The Ojai Valley Museum’s latest exhibition is sure to leave a smile on your face. Explore the world of cartoons through the personal collection of Ojai’s own Sergio Aragonés, famous MAD Magazine cartoonist.

Over a century of cartoons are included in the eclectic exhibition, each acquired by Aragonés because of its humorous qualities. He searched for examples from the most influential cartoonists from his boyhood and beyond.

Many well known daily and Sunday comic strips illustrate the exhibition including Blondie, For Better or Worse, and Peanuts, just to name a few. Also included are single panel comics from magazines such as Playboy and The New Yorker. Aragonés has been a MAD Magazine contributor since 1963, so of course there is a whole section of cartoon art from the magazine. From camera ready artwork, to cartoons complete with comments and registration lines for the printer, this exhibition includes unique items not seen elsewhere.

The opening reception, with Sergio in attendance, is Saturday, August 1 from 5 to 7pm. The cost is $20 ($15 for members) and includes hors d’oeuvres and a no host wine bar.

The museum is located at 130 W. Ojai Avenue, Ojai, CA. Regular museum admission is: adults $5.00, children 6–18 $1.00, children 5 and under free, and current 2015 members free. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Tours available by appointment. Free parking is available behind the museum, off Blanche Street.

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

3rd annual showing establishes a fun ritual at the museum

As part of its occasional Summer Movie Nights, the Museum of Ventura County will screen the 1998 Coen Brothers’ quirky “Big Lebowski” on Friday, July 24th at 9 pm (doors open at 8 pm). It’s the third year in a row that the museum hosts this irreverent night, comprising a Big Lebowski Trivia Contest, a “dude” look-a-like contest—in which most attendees are unwittingly entered, because they wear robes to the event—and raffle prizes. The doors open at 8 pm, with dinner provided for sale by World Famous Franks Gourmet Hot Dog truck and a no-host bar serving “the Dude’s” favorite drink, White Russians, among other libations. At 9:00 pm, the film is shown on the museum’s outdoor plaza on a screen suspended between two big palm trees.

Why show this wacky film at a serious museum? Because of its adjacency to the ocean, in celebration of surf culture? To demonstrate that a museum can be fun? For no good reason at all? Each of these could be true. However, “The Big Lebowski” has gained some credibility since its unsuccessful premier in 1998. Time has been kind to it…Jeff Bridges won a career-appreciative Oscar in 2010; subsequently he earned a place as a subject and artist worthy of an episode of PBS’s series American Masters, entitled “Jeff Bridges: The Dude Abides” and, incredibly, the film was selected last winter to be included in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. So, enjoy a night under the stars and see the film for the first time, the hundredth time, or whatever your number might be in-between the two.

“The Big Lebowski”
Friday, July 25, 2014; Doors open 8 pm, Screening 9 pm
Bring your lawn chair and blanket and enjoy an evening of adult humor under the stars
$10 per person/21 & over only
Food available for purchase
Reservations required: Call (805) 653-0323 x315

The Ventura County Fairgrounds Foundation still has some bricksleft for Fairgrounds supporters to help beautify the Fairgrounds and become a permanent part of the county’s most beloved gathering spot.

Before the project began the main entry to the Fairgrounds was weathered and cracked by the years of ocean air. To enhance and repair the main entrance to the fair a beautiful plaza was created. The Main Entry Plaza isconstructed of beautiful paving stones. The stones are personally engraved with the names of special people and organizations.

There are still opportunities to purchase your very own beautifully inscribed brick to support the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Personalized bricks make ideal birthday and anniversary gifts, commendations and remembrances of loved ones. Corporations and organizations can inscribe their name to show public support for the Fairgrounds while promoting their business.

“These beautiful personalized bricks are selling fast,” said Armando Lopez, President of the Ventura County Fairgrounds Foundation, “We are happy to offer this opportunity. Order today and be remembered in the Ventura County Fairgrounds Main Entry Plaza forever.”

Letters are sand blasted in black for durability and beauty. For generations to come thousands of visitors to the Ventura County Fairgrounds will enjoy the uniqueness and beauty of the Main Entry Plaza. Each engravedbrick will be carefully placed in the Main Entry Plaza as part of the main entrance to the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Each brick can have up to four lines of script with 15 characters per line. Spaces and punctuation are counted as a character. Each brick measures 8” x 8” and is available for $250 to individuals and families and $1,000 to corporations and businesses. To order an engraved paving stone please call (805) 648-3376 or visit www.venturacountyfair.org.

Buenaventura Art Association is doubling down next month in its bid for recognition as Ventura County’s premiere venue for admiring and acquiring historic artworks.

It recently debuted the ongoing California Heritage Collection of early 20th-century regional art and will feature a July 28-Aug. 22 retrospective of works by noted Northwest abstract expressionist painter Kathleen Gemberling Adkison, the late mother of BAA member John VanDewerker.

Both offerings at the nonprofit group’s downtown gallery accompany a July 14-Aug. 22 exhibition in the main gallery of new, original works by BAA members.

VanDewerker, executor of Adkison’s estate, is owner-curator of ArtworksONE, a Ventura studio that does large-format art documentation digital scanning and fine art giclée reproduction. It also holds copyright privileges for Adkison’s paintings, many which can be viewed at artworksone.com.

Adkison (1917-2010) enjoyed a long career as a professional artist and art educator. A Nebraska native, she moved with her family to Seattle in 1936 and studied portraiture, figure and still life art at the Cornish Institute. That led to her becoming the first female student and protégé of Mark Tobey, an influential painter in what came to be called the Northwest school. She emulated his radical approach and was among the early American artists to trade easels and traditional brushwork for applying paint directly to canvases set on the floor.

Adkison’s more realistic early work evolved over years into colorful abstracted views of her natural surroundings that earned critical acclaim and many awards in major shows over more than six decades. Among her most satisfying honors were a Purchase Prize and First Place in a national show at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio, where she shared the First with Andy Warhol. That piece, “Coulee Ledge,” will be in the BAA show.

