From August of 2010 to February of 2011 Sunlight and Water transformed eight tasting rooms, a restaurant, and a hotel in downtown Los Olivos into a Meandering Gallery experience showcasing Mark Robert Halper's portraits of Santa Barbara County winemakers.

The six month photographic exhibition opened to coincide with the release of the book, Sunlight and Water: Celebrating the Winemakers of Santa Barbara County.

There were better than twenty wine and art related events featuring Sunlight and Water that were part of the era of the Los Olivos Meandering Gallery. Many of these events raised money for local charities, including the opening event, benefiting the Valley Foundation, and the closing event, which was in support of Return to Freedom.

Sunlight and Water in the press:
Santa Barbara Magazine
805 Living
The Santa Barbara News-Press
The Santa Barbara Independent
The Montecito Journal
Broughton Quarterly

The Hotel:
The Fess Parker Wine Country Inn

The Restaurant:
The Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe

The Tasting Rooms:
Andrew Murray Vineyards
Blair Fox Cellars
Coquelicot
Daniel Gehrs
Qupé - Ethan - Verdad
Scott Cellars
Stolpman Vineyards
Tre Anelli

The Inspiration.

In many ways there is no such thing as a get-away vacation for an artist. Sunlight and Water began as a wine country vacation for Mark Robert Halper and his wife Jennifer.

“I've never taken very well to sightseeing or spending days lying on a beach somewhere,” Halper comments. “The prospect of drinking wine and creating art was far more appealing, and on little more than an impulse, I asked my studio manager to find us winemakers who would sit for my camera. They were told it was a personal project that perhaps would manifest into a book. On the first trip,” Halper smiles as he remembers, “there was little fear, and a great deal of syrah.”

Halper decided at the beginning to use the broadest definitions of who a winemaker is. Properly, the term Vintner would be more appropriate, but also far less accessible. This project includes those who own the wineries, and even some who grow the fruit. The portrait collection is representative rather than comprehensive. It encompasses vintners from the largest wineries in the county, to a woman who has a single barrel of very excellent syrah to her name. There are vintners who have been making wine since the area was first planted in the early 70's, as well as some who only came to the area within the last few years. There are cowboys and executives, chefs and farmers, and entertainment moguls and architects. All of them are winemakers as well.

Halper made a few decisions about the series in the beginning of the process. “I've tried to be sparing in my use of barrels, bottles, and vines, and to remember that a photo of a winemaker doesn't by any necessity require the props or locations of the trade; these are portraits of people, not archetypes. ” Halper remembers that “the experience fueled me creatively and I felt that it was the best series of work that I'd ever done.”

The subjects, of course, are at the heart of it, and much of the variety in the work was able to stem from who they are. “I feel a very strong affinity with these people in terms of their love of their work. We think of winemakers in glamorous terms, but the task is really farming. There is a quiet passion that allows them to nurse the grapes over time into what we know as wine, but the process is really a very messy and earthy business. Vintners are an eccentric group, and proud of the work they do. They work very hard, and their rewards come slowly.”

Halper’s romantic images are evidence of his romance with the area. He reflects “The results, and so many of the people, are bigger than life, even if the process of doing the work is not. They are very individual in their personalities. I have neither the talent, nor the patience, to undertake what is involved in even a single barrel of wine. I find beauty in the struggle, and I hope that I've imparted that in my work.”

The intimate portraits of Sunlight and Water celebrate the romance of wine country, the passion of the vintners, and the artistry of great wine.

The Aesthetics.

Creator and photographer Mark Robert Halper has a classic aesthetic, and was heavily influenced in this work by the visual qualities of early cameras which are reflected in the softness, lens flare, and visual imperfections which are part of all of the imagery.

As the project progressed, the work evolved. Halper’s camera pulled back to reveal more of the environment, and the imagery grew in complexity and sophistication. Each of the individual trips has an evolving character that contributes to the creative breadth of the series.

