Photo credit: Brian Stethem/Cal Lutheran
Photo credit: Brian Stethem/Cal Lutheran
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Performers, crafts, food will fill Cal Lutheran campus

After a one-year hiatus, one of the largest Nordic festivals in the western United States will return to California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks on April 1 and 2.

The 42nd Scandinavian Festival will celebrate the cultures of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Sami people from the Arctic regions of Scandinavia. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with music, dancing, food, lectures, demonstrations, vendors and activities for people of all ages.

For kids, the festival includes a Children’s Theater, performances by community children’s groups and a puppet show of Hans Christian Andersen stories. Children can travel through Scandinavia by earning passport stamps for each craft they make linked to the culture of the five different countries. Visitors young and old can create head wreath decorated with flowers and ribbon and dance around the maypole.

Festivalgoers can wander through an authentic Viking village, as well as a Sami sliddastallan, or community gathering. They can ask a rune reader for advice and visit Norwegian elkhounds. Families can try their hand at Dala horse croquet and play an ancient Viking game called kubb. Moving into the 20th century, Scandinavian vintage cars and motorcycles will be on display.

Cooks will demonstrate how to make ableskivers, leftse, krumkake and more. The Scandinavian food available in the food court will also include Swedish pancakes, Icelandic fish and chips, Viking dogs, Swedish meatballs and open-faced sandwiches.

Performers will include acclaimed storytellers Stina Fagertun of Norway and Robert Seutter (aka True Thomas), musician and entertainer Ross Sutter, the ABBAFAB tribute band, Scandia and Swedish folk dance groups.

New this year at the genealogy booth will be a member of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy representing Family Tree DNA, which sells a variety of DNA kits. Local genealogy experts from the Conejo Valley and Ventura County Genealogical Societies will be on hand to share their knowledge and resources.

The Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring the event.

The campus is located at the corner of Olsen Road and Mountclef Boulevard.

Admission is free for children, $5 for teenagers and $10 for adults. Two-day tickets are available for $15 for adults and $7 for teens. Parking is free. For more information or to volunteer, go to scandinaviancenter.org or email scanfest17@gmail.com.

 
Photograph by Juan Carlo Mendoza
Photograph by Juan Carlo Mendoza
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Photograph by Juan Carlo Mendoza
Photograph by Juan Carlo Mendoza
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Photograph by Juan Carlo Mendoza
Photograph by Juan Carlo Mendoza
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Photograph by Juan Carlo Mendoza
Photograph by Juan Carlo Mendoza
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Photograph by Juan Carlo Mendoza
Photograph by Juan Carlo Mendoza
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Photograph by Juan Carlo Mendoza
Photograph by Juan Carlo Mendoza
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By Contributors Letitia Grimes and Myrna Cambianica

Ojai, CA - The Ojai Photography Club shifts into high gear with Juan Carlo Mendoza, Ventura County Star staff photographer, who will present “Photojournalism: Integrating Life and Lens.” He will speak about his career as a photojournalist, the stories behind his images and his passion for the outdoors, which includes living in a tree house! Many recent images will be part of his presentation. The event will take place Tuesday, March 21, at 7:00 p.m. in Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 West Santa Ana Street, Ojai, CA.

Mendoza is an award-winning multimedia journalist who has produced video and photographs for the Ventura County Star newspaper since joining the staff in 1993. Characterizing himself as “seeking ways to push himself professionally, physically and creatively,” he has covered stories from natural disasters to high school sporting events to annual community events to everyday life in Ventura County and other parts of the world.

Born in the mountains of Michoacán, Mexico, Mendoza grew up in Oxnard. In his free time, he can be found gardening, climbing rocks, running trails or riding his bike. He practices yoga on a daily basis and has been a yoga instructor. For his 46th birthday, he biked and ran the entire length of the Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains - all 69.5 miles - to bring awareness to this uniquely Southern California outdoor wonderland. The trail connects Ventura County to Los Angeles and was recently completed when the National Park Service acquired the last three of 180 properties needed to make it a contiguous trail. In 2016 he joined the Mountain Bike Unit for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The team of patrol volunteers provides public assistance and resource protection to the national and state parklands in Southern California.

Monthly free presentations are part of the Ojai Photography Club’s community service and education outreach. Visitors are always welcome to attend.

