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By Anonymous — Monday, April 7th, 2014
Event proceeds to benefit Ventura County’s FOOD Share
OXNARD, CA - The first annual Hamburgers & Hops Music Festival will kick off on Saturday, May 3, at The Collection at Riverpark. From 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., the family-friendly event invites patrons to nosh on a mouthwatering assortment of hamburgers, as well as gourmet and fusion sliders. Event-goers age 21 and over may elect to pair these delicious offerings with refreshing “hops” from local craft breweries. Local music acts Sayed Sabrina, Grilled Cheese Soundwich and The Bomb will lead the live entertainment lineup, featuring a variety of musical genres such as Blues, Funk and Top 40. General admission will be $10 per person; kids 12 and under are free. Guests age 21 and over will have the opportunity to indulge in the Sliders and Suds Package, which may be purchased online only and priced at $30. The package includes three gourmet sliders, a souvenir pint glass, and an ice cold craft beer. Proceeds from the inaugural event will go to Ventura County’s FOOD Share that feeds more than 74,500 hunger insecure individuals per month. Hamburgers & Hops has been created by the producers of the Legendary California Beer Festival, and last summer’s Tequila and Taco Music Festival which also benefitted the regional food bank. “We are so grateful to have been selected as a partner for this unforgettable event,” said Bonnie Weigel, president and CEO of FOOD Share. “The Hamburger & Hops team have shown great compassion for the community we serve, generating funds to support FOOD Share’s mission, as well as the opportunity to raise awareness on this interminable need to help our hungry friends and neighbors in Ventura County.” Tickets for Hamburger & Hops Music Festival can be purchased in advance at www.hamburgersandhops.com, and are encouraged to use the promotional code FOODSHARE to ensure a portion of their purchase goes directly to FOOD Share. About FOOD Share: |
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By Anonymous — Monday, April 7th, 2014
Students will also share Google Glass, drone work
THOUSAND OAKS, CA - The CLUFest 2014 exhibit will showcase California Lutheran University students’ best multimedia creations and experimentation with Google Glass and a camera-carrying drone hovercraft. “Journey Through Color” will be on display from April 25 through May 17 in the Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture. CLUFest recognizes the university’s most talented and promising student graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, digital filmmakers and computer artists. A reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 4. The event will feature demonstrations of student experimentation with Google Glass and a drone hovercraft with a GoPro camera attachment. CLU is a test site for Google Glass, a wearable computer similar to a pair of glasses that displays and projects images and video and communicates with the Internet through voice commands. Additional drone and Google Glass demonstrations will be presented at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, and 11 a.m. Saturday May 10. CLUFest 2014 will also include sections on 3-D printing and infographics and a miniature theater showing student films and interactive media. The planning committee for “Journey Through Color” includes multimedia students under the direction of faculty members Barry Burns and Tim Hengst. Project managers are Gustavo Youngberg from Sun Valley and Kevin Tanner from Santa Clarita. Design coordinators are Amanda Johnson from Van Nuys and Jennifer Charles-Funk from Las Vegas. Heather Garcia from Burbank and Taylor Guyette from Oxnard are the Web designers. Others on the production team are Jared Beeson of Palo Alto, Brandon Comer and Ottilie Yee of Phoenix, Giselle Fernandez of Oxnard, Jacob Gibson of Flagstaff, Ariz., Maxine Nelson of Simi Valley, Kayla Peralta of Murrieta, Eric Renn of Beaverton, Ore., and Austin Wollitz of San Diego. The gallery is located in the Soiland Humanities Center at 120 Memorial Parkway on the Thousand Oaks campus. It is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Parking is available at the corner of Olsen Road and Mountclef Boulevard. The Multimedia Department is sponsoring the free exhibit. For more information, contact Tim Hengst at 805-493-3241 or thengst@callutheran.edu. |
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By Anonymous — Monday, April 7th, 2014
