Chimineas Ranch Paintings & History

I recently participated in The San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment show "Open Range: Painting the Chimineas" at Castoro Winery. This piece, entitled 'Chimineas Ranch in Fall' (15" x 30") and those displayed below this post were painted at the Ranch and featured in the SLOPE exhibit.

The Chimineas Ranch is 31,000-acre property in eastern San Luis Obispo County. The rich cultural and historical legacy and profound ecological significance of the Ranch cement its prominence as a site for enduring public interest and involvement. The modern history of the Ranch begins in California’s post gold rush cattle-drive system. Prior to the opening of a coast route, the Carrizo Plains Trail from the Cuyama Valley across Chimineas was an important cattle-driving corridor. The name “Chimineas” reportedly was given by early vaqueros who found the remains of an old hearth and chimney on the property when camping there for a night. The ranch went through a series of private owners throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, but at the start of millennium was sold to the Department of Fish and Game, The Nature Conservancy and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Now under full public ownership, the Ranch facility provides extraordinary opportunity outreach and education on natural history, hunting, the role of ranching and other resource related concerns.

Save the Date for SLOPE's "Open Range: Painting the Chimineas"

Nancy will be one of the featured artist’s in SLOPE’s artshow "Open Range: Painting the Chimineas" at Castoro Winery. The reception is May 16th and the show is open and free to the public for the month of May. The Chimineas Ranch Foundation is a non-profit organization supporting the Chimineas Ranch Units of the Carrizo Plain Ecological Reserve, a state owned ecologically sensitive property of approximately 30,000 acres adjacent to but not part of the Carrizo Plains National Monument. The Chimineas Ranch once occupied over 50,000 acres in both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties including an ancient Spanish land grant and original homesteads from the late 1800's. Today the ranch is a California Department of Fish and Game ecological reserve with controlled public access. SLOPE has already had several overnight “paint-outs” at the Chimineas Ranch to give artists the opportunity to know the land and the artists and their work to convey an intimate knowledge of the area.

The San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment (SLOPE) is a group of professional artists committed to preserving the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life found in SLO County. The artists of SLOPE produce pieces that draw public attention to endangered natural communities and generate funds for the protection or purchase of endangered lands. SLOPE works in cooperation with local and national conservation groups and landowners to protect SLO County natural communities. SLOPE has raised significant funds that have either aided in the purchase or preservation of land.