The Ojai Photography 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 review. For additional information please visit: www.ojaiphotoclub.com

 
“Untitled” by Jessie Arms Botke, oil on canvas, 22 x 24 inches (available in the live auction).
“Untitled” by Jessie Arms Botke, oil on canvas, 22 x 24 inches (available in the live auction).
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Saturday, March 25, 2017, at the Santa Paula Art Museum. The silent auction begins at 3:00 p.m. The live auction immediately follows at 4:30 p.m.

SANTA PAULA, CA – The Santa Paula Art Museum’s annual art auction is back and bigger than ever! On Saturday, March 25, 2017, the Santa Paula Art Museum will host its Seventh Annual Fine and Decorative Art Auction. Dozens of artworks - ranging from stunning oil and watercolor paintings to decorative glass, pottery, and prints - will be available in both a silent auction format and during a thrilling live auction! The silent auction begins at 3:00 p.m., followed by the live auction at 4:30 p.m. Admission to the auction is $15.00 for museum members and $20.00 for the general public. All proceeds from the event benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum, Jeanette Cole Art Center.

Highlighting the live auction are works by noted early twentieth century California artists like Jessie Arms Botke, Cornelis Botke, and Ralph Holmes. Contemporary art by local favorites including Meredith Brooks Abbott, Raymond Cuevas, Tony Jankowski, George Lockwood, Kevin Macpherson, Gina Niebergall, Susan Petty, and Richard Schloss will complement the more historic offerings. To browse a complete catalog of the items that will be available in the auction, please visit www.santapaulaartmuseum.org/artauction.

The annual art auction at the Santa Paula Art Museum is a special opportunity to find quality works of art for one’s private collection. Guests will experience the fun and excitement of a live auction announced by professional auctioneer John Eubanks of California Auctioneers. During the event, three paintings by Jessie Arms Botke and Cornelis Botke will also be raffled off to three lucky winners. To purchase raffle tickets, please visit www.santapaulaartmuseum.org/artauction. Raffle tickets can also be purchased during the auction until 4:00 p.m. Winners do not need to be present to win. The auction is sponsored by Bank of the Sierra, Calavo, Limoneira, Rotary Club of Santa Paula, and Santa Paula Community Bank.

The Santa Paula Art Museum, Jeanette Cole Art Center is located at 117 North 10th Street in beautiful downtown Santa Paula. The Museum features rotating exhibitions of vintage and contemporary art, educational programming for children and adults, artist talks and demonstrations, a gift shop, and more. For more information, please contact the Museum at (805) 525-5554.

 
“Above Ediza Lake” by Nita Harper, oil, 24 x 24 inches, Collection of the artist.
“Above Ediza Lake” by Nita Harper, oil, 24 x 24 inches, Collection of the artist.
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Six Artists Take Viewers on a Journey to the Sierra Nevada Mountains

March 4, 2017 through July 9, 2017 at the Santa Paula Art Museum

SANTA PAULA, CA – In August 2015, artists Linda Brown, Marian Fortunati, Nita Harper, Debra Holladay, Laura Wambsgans, and Sharon Weaver embarked on a week-long expedition to paint the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. The six women call themselves the PAC6, six artists painting across the country. The product of their pilgrimage to the Sierras is an exhibition nearly two years in the making, featuring over 60 paintings that take the viewer on a journey of discovery to experience the seasons, wildness, and fierce beauty of the High Sierra. Between Heaven and Earth: The PAC6 Paints the Sierras will premiere with a reception on Saturday, March 4, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is $10.00 for museum members, and $15.00 for the general public.

The first images of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, with their dramatic peaks and pristine lakes, caught the imagination of a young America and helped to open the West. Following in the historic footsteps of the early California Impressionists, the PAC6 have created a body of work that provides an opportunity to see these iconic vistas from a new and contemporary perspective. While each of the six artists paints in a personally distinctive style, the pack’s purpose in creating the show was identical. It is the hope of PAC6 that in seeing the exhibition, viewers will be inspired toward their own great adventure - one filled with awe at the beauty and grandeur of the American landscape. The exhibit will also include a short video documentary with film footage and commentary describing the group’s Sierra trip. Between Heaven and Earth is on view from March 4, 2017 through July 9, 2017.

