In the Victorian era, taking off shoes and all the other underpinnings, was quite a chore as "Phoebe" (Dotty Wheeler) attempts to do for her "lady", "Mrs. Horace Swazey" (Dorothea Phelan). This farcical skit, "A Victorian Strip" or "Victorian Clothing From the Outside In" was presented at the Ojai Valley Museum on Sunday as the closing event of the very popular "Smart and Sassy: Artistic Historic Women of Ojai" exhibit. Winning tickets of the Magic Carpet Raffle were drawn by Phelan and a Victorian Tea hosted by Andi Bloom and the museum's events committee was the culmination of the afternoon. Phelan and Wheeler's performance was made possible through the Speakers' Bureau of the Ventura County Museum of Art and History. The next exhibit at the Ojai Valley Museum is a juried art show, titled "Ojai Celebrates Art". It will open at the museum on Ojai Day, October 18 with a reception and awards ceremony from 3 - 5. Shari Skinner, President of Ojai Community Bank will present the monetary awards which have been donated by the bank. Admission is free. The museum is located at 130 W. Ojai Avenue. Museum hours are Thursday and Friday, 1 - 4; Saturday, 10 - 4 and Sunday, 12 - 4.

Sespe Players Agenda,
Sept. 24, 7:00, Villegas’ House
541 Stonehedge Drive, 524-3275

Welcome and Introductions

Purpose of Meeting

Sespe Players-Who and What They Do

Financial Report

Board of Directors-volunteers for positions
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Membership

Putting on a Show

Areas of Participation

Short Term Goals- Productions in Spring ’09 or Fall ‘09

Venues

Children’s Theatre Workshops

Long Term Goals-Researching and Writing Grants

Set the next meeting

"ABANDONING HANNAH" - Written and directed by Sarah Greig; This student-written work takes the audience on a poignant journey with a young woman as she meets her birth mother. Can she find the strength to forgive the past even if it means opening up old wounds?
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Ventura, CA. - 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 September 25, 26, and 27, and October 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, September 25 at 8:00 p.m. is free and open 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:

ABANDONING HANNAH, Written and directed by Sarah Greig; This student-written work takes the audience on a poignant journey with a young woman as she meets her birth mother. Can she find the strength to forgive the past even if it means opening up old wounds?
Cast:
ANDREW BRENNER Luis Soto (Oxnard)
BEN WALLACE John O’Grady (Santa Paula)
HANNAH WALLACE Vanessa Rodriguez (Oxnard)
CHRISTINA LARSON Stacey Truchanovicz (Ventura)

A MATTER OF HUSBANDS, Written by Ferenc Molnar, Directed by Dayna Miles; When an earnest young wife suspects her husband of having an affair with a famous Hungarian actress, she decides to confront her with the evidence and beg for her husband back. But the actress is smarter than she thinks.
Cast:
FAMOUS ACTRESS Ixchel Lopez (Oxnard)
EARNEST YOUNG WOMAN Rebecca Lawson (Oxnard)

EYE TO EYE, Written by Christopher Graybill, Directed by Chris Pizarro; A young couple on a blind date (no pun intended!) argue about who must pay for the dinner bill. To settle the dilemma, the man suggests they square off in a staring contest.
Cast:
MAN Kevin Bass (Ventura),
WOMAN Kelsi Sarno (Ventura)
WAITRESS Laura DonahuE (Ventura)

A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL, Written by Anton Chekhov, Directed by Michael Byrne; A young man, a father, and an attractive young daughter become completely entangled in their own ridiculousness over a simple marriage proposal!
Cast:
STEPAN STEPANOVITCH TSCHUBUKOV Dan Saad (Ventura)
NATALIA STEPANOVNA Elyse Sinklier (Ventura)
IVAN VASSILIYITCH LOMOV Alex Manriquez (Carpinteria)

For additional information, call Professor Judy Garey at the Ventura College Theatre department at 805.654.6400 ext. 3236 or by email at jgarey@vcccd.edu. The general information number for the VC Theatre is 805.654.6392.