All of the Sunlight and Water photographs were done with a minimum of equipment and complexity. "For me, this project was very much about getting back to basics, " Halper explains. “Most of the images were done with natural light, and those that did use artificial lighting were lit with very simple lighting purchased primarily from hardware stores, rather than traditional professional equipment. ” None of the final images were planned out in advance of the scheduled sessions; rather Halper worked with the locations and props on hand and responded to his subjects on an individual basis. The design of the images was largely intuitive, and in most cases he tried several different setups with each of his subjects.

By choosing black and white, and in his careful attention to the individual elements in his images, Halper worked to create a look in the imagery that keeps it from being anchored to any specific point in time. The images have very little, if any, retouching, and were all created with the same lens on the same Hasselblad digital camera body.

The Artist.

Mark Robert Halper is passionate about everything he does. A professional photographer for two decades, Halper has built a successful career in a competitive field by bringing a consistent vision to a diverse client base. Halper thrives on the variety in the projects he tackles. “Every day is something different doing exactly what I love,” Halper explains.

Raised in Los Angeles, where he still resides, Halper became interested in filmmaking in high school, an interest which would transform into still photography in college. After graduating from University of California Los Angeles in 1987, Halper began studying commercial photography and in 1989, started shooting professional assignments.

His entrepreneurial spirit has guided him in the expansion of his business. He realized the power of the Internet early on in promoting his work and business, resulting in his becoming more widely known. His clientele evolved from magazine editorial in the mid and late 90’s to corporate and advertising clients in the new millennium.

Halper comments, "The key to my work is simplicity. I take out everything that isn’t absolutely necessary, until the only elements that remain are those that are entirely essential. The best photographs are usually the simplest.”

Halper’s photography has evolved to include a number of personal projects several of which have been exhibited as fine art.

In 2007, Mark married Jennifer Hunt, a special effects digital compositor and lighter for academy award winning films. She now brings her expertise to the business, retouching Halper’s imagery, including all of the fine art photography. She also works with Halper on his sessions, and was a constant presence in Sunlight and Water.

Mark and Jennifer give back to the community in many ways, including donating portraits to the victims of the Sayre Fires in Sylmar (who had lost their images and belongings) and by helping to raise funds for a wide variety of charities through donations of their work.

The Events of Sunlight and Water

The Winemaker's Dinner
An Exclusive Sunlight and Water Artist’s Table Event
Friday August 13, 2010 at 7pm
Root 246 Restaurant, 420 Alisal Road, Solvang, CA 93463

Join Winemaker Kirby Anderson and artist Mark Robert Halper for a gourmet sit down dinner designed by Chef Bradley Ogden himself at Solvang's Root 246 Restaurant. This event is limited to only 18 guests, each of whom will have the opportunity to break bread, mix and mingle with two celebrated artists, both a master of their craft.

Kirby Anderson is the winemaker for Evan's Ranch, Gainey, Huber, Triple T, Westerly, consults with several respected wine companies, and is highly respected in his field. Mr. Anderson be presenting varietals from several of the wineries that he creates wine for.

Mark Robert Halper, is the inspired creator of the Sunlight and Water Exhibition, Events and Book.

Chef Bradley Ogden’s philosophy of “keeping it simple” and using the freshest ingredients available has helped him become one of the most respected names in the culinary industry. Each menu he creates is a study in what’s seasonal, what’s savory, and a bit of the unexpected.

Seats at this one of a kind event are $265 per person. For reservations or additional information please call 1-888-273-2838.

Here, hot off the press, is Chef Ogden's menu and the wine pairings:

Lobster Ceviche with Watermelon Slush “Pepper Saltine”
2007 Evan’s Ranch/Gainey Vineyard Blanc de blanc

Foie Gras Kisses with Boysenberry Compote
2008 Evan’s Ranch Syrah- Las Brisas

Local Roasted Sea Bass with Heirloom Tomatoes
2009 Westerly Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Glazed Quail with Corn & Chanterelles
2008 Triple T Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Triple Seared New York Kobe Steak
2008 Triple T Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Maytag Blue Cheese Soufflé, Roasted Plum Jam
Wild Sausalito Spring Watercress
2009 Huber Vineyard- Dornfelder Port

Summer Fruit Tasting

The Los Olivos Meandering Gallery Opens
Featuring the Portraits of Sunlight and Water
Saturday, August 14, 2010, 11am through February 15, 2010
Begin at 2860 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos, CA 93441

The Meandering Gallery runs through eight tasting rooms and several other venues throughout picturesque Los Olivos. We invite you to begin your personal tour of the exhibition at The Fess Parker Wine Country Inn to see this unique and exciting photographic exhibition.