VanDewerker said his mother “produced an estimated 1,500 pieces during her lifetime and sold approximately 95 percent of her work nationwide, with most pieces held by Northwest collectors and commercial institutions,” including many museums.

On display in the estate collection will be about 15 paintings ranging from 24 by 30 inches to 60 by 77 inches in size, said VanDewerker, who will be present from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 1 for a reception.

This exhibition, he said, “is about a body of work including 60 years of shifting focus, techique and abstracted interpretations of images she acquired during years of world travel. She never worked from photographs and was always driven by retained perceptions of her feelings created at the moment.”

Adkison’s art legacy will be on display at the Buenaventura Gallery, 700 E. Santa Clara St., which is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more about the nonprofit Buenaventura Art Association and its programs, visit www.buenaventuragallery.org.

Wendell Dowling is a local artist with deep roots in Santa Paula. His artistic talents have led him into a wide variety of artistic pursuits from working as a technical illustrator for an engineering firm to a freelance artist creating illustrations for numerous books and magazines. He created a mural on the Ventura County Agriculture Building (at 815 Santa Barbara Street in Santa Paula) depicting the many modes of transportation that helped move Santa Paula into the 20th Century. A selection of his drawings and paintings, representing more than 30 years of his creativity, will be on view at the Ag Museum.

Twenty-three works, mostly drawn from the artist’s collection, depict the history and lifestyle of Santa Paula, boasting whimsical, interesting titles such as “Fences Make Good Neighbors”, “Running Board Rendezvous” and “Grandma’s Punkin.” According to the Ag Museum’s curator Eric Howes, “These delightful oils and watercolors provide the perfect complement to our current exhibitions on Tractors and Aviation; these beautiful works extol the virtues of hard work and the natural beauty of this rich region.”

WENDELL DOWLING BIO
Mr. Dowling graduated from Santa Paula High in 1960 with plans to become an architect, soon realizing that he’d be drawing square shapes for the foreseeable future. He then became a commercial artist for an ad agency, a freelance artist and sometime muralist.

He retired in 2014 after forty years of drawing and designing for a living. He continues his art in retirement, “for fun.” He donates his time to the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula, where he serves on the board and does promotional flyers and ads, as well as occasional design work. He’s drawn cars for the Santa Paula Cruise Night tee shirts for the past 17 years. He dabbles in animation, drawing Tin Town ‘Toons for the Aviation Museum newsletter.

Photo by Greg Cooper
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Photo by Greg Cooper
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Photo by Greg Cooper
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Brooks Institute instructor Greg Cooper returns to the Ojai Photography Club as the July presenter and reviewer of member images. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday July 21, at Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 Santa Ana Street, Ojai, CA.

Cooper will lead a conversation with the group showcasing images made in and around the Ojai Valley in a presentation called “Community: Staying Close to Home to Make the Best Pictures.”The lecture is geared to all photography hobbyists and professionals who need inspiration in finding a new eye in their hometown. “The Ojai Valley is a phenomenal place to make stunning imagery,”Cooper said, “I grew up here and have been making photographs in the Valley for over 30 years. Every day is different and each one is an opportunity to make great pictures.”After the lecture Cooper will give feedback on images from the members of the club.

A native of Ojai, Cooperearned an AA in Liberal Arts from Ventura Community College in 1991 and a BA from Western Kentucky University in 1996, with a double major in photojournalism and anthropology. During his time in junior college, he worked as a staff photographer for the Ojai Valley News.

After leaving Western Kentucky, Cooper returned to Southern California and joined the Ventura County Star, where he worked his way up to assistant photo editor. The Columbus Dispatch then lured him away to become its Sunday photo editor. Three years later, Cooper again returned to Ventura County. This time he pursued his Masters Degree from Brooks Institute of Photography. While at Brooks he did his master’s thesis on the future of digital photography at newspapers: “Still Photography at Newspapers: Its Uncertain Future as aMedium.”He has been teaching at Brooks Institute in the Visual Journalism program as a full time faculty member since 2003.

Cooper recently added video and Web design to his areas of expertise. A graduate of the Platypus Workshop and Apple certified in Final Cut Pro, Cooper continues to tell stories in a variety of media, including the iPhone.

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/

VENTURA, CA - The streets of the city of Ventura’s historic Downtown and Westside Cultural District will transform into a mecca of artistic expression, and bring Cuban culture and history during the 22nd ArtWalk Ventura the weekend of July 18-19th.

ArtWalk will present something unique this year by bringing “From Havana to Ventura,” which is an inspiring tale about abiding friendship, torn barriers, artistic collaboration, determination, and a series of special events and exhibits, including a collaborative public mural.

Endearingly labeled, “the Cubans,” ArtWalk will welcome renowned Cuban sculptor and painter, Pedro Pulido and Cuban historian Victor Pina, a former aeronautical engineer. Both are Cuban creatives who have built a close relationship with prominent artists in Ventura resulting in their upcoming visit and participation in ArtWalk. Pina and Pulido’s days will be chock-full of activities, recognitions, events and fun.

The “Havana to Ventura Mural Project,” is a highly anticipated artistic collaboration between local muralist MB Hanrahan and visiting artist, Pulido. The mural will reflect the styles of both community painters, and contain elements shared by both Ventura and Cuban culture – dancing, music, car culture, the ocean and nature. The mural will be painted with acrylic paint, on concrete, under the direction of the two lead artists, along with art students and community volunteers. The mural will be painted at 50 W. Main Street and visible from Main Street, under the generous sponsorship of the building owner, Josh Addison and the Addison family.

Vita Art Center will be a hosting two, weeklong mural workshops, starting June 29, through its Summer Teen Program, which will be a great opportunity for young aspiring artists to work on a large-scale public art project in Ventura County. Student participation is encouraged as they will gain hands-on mural painting training, and be guided through every step of the mural process.