Caption: At the Ojai Valley Museum on Sunday, September 21, Pat Clark Doerner gave a presentation of the life of Zelma Wilson, famous Ojai architect and friend. Wilson designed many well-known buildings in Ojai such as Meditation Mount, Oak Grove School, Ojai Valley Athletic Club, Ojai City Hall and Villanova School Gymnasium. David Mason spoke about his good friends and popular actresses, Loretta Young and June Allyson. Loretta Young and her husband, Tom Lewis were partners in the ownership of the Ojai Vally Inn and lived next to the Inn on Country Club Road. June Allyson, "the girl next door",was a popular actress in the 1940s and 50s who was once married to actor, Dick Powell, with whom she had two children. After Dick Powell died, she married a Ventura dentist, Dr. David Ashrow and they lived on Foothill Road in Ojai for many years. David Mason now lives in their home. These presentations were part of the Smart and Sassy: Artistic Historic Women of Ojai exhibit which closes at the museum on Sunday, September 28.

The Museum of Ventura County is now taking applications for the 2008 Bonita C. McFarland Scholarship program. Applications are open to continuing college students of the visual arts who are also Ventura County residents.

A total of $5,000 will be distributed in varying amounts, depending upon need and the number of students chosen. Applications must be received by mail only, by the deadline of October 27. Further information and an application can be downloaded from the home page at www.venturamuseum.org. Applications are also available at the Museum of Ventura County, 89 S. California Street, Ventura. Museum hours are Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. An awards ceremony announcing recipients will be held at 4:00 p.m., November 17, at the Museum.

Bonita C. McFarland was a generous benefactor to the arts in this county, and funds for this scholarship are generated from her endowment.

On Saturday, September 27, the Museum of Ventura County will participate in the fourth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine. On that day, participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide will open their doors free of charge to attendees who present Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day admission card. The admission card may be downloaded from http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday, or found in the September 2008 issue of Smithsonian magazine. Visit the website address above to also find information on participating museums. The magazine is associated with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.

Although the Museum of Ventura County’s facility at 89 S. California Street in Ventura is already free admission, all institutions participating in Museum Day will have free admission September 27, regardless of their regular admittance policy.

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Santa Barbara Public Library - Townley Room

Exciting activities planned for youth of all ages
Opportunity to win free books!!!!!!!!!

11:00 – 12:00: Journaling Workout for Teens – ages 12-17
Author Diana Raab (Regina's Closet) will lead a Journaling Workout for Teens. Diana is a lifelong journaler and writer and lives in Santa Barbara. Be sure to bring your journal!
12:00 – 12:30: Father Gander Nursery Rhymes –ages 1-5
Children will love these Mother Goose rhymes rewritten for today’s world. Peter the Pumpkin Eater respects his wife, the town’s people help put Humpty Dumpty together, and Jill jumps the candlestick too!
12:30 – 1:30: Choices and Challenges Workshop – ages 11-17
Editor and Trainer Joan Bowman will conduct exercises in the nationally acclaimed life skills journals that empower teens to go after their dreams.
2:00 – 2:30: Mother Nature Nursery Rhymes –ages 1-5
Children will be delighted with these rhymes written to nurture a deep respect and love of nature in small children.
3:00 – 4:00 Fantastical Tales in the Townley - panel discussion
Panelists: Barbara Hart, John Roshell, Lynn Montgomery & Mary Hershey
4:00 – 4:30 Nature’s Wonderful World of Rhyme – all ages
Lauded by leading environmentalists/educators, these imaginative rhymes and illustrations foster a respect for nature and its fragility in the hearts and minds of children.

Dave Rivas’ “Parallax” forged titanium, winner of 2007 3D Open Competition.

