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VENTURA: Ventura College is pleased to announce that the Art and Photography Departments will host the 2009 Art Auction to raise funds for scholarships for arts students on Friday, March 27, in the Ventura College Library and Learning Resource Center Breezeway and Tutoring Center (1st floor). The Auction viewing and silent auction begin at 5:00 p.m., and the live auction begins at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments, with wine included, will be provided. Attendees will receive free ceramic vessels created by the Ventura College ceramics students. Music will be provided by a Ventura College student jazz quintet.

The Live Auction will present fine original paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics, prints, including works by Rufino Tamayo and Salvador Dali, regional artists and sculptors, gift baskets, restaurant gift certificates and much more! Other fun auction items include:
o Eight for Eight: A faculty-hosted dinner with the Art Department's own chair Bob Moskowitz (department chair) and seven other art faculty who will cook dinner for four lucky couples. The evening includes fine dining and lots of fun! Host your own dinner party without all the work!
o Giddy at the Getty with Ventura College's own art historian Ann Bittl! The winner and three friends of this auction item will be whisked away to the Getty Center for a full day of art and conversation. Package includes lunch at the Getty.
o Handwriting Analysis Party with you and five of your friends – Letters to Wilma
o Jewelry Making Party with Art Faculty Cathy Day and Julie Dahl-Nicolle for five people
o Commissioned Portrait by Artist Julie Dahl-Nicolle
o Photography sitting (for family or boudoir) by Laura Turner Photography

For more information, please contact Ann Bittl at 654-6400 x3205.

Sespe Players, Fillmore’s Community Theater Group, Inc., will present “The Pole Creek Radio Hour” on April 24, 25, 26 May 1, 2, 3; (Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. in the School District Building, 627 Sespe Avenue, Fillmore.

Radio Hour is a comedy/variety show, with a behind-the-scenes look into the live of the actors. Skits and musical acts and commercials for local businesses highlight the annual production. Tickets are adult $15, senior $10, student $10.

If you are interested in advertising your business in connection with the program, here are is what is offered: $50 Sung or spoken commercial with mention in the program; $100 Combination on stage and 1/3 page in print; $50 1/3 Page Business card size in the program; $75 ½ Page in the program with mention on stage; $100 full page with mention on stage; $25 listed in the program.

Sespe Players, Inc. is a 501 c3 non-profit corporation. #74-3127532. Any questions? Contact Janet Foy 217-2402.

Dr. Fritz
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VENTURA: The Ventura College Theatre Department will present four one-act plays directed, produced and acted by student thespians at the Ventura College Theatre on the weekends of March 26 (preview show), 27, and 28, and April 2, 3, 4, and 5. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances will be at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday matinee at 3:00 p.m. Admission to the final dress rehearsal to be held Thursday, March 26 at 8:00 p.m. is free and open to the public. In addition to the free preview performance, the performance on Thursday, April 2 at 8pm is also free to the public. Tickets are $7.00 general admission and $5.00 for students, staff, and seniors. Tickets are available at the door one half hour prior to each performance.

The four one-act plays are:

• Always by Jon Jory, directed by Chris Hull, a story of the joy and excitement that a budding relationship entails and the seemingly inevitable effects of time;

• Ten Thousand Cigarettes by Alex Broun, directed by Hillary Asbury, an exploration of the addiction, fantasies, and consequences of smoking;

• Check, please by Jonathan Rand, directed by TJ Mora, a series of dinner dates that couldn’t get any worse; and

• Dr. Fritz; or the Forces of Light by David Ives, directed by Kevin Bass, a tourist’s adventurous journey to find the mysterious Dr. Fritz, who supposedly can cure anything.

For additional information, call Professor Jay Varela at the Ventura College Theatre department at 805.654.6400 ext. 3194 or by email at jvarela@vcccd.edu. The general information number for the VC Theatre is 805.654.6392.