The Santa Paula Art Museum, Jeanette Cole Art Center is located at 117 North 10th Street in beautiful downtown Santa Paula. The Museum features rotating exhibitions of vintage and contemporary art, educational programming for children and adults, artist talks and demonstrations, a gift shop, and more. The Museum’s regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. 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.

 

Haole, Ventura’s surfing dog, will ride with Grand Marshal Mary Osborne, champion long boarder and professional surfer, when the annual County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches up Main Street for the 29th time in downtown Ventura on Saturday, March 11.

The theme of this year’s parade, which begins in front of Mission San Buenaventura at 10 a.m., is “The Sporting Life: The Games We Play.”

Haole, an 8-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, wowed hundreds of thousands attending the 2017 Rose Parade as well as millions more watching on television with his surfing skills on a float equipped with a wave machine. Haole, whose name is pronounced “Howl-ie” and is owned by John and Kim Murphy, will join Osborne, a Ventura resident, who in addition to being a professional surfer and long boarder, is a women’s sports advocate, environmentalist, writer, model, TV personality and businesswoman.

The whole county will be turning out in green on Main Street. Last year’s parade drew over 90 entries, including floats sponsored by civic groups, nonprofits and local businesses and restaurants; marching bands; car clubs; horses; clowns and the Biggest Green Pig in the World. There also will be high school pep bands, youth groups and fun-loving adult groups entered in the parade.

In the spirit of this year’s parade theme, the organizing committee also encourages Ventura County teams from all sports and from every age group to join in the parade. That includes school teams, Little League and adult league baseball teams, football, softball, soccer and basketball teams. Individual sports enthusiasts such as skateboarders, golfers, bowlers and swimmers also are invited.

This year’s parade judges are: Michael Babbs, superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District; Connie Sthal, representative of Ventura Elks Lodge #1430; Erika Beck, president of California State University Channel Islands; Richard Rush, former president of CSUCI; Sue Georgino of Georgino Development; and James Lockwood, public relations director for the Ventura County Fair and St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee representative.

The County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which ends at Laurel Street, is presented by the Ventura Elks Lodge #1430. The event’s committee is accepting entries for the parade. For entry forms or more information about the parade, visit www.venturastpatricksdayparade.com, email Jim Monahan at jim.monahan@att.net or email Nan Drake at nanodrake@aol.com.

 

CA State Old Time Fiddlers will meet on Sunday 2/26/17 from 1:30-4:30pm at the Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley Road, Oak View. The public is invited to play, listen and dance to Country Western and Bluegrass music. Free admission and parking, refreshments available. calfiddlers.com or call 805-797-6563

 
Tuesday, February 21, 7:00 p.m

"The Rolling Stones" by Guy Webster
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"The Doors" by Guy Webster
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"The Beach Boys" by Guy Webster
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"Simon & Garfunkel" by Guy Webster
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"Mamas and Papas" by Guy Webster
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"Guy in Venice Studio" by Lisa Gizara, Gizara Arts Photography
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Written bt Letitia Grimes

Ojai, CA: From Rock and Roll to Hollywood with Guy Webster

The Ojai Photo Club will rock and roll into its new year of free monthly events with a presentation by internationally renowned celebrity photographer, Guy Webster. His images on the album covers of ‘60s and ‘70s rock groups such as the Doors, the Mamas and the Papas, the Rolling Stones, Simon and Garfunkel, and many others, became cultural icons for millions of people across the globe. His groundbreaking portraits took celebrities out of the photographic studio and created a natural and intimate aesthetic for a new era.

Growing up in Hollywood in a show business family, Webster was uniquely positioned to become a sought-after photographer to celebrities, since many had been neighbors, classmates, or friends. The music revolution of the ‘60s coincided with the beginning of his career, and he followed his passion for the emerging musical scene. His portraits of the early years of rock and roll have become legendary.

His prolific work has encompassed an extraordinary range of prominent figures, from rock stars such as Jim Morrison and Bob Dylan, to Hollywood icons including Liza Minnelli and Barbra Streisand, to famous authors like Truman Capote and Allen Ginsberg, and former presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

Known for his wit and spontaneous anecdotes, Webster will present the images and fill in the backstories behind the portraits in his recent retrospective book, “Big Shots: Rock Legends and Hollywood Icons.” The event will take place on Tuesday, February 21, at 7:00 p.m., in Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 W. Santa Ana Street, Ojai, CA.