Camarillo, CA - The Art program at CSU Channel Islands (CI) is pleased to present “Choose Your Own Adventure: An Exploration of Storytelling Through Digital Art” at the CI Palm Gallery in Old Town Camarillo. The student group exhibition spotlighting narrative imagery will be on display Tuesday, April 8, through Friday, April 25. The public is invited to a free reception with the artists on Thursday, April 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. This exhibition features the works of Katherine McAllister, Daisy Cruz, Ryan Alexander, and Elizabeth Gottleib. Its theme was instigated by the exhibition’s curator, Katherine McAllister, who instructed the artists to “create a story that goes along with the pieces you create.” Each artist approached the theme from a variety of different ways, from fantasy illustration to digital art and from cartoons to photography. The CI Palm Gallery is located at 92 Palm Avenue, inside the Camarillo Smiles Dental building. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. For more information, visit http://art.csuci.edu/, or contact the Art program at 805-437-2772 or art@csuci.edu. About California State University Channel Islands |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, April 1st, 2014
Buenaventura Art Association’s resident artists will break their Harbor Village Gallery studio confines and fill the walls as well for an April 16-May 12 show they’re calling 5 Points of View. It will feature the creative perspectives of Tasia Erickson, W. Mark Hafeman, Sparkle Taylor, Frank “Kimo” Mitchell and Illona Battaglia Aguayo, all longtime artists currently working in HVG’s studios. They will greet visitors and discuss their works at an opening reception 3-7 p.m. April 19 in the Ventura Harbor gallery. “This is a collective effort and each of us is giving a view of the world as we see it,” said Hafeman. “There is a similarity of viewpoints in that we each express joy in the process of making our art and this comes through in our work.” As the title promises, each brings a unique approach to making art in a variety of media. Erickson uses pastels on sandpaper to depict her scenes, “landscapes and one dancer for this show.” Hafeman creates impressionistic plein-air paintings using oils on canvas or canvas board and watercolors on paper. Hawaii-born Mitchell taps his island heritage to paint fanciful views with acrylics on canvas, canvas board and palm fronds and to sculpt small figurines called tikis. Taylor will show mostly plein-air oil paintings with some acrylic, watercolor and mixed-media works. Battaglia Aguayo will offer painted three-dimensional wood and Plexiglas constructions from her series On View, some never-shown pieces depicting common phrases that use the word view. “Do not come to this show with a ‘Narrow View’ or ‘One-sided View’ of art,” she said. “Come willing to have a ‘Change of View.’ ” Because the five artists work at Harbor Village Gallery, 1591 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura Harbor Village, a visit to the gallery is a great way to see their studio displays before the larger show opens April 16. Harbor Village Gallery is open noon-6 p.m. daily except Tuesdays. For more about this exhibit or the nonprofit Buenaventura Art Association and its programs, call 648-1235 or visit the website www.buenaventuragallery.org. |
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By Anonymous — Monday, March 31st, 2014
The author of the book “The Poem of Life” describes himself as Jose Mendoza “The Gardener,” which is true. But Mendoza is also a poet, and will sign his new book and share his poetry and thoughts about gratitude on Thursday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the Blackboard Gallery at Studio Channel Islands Art Center. Singer-songwriters DJ Harper and Scott Wojahn will also perform their music during the event. A $5 donation is suggested. Books will be for available for sale and signing. Mendoza, a Ventura County resident will discuss what he learned by asking himself a simple question: was I born to be just a gardener? Inspired by the many people he says showed him kindness throughout his life, Mendoza began making notes that took the shape of poetry. The recently published “The Poem of Life” contains many of these, which he hopes will inspire others. Call 805-383-1368 or visit www.studiochannelislands.org for any questions about the event. At just age 14, Mendoza fled alone from his native Guatemala to the United States, where he was granted political asylum. Throughout his journey to here, Mendoza says he was helped and supported by strangers. Today he owns his own gardening business and continues to write poetry, adding to a collection of more than 150 poems. Scott Wojahn is a composer, producer, arranger and singer-songwriter. He is one half of Wojahn Bros. Music in Santa Monica, which specializes in commercials and television, and has created award winning original music for branding national and global companies. DJ Harper is a singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. DJ began singing in the studios as a child on films such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Peter Pan, and has since appeared in television shows such as Glee. He is recent graduate in composition from UCLA. Studio Channel Islands Art Center is at 2222 Ventura Boulevard in Old Town Camarillo. As many as 40 resident artist studios behind the gallery are open to the public every First Saturday of the month from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The gallery and offices are open Tuesday 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday 11:00 - 5:00 and Saturday 10:00 - 3:00. |