“We are very excited for our month-long stay in California and bringing Havana to Ventura,” said Pina. “It’s an honor to deliver the Cuban art culture and history to such an artistic community like Ventura. Both Pedro and I are looking forward to seeing everyone at ArtWalk.”

ArtWalk is a free, self-guided tour of more than two dozen high-end art galleries, pop-up stores and studios, as well as the return of 15 PODS® Containers transformed into mini art galleries. The PODS Containers were generously provided by PODS of Tri-Counties owner Steve Yapp. Attendees also may take advantage of the free shuttle service, which connects venues along Ventura Avenue and Main Street.

The two-day Southern California art tradition will highlight the diverse works of more than 500 regional artists, exhibiting paintings to sculpture to performance art. This year’s Artist of Distinction is Michele Chapin of Stonework Studios, one of Ventura’s most prominent and longstanding art establishments.

Attendees are invited to “taste their way through ArtWalk” by purchasing a locally handcrafted bowl to sample food at participating restaurants. Off Ventura Avenue, the Bell Arts Factory and its year-round studios will host a street scene, featuring live music and food court. In addition, Vita Art Center will also exhibit a collection called “Art of the Masters” that consists of works by Salvador Dali, Francisco Goya, Marc Chagall, Ben Shan, Carlisle Cooper, Morris Gaylord Broderson, John Hubbard Rich, among others.

“We’re thrilled with the growth ArtWalk Ventura has experienced over the past two decades, and especially excited for the Havana to Ventura artistic collaboration,” said Mary Perez, ArtWalk Ventura organizer and owner of Vita Art Center. “It’ll be a nice spin to see two artistic worlds collide. By bringing in hundreds of regional artists to participate, this event is a great testament to the diverse talents Ventura County artists have to offer and has established itself as a leading arts community of California.”

For more information about ArtWalk Ventura, visit http://artwalkventura.org/.

ArtWalk Ventura Event Listings:

Havana to Ventura Mural Project
When: Wednesday, July 1 – Sunday, July 19
Location: Downtown Ventura, 50 W. Main St, Ventura, Calif. 93001
Cost: Free

Havana to Ventura Mural Project Workshop
When: Week 1: Monday June 29 – Friday, July 3 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Week 2: Monday, July 6 – Friday, July 10 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: Vita Art Center, 432 N Ventura Ave, Ventura, Calif. 93001
Cost: $120/week, scholarships available. 18 and over volunteers welcome

ArtWalk Ventura
When: Saturday, July 18, noon – 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 19, noon - 6 p.m.
Where: Ventura’s Historic Downtown and Westside Cultural District

Mission Park Performances
When: Saturday, July 18, noon – 10 p.m.
Where: Mission Park
Cost: Free, featuring live performances by Ventura College musicians, Rubicon Theater Co actors and musical group Domingo Siete.

Collectors Reception
When: Friday, July 17, 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Where: Historic City Hall, 501 Poli St, Ventura, Calif. 93001
Cost: Advance tickets $20. At the door, $25

Cuban Breakfast and Lecture Series
When: Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. – noon
Where: Museum of Ventura County, 100 E Main St, Ventura, Calif.
Cost: $25

Bowl Hop
When: Saturday, July 18, noon – 8 p.m., Sunday, July 19 from noon – 5 p.m.
Where: Outside Albinger Museum, 113 E. Main St.
Cost: $25 per bowl, proceeds benefit Project Understanding

About ArtWalk Ventura
ArtWalk Ventura is a free, self-guided tour of dozens of galleries, studios and pop-up venues in Ventura's historic Downtown and Westside Cultural District that features the work of the finest regional artists, drawing cultural tourists from all over. The event is now run by an all-volunteer group which has added new life to the event. For more information about ArtWalk Ventura, visit http://artwalkventura.org/, or email ArtWalk Ventura event organizer and owner of Vita Art Center Mary Perez at maryperez@vitaartcenter.com. Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VenturaArtWalk.

OXNARD, CA - The Collection at RiverPark is encouraging the community to bring their lawn chairs and picnic blankets, while they kick back, relax and enjoy a series of free live music acts for its Rock the Collection concert events. Kicking off on Sunday, July 12, these family-friendly performances will showcase a diverse line-up of lively cover bands on three Sundays from 2 – 4 p.m. throughout the summer in Collection Park.

Rock the Collection event line-up:
• Sunday, July 12: The Spazmatics, a 1980s cover band comprised of former Thousand Oaks professors, will play an electrifying set complete with “robot” drums, while dressed in “Revenge of the Nerds” inspired garb of bowties, plaid pants and pocket protectors.
• Sunday, July 26: Disco Inferno will have the audience grooving to the music as they perform all-time favorite hits from bands, such as K.C. & The Sunshine Band, The Bee Gees, and Earth Wind and Fire.
• Sunday, August 2: Concert-goers will want to “Take it Easy” with The Long Run – Experience the Eagles as they soundly pay tribute to one the most successful music bands in rock history.

“We are thrilled to announce this exciting roster of some of the most favored cover bands in the country for our Rock the Collection concert series,” said Erica Boatman-Dixon, Director of Marketing for The Collection. “The summer months at The Collection will be jam-packed with an array of events that we think will appeal to people of all ages. Rock the Collection is definitely one we are proud to bring back due to popular demand.”

Sponsors of the event include Centers for Family Health, National University, Shorewalk Homes and Ventura County Credit Union.

Visit www.RockTheCollection.com for more information and chances to win prizes and swag. For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jill Almonia, Marketing and Business Development Coordinator, at 805-278-9500.

