At the fall meeting of the Ojai Valley Museum docents, OVM Director Michelle Pracy welcomed Mary Guinn and Donna Santoro into the group of volunteers staffing the exhibit. Gathered in the museum library, the docents learned about the exhibit as well as resources available to answer questions from visitors. Then it was time for a tour of the exhibit with Pracy who pointed out the highlights.

In her clear and enthusiastic presentation, Pracy showed how the design of the exhibit moved from serene works on the right and left walls to stormy and dynamic works catching the eye from the back. Docents viewed the stellar group of prizewinning art work, entered from all over the Southern California region that were chosen by a museum committee and then selected for awards by distinguished outside judges: Tim Schiffer, Director/Ventura County Museum and Khaled Al-Awar, Owner/Primavera Gallery. Unexpectedly grasping a tall metal sculpture, Pracy demonstrated the playfulness of an artwork that visitors could be encouraged to touch. She accented the scope of exhibit as the docents explored everything from oil painting to ceramics, textiles to furniture, and assemblage to photography.

Ojai Celebrates Art III continues through the holiday season. A trip to the Ojai Valley Museum makes a refreshing break for downtown shoppers and inspiration for gift giving. All of the artwork is for sale, with thirty percent of the sale price going to the museum as a tax-deductible donation. Continuing on view is the Otto and Vivika Heino Collaborative exhibit, offering a rare chance to purchase a ceramics masterpiece from the 1970's to 1990’s, created by the world-renowned Ojai husband-and-wife team.

The Ojai Valley Museum is open Thursday and Friday 1:00 to 4:00 P.M., Saturday 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., and Sunday 12:00 Noon to 4:00 P.M. It will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is $4 for adults, $1 for children 6-18, free for children 5 and under. For further information, contact the museum at 640-1390.