Gayle Childress – “Gaylin at 8”

Fred Whitman – Serenity #2

Carlos Grasso – “Sacred Place”

Brian Berman – “Light Fall II”

Marta Nelson – “Thai Spirit House”

Eilam Byle – Fire Within

The eleventh annual Ojai Studio Artists group exhibition at the Ojai Valley Museum is organized this year as a celebration of this artist collective’s thirty-year existence - 1984 through 2013. Titled “Reflection,” the show concretely reflects upon OSA’s impact on Ojai’s art scene in Ventura County, as well as upon the Southern California region.

“Reflection” combines “a trip down memory lane,” exhibiting archived ephemera from the seminal year 1984, juxtaposed with 67 works of art representing the OSA membership of 2013. In addition, many of the artists have written statements expressing why it is important to be an OSA member and the meaning of the group to the Ojai community. These reflective statements are placed next to the respective artist’s work. Consequently, the overall group show has an historical perspective and provides insight to the value of visual art in Ojai over the span of thirty years.

Among the 60 exhibiting artists, eight members are highlighted as “Honorees.” These artists were essential to the birth of the OSA collective in 1984 and have remained active throughout the ensuing years. The honorees are: Kent Butler, Gayel Childress, Bert Collins, Bernadette DiPietro, Kristina Grey, Marta Nelson, Elisse Pogofsky-Harris, and Nancy Whitman.

Ojai Valley Museum Director and Curator of “Reflection,” Michele Pracy, visited the studios of the Honorees to select work for this celebratory exhibit. Pracy chose eight paintings based on the quality of the work. Interestingly, the dates of execution of the honorees’ art span the years from 1984 through 2013. The rest of the participating artists are exhibiting new works in all media, fused by the shared concept of OSA as a community of artists that has had a powerful and positive collective artistic voice for three decades.

The Ojai Studio Artists will host two free receptions at the museum. The Opening Reception is Saturday, April 13, from 5 to 7 p.m., with a no-host wine bar. The Scholarship Award Ceremony and Reception will be June 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. and will be held in the back courtyard of the museum.

The Ojai Valley Museum, established in 1967, is generously supported in part by museum members, private donors, business sponsors and underwriters, the Smith-Hobson Foundation, Wood-Claeyssens Foundation, City of Ojai, Rotary Club of Ojai, and the Ojai Civic Association.

The museum is located at 130 W. Ojai Avenue, Ojai, California. Admission: free for current 2013 members, adults - $4.00, children 6–18 - $1.00 and children 5 and under – free. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Tours are available by appointment. Free parking is available off Blanche Street at back of museum.

For more information, call the museum at (805) 640-1390, ext. 203, e-mail ojaimuseum@sbcglobal.net or visit the museum website at: www.OjaiValleyMuseum.org

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