjoy the grounds and mingle with the other attendees. 5:15 pm: Sound Walk with Perri Lynch Howard 6:00 pm: Introduction to Signs of Life by Miroslava Ramos 6:20 pm: Introduction to the Menu by Chef Mason 6:30 pm: Dinner begins 8:00 - 8:40 pm: Signs of Life, an art film by Chase Niesner 9:00 pm: Departures This multi-partner program is the nexus of elegance, ecology, contemporary fine art and community through the shared experience of food, and we are excited to experience it with you. Rancho Santa Clara Del Norte Rancho Santa Clara del Norte is one of the oldest continuously farmed properties in Ventura County and has been owned and managed by the Lloyd-Butler family since 1864. It owes its rich ecosystem to the Santa Clara River, the only wild river in Southern California. The watershed is habitat for a wide array of native plants and animals, and, being unbounded, has contributed greatly to the fertility of the Oxnard Plain. The Lloyd-Butler Botanical Garden Over the past 4 years, Tom Lloyd-Butler and his partner Dan Zelen have expanded the 2 acre botanical garden surrounding the main ranch house, adding collections of exotic ferns, cyads, palms, cacti, and agave, and achieving Arboretum status. Tom's approach to garden design parallels the "rooms" of orchards on the ranch. Tom now farms regenerativelty and has documented over 4000 species on the property, which he attributes to the symbiosis of the ranch, the gardens and the wild lands. Meet Perri Lynch Howard What is a soundwalk? “A soundwalk is any excursion whose main purpose is listening to the environment. It is exposing our ears to every sound around us no matter where we are. ” – Hildegard Westerkamp How can a soundwalk improve our health? Taking the time to listen to our surroundings gives us a deeper understanding of how our everyday actions affect our well-being. Our sense of hearing is heightened, and awareness of our connection to nature is enhanced. "Signs of Life" Signs of Life is a series of vignettes collected by scientists and volunteers working with the National Park Service of the Santa Monica Mountains to document regrowth and rehabitation following the Woolsey Fire. Biologist and Anthropologist Chase Niesner edited the footage to let each species tell its own story. If you have any questions please email us, [email protected] or [email protected] Land+Sky is a program by Studio Channel Islands Art Center curated by Robin Wallace.