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By Anonymous — Monday, March 31st, 2014
Animal ethics expert to speak at CLU on April 15
 Charles Camosy THOUSAND OAKS, CA - An animal ethics expert will discuss whether Christians should be vegetarians at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at California Lutheran University. Charles Camosy, an assistant professor of theology at Fordham University in New York, will explore how Christian ethics relates to violence against animals during the free presentation in Lundring Events Center. Camosy argues that many Christians misunderstand their tradition when deciding what people owe animals. Christian principles like nonviolence, concern for the vulnerable, stewardship for God’s creation and rejection of consumerism have dramatic implications for the treatment of animals. He contends that the issue transcends American secular politics. While animal rights often come from a liberal point of view, conservative pro-life advocates are beginning to embrace nonviolence toward animals. In his 2013 book “For Love of Animals: Christian Ethics, Consistent Action,” Camosy tries to bridge the gap between social justice liberals and pro-life conservatives by examining how people might support the vulnerable. Camosy’s other books are “Too Expensive to Treat? Finitude, Tragedy, and the Neonatal ICU” and “Peter Singer and Christian Ethics: Beyond Polarization.” His research interests include bioethics, Catholic social teaching, moral anthropology and the intersection of Christian and secular ethics. He is the founder and co-director of the Catholic Conversation Project, an editor and contributor for catholicmoraltheology.com, and a member of an international working group exploring how Catholicism, Islam and secular liberalism can interact productively on difficult ethical issues. Lundring Events Center is located in the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center at 130 Overton Court on the Thousand Oaks campus. CLU’s Artists and Speakers Committee is sponsoring the event. For more information, contact Sam Thomas at sthomas@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3693. |
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By Anonymous — Monday, March 31st, 2014
The Camarillo Quilters Association will have their “Quilting by the Sea -2014” show at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, April 11-12. Over 200 quilts and quilted projects will be on display. In addition, there will be at least 20 vendors, boutique items for sale and displays of community projects that are given to over 10 local organizations. Mini quilts will be available to either purchase or bid on through a silent auction. Gift baskets will be awarded throughout both days. The show will be held on Friday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Show admission: $10 daily. Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura.Parking fee. Visit camarilloquilters.org or call (805)216-3354 for more information. |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, March 25th, 2014
The Ventura County Concert Band welcomes Spring with a free concert! We’re celebrating fifty years of great concerts presented by Ventura County’s own band. The spring concert, Pure Gold Americana, continues our golden anniversary season by highlighting some notable Twentieth Century American Composers. Under the direction of Ms. Julie Judd, the concert is free, interactive, entertaining and musically enriching for the whole family. Sunday, April 13th, at 3:00 p.m. in the Ventura High School Auditorium, located at 2 N. Catalina in Ventura. Invite a friend!! FREE. |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, March 25th, 2014
Acclaimed classic musical comedy comes to life in CI’s spring production, April 3 – 12
Camarillo, CA - A captivating tale of devotion, deception, dancing, the devil, and Major League Baseball will come to life on the stage at CSU Channel Islands (CI) as the Performing Arts program presents “Damn Yankees,” April 3 through 12. The classic Tony and Oscar Award-winning musical comedy has been delighting audiences on stage and screen for nearly six decades. It will be revived by CI students and faculty for nine thrilling matinee and evening performances in the theatre at Malibu Hall 140. Show dates and times are as follows: Evening Performances – all at 8 p.m. in Malibu 140 Matinees – all at 2 p.m. in Malibu 140 Admission is free for CI students; $5 for other students; $10 for CI faculty and staff; and $15 for the public. Tickets can be purchased from Brown Paper Tickets on its website at brownpapertickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006. “Damn Yankees,” is a modern retelling of a classic German folktale about a man who makes a deal with the devil in order to achieve astounding success. Set in Washington, D.C., in the 1950s, the musical comedy presents the story of a middle-aged real estate agent who sells his soul to the devil so he can become a young, hotshot slugger and lead his beloved Washington Senators baseball team to victory against the New York Yankees. The play guides the audience on a series of twists and turns as the man and the devil wage a battle for the pennant and his soul. “Damn Yankees” is the spring 2014 musical production of CI’s Performing Arts pogram, directed by Professor Bob Mayberry with choreographer Heather Castillo and musical director Craig Bickel, also of CI’s Performing Arts faculty. The production is the culmination of a for-credit course (PA/ART 391 – Production) involving students in all aspects of the show, from acting, song, dance and orchestra to set design, sound, lighting, costumes, props, publicity, and event logistics. The three-credit course is required for all Performing Arts majors but open to all students. In addition to real-world theatrical production experience, “Damn Yankees” offers the cast and crew a challenging, cross-disciplinary exploration of the ethical implications, origins, iconography, and various theatrical and literary iterations of the classic Faustian folktale. As part of the course, student participants write papers summarizing their learning experience. Originally adapted for the stage by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, based on a book by George Abbott and Douglas Wallop, “Damn Yankees” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI, 421 W. 54th St., New York, NY 10019, www.MTIshows.com. Limited event parking is available in Lot A7 with the purchase of a $6 daily permit; follow signs to the parking permit dispensers. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road with bus service to and from the campus. Riders should board the CI Vista Bus to the campus; the cash-only fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org. For more information, contact Bob Mayberry at bob.mayberry@csuci.edu. About California State University Channel Islands |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, March 25th, 2014
‘American Minimalists’ slated for April 13 at CLU
 Gloria Cheng THOUSAND OAKS, CA - Areté Vocal Ensemble will conclude its fifth season at California Lutheran University with a concert that is part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Minimalist Jukebox Festival. The innovative professional ensemble of vocal artistswill present “American Minimalists” at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13, in Samuelson Chapel. Joined by Grammy Award-winning pianist Gloria Cheng, Areté will perform music by American Minimalist composers Philip Glass, Steve Reich and John Adams. The program will also include pieces by György Ligeti, Ingram Marshall, David Lang and others. Curated by Adams, the Minimalist Jukebox Festival is a multi-disciplinary collaboration with many of the Southland’s leading music organizations. Performances run from April 5 through 19 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with partner presentations featuring Areté, the Long Beach Opera, the Los Angeles Master Chorale and others from March 16 through May 3 at various venues. Music director and conductor Wyant Morton created Areté, which is based at CLU, with the goal of performing the widest possible vocal and choral repertoire, including works from essentially all periods of music. Special attention is given to contemporary, experimental, improvisatory, “cross-over” and ethnic music. The ensemble, which takes its name from the Greek word meaning striving for excellence, focuses on performing the new, the unknown and the unconventional with energy, passion, expertise and virtuosity. Through the combined power of words and music, an uncompromising attention to musical detail and a passion for live performance, Areté offers audiences a joyful, moving, educational and soul-nurturing experience. Morton is director of choral and vocal activities and a professor of music at CLU. He also maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator appearing throughout the United States and Canada. The chapel is located at 165 Chapel Lane south of Olsen Road near the corner of Campus Drive in Thousand Oaks. Additional parking is available at the corner of Olsen Road and Mountclef Boulevard. Tickets purchased online in advance are $15. Tickets purchased at the door are $20. Student tickets are $10 with ID. Admission is free for children younger than 12. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.aretevocalensemble.org. |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, March 25th, 2014
Faculty guitarist Peter Woodford directs ensemble