Winner Aaron Dadacy in front of his winning piece “Slaughter House”

Aaron Dadacy (Oxnard College) won 1st Place and a $1,500 scholarship in Buenaventura Art Associations 3rd Annual Emerging Artist Collegiate Competition. 2nd Place and a $900.00 scholarship went to Anna Rivera of Ventura College. Kenji Webb (Oxnard College) won 3rd Place and a $600 scholarship. Honorable Mentions and a $500 scholarship went to Troy Aiken (Moorpark College); Olguin Tapia (Oxnard College); Ryann Carroll (California Lutheran University); Brock Potter (Brooks Institute) and Zachary Doiel (CSUCI). All winners also won a membership to Buenaventura Art Association with free jurying fees and no required volunteer time (worth approximately $500.00). In addition, Agnet “Chippy” Scharling Todd (CSUCI) Margaret Donahue and Katy Coene (Ventura College), Courtney Ellis (CSUCI) and Susan Guzowski (Moorpark College) all won a membership to Buenaventura Art Association.

The winners’ pieces as well as all entrants will be on exhibit at Harbor Village Gallery through March 23, 2009.
The funds and the awards for the exhibit are generated from Buenaventura Art Association’s “Who Got Framed?!” fundraising event sponsored by the Ventura County Wine Trail, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Lauren Lee Henry Realtor, Spinnaker Seafood Broiler, Island Packers, Focus on the Masters and Embassy Suites at Mandalay Bay as well as the 50 artists that donated works for the event. In addition, funds were donated by the Jessica and Stanley Prescott Trust and the Shirley Ransom fund.

The Harbor Village Gallery is located at 1591 Spinnaker Dr , Suite 117C, (before the big lawn) Ventura, California, Phone: (805) 644 – 2750. Hours: noon – 6 pm. Closed Tuesday.

ArtWalk is one of the best ways to check out Ventura’s bustling and diverse arts community. The free, self-guided weekend walking tour showcases 200 established and emerging artists and performers at over 80 galleries, events and eclectic gallery-for-a day venues in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District, Midtown and Avenue, just steps from the beach and pier. Multicultural performances, a variety of children’s activities and a free shuttle bus connect venue restaurants, salons, antique shops, boutiques and cafes.

ArtWalk Featured Artist Dan Holmes travels through Africa, the Western United States and the world to photograph nature, wildlife and landscapes. The Museum of Ventura County will exhibit his work including “Remnant,” a study in ocean, light and history.

View works of art inside a work of work of art. Ancient Aromatics—a restored 1925 Mission style art studio and residence at 50 North Oak Street with ornate tilework and carved arches—hosts “Raw Earth,” metal and ceramic sculptures by Ventura College and California State University Channel Islands students and instructors. CONTINUED »

Sergio Aragonés

Franklin's Drawing
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“Imperial Summer Gardens and Palaces” in Beijing.
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Stuart’s Manchu Chinese Figure.
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Mark your calendars as the Ojai Valley Museum has an outstanding series of Sunday Gatherings featuring nationally-known Ojai artists, scheduled for the month of March.

Sunday, March 15th brings celebrated cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, best known for his contributions to “Mad” magazine and award winning comic book creations. He will talk about his life as a cartoonist and demonstrate cartooning.

On Sunday, March 22nd, raconteur and sculptor George Stuart, creator of his Historical Figures®, will describe the architecture and turbulent history of the “Imperial Summer Gardens and Palaces” in Beijing. Several of Stuart’s Manchu Chinese Figures will be exhibited during his multimedia presentation.

In the series finale on March 29th, Richard Franklin, figurative artist, ceramist, instructor and architect, will conduct a figure drawing class working from a live model. Franklin has a life-long love of drawing, as well as making three-dimensional works in ceramics and sculpture.

The “Sunday Gatherings” will be held at the Ojai Valley Museum, 130 West Ojai Avenue, Ojai from 2 to 4 p.m. Students are free; adult cost is $6 per person per event. Seating is limited so reservations are required. To reserve, call 649-1390.

Laudine Borges exhibition of original oil paintings will be at the Discovery Gallery from Thursday April 2 to April 29, 2009. There is an opening reception on Friday, April 3 from 5 – 8 pm. for First Friday’s Ventura Gallery Crawl. Borges will also be part of the City of Ventura’s Spring Artwalk on April 25 and 26. Meet the Artist on Saturday, April 25 from 2 - 4pm and 6 - 8pm and Sunday, April 26 from 12-2pm.