Monthly free presentations are part of the Ojai Photography Club’s community service and education outreach. Visitors are always welcome to attend.

The Ojai Photography 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 review. For additional information please visit: www.ojaiphotoclub.com

 

An award-winning cellist and California Lutheran University music lecturer will present a faculty recital on Saturday, March 4.

Yoshika Masuda will perform a captivating selection of works written for cello and piano spanning three centuries at 7:30 p.m. in Samuelson Chapel on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Masuda has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Sydney Opera House, the Dai-ichi Seimei Hall in Tokyo and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. A keen advocate of contemporary music, he presented the world premieres of works by Nick Strimple, Xander Rodzinski and Bent Sørensen.

The cellist took first place in the 40th Midland-Odessa National Young Artist Competition in Texas, the 25th Australian Concerto & Vocal Competition and the 11th All-Japan Viva Hall Cello Competition. He received the prestigious Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe String Award in 2010.

Masuda is a founding member of the cello quintet SAKURA, whose performances were described by the Los Angeles Times as “brilliant” and “superb.”

Born in Kobe, Japan, Masuda moved to Australia after the 1995 earthquake destroyed his family’s house. He began playing the cello at the age of 5 and studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music with first-class honors and a master’s degree in music with distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music in England. He holds a doctorate in musical arts from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where he studied with the legendary cellist Ralph Kirshbaum.

The chapel is located at 165 Chapel Lane. Additional parking is available in the lots at the corner of Olsen Road and Mountclef Boulevard.

Donations will be accepted. For more information, call the Music Department at 805-493-3306 or visit CalLutheran.edu.

 

The Ventura County Camera Club will hold a critique meeting on Wednesday, February 8th 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd.

A professional photographer from the area will critique member's prints and digital images. Each month a special topic is chosen which features some interesting aspect of photography. This month's topic is PANORAMA. Anyone with an interest in photography is welcome and admission is free. Only members may submit images for critique. See the club's web site for more information about the club and examples of member's work or call 908-5663.

www.VenturaCountyCameraClub.com

 
Canadian Brass
Canadian Brass
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47-year-old quintet brings brass music to the masses

The 47-year-old Canadian Brass quintet, which is responsible for bringing brass music to the masses in packed concerts around the world and greatly expanding the repertoire for such ensembles, will present a free concert at California Lutheran University on Thursday, Jan. 26.

The world’s most famous all-brass chamber group will perform at 7:30 p.m. in Samuelson Chapel on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Canadian Brass has performed in almost every major concert hall in the world, been seen by hundreds of millions of people on television, sold 2 million of its more than 130 albums worldwide and contributed nearly 600 new works
and arrangements to the brass quintet repertoire. The first brass ensemble to tour China and the first to play the main stage at Carnegie Hall, it is almost
single-handedly responsible for elevating the art of the brass quintet to what it is today.

In black suits and white running shoes, Canadian Brass serves up music in formal classical presentations as well as with lively dialogue and theatrical effects in its concerts. The hallmarks of any Canadian Brass performance are entertainment, spontaneity, virtuosity and, most of all, fun. Programs span the full range from trademark baroque and Dixieland tunes to new compositions and arrangements created especially for the quintet.

Canadian Brass made its first European tour in 1972 and its American debut at the Kennedy Center in 1975. On numerous occasions, the Canadian government has invited the ensemble to play for visiting heads of state as it has become one of the country’s greatest resources and musical ambassadors.

The quintet continues to score Billboard chart positions — like with its rousing recording of patriotic songs and marches, “Stars & Stripes: Canadian Brass Salute America,” which spent eight weeks in the Top 25 on the Billboard Classical Chart, peaking at No. 2.

The Canadian Brass has performed on “The Tonight Show,” “Today” and “Entertainment Tonight.”

The quintet features tuba legend and founding member Chuck Daellenbach and four of the next generation’s top brass stars: Caleb Hudson and Christopher Coletti on trumpet, Achilles Liarmakopoulos on trombone and Bernhard Scully on horn.

The chapel is located at 165 Chapel Lane. The concert is part of Cal Lutheran’s Artists and Speakers Series. For more information, call the Music Department at 805-493-3305 or visit CalLutheran.edu.