 THOUSAND OAKS, CA - California Lutheran University students will present a free spring jazz concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 11, in Preus-Brandt Forum. The CLU Jazz Ensemble, directed by faculty guitarist Peter Woodford, features talented young musicians playing hard-swinging jazz. The ensemble is devoted to learning basic approaches to jazz improvisation and improving the skill level of each student. The ensemble performs joint concerts with the Wind Ensemble as well as in less formal venues on and off campus. Woodford has been playing guitar professionally since 1969 and played with The Doc Severinsen NBC Tonight Show Band for 19 years. He has accompanied an array of musical artists whose styles include jazz, classical, rock, pop and country. His eclectic career encompasses recordings, television shows, commercials, motion pictures, theatrical productions and concerts. He also works as a fretted instrumentalist for various orchestras in the Los Angeles area. Preus-Brandt Forum is located at 135 Chapel Lane south of Olsen Road between Mountclef Boulevard and Campus Drive. Parking is available in the lots at the corner of Mountclef and Olsen. Donations will be accepted. For more information, call the Music Department at 805-493-3306 or visit http://www.callutheran.edu/music. |
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By Anonymous — Friday, March 21st, 2014
 Lilit Hogtanian VENTURA COUNTY, CA - The Ventura County Ballet Company (VCBC) will hold its annual spring ballet, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center on Sunday, April 13 at 2 p.m. Audiences will be in awe of VCBC’s dance lineup and enjoy the whimsical story of the classic fairytale. VCBC has big plans to dazzle crowds as characters pirouette through the exciting music and the interactive complement of choreography. Young dancers will be working with top flight professionals and Ventura County Ballet’s wonderful choreographer Marina Fliagina. They are given the opportunity to learn through this enhanced education of this performing art adding to their stage presence and poise. Performing her first year with VCBC, and starring as Snow White, is 21 year old Lilit Hogtanian from Los Angeles, Calif. Her passion for ballet started 15 years ago during her first ballet class at six years old with Yuri Grigoriev. “I knew at that moment I wanted to be a dancer,” said Hogtanian. She has danced with Los Angeles Ballet and Joffrey Ballet. Hogtanian graduated from Academie de Danse Princesse Grace in Monaco on a full scholarship, and was a gold medalist at Youth America Grand Prix, Long Beach, Calif. She has performed Principal and Soloist roles in The Nutcracker and Waltz Fantasie, and participated in the Monaco Dance Form. She has worked with choreographers Jean-Christophe Maillot, Wayne McGregor, Robert Sund, Josie Walsh and William Soleau. Rehearsing six days a week, Hogtanian is dedicated to prepping for her performances including for Snow White. “I really enjoy bringing a character from my childhood to life and giving the same joy I had watching this classic fairytale to the other young ones in the audience,” said Hogtanian. “We are very eager to have Lilit and the rest of the all-star cast in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” said Kathleen Noblin, Executive Director of Ventura County Ballet. “Their souls shine through every moment, and it is clear that they all love sharing their gift. Working with these professionals gives the younger dancers additional experience and confidence on stage. This ballet will leave you happy and wanting to dance.” Ballet details: About the Ventura County Ballet Company and Ballet Academy Ventura Kathleen Noblin, a recipient of the City of Ventura 2008 Mayor’s Arts Award, founded Ballet Academy Ventura in 1992 as the official school of the Ventura County Ballet where the company is in residence. She has served as executive director of the company since its inception. For more information, or to sponsor an upcoming ballet or educational program, call (805) 648-2080 or visit www.venturacountyballet.com. |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, March 18th, 2014
CA State Old Time Fiddlers will meet Sunday 3/23/14 from 1:30-4:30pm at the Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley Road, Oak View. We will be playing, listening and dancing to Country Western and Bluegrass music. Free admission and parking, refreshments available. calfiddlers.com or call 805-797-6563. |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, March 18th, 2014
Ventura County’s Poet Laureate at the Agriculture Museum April 13