Profound connections with nature’s power and beauty are beating in the hearts of Borges canvases. Art as Adventure and Healer has been brought to the viewer from a wilder place. Transported from the magnificent and ever awe inspiring outdoors, the images Borges chooses to paint have a tangible spirituality. Experiencing one of her views or visions is a lesson or an invitation to learn a little about these powerfully inspirational places. When we are among our daily grind of highways and coffee breaks, Borges teaches us to keep these grand and sacred places close by or to stay connected. CONTINUED »

Visions of change is the theme of this year’s photograph exhibition at the Ojai Center for the Arts. The sixth annual juried show opens June 6 and runs through July 8, 2009. The exhibit will explore photographers’ visions of people and things in the process of change.

Last year more than 40 works by nearly as many photographers were displayed at the Art Center. This year it is expected that many more artists will compete to have one or more of their works in the show.

Photographers are invited to submit their work on June 4 or June 5. Detailed submission information can be found on the Photography Branch page of the Art Center website (www.ojaiartcenter.org).

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 12 to 4 pm. Admission is free. There will be a reception Sunday, June 7 from 1 to 3:30 pm. Refreshments will be served. The Art Center is located in downtown Ojai at 113 South Montgomery Street.

A visual delight of dancers, singers and musicians are celebrating in Wana Klasen’s “EARTHSONG” solo show at the Harbor Village Gallery. This show runs from March 25 to April 27, 2009. Artist Reception is Friday, March 27, 2009 from 5 – 8pm.

Drums beating, hearts pounding, dancers weaving in and out of paint and canvas are Klasen’s world tribe “Earthsong.” Her colorful, energetic and imaginative figures suggest our ongoing dance…a dance with ever-changing steps and tempo. “Earthsong” is a joyful and whimsical invitation to dance, sing and celebrate our one tribe, one journey and one world.

Klasen is a self-taught artist whose eclectic interests are reflected in her diverse childhood memories: from southern Kentucky to the rugged landscapes and shorelines of Newfoundland to the serene ambience of Hawaii. She is a musician who has also taught beginning watercolor classes; she is a retired registered nurse who also has a Master of Arts in Education Administration. CONTINUED »

Buenaventura Art Association announces a Call for Entries for a “Mural in a Day” Project at the Harbor Village Gallery. The theme is Ventura Harbor Wetlands. This area of natural habitat where the Santa Clara River meets the Pacific Ocean is the Santa Clara River Watershed. A historical and natural point of interest for conservationists, environmentalists, birders and beach lovers alike, the Santa Clara River Watershed is an important natural resource. Many organizations have interest in the area and research for your design is encouraged.

Artists are asked to design a mural for an 8’ high x 30’ space. The winning artist will lead a team of artists who will paint the mural in a day. The paint will be supplied by Buenaventura Art Association.
The winning artist will receive a free non-volunteer membership to Buenaventura Art Association as well as free entry fees for Buenaventura Art Association exhibits. In addition, the winning artist will have the advice and guidance of experienced muralist Susan Krieg. CONTINUED »

Emily Thompson’s exhibition of original acrylic paintings and photographs “The Sun Sets in the West” will be at the Discovery Gallery from Sunday March 15 to Wednesday April 3, 2009. Opening reception is Friday, March 20 from 5 – 7 pm.

Thompson’s orange skies, palm trees in silhouette and sunsets reminiscent of a paradise vacation come not from remote or faraway destination resorts, but from her porch or roof. “Tourists spend money to travel here for vacation and see what I see looking out the windows while making dinner,” says Thompson, “I’m so lucky to live here. Choosing this subject for a show was easy, the beautiful vistas surrounding where I live are my inspiration.” CONTINUED »

Chris Botti

Chris Botti is one of the best-known American jazz trumpeters. Bringing his upbeat fusion of pop, jazz, and classical melodies in a rare coastal performance, he will take the stage for an outdoor concert at Ventura College on May 3.