 
Mary Osborne
Mary Osborne

Champion long boarder and professional surfer Mary Osborne will serve as Grand Marshal when the annual Ventura County St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches up Street for the 29th time in downtown Ventura on Saturday, March 11.

The theme of this year’s parade, which begins in front of Mission San Buenaventura at 10 a.m., is “The Sporting Life: The Games We Play.”

While best known for her athletic endeavors – in 2010 the Ventura resident became the first woman to ride China’s Qiantang River tidal bore, the largest and fastest bore in the world – Osborne also is a women’s sports advocate, environmentalist, writer, model, TV personality and businesswoman. She has been ambassador to the United Nations Environmental Safe Campaign, the 5 Gyres Institute, Project Save Our Surf, a Patagonia ambassador, and in 2015 was guest of honor at the Women’s Sports Foundation’s annual event.

The whole county will be turning out in green on Main Street. Last year’s parade drew over 90 entries, including floats sponsored by civic groups, nonprofits and local businesses and restaurants; marching bands; car clubs; horses; clowns and the Biggest Green Pig in the World. There also will be high school pep bands, youth groups and fun-loving adult groups entered in the parade.

In the spirit of this year’s parade theme, the organizing committee also encourages Ventura County teams from all sports and from every age group to join in the parade. That includes school teams, Little League and adult league baseball teams, football, softball, soccer and basketball teams. Individual sports enthusiasts such as skateboarders, golfers, bowlers and swimmers also are invited.

The Ventura County St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which ends at Laurel Street, is presented by the Ventura Elks Lodge #1430. The event’s committee is accepting entries for the parade. For entry forms or more information about the parade, visit www.venturastpatricksdayparade.com, email Jim Monahan at jim.monaha@att.net or call him at (805) 643-4275 or email Nan Drake at nanodrake@aol.com.

 

After three years of construction, the Ventura College Art Department is proud to announce the grand opening of the remodeled Studio Arts Building (SAB) and the newly constructed New Media Gallery on Thursday, December 1, 2016, from 6-8:30 pm (4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA). Opening ceremonies will take place across from the New Media Gallery followed by studio class demonstrations, faculty and student displays, and a closing reception with light refreshments for the exhibition, Innovation and a Rejection of the Past: The Artistic Avant-Garde. The event is free and open to the public.

In March 2002, citizens of Ventura County voted to authorize a $356 million general obligation bond to renovate and expand all three Ventura County Community College campuses. The bond funds allocated for Ventura College supported the construction of the Library and Learning Resources Center (2005), Student Services Center (2008) and the Sportsplex (2009). Later, construction continued with the Advanced Technology Center (2011), General Purposes Classroom Building (2011), Ventura College Performing Arts Center (2012) and the Applied Science Center (2015).

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Chancellor Bernard Luskin and Ventura College President Greg Gillespie, I would like to thank the residents of Ventura County for approving the funds to support these projects,” said VCCCD Board Chair Larry Kennedy. “We are proud of the work that has gone into constructing the Studio Arts Building and New Media Gallery and look forward to presenting these 21st century facilities to our students and the community.”

The Ventura College Art Department offers beginning and intermediate courses in Color and Design, Drawing, Life Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Digital Media, Photography, and Art History to assist students in gaining insight into creative and critical thinking. The Ventura College Art program has a long tradition of producing many of the region’s most accomplished artists and continuing education students who have forged advanced skills and careers as exhibiting artists, educators, graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, art technicians, art historians, commercial artists, and gallery/museum professionals.

The Art Department maintains two galleries: Gallery 2, a student-run gallery and art lab, and the New Media Gallery exhibiting work by historically significant and nationally known artists. Additionally, these exhibition spaces provide students with hands-on experience in gallery and museum management.

After six decades of providing quality community college education at the 4667 Telegraph location, Ventura College, with the support of the voters, will celebrate its history and look towards the future as it prepares to serve a new generation of Ventura County students. For more information on art classes or to obtain notices of upcoming art events, lectures, and exhibitions, please contact the Ventura College Art Department, Gwendolyn Huddleston, Ed.D., Dean of Academics, gklewishuddleston@vcccd.edu, 805-289-6388.