Buenaventura Art Association announces a “Call for Entries” for the 2nd annual 3D Open Competition. The juror for this event is sculptor Ken Bortalazzo.
Entry fees are $12.00 for members of Buenaventura Art Association and $18.00 for non-members. Cash prizes will be awarded. The exhibit will run from Oct. 1 – Nov. 3 with the awards reception after the Kinetic Sculpture Race in the Ventura Harbor on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 5 – 8 pm. Entry forms can be picked up at either the Buenaventura Gallery, the Harbor Village Gallery or at www.BuenaventuraGallery.org
Ken Bortolazzo's sculptures are an invitation to examine the dichotomy between object and nature, and to ultimately, explore the possibilities that dwell within that vision.
At once substantial and delicate, his metal works can be a metaphor for both human sturdiness and frailty. With a lifetime of hands-on experience, Bortolazzo tackles the larger issues of man-made versus nature and merges it with a rare sensitivity.
Bortolazzo discovered his creative passion for welded sculpture at an early age. Working primarily in mild and stainless steel as well as bronze, copper, silver and gold, he collaborated with many prominent artists, including Julio Agostini, Kenneth Noland and most importantly, George Rickey. During their twelve year working relationship, Ken evolved from studio assistant to Rickey’s acknowledged colleague. He remains a conservator of Rickey's work for the estate. Bortolazzo skillfully mastered the use of stainless steel and the custom designed pivots and bearings used in Rickey's renowned kinetic works.
This valuable experience inspired Bortolazzo's own work, and his highly geometric shapes soon emerged with greater regularity; taking on a persona of their own. Today Bortolazzo's sculptures span many artistic modes, from small, intimate pieces and works of kinetic playfulness to large monumental sculpture. He brings aesthetics, science, mechanical skill and an illusionist's insight to all he creates.
His early fascination of complex puzzles is evident in Ken’s intricate interlocking geometric forms. These structured sculptures subtly suggest their beginnings in the natural order of things: the rhythm and sequence of breaking waves, rock formations and plant growth. His large works play with light and scale, and reference the post-industrial landscape. His later kinetic works feature dynamic optical effects. Constructed out of burnished perforated stainless steel, they move and create a physical phenomenon known as optical interference patterns, a moiré effect. Bortolazzo's sense of craftsmanship defies the challenge of the material used, and each work finds a delicate balance between solidity and lightness.
Currently being shown extensively on the West Coast, Bortolazzo's sculpture can be seen in regional galleries, museums and public collections, including the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Museum of Outdoor Art, Denver and Microsoft corporate headquarters, Seattle. His work is also collected and represented throughout the United States, England, Japan and New Zealand.
The Harbor Village Gallery is located at 1591 Spinnaker Dr , Suite 117C, Ventura, California, Phone: (805) 644 – 2750. Open noon – 5. Closed Tuesdays.

“Ventura County Vistas”, is photographer Joe Virnig’s love of Ventura County captured through the camera. The exhibit runs from Sept. Sept. 16 – Oct. 11, 2008 with an artist reception on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 4 – 7 pm. In addition, Buenaventura Gallery will offer champagne, chocolate and extended hours during First Friday Ventura Gallery Crawl on Friday, Oct. 3.
In 1999 Virnig needed some local photographs and couldn't find any that really captured the true beauty of Ventura County. He dusted off his camera and started taking photographs embarking on what was to become a minor (okay, major) obsession to capture the iconic scenes that define life in Ventura County. Virnig’s exhibit reflect that continuing quest.
Virnig’s 6th grade teacher, Mr. Stroube, had a darkroom in the classroom and taught the class about photography, processing film, and making prints. Says Virnig, “I was hooked! In high school, I became a yearbook photographer.”
Virgnig received his Bachelor of Arts in Photography from Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara. After graduation h worked in the Media Department at U.C.L.A. Medical Center for 2 years. He just hated living in Los Angeles so in 1986 moved to Ventura County and became a Realtor.
For the next 13 years he didn't pick up a camera except to take photographs of the houses he was selling. That changed in 1999 when he created his real estate website: I needed some local photographs for it and couldn't find anything that really captured the true beauty of Ventura County. So I picked up a camera and started taking pictures again. Nowadays, I have my camera equipment with me always. You never know when the light will be just right or what evening will host a spectacular sunset.
The Buenaventura Gallery is located at 700 E Santa Clara St. in downtown Ventura. Hours are Tues – Friday from noon – 5 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. For more information, visit their website at www.BuenaventuraGallery.org.