“I am very much looking forward to visiting Ventura and sharing my music with the community,” Botti said. “I understand this will be an afternoon outdoor concert and that is very appealing to me as an artist since it allows people to truly relax and enjoy the entire atmosphere.”

“Performing in smaller venues for hometown crowds is an amazing experience,” he continued. “People are so appreciative and there is so much energy…I can feel it from the stage and it really carries the show.”

Selling nearly three million albums worldwide, Botti performs to packed crowds all over the world, including concerts at The Kennedy Center, The Hollywood Bowl and New York’s Carnegie Hall among others. Currently, he is on an extensive tour co-hosting PBS television telethons across the U.S. with “Chris Botti in Boston” as a featured program for this year’s March pledge drive. The DVD features performances with Sting, Lucia Micarelli, John Mayer, Josh Groban, Katharine McPhee, Yo-Yo Ma, and the Boston Pops. CONTINUED »

The beautiful grounds of historic Rancho Santa Clara del Norte in Ventura, California, are the setting for Art Alfresco, an open air exhibition and art sale to benefit the Museum of Ventura County on Saturday, May 16, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Twenty-nine selected regional artists exhibit and sell their paintings, prints, photographs, and sculpture on the lawns of the Rancho, while musicians play and catered refreshments are served. The artists featured are Virginia Beale, Sherri Cassell, Michele Chapin, Gayel Childress, Roger Conrad, Steve Cook, Bill Dewey, Pat Richards Dodds, Gail Faulkner, Emilia García, Maribel Hernández, Connie Jenkins, Hilda Kilpatrick, Norman Kirk, Gerd Koch, Karen K. Lewis, Carole L. Milton, Laurel Mines, Mona Neuhaus, John Nichols, Arturo Pérez, Susan Petty, Gail Pidduck, David Rivas, Stephen Schafer, Pamela Kendall Schiffer, C. Lynn Tegenfeldt, Sylvia Torres, and Hiroko Yoshimoto.

Tickets are $55 for the general public and $45 for museum members. A portion of the proceeds of each artwork sold will support the exhibitions and programs of the Museum of Ventura County. To attend, please call (805) 641-1876 x 304.

The Santa Barbara Symphony hosts its 2nd International Guitar Festival beginning March 21st – 29th. The festival showcases the Grammy Award-winning magic of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet and many other outstanding performers. For tickets to the Santa Barbara Symphony concerts on March 28th and 29th, call the Granada Box Office at (805) 899-2222. For all other Festival tickets, call the Lobero Box Office at (805) 963-0761. Please visit www.thesymphony.org for more information.

Saturday, March 21, 3pm Festival Kick-Off Event at Borders Bookstore (free)

Join the Santa Barbara Symphony at Borders Bookstore in downtown Santa Barbara to help launch the 2nd International Guitar Festival – with free performances and surprises. For more information, call the Santa Barbara Symphony at (805) 898-9626.

Sunday, March 22, 3pm Santa Barbara Youth Symphony at the Lobero Theatre

Led by Music Director Andy Radford, The Santa Barbara Youth Symphony accompanies 16-year old “wunderkind” guitarist Tim Callobre in Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez and 13-year old Santa Barbara Youth Symphony violinist Sofiya Prykhitko at the Lobero Theatre. Callobre is an award-winning classical guitarist, composer and pianist who was recently named a semifinalist in Classical Instrumentation for the 2009 Spotlight Awards. He has performed at Carnegie Hall for the PBS Series, “From the Top, Live at Carnegie Hall.” Prykhitko has been performing with the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony for 3 years and was selected to perform at the Youth Symphony's annual competition held in November. She is a scholarship winner in the 2008 Santa Barbara Music Club competition and has performed in local recitals. For tickets and more information, call the Lobero Box Office at (805) 963-0761. CONTINUED »

Free acoustic Bluegrass jam on Sunday, March 8 from 1:30 to 4pm.
All skill levels are welcome. Bring fiddles, guitars, banjos, mandolins and a sense of humor.
Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley View Road, Oak View CA 93022
Jams are held on the second and fourth Sundays of the month nad hosted by the California Old Time Fiddlers Association. For more info: susaroo4u@att.net