About The Collection
The Collection at RiverPark is a 700,000 square foot, open-air specialty retail center located in the heart of West Ventura County. Inspired by the beauty of the California coast, The Collection reflects the unique atmosphere of the surrounding seaside communities. The Collection is built around a town grid of retail streets, each of which has its own personality-a carefully crafted assortment of established and contemporary designer shops, distinctive dining, and signature entertainment venues. Anchors include Target, Century RiverPark 16, REI, Whole Foods Market, H&M, 24-Hour SuperSport and The Container Store (late 2015). Restaurants include Yard House, Gen Korean BBQ, Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, Maria’s Italian Kitchen and more. Follow us on the web, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Vine at TheCollectionRP.

The Artists Guild of Fillmore opens their 2015 art exhibition at the Ojai Arts Center in Ojai California on July 11, 2015 and continues thru August 5, 2015. The Reception will be on July 18 - 1pm to 3pm.

Cradled within the confluence of the free flowing Sespe and Santa Clara Rivers, Southern California’s pristine agricultural valley is home to a rich ecological and cultural enclave. The Artists Guild of Fillmore is composed of an eclectic group of Santa Clara River Valley artists and is focused on bringing artwork created in this fertile agrarian environment to the forefront of Ventura County’s arts community.

New members of the Guild are Paul Melvin Benavidez and Jeremy Kirsch.

The Artists Guild of Fillmore are Paul Melvin Benavidez, Judy Dressler, Lady Jan Faulkner, Lois Freeman-Fox, Joanne King, Jeremy Kirsch, Virginia Neuman, Doris Nichols, Luanne Perez and Lia Verkade.

The Ojai Arts Center is one of the leading Ventura County cultural centers. The Ojai Art Center (also known as the Ojai Center for the Arts) is the longest continuously-operating multi-disciplinary center serving the arts in the State of California for over 75 years.

TITLE: THE ARTISTS’ GUILD OF FILLMORE, 2015 Art Exhibition

WHERE: OJAI ARTS CENTER
ADDRESS: 113 So. Montgomery St. • Ojai, CA 93023
PHONE: 805-646-0117

DATES: July 11, 2015 - August 5, 2015

RECEPTION: Saturday July 18, 2015 @ 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Written by By John Hankins

The larger-than-life heroine, ‘Auntie’ Mame, is appearing on the Ojai ACT stage July 10 to Aug. 9 with all the award-winning music, dancing and excitement that made it a Broadway hit whilethumbing its nose at convention and conformity.

“MAME” (Tracey Williams Sutton) is the ultimate Greenwich Village Bohemian, whose digs atBeekman Place represent the epicenter ofeccentrics, artists, actors, freethinkers and connoisseurs.

Directed by Brian Robert Harris, the musical features “a remarkably hard-working cast.” After all, “the dance numbers require Broadway quality choreography” and a score that embraces the exhilaration of living an exciting life.

The musical was crafted from Patrick Dennis’ 1955 novel, "Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade,” that stayed on the New York Times’ bestseller list for 112 weeks. It was made into a play in 1956 starring Rosalind Russell who also starred in the 1958 film. Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee turned it into a musical, opening on Broadway in 1966 starring Angela Lansbury and Beatrice Arthur (“Bosom Buddies”), winning two of its three Tony Awards.

It is notable that its initial success came during the McCarthy era where non-conformity was considered un-American to some, but Mame had no such notions, condemning it by word and example. Live life to its fullest, she sings: “open a new window, open a new door, travel a new highway that’s never been tried before.”

Mame’s lifestyle is tested when her late brother’s 10-year-old son Patrick (Rhett Speer) comes to live with her, accompanied by the dowdy, straight-laced Agnes Gooch (Anna Kotula), and later when the college-aged Patrick (Jack Evans) appears enamored by the conservative culture of Connecticut.

Throughout Mame’s life, the lushful actress Vera Charles (Laura Ring) is by her side, and their signature duet, “Bosom Buddies,” is a show-stopping highlight now as it was then.

This is a song and dance driven show, and so the Ensemble is a character in itself. Produced by Herb Hemming and Bill Spellman, the captivating dance numbers are choreographed by the dynamic duo of Anna Kotula and Beverley Sharpe. The era, from the Roaring 20s to the 40s are captured via costumes made and chosen by Edmund Andreas and Hayley Weed.

“MAME” runs from July 10 to Aug 9, at Ojai ACT, 113 S. Montgomery St.; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $25 general, $20 for seniors, students and Art Center members. Reservations at 640-8797 or www.OjaiACT.org.

“Soft Light – Flamingo” by George Lockwood, acrylic on board, 10” x 8”, Collection of the artist.
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SANTA PAULA, CA – Opening July 11, the Santa Paula Art Museum will present “The Art of George Lockwood,” an exhibition of original paintings by award-winning Santa Paula native George Lockwood. The exhibition will open with a reception on Saturday, July 11, 2015 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Admission to the reception is $10.00 for museum members and $15.00 for the general public.

Lockwood was born and raised in Santa Paula, California. After graduating from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with an Agricultural Management Degree, George spent 19 years guiding in Alaska. Living in the Alaskan bush and watching animals for months at a time played an important part in his art and ultimately led to a new career. He has won numerous awards and gained national recognition for his work depicting wildlife and landscape including 20 State Duck and Game Bird Stamps and Nation’s Best Duck Stamp Design twice.

George now paints for shows, galleries, competitions and by commission. His paintings are a record of experiences and they can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the United States and around the world. The solo show will include Lockwood’s well-known depictions of wildlife and landscape, as well as local scenes and a variety of subject matter from many parts of the country. The exhibition runs through October 11, 2015.

The Santa Paula Art Museum is located at 117 North Tenth Street in downtown Santa Paula. The Museum’s regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sundays from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Regular admission is $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors and is free for museum members and students. For more information, please contact the Museum at (805) 525-5554 or info@santapaulaartmuseum.org.