New poems inspired by the animal snapshots in the vintage photography exhibition will be shared on Sunday, April 13, at 3:00 p.m., at the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula. Ventura County’s Poet Laureate, Mary Kay Rummel, will start the event by reading the poem she created in response to one of the photographs in the current Agriculture Museum exhibition, “The Vernacular Bestiary: Animal Snapshots A-Z.” Then, writers whose poems have been selected through a submission process will read their new poems. After the new poems have been shared, attendees may read a poem about an animal from a previously-published source. Admission to the poetry reading is included with regular Museum admission and is free for Museum members. “The Vernacular Bestiary: Animal Snapshots from A to Z” is a whimsical exhibition of photographs collected by photographer and gallery owner John Nichols over the past two decades. The abecedarian display of creatures includes photographs that are more than 100 years old. Antique snapshot albums, vintage cameras, and a reading and drawing area for children are included, and the exhibition will be open at the Agriculture Museum through June 15, 2014. Writers can see the photographs in person at the Agriculture Museum or see them online at http://flic.kr/s/aHsj5133kr. More information about submitting poems can be found at www.venturamuseum.org or at www.JohnNicholsGallery.com or by calling (805) 525-7804. Submission of poems implies that the poems can be used by the Agriculture Museum non-commercially to publicize the exhibit (credit will be given) and copyright reverts back to author. Poems must be submitted to VBpoem@gmail.com by March 29. The Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula, CA 93060. (805) 525-3100. www.venturamuseum.org |
 The Barrelhouse Wailers: Karen Parkhouse (Vocals), Wayne Philipp (Guitar & Banjo), Curt Ingram (Cornet), David Leoncavallo (Bass), Diamono Andreo (Drums), Jim Wade (Tuba), and Alethea Lamb (Clarinet). Enlarge Photo By Anonymous — Monday, March 17th, 2014
Friday April 4, 2014 - Barrelhouse Wailers and Underground Gourmet Food Truck Make it A Party!
Cruise on over to the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum of Friday, April 4, after Santa Paula’s Main Street Cruise Night, to enjoy some knockout food truck specialties and some hot jazz and blues played New Orleans style by the Barrelhouse Wailers. The Underground Gourmet food truck will serve creative, bountiful burgers, tasty tacos, garden salads and decadent fries, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Barrelhouse Wailers will get your mojo workin, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for the general public, $5 for Museum members, and $2 for kids with an adult. Seating is first come, first seated; dining and cocktail tables are provided. Members of the Barrelhouse Wailers are Karen Parkhouse (Vocals), Wayne Philipp (Guitar & Banjo), Curt Ingram (Cornet), David Leoncavallo (Bass), Diamono Andreo (Drums), Jim Wade (Tuba), and Alethea Lamb (Clarinet). Their spirited renditions of “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “Broken Hearted Blues,”“Get Your Mojo Workin” and other vintage Americana roots tunes will make the Agriculture Museum a great place to start your weekend! |
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By Anonymous — Monday, March 17th, 2014
April 5-6, 2014, Healthier food and new Children’s Theater on tap
THOUSAND OAKS, CA - The 40-year-old Scandinavian Festival will have several new features including healthier food and a Children’s Theater when it returns to California Lutheran University on April 5 and 6. One of the largest Nordic festivals in the western United States, Scanfest ’14 will celebrate the cultures of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and the Saami people from the Arctic regions of Scandinavia. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with music, dancing, food, lectures, demonstrations, vendors and activities for people of all ages. A survey last year showed attendees wanted healthier food options so organizers recruited new and returning vendors to fill the demand. New items will include open-faced sandwiches, dőners (pocket sandwiches) and vegetarian sausages. The traditional favorites including Swedish meatballs, Viking dogs, Swedish pancakes, Norwegian lefse, Danish aebleskivers and Finnish tippaleipas will also be available. Most of the food booths raise funds for nonprofit organizations. For the first time, there will be a separate stage in Kingsmen Park for children’s performances. The Children’s Theater will feature music and dancing by Ross Sutter, tales of the Arctic people by Norwegian storyteller Stina Fagertun, and Hans Christian Andersen puppet shows by Elizabeth Luce. Other children’s activities will include maypole dancing and the Sven and Ole Olympics. The Viking Cruises Theater will feature performances by Swedish classical pianist and humorist Magnus Mårtensson, Norwegian folk singer Ann-Marita and the ABBA Girlz Tribute band from New York. The Singing Sisters Aleta and Sonya Buckelew from Thousand Oaks will have their own show this year in addition to singing backup for the ABBA Girlz. There will also be a Festival Variety Show and various dance performances. True Thomas will tell “Old Norse Tales” in