Claire Hill and Hayden Malloy, blue-green vase.
Photo by Dean Zatkowsky
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Griffin Davis and Karen O'Neil.
Photo by Dean Zatkowsky
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Gigie Hall, India.
Photo by Dean Zatkowsky
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Sponsors Karen O'Neil and Micheal Burgos.
Photo by Dean Zatkowsky
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Min Kyu Kim, Digital Art.
Photo by Dean Zatkowsky
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Courtesy Denise Picard, Contributor

Sunshine was among the guests last Thursday afternoon, for the reception and awards ceremony of the museum’s latest exhibition, “Awesome Art.” Outside, in the museum’s lovely patio, there were pizzas, fresh fruit, lemonade, and Ojai Valley School provided delicious cookies. But the main attraction was inside, where over 260 students from six valley high schools mingled with their parents, teachers and friends to view the art work of their peers.

The gallery atmosphere was warm, energetic and electric, as the students cheered for their teachers and friends during the awards presentation, and the public discovered the students’ incredible creativity in a variety of media displayed within the over 400 pieces of art. The exhibit will be showcased at the museum until April 5th.

Karen O’Neil and Michael Burgos presented the Marion E. Smith Excellence in Art Awards, named in memory of their mother, a long time resident of Ojai, a docent at the museum and a youth art supporter. “Some of you will pursue your talent as an occupation, some might go on to make a lot of money, but, even if you only use your gift as a hobby it will remain with you for the rest of your life,” said Burgos in his introduction. These thoughts were confirmed as we talked to some of the students. Min Kyu Kim, who titled his graphic arts piece, “What Your Faith Brought,” wants to continue with religious studies. Gigie Hall, whose “India” painting is so striking, will go on to college next fall, majoring in music and religion. As for Hayden Malloy, his main interest is mechanics and his goal is to attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Griffin Davis, Best of Show winner for his piece of animated sculpture, “Fan Mail,” is looking forward to making a career with his talent as an artist.

Some visitors bought art pieces on the spot. Claire Hill, volunteer at the museum, remembers, “I was Hayden Malloy’s teacher in kindergarten and I have always been interested in the Arts and Crafts Movement. When I saw Hayden’s beautiful blue/green vase, I just had to have it.”

Best of show winner was Griffin Davis, Sculpture, Besant Hill School.

First place winners were: Cayce Cover, Sculpture, Thatcher; Griffin Davis, Mixed Media, Besant Hill; Dunya Dixon, Ceramics, Besant Hill; Luka Dixon, Photography, Besant Hill; Gigie Hall, Painting, Nordhoff; Min Kyu Kim, Digital Arts, Villanova; Rick Ra, Drawing, Besant Hill; Amanda (Ji Hyun) Won, Graphic Design, Villanova.

Second place winners were: Raymond Cason, Painting, Nordhoff; Garrett Erickson, Sculpture, Nordhoff; Grace Garlow, Mixed Media, Besant Hill; Vivian Gordillo, Digital Arts, Nordhoff; Lauren Gibbs, Graphic Design, Nordhoff; Hayden Malloy, Ceramics, Nordhoff; Cyrus Oloumi, Photography, Oak Grove; Julie Yu, Drawing, Besant Hill.

Judges were local artists Gayel Childress, Ray Harding and Cary Soloman.

The museum is located at 130 W. Ojai Avenue. Admission for adults is $4. There is no charge for students for this exhibit. For more information and hours call 640-1390 or visit http://www.ojaivalleymuseum.org/.

The two Ventura College art galleries, Gallery 2 and the New Media Gallery, will present the Ventura College art and photography faculty in an exhibit running from February 26 through March 26. The reception for the artists is February 26, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the patio by Gallery Two, and the press and the public are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served.

Students staff both galleries. This semester the galleries are scheduled as follows: Monday through Friday, Noon – 4 p.m. For additional information and changes on hours, call Kate Martin, gallery director, at Ventura College, (805) 648-8974 or contact her by email at kate@katemartin.com.