Detail of FireRing. A necklace by Dolores Barrett.
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Handbag#2(G-Bag) by Michael Giancristian.
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Living plants, paper, glass, metal, wood, and plastic join gems, beads, and fine fibers in creations featured during The Elements: Moving Designs, a fundraising art as fashion event at the Museum of Ventura County on Saturday, September 20, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., with 7:15 runway seating.

Presented by museum support group Las Contemporaneas, the event includes the wearable artwork of 17 artists inspired by the elements of earth, wind, fire and water. A backdrop of bromeliads and air plants within a wood grained sculpture by Michael Giancristiano will highlight the runway; and Pablo Ortiz will MC. Hors d’oeuvres and sweets inspired by the four elements, as well as Museum Margaritas, will be served. Tickets are $125 per person, to benefit educational and family programs, and special acquisitions at the museum. Limited to the first 100 reservations by September 16. Please call (805) 641-1876 ext 304.

Artists represented include Alegria Angeles of Santa Barbara, Dolores Barrett of Camarillo, Diana Cabral from Granada Hills, Emilia Garcia of Piru, Michael Giancristiano of Venice, Sooz Glazebrook of Ojai, Yolanda Gonzalez of Los Angeles, Flora Ito of Los Angeles (formerly of Oxnard),Deborah Jarchow of Camarillo, Brecia Kralovic-Logan of Santa Barbara, Stacie Logue of Ventura, Marissa Magdalena of Los Angeles, Lindsay Miller and Lisa D. Moore, both of Ventura, Ellyn Mosbarger of Fillmore, Andrea Vargas-Mendoza of Santa Paula, Tarah Wachter of Ojai.

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. http://www.venturamuseum.org.

Santa Paula, California — The California Oil Museum located in Santa Paula, California (1001 E. Main St., Santa Paula, 805-933-0076, $4 Adults, $3 Seniors, $1 Children) is offering a new traveling exhibit entitled, A View From Space. The exhibit will be opening at 6:00 pm on Friday October 3rd, 2008 for a special reception and viewing party hosted by the Ventura County Astronomical Society. Bring your kids for this fun-filled night in which you can be among the first to view this new exhibit as well as gaze at the nighttime stars (Refreshments will be served). A View From Space will be running at the California Oil Museum until December 28th, so don’t miss this opportunity.

A View from Space, a new, bilingual (Spanish and English), highly interactive, hands-on science exhibit, will allow visitors to see the world from a satellite’s perspective. They can track a hurricane from space, send a satellite spinning into orbit around a model Earth, study incredible images of our planet captured by NASA’s Earth Observing System, and more.

“A View from Space is designed to introduce visitors to the latest and greatest of the Earth observing satellites and give them an appreciation for the value of studying Earth from space,” said Jeanne Orcutt, Museum Director. “Visitors will be challenged to become the scientist, study satellite images, and try to answer important questions about the workings of our dynamic planet.”

A View from Space includes numerous hands-on activity sections such as the Satellite Activity Area. This area encourages families to learn about space and satellites together through creative, open-ended play and exploration. The area features a drawing station with satellite stencils, a free-play activity table with space-themed toys, and a reading area. A posting board lets visitors to display their artwork and allows educators to share the latest news from NASA’s Earth observing satellites.

Other hands on areas include “Satellite Orbit”, where with the turn of crank visitors send a satellite spinning around a rotating model Earth while an ultraviolet light from the satellite leaves a phosphorescent trail, painting a clear picture of the satellite’s path. This offers a dramatic demonstration of how satellites orbit the Earth and capture images of the entire planet.