Ojai has deep roots in peace. Saturday, June 27, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, a group of Ojai peacemakers will be sharing stories of Ojai’s peaceful history and explain how the city became an International City of Peace. The event takes place at the Ojai Art Center and is being held in conjunction with the center’s current photographic exhibit, “What Does Peace Look Like?”

Marta Nelson will be among the participating speakers. She has a long and rich association with peace, having been active for many years as an artist for peace and an enthusiastic force behind the fourteen “Peace Pole” installations throughout Ojai.

Julie Heyman and Brian Berman will share their collaborative effort that brought International Cities of Peace to Ojai along with Berman’s HOLOS design that is a symbol for our one humanity. The vision of HOLOS was incorporated as a unique expression of Ojai’s ICP profile and the image can be viewed as a permanent painted installation on the patio of the Art Center. For information on ICP go to:www.internationalcitiesofpeace.org

Helene Vachet, third generation Theosophist and student of Judu Krishnamurti, will briefly review the story of the peace movement in Ojai starting with Dr. Annie Besant and Krishnamurti. Vignettes of distinguished peacemakers and a list of the major peace groups in the Valley will be shared. Marqui Bury, a long-time peace activist, has creating a visual time line of peace activities in Ojai that will be on display.

Come celebrate the people that help make Ojai a peaceful community. You, your family and friends, are invited to be with these peacemakers whose vision is for a better world and a sustainable future. There will be ample time for questions and conversation with the participants. For additional information contact Julie Heyman at (805) 272-8067 or visit the Facebook link for Ojai City of Peace: https://www.facebook.com/OjaiCityofPeace

The Ojai Art Center is located at 113 S. Montgomery Street, Ojai. Website: http://www.ojaiartcenter.org

Channel Islands Harbor’s 50th Anniversary amps up its already fun 4th of July celebration with a packed weekend of family activities. Beginning July 3, daytime festivities start at 11 a.m. and include an assortment of children’s activities and Arts & Crafts vendors. There will be live entertainment throughout the day, culminating with the popular Sgt. Pepper/British Invasion Artists performing in Harborview Park at 4 - 6 p.m.

July 4th festivities begin with the annual Channel Islands Harbor 10K Race & 5K Fun Run/Walk along Sunset Lane, Hollywood Beach. Registration and check-in are at 7 a.m., followed by the 10K & 5K Races starting together at 8 a.m. The annual Channel Islands Harbor 4th of July Children's Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. and proceeds from Albacore Way up Harbor Blvd. to Cabezone Circle. Marine Emporium Landing will have activities between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., including a crafters’ market, petting zoo, inflatable fun zone, a rock climbing wall and food booth, accompanied by a great line-up of live music by Big Adventure, featuring acoustic, electric pop, rock, 60’s through today; 2 - 4 p.m. in Harborview Park.

In honor of this year’s 50th Anniversary, the July 4th fireworks promise to dazzle with an extended extravaganza beginning at 9 p.m. that will be visible throughout the Harbor.

The celebration continues July 5, with an expanded farmers’ market from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.and live music by The UnUsual Suspects performing their popular party music from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m in Harborview Park. Fairy Tales in the Park provides a special treat for families, beginning at 2 p.m. with their free live performance of everyone’s favorite, Cinderella.

For more information on Fireworks by the Sea or the Channel Islands Harbor, visit www.channelislandsharbor.org.

The Ojai Studio Artists scholarship program has awarded to date over $150,000 to local student artists. On Saturday, June 6th OSA awarded $6,200 in scholarships to 14 Ventura County art students. Donna Granata received the $1,500 Beatrice Wood Award, Robert Nafie the $1,000 Otto and Vivika Heino Award, and Jamie Swan the $1,000 Ojai Scholarship Award. Two $400 scholarships were awarded to David Soto and Ashley Goodman. Kayla Petrucci received a $300 award from Rotary West of Ojai. Fourteen $200 awards were awarded to: Kristin Williams, Lynne Holmes, Kiernan Szakos, Jesse Sohn, Reiko Heartland, Damian Antonio, Sarah Law, and Elise Fedoroff.

A reception and award ceremony was held at the Ojai City Hall where the student’s artwork is on display until August 15, 2015.

Award winners are Jamie Swan, Donna Granata, Damian Antonio, Sarah Law, Kayla Petrucci, Jesse Sohn, Ashley Goodman, Kristin Williams, Lynne Holmes, David Soto, Elise Fedoroff, Reiko Heartland, Robert Nafie and Kiernan Szakos.

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On Saturday, June 20, from 4-6 pm, the Museum of Ventura County’s Ag Museum opens “The Dirt on Tractors”, a display or rare (and still functioning) machines that exemplify the milestones of the development of the modern tractor. Intrinsically interesting and mechanically significant, each piece represents a major milestone in the development of the tractor; which harvested crops faster and more efficiently than their predecessors—farm animals—could. This efficiency was not only convenient, but also necessary to feed growing populations in U.S. cities. Currently, 3% of the population produces food for the other 97%.

In Ventura County, the mild climate, entrepreneurial spirit and abundant land conspired to create a thriving, necessary, job-creating industry. The County’s proud ranching and farming heritage is celebrated by this exhibition, and daily by the Ag Museum in Santa Paula. This exhibit tells the story of agriculture, business, sustainability and nutrition to visitors and students visiting the museum all summer.

Background and significance
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, America’s growing population pressured farmers to produce more crops faster and more efficiently. The only source of power farmers had were work animals such as horses, mules and oxen, which needed care and feeding. An adult horse would eat about three acres worth of fodder per year. Between 1990 and 1920, farm animals consumed over 20% of the crops harvested in the U.S. In 1915, the total land area dedicated to feeding work animals peaked at a staggering 93 million acres. As the 20th century unfolded, tractors quickly became the preferred source of power on America’s farms; one tractor could do the work of about five horses. By 1915, there were around 15,000 tractors operating on America’s farms; by 1930, the number of tractors had grown to over 1 million. This single technology is one of the most important innovations in the history of agriculture, allowing fewer people to farm more acreage; and meet the demand for food for a growing population.