Kingsmen Park throughout the weekend. Festivalgoers can try their hand at Dala horse croquet, play an ancient Viking game called kubb and visit a Viking village and Saami sliddastallan (community gathering). Crafts for children will include sanding butter knives and decorating head wreaths. Admission is free for children, $4 for teenagers and $8 for adults. Tickets purchased online are $3.50 for teens and $7.50 for adults. Adult tickets are $6 for groups of eight or more. Parking is free. The Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring the event. CLU is located at the corner of Olsen Road and Mountclef Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. To see a complete schedule of activities or to purchase tickets, visit http://scandinavianfest.org/. For more information, contact Lowell Lykken at llykken@aol.com. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, March 12th, 2014
Concert marks first time husband and wife – both veteran professional opera singers – have performed together in public; also honors former choir member and Boston Marathon tragedy victims
Camarillo, CA - The CSU Channel Islands Choir is pleased to announce the Choral Spectacular, a rare concert combining the talents of the Channel Islands Choir, Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra and the First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir in a moving performance of Brahms’ Requiem. The groups will perform two separate concerts. The first will be held on Saturday, March 22, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Studio Channel Islands Art Center at 2222 Ventura Blvd. in downtown Camarillo. The second, on Sunday, March 23, at 4 p.m., will take place at the First United Methodist Church at 1338 E. Santa Clara Street in Ventura. Performances are free, but a donation supporting the Channel Island Choral Association (CICA) and its music education programs in Ventura County is requested. Brahms’ Requiem is a sweeping, emotional work, popular with singers and audiences alike. The Channel Islands Choir chose to perform Brahms’ Requiem for this year's Choral Spectacular program as an anniversary tribute to the victims of last year's Boston Marathon tragedy on April 15, as well as in remembrance of a beloved former choir member, the late Rev. William Gutkneckt. A highlight will be the dual performances of soloists Juan Dunn and Rabihah Davis Dunn – a husband and wife team from the Bay Area. Both have long-established careers as professional baroque, opera and oratorio singers; however, they have never performed together before in public. Baritone Juan Dunn has sung for more than two decades, including over 50 performances with the Washington National Opera in Washington, D.C. Soprano Rabihah Davis Dunn has received many awards and honors during her 17-year career, including winning the Grand Prize from the Bel Canto Foundation. She will have her San Francisco debut shortly in Bizet's Pearl Fishers, but has made time in her performance schedule to appear at the Choral Spectacular. “Brahms finished his Requiem in 1869 after the death of his mother; however, the piece was intended to be a message of hope rather than loss. He wrote it as a comfort to the living who are left behind,” said Choral and Orchestral Director Dr. KuanFen Liu. “His Requiem took Germany by storm when it was first performed, and its comforting message for those dealing with loss still speaks to people of all cultures and faiths 145 years later.” Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the CSU Channel Islands Choir is a diverse singing group open to members of the campus and community. Led by Dr. KuanFen Liu, the choir meets weekly as a class in the University’s Performing Arts Program. It offers participants exposure to a wide range of musical genres and periods, as well as the opportunity to perform publicly on campus and throughout Ventura County. To learn more, visit the choir’s website at http://choir.csuci.edu or contact Dr. Liu at 805-278-0375 or downbeatplus@gmail.com. About California State University Channel Islands |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, March 12th, 2014
March 29, 2014
SANTA PAULA, CA – On Saturday, March 29, 2014, the Santa Paula Art Museum will host its Fourth Annual Fine and Decorative Art Auction with works by early twentieth century California artists like Jessie Arms Botke, Cornelis Botke, Paul Grimm, Douglas Shively, and Marion Wachtel, highlighting the event. The silent auction begins at 3:00 p.m., followed by the live auction at 4:30 p.m. Admission to the auction is $15.00 for Museum Members and $20.00 for the general public. Over 75 works of art, ranging from stunning oil and watercolor paintings to decorative glass, pottery, porcelain and prints, will be up for bid. Contemporary plein air works by renowned local artists like William Dorsey, Ray Harris, Norman Kirk, George Lockwood and Susan Petty will complement the more antique offerings. To see