A View From Space also allows visitors a look in to the importance of satellites and how they help keep track of environmental and seasonal changes. Visitors can spin a praxinoscope and see an entire year of North America satellite data compressed into a few seconds of animation. Complex patterns of change are suddenly revealed as visitors watch cycles of drought, snow accumulation and vegetation growth across the continent.

Visitors can also learn what satellites can tell us about the way human population growth and resource use are changing the Earth’s lands, oceans and climate. Three rotating cubes, featuring modern and historic satellite images, illustrate some of the important environmental changes that NASA’s satellites are tracking from space. As visitors turn the cubes, they watch the city of Las Vegas expand, the forests of Brazil shrink, and the Antarctic ozone hole grow.

These are just some of the many areas visitors can enjoy in this educational and inspiring exhibit as they lean more about those mysterious “eyes in the skies.”

About Us:
From fossils to fill 'er up, the California Oil Museum tells the story of the black bonanza that created wealth, work, and prosperity for generations of Californians. Operated by the City of Santa Paula Community Services Department, the Museum highlights the inner workings of the state's black gold industry through interactive displays, videos, working models, games, photographs, restored gas station memorabilia, and an authentic turn-of-the-century cable-tool drilling rig. Visitors can exercise their wits and luck as California wildcatters, see how the Indians used natural oil seeps, watch a miniature drilling rig bore into the earth, and explore the memorable brands of gas bought by early California car drivers. The Lundgren and Bennett Collections of gas station memorabilia are one of the largest displays of vintage gas pumps in California. In addition to the permanent petroleum exhibits, the Museum presents new exhibits of science, transportation, history, and art throughout the year.

A View From Space was created and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, Oregon. The exhibit was made possible with funds provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (NASA).

Living in the Victorian Era was an interesting time in history, but there were some definite drawbacks that Dorothea Phelan will show in her "Victorian Clothing From The Outside In" or "The Victorian Strip" at the Ojai Valley Museum on Sunday, September 28 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Have you ever wondered what the Victorian women wore under those gowns with the long sleeves and high collars? Even more puzzling...why did they wear those undergarments especially when the weather was very warm? Here is your chance to find out what "didn't meet the eye" in a very informative and entertaining way. Dorothea Phelan, as Mrs. Horace Swazey and her "maid", Dotty Wheeler, as Phoebe, will educate (they call it edutainment) the audience about Victorian clothing of the late 1800s and present a spoof on the revealing removal of the layers of clothing worn at that time. This production comes to Ojai, courtesy of The Ventura County Museum of History and Art Speakers' Bureau. The very first performance of "The Victorian Strip" was at the Ojai Valley Museum when it was at the previous fire station on Montgomery Street. "Lots of men turned out because they thought it was going to be a real striptease," Dorothea remarked.

Dorothea Phelan was born in Nevada and grew up in an old mining and ranching community. She has always loved history and is a collector of antiques. Dorothea, retired from the field of special education twelve years ago, is the mother of three grown children, grandmother of nine and great-grandmother of one. A Ventura County Museum of History and Art Docent for nine years, Dorothea is past President of the Docent Council. She has lived in Ventura County for 27 years.

Dotty Wheeler, having a lifelong love of history, has been a Docent at The Ventura County Museum of History and Art for three years. She retired as a trust officer with Wells Fargo Bank four years ago. Dotty, her husband, Robert "Flash" Wheeler and their red poodle, Poo Bear, live on a 40' trawler in Ventura Harbor. She is the mother of three grown children and grandmother of nine. She has lived in Ventura County for thirty-three years.

After the presentation by Dorothea and Dotty, the audience will enjoy a "Victorian Tea" by Andi Bloom, former owner of Tottenham Court, and the museum's events committee chaired by Jane Weirick, member of the Board of Trustees. The bill of fare will be the same delicacies that the community enjoyed at Tottenham Court. During the tea, the winning "Magic Carpet" raffle tickets will be drawn by Dorothea and Dotty. Prizes have been donated by local artists, businesses and friends of the museum. Proceeds will go to defray the cost of new carpeting for the museum galleries, library and offices. Reservations, which are $10.00 per person, for the "Victorian Clothing From The Outside In" and the Victorian Tea may be made by calling the museum office at 640-1390 and paying by Visa or Mastercard or by mailing a check to the Ojai Valley Museum, P.O. Box 204, Ojai, CA 93024 as soon as possible; seating is limited.