Be one of the first to receive your personally autographed Sunlight and Water coffee table books by artist/photographer Mark Robert Halper. On the date of its official release, the following tasting rooms will be playing host to Mr. Halper for a limited signing. Stop by, enjoy their wines and pick up your copy of this stunning collection.

12:15pm to12:45pm
Tre Anelli in Los Olivos

1pm to 1:30pm
Qupé in Los Olvios

Opening Night Gala Reception and Silent Auction to benefit The Valley Foundation
Featuring the Winemakers from Sunlight and Water
Saturday, August 14, 2010, 4:30pm to 7:30pm
Avant Tapas and Wine 35 Industrial Way, Buellton, CA 93427

Hors d'oeuvres will be passed courtesy of our hosts at Avant Tapas and Wine, and a selection of wines from the areas outstanding vintners will be served.

Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley of Hitching Post Wines will be the Masters of Ceremonies for a special progam with Mr. Halper.

Enjoy a barrel tasting with Joe Haslett of Alere Vineyards.

Many of the winemakers themselves will be on hand to pour their own special offerings, including...
Robin Bogue, William James Cellars
Peter Fraser, Scott Cellars
Daniel Gehrs, Daniel Gehrs Wines
Bob Kelly, Pacific Ridge Vineyards
Ethan Lindquist, Qupé and Ethan Wines
Luke Lindquist, Tres Hermanas Vineyard & Winery
Sam Marmorstein, Bernat
Nick Morello, Morello Wines
Eli Parker, Epiphany
Alan Phillips, Fontes & Phillips
Angela Solena, Turiya Wines

The evening will include live music and is designed to be the area's largest celebratory event of its kind. Tickets are $47 per person (they may be purchased at the door if they haven't yet sold out) and all proceeds benefit The Valley Foundation.

For reservations or more information please contact: 1-888-273-2838

Proceeds from both the silent auction and ticket sales will benefit The Valley Foundation's scholarship fund helping college students to complete their education without the financial hardship faced by so many young people today.

The Santa Barbara Winery Presents:
A Sunlight and Water Spotlight Book Signing with Mark Robert Halper
Saturday, January 15, 2011, 11am to 4pm
The Santa Barbara Winery, 202 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara CA 93101, 805-963-363

Come to this Sunlight and Water book signing and pick-up Party at The Santa Barbara Winery. Although the Wine Club Pick Up Party from 11am to 2pm is exclusive to wine club members,the winery will happily welcome guests to meet Mr. Halper from 2pm to 4pm. You can also pick up a complimentary Sunlight and Water commemorative poster and have it personally signed by Mr. Halper, or arrange a portrait session for your family as part of a special offer made in conjunction with the winery.

Sunlight and Water Closing Celebration
to Benefit Return to Freedom
Sunday, February 13, 2011, Noon to 4pm
Bridelwood Estate Winery, 3555 Roblar Avenue, Santa Ynez CA 93460

Join us to celebrate the closing of the wildly successful six month exhibition of Sunlight and Water, taste award-winning Bridlewood Estate Wines, and discover the conservation work done by Return to Freedom (a wild horse sanctuary).

Bid on eclectic auction items and bring your children to meet ambassador horses from the sanctuary, including Spirit, the muse for DreamWork’s Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. Parents are encouraged to bring their camera to photograph their children with these amazing animals.

Tickets are just $12.50 per person or $25 per family in advance.
At the door they are $17.50 per person or $35 per family.
(Family tickets include two parents and up to four of their minor children.)

All proceeds go directly to Return to Freedom.

Live music, entertainment, wine, food, and event costs have been donated by Jennifer and Mark Robert Halper (of Sunlight and Water) and by Bridlewood Estate Winery.