What Are These Sculptures on the Riviera?

I recently came across two sets of pole sculptures at 1322 Dover Road. Nathan Vonk at Sullivan Goss has seen them but doesn’t know anything about them. I thought perhaps you might have some information about them. —M.

1322 Dover Road is where the Slavin House (1956) by renowned midcentury architect Richard Neutra stood till May 2021, when it was irreparably damaged by fire. The owner at the time was Louise Levine, since deceased. It was she who put the sculptures up, says her brother, Jared Darlington, and he has a Santa Barbara News-Press clip from June 9, 1990, to prove it. Below is a photo of the article, which I found on microfilm at the Santa Barbara Public Library.

The text: “Louise Elvine* built this ‘rain totem’ in the yard of her home on the Riviera in Santa Barbara. It’s actually 14 feet of PVC pipe, left over from a water line project on her street. Elvine says her neighbors agree with her ‘appeal to the rain gods.'” (*The paper got her name wrong twice, and someone hand-corrected one of the misspellings.)

The property sold in August 2021 and then again in April 2024. According to the plans filed with the city, the current owners intend to build a Mediterranean-style house on the lot. Whether they will keep the sculptures is unknown.

Got a question you’d like investigated? Email sitelinesb@gmail.com or text 917-209-6473.

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Previous Burning Questions:
••• What’s the origin story of this fence on Hot Springs Road?
••• What’s the housing development under construction next to the polo fields?
••• Why is part of this West Beach mosaic covered in concrete?
••• What was the Weeping Willow Inn?
••• What does the “S” on certain chimneys stand for?
••• What’s the status of the decommissioning of Rincon Island?
••• What happened to the gas flame on Highway 101?
••• What do we know about the proposed apartment complex at 1 Hot Springs Road?
••• What’s the history of this tower on Ortega Ridge?
••• What’s up with these sculptures on a hillside in Summerland?
••• Is there a master plan for the new walking paths in Montecito?
↓↓↓ Why are the Thousand Steps still wet?
••• What’s happening with Sola Street?
••• Why are trees being cut down above the San Ysidro Ranch?
••• Why is this lot on Milpas Street still vacant?
••• Where else do cruise ships that visit here go?
••• What is this large memorial in Ennisbrook?
••• Who bought the former St. Mary’s seminary—and why?
••• What will happen to the SBPD building when the new building is completed?
••• How does the city decide to mark bike lanes?
••• What’s the story with this house on W. Cota Street?
••• What are those little houses on Santa Barbara Street?
••• Is the Music Academy of the West adding pedestrian gates?
••• Why does the Coast Village Road median look so bad?
••• What’s the point of this light pole near the freeway?
••• Why are the city’s parking lots scanning license plates?
••• What’s inside Paseo Nuevo’s State Street tower?
••• What’s the point of these markings on Laguna Street?
••• Why is there a giant red shoe off Highway 101?
••• Are we no longer allowed on the SBHS baseball field?
••• What does “SBTP” on this post mean?
••• What’s up with the “no e-bike” signs on local trails?
••• Why is Franceschi House in a holding pattern?
••• What’s happening with this derelict house in Summerland?
••• Why is there wood on some power lines?
••• Can you explain how sundowner winds work?
••• Why is there a pressure cooker attached to this utility pole?
••• What’s this concrete ramp thing on East Beach?
••• Why does “USA” get written on the street?
••• What are those poles in the ocean near the Ritz-Carlton Bacara?
••• Are people really allowed to set fires in the middle of Montecito?
••• What’s the story with the half-finished lot next to the Montecito Country Mart?

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