Sunday, September 28 is the last day of the "Smart and Sassy:Artistic Historic Women of Ojai" exhibit. The museum's hours are Thursdays and Fridays, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturdays, 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $3.00 for adults, $1.00 for students, ages 6-18, and admittance is free for children 6 years old and younger. The museum is located at 130 W. Ojai Avenue.

The Frazier Mountain Jousting Tournament & Fair Saturday September 20, 2008, 11:00 A.M. until sundown at Tait Ranch, Frazier Park, Ca.

3 miles west of junction of I-5 and Frazier Mountain Parkway.

Admission 5 & under – Free, Persons 6 to 17 - $6.00, Adults 18 & over - $9.00

The distinctive and powerful sound of lance hitting shield will again resonate in the clean mountain air as knights clash in this medieval sport jousting contest. The rider’s competinon on this day will exhibit exceptional skill, horsemanship, strength and courage in the face of this difficult and dangerous sport.

Other equestrian contests of the tournament include Ring Spearing, Shield Quintain Hitting, and Spear Throwing.

Along with the afternoon tournament there will be a variety of other activities throughout the day.

Family entertainment includes swordplay demonstrations, musicians, martial arts demonstrations, animals, dirt skiing demonstration, falconry and more.

Contest open to the public are Archery, Spear Throwing, Sack Race, and Golf Cart Race.

There will be a number of interesting natures, craft and eco tourism booths as well as food and beverages.

This event is for people of all ages to come out and have fun and forget all about worries and concerns for the day. Bring your favorite people and your favorite lawn chair if you like, and enjoy the mountains, the festive atmosphere, the friendly people, the wonderful entertainment and the exciting competitions.

This event is being produced by the American Jousting Alliance. For additional information go to their web site www.jameszoppe.com or contact James Zoppe @661.245.4000 or e-mail redknight@jameszoppe.com

First Fridays Ventura continues with a variety of exhibits and receptions for the public to attend. Every participating gallery/studio will have yellow balloons out front – so follow the balloons for an art-filled evening. New locations! In addition, many galleries will be participating in a drawing to win a credit at one of the galleries! Have your “First Friday Passport” stamped by 5 locations and be entered to win!

643 Project Space – A new body of work by Ventura Fine Art Photographer Sarah Willey. Known for her vivid color chromogenic prints of Ventura at dusk, this will be Willey’s first time introducing portraits of her hand-sculpted clay figures “The Clayborns” alongside a presentation of her stop-motion animation vignettes. A reception will be held on Friday, September 5, 2008 from 6:00-9:00 pm. The show is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Saturdays 1-3pm or by appointment. 643 Project Space 643 N. Ventura Ventura. www.643ProjectSpace.com. To schedule an appointment: info@643projectspace.com or Monica Furmanski at 310-592-9127

Art Gallery of Grace – Mixed Media artist Lee Hodges studio and gallery. Refreshments provided during First Friday Gallery Crawl. Art Gallery of Grace. 1560 E Main St., Ventura, CA 805.302.3167 www.LeeHodgesArt.com

Artists Union - “The Art of the Book” Curator: Ines Monguio. September 5th through October 12th. Opening Reception, September 6th, 6 to 9 pm. An exhibit featuring contemporary, traditional and unusual book art. This includes any three dimensional artwork that uses any book format (from tablets to codex) or a book as the base for the artwork. Two-dimensional artwork should include text as an integral part of its’ composition. Artists Union 330 South California Street Plaza. Ventura 805.643.3012 www.VenturaArtistsUnion.org