a complete catalog of all of the items available in the auction, please visit www.SantaPaulaArtMuseum.org/auction.html. The annual Santa Paula Art Museum auction is an extraordinary opportunity to start, or add to one’s own art collection. Guests will also experience the thrill of a live auction, announced this year by professional auctioneer Mr. John Eubanks of California Auctioneers. All proceeds from the auction benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum, Jeanette Cole Art Center and its programs. This event is graciously supported by sponsors Calavo Growers, Mupu Grill, Rotary Club of Santa Paula, Santa Clara Valley Bank, and Santa Paula Community Bank. The Santa Paula Art Museum is located at 117 North 10th Street in downtown Santa Paula. Contact us by calling (805) 525-5554 or email info@SantaPaulaArtMuseum.org. The Museum’s regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, March 11th, 2014
Jesse Plemons starred in ‘Friday Night Lights’ series
 Jesse Plemons THOUSAND OAKS, CA - “Breaking Bad” actor Jesse Plemons will be the next guest in California Lutheran University’s free “Conversations With …” series at 7 p.m. Friday, March 28, in Preus-Brandt Forum. Actor, writer and director Markus Flanagan, who teaches at CLU, will moderate an informal one-hour discussion with Plemons on the craft of acting followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience. Plemons played “Breaking Bad’s” Todd, who helped Walt and Jesse to launch a mobile meth-manufacturing business during the popular and acclaimed show’s final season. The Texas native had a regular role in “Friday Night Lights,” a critically acclaimed TV series about a high school football team in the Lone Star State, from 2006 to 2011. In 2012, he appeared in the movies “The Master” and “Battleship.” Plemons started acting early. After moving from Texas to Los Angeles, he quickly found roles on shows including “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” and “The Guardian.” He first returned to his Texas football roots when he landed a role in the film “Varsity Blues.” The “Conversations With …” talks provide theater arts students and other aspiring actors with advice from professionals. They take the approach laid out in Flanagan’s book, “One Less Bitter Actor: The Actor’s Survival Guide,” which explains how to make it in the business of acting while staying sane and focused. Preus-Brandt Forum is located at 135 Chapel Lane on the Thousand Oaks campus. For more information, call 805-493-3415 or email info@westlakeactingstudio.com. |
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By Myrna Cambianica — Tuesday, March 11th, 2014
Dan Holmes, Ventura based professional photographer, returns to the Ojai Photography Club as our March presenter and guest judge. The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm, Tuesday March 18, at Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 Santa Ana Street, Ojai, CA. Holmes will entertain with dual presentations that will educate and inspire us in the journey we call life and photography. He will take us on a humorous journey through our evolution as photographers, then lead us on a visual journey though amazing places and discuss what it takes to create powerful imagery. Holmes is past President of the Channel Islands Professional Photographers Association, and a Fellowship Member of Professional Photographers of California. He is a multi skilled photographer and specializes in fine art nature, event and commercial photography and leads numerous workshops. He has traveled extensively: climbing, trekking, and photographing in the USA, Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia. Holmes has a unique ability to capture light, color, emotion, and tension in his images. “Whether it is a landscape, a wedding, or a farm worker, it is all about light, emotion and impact.” His photographic workshops cover the creation of powerful photographs, digital workflow, in-the-field experiences, and photo adventure tours. Holmes images have been widely recognized with regional, national and international awards, including: PPC Nature & Landscape Photographer of the Year; Kodak Gallery Award; Black and White Spider International, Creative Asia, CIPPA Nature, Landscape, & Photojournalist Photographer of the Year. He is a contributor to Outdoor Photographer, Pro Photo West, and has had multiple local and regional showings. His images are displayed in public and private collections in the USA and internationally. Visit the Dan Holmes website for extended information and images: www.danholmesphoto.com/ Monthly presentations are part of the Ojai Photography Club’s community service and education outreach. Visitors are welcome to attend. The club, which is devoted to education, inspiration, and camaraderie, meets on the third Tuesday of each month, February – November. Only members may submit images for critique. More information is available at: www.ojaiphotoclub.com |