The term “tractor”
The Hart-Parr Company, founded in 1901 in Charles City, Iowa became the first to be dedicated exclusively to the manufacturing of tractors. Their sales manager felt that the words “traction engine’ were too vague for a press release , so he coined the name “tractor” a combination of the words “traction’ and “power.” Their company merged with a few other machine companies to form the Oliver Farm Equipment Company in 1929.

Around this same time, the Holt Manufacturing Company manufactured steam, and then gasoline powered traction engines. Experimenting in 1904, Holt replaced the wheels on one of the steam traction engines with a belt of redwood planks bolted to chains, to great success. His company photographer claimed that is “crawled over land like a caterpillar”, which Holt quickly named his machine, registering the name “Caterpillar’ as a trademark in 1911. Holt Manufacturing is credited with being the first company to successfully manufacture a continuous track driven tractor.

The Internal Combustion Engine
Steam traction engines posed a danger to their operators due to potential explosion and fires started by errant sparks flying from their burners. U.S. inventor John Froelich of Clayton County Iowa, mounted a single cylinder gasoline engine on the running gear of his stream traction engine to see if it worked; it was a great success. It traveled at 3 miles per hour and he was able to thresh more than 1,000 bushels per day using only 26 gallons of gasoline without the worry of dangerous sparks.

Eventually, this configuration would lead to the first successful mass-produced, gasoline powered tractor by the John Deere Plow Manufacturing Company.

Items on display in the exhibition:

1. Yuba Tractor, 1914
(MVC Ag Museum collection)
This tractor was purchased new by Frank Baptiste of Camarillo; he bought it from the Yuba Manufacturing Company in Marysville, CA and had it delivered to Camarillo by train. This tractor has two forward speeds and one reverse. It traveled on two rear continuous tracks using a ball bearing system and is steered with a tiller style front wheel. Yuba tractors were manufactured until 1931.

2. Fordson tractor with Integral Plow, 1924
(Gift of Linda Droman, restored by the Farm Implement Committee, MVC Ag Museum)
Fordson tractors were the first mass-produced affordable tractors in the world; they were manufactured by Henry Ford & Sons Inc. from 1917 until 1920. Ford Henry Ford named his new tractor Fordson, because there was already a Ford Tractor Company in Minneapolis and because the Ford shareholders did not approve of tractor production. Henry established an entirely new firm named Ford & Sons Inc., which was shortened to Fordson.

3. Holt/C.L. Best Caterpillar Two Ton, 1927
(Gift of Perry Grainger)
The Caterpillar Two Ton was small and well suited to many tasks on smaller farms such as plowing, planting and powering farm machinery. Perry Grainger bought this tractor in pieces in about 1935; he rebuilt it and used into on his family’s Santa Paula dairy farm.

4. The John Deere Model D, 1930
(Loan from Jim Bushong, private collector)
The Model D was the first tractor to carry the John Deere name following Deere’s 1918 purchase of the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co. There were a total of 160,000 being produced between 1923 and 1953

5. The Allis-Chalmers Rumely Six, 1931
(Loan from Jim Bushong, private collector)
Allis-Chalmers had pioneered the use of pneumatic rubber tires on its Model U tractors in 1932 and retrofitted some of the remaining Rumely 6 tractors with rubber tires.

6. John Deere Model B, 1936
(Gift of Larry Lindgren)
The John Deere Model B could do the same work as a four-horse team. The Model B-O was configured for orchard work, fitted with fenders to prevent branches from hitting the operator, and designed with a low air intake and a low exhaust. This Model B-O worked on a Santa Paula ranch since it was new; it was used on Larry Lindgren’s Santa Paula orange ranch for many years.

7. Ford 9N, 1942
(Gift of Larry Lindgren)
This tractor was the product of an agreement between Henry Ford and Harry Ferguson in 1938 to produce tractors using Ferguson’s own self-regulating three-point hitch system. The Ford 9N was the first tractor mass-produced with a three-point hitch. This one was purchased new by the Royal Oaks Dairy in Ojai.

8. Oliver 60, 1944
(Gift of Ed Russell)
Hart-Parr was the first company dedicated to the manufacturing of tractors in the U.S. and is credited with coining the word “tractor”. This tractor was made by their (eventual, through mergers) Oliver Farm Equipment Company. This one used to farm row crops in Somis. The closely spaced front wheels are indicative of row crop tractors of this period.

9. Allis-Chalmers WD-45, 1955
(Gift of Richard Keister)
The 1955 Allis-Chalmers WD-45 tractor featured a 4.cylinder gasoline engine, and a “snap coupler” system for ease of attaching implements, with a complete hydraulic system to raise and lower them. Allis-Chalmers bought Brenneis Manufacturing Company of Oxnard in 1940, and opened a new plant in 1959 which operated until 1982, serving Ventura for many years.

10. Massey-Ferguson 65, c. 1960s
(Gift of Pictsweet Frozen Foods)
The Massey-Ferguson 65 is an excellent example of the advancements made in lightweight diesel powered general-purpose tractors. This one pulled a viner through lima bean and pea fields in Camarillo, Oxnard, and Ventura. The tractor and viner harvested up to 125 acres per day and some seasons they operated ten hours per day seven days per week.

11. John Deere 5100MH
(Loan from Cal-Coast Machinery, Oxnard)
This tractor is the result of over a century of tractor design and innovation. Many of the features that evolved are clearly exhibited in its design.
Such as:
• Light weight for cultivating
• High ground clearance for cultivating higher crops
• Pneumatic rubber tires.
• Power takeoff, or PTO
• Hydraulic Three-point hitch
• Diesel engine
• Rollover protection structure

The Dirt on Tractors will be on view through February 29, 2016.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - This summer, the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival at California Lutheran University will feature “Measure for Measure” for the first time in its 19 years.