Bell Arts Factory –Join us for the next First Friday, September 5, at Bell Arts Factory as we celebrate the historical 87th annual "Foster Day," honoring Eugene Preston Foster and his wife, Orpha Woods Foster. In September 1921 the Ventura Free Press wrote, "We are here…to pay tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Foster…their names will never be forgotten in this county." Our Tool Room Gallery exhibition, "Fragile Sands" will feature art and photography highlighting Ventura's Hobo Jungle, which contains plantings by Mr. Foster. Participating artists Phil Foster Ranger, Jr., Bob Eckel and Sarah Kalvin will share scenes of this Ventura landmark. Artist reception will be 5 - 10 p.m. Cynthia Thompson, from the San Buenaventura Conservancy, will be speaking at 6:30 p.m. about Mr. and Mrs. Foster and their contributions and influences on our city. Dottie Wheeler will be joining us in a special tribute appearance in full period costume as Mrs. Foster. Did you know that Mr. Foster planted the two star pines at Mission San Buenaventura, financed and established Camp Comfort and Seaside Park, and built the first passable road along the ocean to Santa Barbara? Come learn about two of Ventura's most influential and generous pioneer citizens, and enjoy the wonderful art that honors them Bell Arts Factory 432 N. Ventura Ave. Ventura 805.258.1160 www.BellArtsFactory.com CONTINUED »

Regina Vorgang

Buenaventura Art Association announces the hiring of Regina Vorgang as Gallery Assistant. Her responsibilities include graphic design, website updating, database entries and more.

Vorgang earned her associates degree in commercial art at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. She garnered numerous awards for her graphic design projects and built a successful graphic design studio in Stamford, Connecticut. In 1993 Vorgang and her husband, Scott Miles, a professional photographer, joined their businesses creating a unique creative design and photo studio together.

In 2002 Vorgang and Miles moved to Ventura, California, where Vorgang has turned her focus to combining her unique graphic vision and weaving skills to create hand woven rugs that bring traditional craft and contemporary color and design together. Each piece is a one of a kind graphic expression using themes of nature or visual play of color. Her woven rugs have been exhibited nationally.

“Vorgang’s design skills are going to be an asset to the Buenaventura Art Association,” says Christine Beirne, Executive Director. “In addition to her design skills, her administrative skills will prove helpful to our artist members as well.”

The Buenaventura Art Association is located at 700 E Santa Clara St. in downtown Ventura. Hours are Tues – Friday from noon – 5:00 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 5:00 pm.

Art by Dave Rivas.
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Earth, wind, fire and water inspire the Museum of Ventura County’s artists’ invitational entitled Between Heaven and Earth: Entre Cielo y Tierra, opening with a free public reception on Saturday, August 30, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The exhibition runs August 30 through November 30.

The new works, created specifically for the exhibition, interpret the elements found on Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) altars (ofrendas). Artists include Dianne Bennett of Ojai, Erika Carter of Santa Barbara, Emilia Garcia of Los Angeles (formerly of Piru), Maribel Hernandez of Ventura, Brecia Kralovic-Logan of Santa Barbara, Leslie McQuaide of Ventura, Luke Matjas of Pasadena (Assistant Professor at CSU Channel Islands), Alicia Morris Soto of Ventura, Keith Puccinelli of Ventura, Dave Rivas of Ventura, Teal Rowe of Ojai, Susan Seaberry of Oxnard, Manuel Unzueta of Santa Barbara, and Andrea Vargas-Mendoza of Santa Paula.

Also opening August 30 is Infinite Night, a selection of linocut and woodcut prints by internationally known Artemio Rodriguez, whose edgy and intricate black and white work is in the tradition of legendary Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada. The Rodriguez exhibit runs through November 30.

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.