Ventura College, an accredited two-year institution of higher education, has been a part of the beautiful seaside community of Ventura, California, since 1925. It is conveniently located approximately 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. The 112-acre campus, set in the rolling hills of Ventura, has an enrollment of 14,500 students. Ventura College offers Associate of Arts and Associate of Sciences Degrees in 33 majors, and Certificates of Completion and Proficiency Awards in 61 areas of study. Ventura College also has Transfer Guarantee Agreements with CSUCI, CSUN, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz. Class schedules are posted at www.venturacollege.edu. For more information, contact the Ventura College Welcome Center at 805.289.6420.

 

CA State Old Time Fiddlers will meet on Sunday 11/13/16 from 1:30-4:30pm at the Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley Road, Oak View. The public is invited to play, listen and dance to Country Western and Bluegrass music. Free admission and parking, refreshments available. calfiddlers.com or call 805-797-6563.

 
Photo by Kirby Russell
Photo by Kirby Russell
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Photo by Kirby Russell
Photo by Kirby Russell
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Photo by Kirby Russell
Photo by Kirby Russell
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Photo by Kirby Russell
Photo by Kirby Russell
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Photo by Kirby Russell
Photo by Kirby Russell
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Photo by Kirby Russell
Photo by Kirby Russell
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The Ojai Photography Club concludes its 2016 series of monthly events with a presentation by Ojai based photographer Kirby Russell, “Structure and Light,” on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. in Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 Santa Ana Street, Ojai, CA.

Russell will demonstrate how nearly every image he creates in-cludes these two key elements. “It is a fact that light is one, if not the most significant element of photography,” he explains, “With light we can “illuminate,” put focus on, bring meaning to, create or embellish the sensation of emotion, and bring life to a subject. In concert with light is “structure. “Structure by definition is the way something is built, arranged, or organized. However in photography, structure may not have rigid shape or necessarily intend to create order; it may all change as a matter of visual perspective."

Previously viewed and new photography will be presented along with before and after examples, leading into Russell's "artistic bent" on the significance of photographic enhancements that can empower the visitors’ own images. He will provide a brief snapshot of his background, including influences on his photography, his work in fulfillment services, and his experience in shooting large events. The primary focus, however, will be the discussion about structure and light, and how these elements impact photographs.

Russell’s photography and graphic illustration work has been published in select magazines, newspapers, and online publica-tions both nationally and internationally. He is a student of the New York Institute of Photography, a member of Professional Photographers of America, and a member of the National Press Photographers Association. He is president of a technical and creative marketing firm providing a wide variety of services, in-cluding event photography, video services, and team management, for over two hundred clients worldwide. Russell has photographed everything from corporate portraits, to theatrical performances, to exotic auto racing. To see more examples of his work, go to http://kirbyrussell.zenfolio.com and Facebook at: http://bit.ly/2epn0cC

Monthly free presentations are part of the Ojai Photography Club’s community service and education outreach. Visitors are always welcome to attend.

The Ojai Photography Club, which is devoted to education, inspi-ration, and camaraderie, meets on the third Tuesday of each month, February – November. Only members may submit images for review. For additional information please visit: www.ojaiphotoclub.com

 

CSU Channel Islands (CI)’s November art shows in Napa Gallery take visitors from the realities of human impact on the Santa Rosa Island to a make-believe world with monsters, demons, mortals and gods.

The primary show, “Fluid Entropy” by Janet Neuwalder, is somewhere in between the natural world and the cosmos with wall installations assembled from hundreds of fragments that seem to float on the wall.

“Fluid Entropy” opens with two other exhibits from Oct. 31 through Dec. 9 with an opening scheduled in Napa Gallery from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10.

The other two exhibits are: “Tales of Prima: Strange Creatures and Mysterious Landscapes” by Art senior Stephanie Canlas, and “The Human Impact on Santa Rosa Island (Part Two)” by more than 20 sculpture and art students who visited Santa Rosa Island to do artistic research.

“Entropy” will be in the Napa Gallery, “Santa Rosa” is on display in the CI Palm Temporary gallery and “Prima” will be on the Grad Wall, all located within Napa Hall on the CI campus.

Neuwalder, who is an art instructor at California Lutheran University, is a sculptor and installation artist who works in mixed media, clay and ceramic processes. She uses natural and manufactured materials such as papers, fibers and books, “the residue topography of human existence,” she says, and coats them with liquid clay.

