My presence in Santa Barbara began in 1965 coming to the University of California after completing my MFA at California State Long Beach. My service as a professor concluded with my retirement after 38 years as a professor of Visual Art. My development in Photography began as a consequence of administrative responsibilities with the University’s Policy and Planning Committee. Issues concerning the management of the University’s Natural Reserve Sites, became a focus with decisions regarding a very large natural landscape given to the university referred to as Sedgwick Ranch located in the Santa Ynez Valley. At the time of receipt, this landscape had not been occupied for more than a quarter of a century. After an extensive effort and my deep involvement with hiking and on site photography the final decision was not to divide and sell.
As a consequence of this effort and my photography, I have become very close to this and all other Nature Reserve Sites that our UCSB campus has responsibility for. These large scale images have resulted in a number of in depth exhibitions that I have created through a significant investment in equipment and time.
Your statement defines your effort to procure ‘imagery that represents elements of nature, water, and landscape’. My effort has resulted in an extensive body of work which is entirely consistent with your focus for this project. The message of’ hope and healing’ has been and will continue as the fundamental force behind my creative endeavor. The only true factor in the future of our presence on this planet can be derived from such a positive effort and attitude.
Michael Arntz and His Photography