Merilee Allen’s exhibit, Prime Chroma will be at the Discovery Gallery from, September 4 to October 1, 2008 with an opening reception on Friday, September 5 from 5 – 7 pm. for First Friday’s Ventura.
Inspired by life, Allen’s creations, whether they are oil, acrylic or mixed media are born from the muses which surround us everyday. It is the artist who stops to see the obvious delineation of a tree and it’s shadow or the interaction of light and space which help to define the two. Allen chooses assorted or multiple mediums to portray her images, a reminder of the diversity in nature as well as in our own personal experiences.
The beginning of Allen’s art career was in New Jersey as a teacher and potter. Allen has lived in the Ventura area for 25 years and continued her art education at Santa Barbara City College, Ventura College and CSU Channel Islands. Allen is a Board Member of the Buenaventura Art Association and currently works at the Ojai Valley School. One of her watercolors hangs in the chapel at Community Memorial Hospital This will be Allen’s first solo show and she will be celebrating a benchmark Birthday on the night of her opening!
The Discovery Gallery is located at the Ventura Visitor’s Bureau, 101 S. California St in downtown Ventura. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5 pm; Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information, call the Buenaventura Art Association at 805-648-1235 or visit their website at www.BuenaventuraGallery.org.

The Thousand Oaks Arts Commission announces the 20th Anniversary of the Excellence in the Arts Awards, and an Art Exhibition of 90 local artists on Sunday, August 17, 2008, in the Fred Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Performing Arts Center. A reception and short awards ceremony will be held on the Mezzanine Terrace from 5 – 7 p.m.

The Excellence in the Arts Awards is an annual event honoring individuals and organizations that have contributed to the arts in Thousand Oaks as participants, supporters or leaders in the arts community. This year, the highest honor, the Encore Award, will be presented to Penny Lee and Julian Macdonald. Their contribution includes Penny’s service as Arts Council of the Conejo Valley historian and Julian’s Civic Arts Plaza Board of Governors service.

Certificate Awards will be presented to Craig Morton on behalf of his contribution to the community’s visual artists; Stephen Custer, an L.A. Philharmonic professional cellist, who has performed for elderly and disabled people through the Healing Power of Music program; and, Frank Laguardia, a unique music teacher with the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

Entertainment for the reception will be provided by Stephen Custer, cello, and Alan Roubik, piano. The program will also include a special acknowledgement, Fifty to Five. The Conejo Players will be recognized for 50 years of providing high quality community theatre, and the Thousand Oaks Arts Festival and City of Thousand Oaks for five years of programming.

Chuck Estvan is bringing Santa Fe to Ventura! The “Powwow Images” exhibit will be at the Harbor Village Gallery in the Ventura Harbor Village from August 28 through September 28, 2008. An artist reception will be Sat, Sept 6 from 5 – 8 pm. In addition to Estvan’s work, a group exhibit titled “Feelin’ Groovy” will also be showing at the Harbor Village Gallery.

Traditional Native American gatherings have inspired Estvan’s solo show. Vibrantly colored costumes and bold stylistic images focus on individual dances performed at the Powwows, such as the Buffalo Dance, Men’s Fancy Dance or Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance. Estvan’s paintings, figurines and his own patented kinetic art called “Cyclic Vision”, echo the deep history and culture and justly reflect the proud people for which he honors with art works.

Austrian born, Estvan’s interest in Native Americans started when he moved to America and started collecting American Indian trading cards by purchasing bubble gum at 3 Indian-head pennies a piece. Estvan studies and professional accomplishments range from engineer and aviator to inventor and graphic. As an artist Estvan explains that his passion comes from “the challenge of realism in painting portraits. (These) require a different kind of discipline to capture a likeness or the soul of a person”

His subject matter is widely known in Southwestern regions such as Santa Fe, but is a great opportunity for Ventura to experience the dances of a lively performance and feel the friendship and pride Native Americans bring to the Powwow. “Powwow Images” will be Estvan’s first solo show with Buenaventura Art Association.

The Harbor Village Gallery is located at 1591 Spinnaker Dr. Suite 117C in the Ventura Harbor Village. Gallery is open Mon, Wed & Fri from 12 – 5 and Fri thru Sun from 11 to 6 pm. For more information, call the gallery at 805-644-2750 or visit their website at www.harborvillagegallery.com.