Weekend performances will begin at 8 p.m. on June 26 through 28, July 2 and 3, July 5, and July 10 through 12 in scenic Kingsmen Park. The festival grounds open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking and entertainment. Michael J. Arndt, artistic director of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, directs.

First staged in 1604, “Measure for Measure” reflects some of the issues that were swirling around England at the time including immorality and accompanying diseases, the rise of a conservative Puritan movement and mistrust of rulers. Though containing many comic scenes and characters, the play deals with the darker issues of retribution, justice and mercy.

The Kingsmen production is set in the Montmartre district of Paris in the late 1890s. The political atmosphere in Paris was sharply divided between an ultraconservative Christian faction on the right and a socialist faction on the left. The artists and other residents of the Montmartre were held in poor regard although many of the wealthy bourgeois visited the prostitutes and clubs like the Moulin Rouge. The Kingsmen play will begin with a Moulin Rouge-type show featuring cancan dancers.

The cast is led by Harold Dixon as the Duke, Brett Elliot as Angelo, Rachel Seiferth as Isabella, Marc Silver as Pompey and Ross Hellwig as Lucio. Dixon, the former chair of the theater arts department at the University of Arizona, was last seen as Prospero in “The Tempest”and the Player King in “Hamlet” in 2013. Elliot, an associate artistic director who has been with the company since the first season, has played many of the major roles including Hamlet, Petruchio and Henry V. Silver, also an associate artistic director,has been in most of the festival productions since the first year and has portrayed Thisbe, Feste, Shylock and others.Seiferth lives and works on both coasts and last played Juliet in the 2012 Kingsmen production of “Romeo and Juliet.”Hellwig, a former student of Dixon, returns after last year’s performance as Orsino in “Twelfth Night.”

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company is the professional theater company of Cal Lutheran. In addition to producing one of the area’s most popular outdoor theatrical events, the company provides apprentice programsfor professional and aspiring Shakespearean actors, an educational tour program and summer youth theater camps.
General admission is $20 for adults and free for those under 18. Individual tickets are available at the door only. Lawn boxes are $75 to $110. For lawn box reservations, visit kingsmenshakespeare.org or call 805-493-3014.

“Rachel with Pearl Earring” by John Nava, oil on canvas, 2007, 20” x 18”, Private Collection.

SANTA PAULA, CA – This summer the Santa Paula Art Museum will present John Nava: Selected Paintings and Tapestries, a survey of works by internationally renowned painter and tapestry designer John Nava. The exhibition will open with a reception on Saturday, June 20, 2015 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Admission to the reception is $10.00 for museum members and $15.00 for the general public.

John Nava’s work ranges from commissioned public projects such as his well-known tapestries for the Los Angeles cathedral to portraits to social and politically themed works to images about the coastal experience of life in Ventura County. The exhibition will contain some works never previously shown in Ventura County and some, from private collections, will be here exhibited publically for the first time. A highlight of the show will be a magnificent 16 feet high tapestry designed by Nava as a test for his tapestries for the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.

Nava studied art at UC Santa Barbara and did his graduate MFA work in Florence, Italy. His work is found in numerous private, corporate and public collections throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. “We are excited to be able to share John Nava’s art with our visitors,” says SPAM Executive Director Jennifer Heighton, “Nava’s works are incredibly captivating and are made powerful by his masterful abilities as a painter and draughtsman.” The exhibition runs through November 8, 2015.

The Santa Paula Art Museum is located at 117 North Tenth Street in downtown Santa Paula. The Museum’s regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sundays from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Regular admission is $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors and is free for museum members and students. For more information, please contact the Museum at (805) 525-5554 or info@santapaulaartmuseum.org.

From the series Representación Topográfica by fine arts photographer Ricardo Rodriquez.
Enlarge Photo

From the series Representación Topográfica by fine arts photographer Ricardo Rodriquez.
Enlarge Photo

From the series Representación Topográfica by fine arts photographer Ricardo Rodriquez.
Enlarge Photo

From the series Representación Topográfica by fine arts photographer Ricardo Rodriquez.
Enlarge Photo

Written by Contributors Myrna Cambianca and Letitia Grimes

For the month of June, the Ojai Photo Club changes its focus to the avant-garde, welcoming fine arts photographer Ricardo Rodríguez as its guest presenter. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. at Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 Santa Ana Street, Ojai, CA.

While most photographers are interested in creating realistic images, Rodriguez seeks to blur the line between representation and reality. In the meetinghe will deconstruct his process as an artist and raise a dialogue about how photography changes our perception of reality and time. This promises to be an adventurous and stimulating discussion, discarding established views of photography and looking instead at the dissonance between what we see and what appears in a photograph.

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Rodríguez has an acute sense of living at the intersection of two cultural realities, where appearances can be deceptive. He works with multiple intersections of materials, surfaces and spatial dynamics, using both film and digital photography as well as unconventional techniques such as photograms and installations.

After completing his BA at the University of Puerto Rico, Rodríguez moved to Southern California for graduate study at Brooks Institute in Ventura, earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in 2010. He was gallery curator at the Tool Room Gallery in Ventura and taught at Ventura College. His work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, which is internationally recognized as one of the most significant collections of contemporary Latin American fine art in the nation. Recently his photography was featured in “Parallel Realities,” a collaborative exhibit with Janet Neuwalder, at galerie102 in Ojai. He is now living in the Los Angeles area, teaching art at Flintridge Preparatory School. Visit his website for extended information and images: http://ricardorodriguez.net

For the second part of the meeting, Ojai’s own local Renaissance man, Peter Bell-wood, will be on hand to bring his insightful and entertaining commentary to the monthly review of members’ images. Bellwood, a frequent contributor to Ojai Quarterly Magazine, has an extensive background in multiple fields, including screenwriting, acting, music, and the art of collage. Born in Yorkshire, England, he holds a Master of Arts from Cambridge University, and first came to the U.S. as an actor in the British satire shows, “The Establishment” and “Beyond the Fringe.” As a film and television screenwriter, his credits include “Highlander” and “La Femme Nikita.” His collages have been exhibited locally and he is a member of “The Household Gods,” voted most popular band in Ojai. He once ran for political office in Massachusetts on the platform “Not Insane.” He lost!