The following faculty are among those scheduled to participate in the Faculty Art Exhibit:

Ann Bittl
Carlisle Cooper (painting)
Sharon Coughran (two dimensional)
Julie Dahl-Nicolle (painting)
Catherine Day Barroca (printmaking)
Beverly Decker (painting)
Bruce Freeman (silkscreening)
Monica Furmanski (mixed media)
Sharla Glass (mixed media)
Barbara Harvey (mixed media)
William Hendricks (photography) CONTINUED »

Hear how American printmakers uniquely reflected this country’s changing perceptions of itself when Dr. Kevin M. Murphy presents American Prints 1900-1950: Signs & Symbols for a Modern Democracy, at the Museum of Ventura County on Saturday, March 14, at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $5 for the general public, free to museum members. RSVP to (805) 653-0323 x 10.

Murphy is the Assistant Curator of American Art at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. He is currently working on the reinstallation of the American art collection there. He received his Ph. D. from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Murphy discusses how printmakers, with their widely distributed and affordable media, were in a unique position to create new visual language to reflect the modern American democracy evolving from 1900 to 1950. Murphy reveals how artists explored issues of identity when America was in a significant state of change, with its rise as a world power, the experiences of the Depression and two World Wars, and the shifting of ideas about gender, race, and class.

The Museum of Ventura County’s storefront location during renovation is 89 South California Street, near the corner of California and Santa Clara Streets in downtown Ventura. The museum is open Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free admission, except for some events. For information, please call (805) 653-0323 or go to http://www.venturamuseum.org.

As they have done for the last several years, the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society will host a tour of the site of the St. Francis Dam site in San Francisquito Canyon on Sunday, March 15 as a fundraiser for the Society.

The dam break is the second-worst natural disaster in the state of California: the failure of the St. Francis Dam on March 12, 1928 killed more than 450 people, leveled farms and homesteads, destroyed property and livestock and changed the way dam safety was addressed forevermore.

“Dam Man” Frank Rock, considered an expert in the dam disaster who has appeared on the Discovery and History Channels as well as local documentaries of the event, will give a short lecture at the Saugus Train Station with an overview of the dam disaster, followed by a ticketed event, a three-hour motorcoach tour of the dam site.
The bus will leave Heritage Junction Historic park at 2 p.m. and return at approximately 5 p.m. Tour includes snacks and motor coach transportation. Along with the historical narrative, Rock will also talk about some of the changes in the canyons brought about by recent fires and floods. Special thanks to the city of Santa Clarita for providing the buses for the tour.

Tickets may be reserved by calling (661) 254-1275 with credit card and contact information or by mailing your ticket order to P.O. Box 221925, Newhall, CA91322-1925. Mail orders must be received no later than March 10. Because this tour is a very popular fund-raiser, it is impossible to guarantee that seats will be available for purchase on the day of the tour. Order your tickets now!

Judith Crowe’s A Crowe’s Eye View II pastel paintings will be at the Buenaventura Gallery from March 3 – March 28 with an opening reception during First Friday Gallery Crawl on Friday, March 6 from 5 – 8 pm. In addition, Crowe will also do a painting demonstration on Saturday, March 28 from 11 – 2 pm at the Buenaventura Gallery.
“A Crowe’s Eye View II” are pastel paintings of her favorite landscapes in California and abroad. Crowe’s representational landscape paintings are often described as peaceful, tranquil and serene. Says Crowe: “Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) stated that every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. I guess my nature is calm and relaxed – even my favorite perfume is described as a “calm” scent!”
Judith Crowe took her first art lessons at age five. Her uncle and aunt, both artists, sent her to a teacher at that age. With the help of a very supportive family, she continued to work and experiment with art during her school years. During a career in education in education and raising a family, she continued to experiment with a variety of drawing and painting media, including oil, watercolor, colored pencil and pastels.
At this time, she is most excited about painting with pastels. She has studied this medium for several years and continues to work each week with a group of other pastel artists at Bert Collins’ studio in Ojai. She works very quickly in this medium, usually completing a painting in one or two sittings, then putting it aside to “rest” before making final changes. CONTINUED »