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/

Join us on Thursday, June 11 at 3:00 p.m. for a live painting demonstration by artist James Martin. Upon graduating with distinction from the Art Center College of Design, Martin worked in the comic and advertising industry and spent many years as a freelance movie and advertising illustrator. His clients included Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, The Grammy Awards, Mattel, and many others.

Martin was then employed at Walt Disney Feature Animation as a background painter working on such films as "Tarzan", "Atlantis", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", and "Hercules". Currently he is employed at Dreamworks Feature Animation as a digital matte painter and texture artist. "How to Train your Dragon" and "Shrek 4" are some of his current credits.

While working in the commercial art industry Martin has also been pursuing a fine art painting career. He has participated in numerous exhibitions of his work in galleries and museums across the United States including the Santa Paula Art Museum.

ADMISSION
$4.00 Adults
$3.00 Seniors
Free for SPAM Members and Students

Seven bands will deliver a mix of music styles, from Latin jazz to rock ’n’ roll and rhythm and blues, at Santa Paula’s second annual Melody Hall Music Festival on June 6, from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., adjacent to the California Oil Museum at 1001 E. Main St.

The Santa Paula Historical Society is organizing the free day of music and entertainment that will include dancing, food trucks and a fenced-in Beer Garden.

Festival-goers will have a large dance floor to kick up their heels for seven hours to a lineup of bands that includes Charles Law Band, Deuce, Juano & Friends, Bob DeSena Latin Jazz, Fender Bros., R&B Bombers and House Arrest.

“The festival is a tribute to the impact music has had in our community and a tribute to the musicians of Santa Paula,” said Festival Chairman Ed Arguelles of Santa Paula, who serves on the Historical Society board. As a former Santa Paula High School history teacher for 35 years, Arguelles said he sees music “as the catalyst that throws us back into history. It is difficult to think of one’s history without the impact of music,” he said. “History is so much more than written documents and photographs. It is art, literature, history, war, politics, sports, music. They are all pieces of the puzzle that make the mosaic of history come alive.”

The eight-piece Charles Law Band will start the festival at 10 a.m. with a high-energy wakeup call. Spectators and dancers of all ages craving country rock blended in “Santa Style” funk are certain to be impressed, Arguelles said. “Featuring a throbbing mixture of horns, strings and vocals, set to crafty and flamboyant syncopation, Charles Law is an experience difficult to miss.”

Santa Paula homegrown musicians Deuce takes the bandstand second. “They will reprise not only their riveting R&B sounds that have made them legendary artists and Ventura County Battle of the Band winners but also will mesmerize its popular fan base with a new song collection and style that is sure to amaze,” Arguelles said.

If Tex-Mex, oldies and soul music is your thing, you will not want to miss the electrifying rhythms and vocals of Juano & Friends who take the stage third. “Reserve your spot on the dance floor for their 55-minute song set as they always generate excitement among the multitude of their loyal music followers,” Arguelles said.

Nominated in 2014 for the Los Angeles Music Awards Solo Artist of the Year and again this year for International Artist of the Year, vibes/trumpet jazz artist Bob DeSena brings his polished showmanship and swinging Latin Jazz Band direct from Las Vegas to the streets of Santa Paula in the fourth set, Arguelles said. “His troubadours consist of seasoned musicians that will make for an entertaining and vibrant ensemble performing classic and Latin standards with energetic salsa flair.”

What would a music festival be without the blues? In the fifth slot are the Fender Brothers who have earned a special place in the hearts and minds of the music faithful for more than four decades, Arguelles said. “Known for their instrumental mastery and scintillating solo work, each member of this five-piece ensemble has earned special distinction among music aficionados of Ventura County.”

Festival-goers are in for a special treat as the 10-piece R&B Bombers, a powerhouse of talent, arrive in the late afternoon to jolt the crowd with the melding of genres and styles that incorporates 1940s big-band swing, modern blues, piano boogie and ’40s, ’50s and ’60s R&B, Arguelles said. “Making their first-ever appearance in Santa Paula, their four-horn frontline and big-voiced singer are sure to invigorate and test the stamina of the most ardent dance couples still boogying on the dance floor.”

The Melody Hall Music Festival will conclude with one of Ventura County’s most popular dance bands, House Arrest. “This seven-piece driving force delivers more than 20 years of performance history and its ability to keep music lovers enthused after six hours of solid entertainment value make it the perfect band to end the festival’s fantastic day,” Arguelles said.

New to this year’s festival will be the addition of food trucks. A special fenced-in Beer Garden will be provided within the exterior gates of the California Oil Museum Courtyard and no alcoholic beverages are allowed outside of its perimeter.

Made possible through sponsorships from local businesses and residents, the Santa Paula Historical Society is still accepting donations to support this free music event for Santa Paula. Private seating, parking and refreshments are available at a special sponsorship level. Donations may be secured by contacting the Santa Paula Historical Society by mail at P.O. Box 842, Santa Paula, CA. 93061 or by calling Festival Chairman Arguelles at 805-279-3415.

Melody Hall Music Festival
What: Melody Hall Music Festival.
When: June 6, from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free.
Where: California Oil Museum, 1001 E. Main St., Santa Paula.
Why: To pay tribute to local musical talent.
How to contribute: To become a sponsor or donate to the free festival, call Festival Chairman Ed Arguelles at 805-279-3415.
More information: Look for the Santa Paula Historical Society on Facebook to find more information about Melody Hall.