“Clay is an ancient material and seems inexhaustible in its ability to express a sense of timelessness, endurance and expressive meaning,” she said.

“The Human Impact on Santa Rosa” is a group project organized by Art Lecturer Christophe Bourely and Professor of Art Matt Furmanski.

In spring of 2016, Furmanski and Bourely took more than 20 art students to Santa Rosa Island to see what impact human contact has had on the land.

“We talked about the importance of open space as inspiration to artists, we talked about and studied environmental art and art that conveys a message of some kind,” Furmanski said. “The approach was to allow the students to encounter nature and open space and open themselves to the inspiration of it all. To study how we as humans affect our surroundings and are affected by them.”

Part I of the project was two dimensional – photographs and paintings. Part II incorporates sculpture.

Students used a variety of marine detritus to assemble sculptures, including lobster traps, fishing gear, balloons, floats and buoys and all manner of plastics—especially non-biodegradable bottles.

The Grad Wall exhibit is a voyage into Canlas’ imagination with a series of digital paintings that invite guests into a fantasy world called Prima.

“There lives an endless sea of stories, teeming with fantastical creatures, celestial kingdoms, and lush, vivid landscapes,” Canlas said.

Tales of Prima will be a website dedicated to Canlas’ characters and their world, a project that Canlas has been working on for the past few years. Included on the website will be stories, details, diagrams and information about the species, languages and cultures of Prima.

Limited parking is available on campus with the purchase of a $6 daily permit; follow signs to the parking permit dispensers. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road with bus service to and from the campus. Riders should board the CI Vista Bus to the campus; the cash-only fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.

 

For 22 years they’ve shared a home; now Mary Kolada Scott and Don Scott are sharing a wall. Her paintings and his photographs will be exhibited Nov. 1-26 on the red wall at the Buenaventura Gallery in downtown Ventura.

The show is “His & Hers: He Shoots, She Paints.” It will feature acrylic and mixed-media paintings by Mary and digital prints from Don.

The Scotts plan to be present 5-8 p.m. Nov. 4 for First Friday Ventura, and 5-7 p.m. Nov. 19 for a reception in conjunction with the opening of Buenaventura Art Association’s Holiday Boutique and the second Arts & Eats mini artwalk between four downtown Ventura galleries. Participating galleries include Buenaventura Gallery, Fox Fine Jewelry, Gallery V at Very Ventura, and Latitudes. Select restaurants and shops will be offering small bites as art lovers and holiday shoppers stroll between galleries.

Buenaventura Gallery, at 700 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura, is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. For more information, visit the nonprofit art cooperative’s website, www.buenaventuragallery.org, or call 648-1235 during gallery hours.

 
“Alham, Somerset” by Thomas Noel Smith.
“Alham, Somerset” by Thomas Noel Smith.
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Display of 19th-century works to open at Cal Lutheran

A collection of British landscape paintings highlighting people’s dependence on animals will be on display from Thursday, Nov. 10, through Thursday, Jan. 19, at California Lutheran University.

“In the Company of Animals: 19th-century British Country Life” will be on exhibit in the William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art on the Thousand Oaks campus.

The exhibit will feature British landscapes from the mid- and late 19th century from the William Rolland Collection. Scenes highlight people’s dependence on animals for labor, comfort, food and friendship.

Works in watercolor and oil by artists including Robert Cleminson (1844-1903), Albert Milton Drinkwater (1862–1917), Nathaniel Neal Solly (1811-1895) and Thomas Noel Smith (1840-1900) will be included.

Admission is free.

The gallery is inside William Rolland Stadium, which is located on the north side of Olsen Road between Campus Drive and Mountclef Boulevard. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, contact curator Rachel T. Schmid at 805-493-3697 or
rollandgallery@callutheran.edu or visit CalLutheran.edu/rolland.

 
“One Path to Many Roads” by Silvia Huerta, pen, ink and watercolor on board, 14 x 11 inches, Collection of the artist.
“One Path to Many Roads” by Silvia Huerta, pen, ink and watercolor on board, 14 x 11 inches, Collection of the artist.
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October 22, 2016 through January 29, 2017 at the Santa Paula Art Museum
“Alegria” by L.T. Bunning, charcoal on paper, 24 x 20 inches, Collection of the artist.
“Alegria” by L.T. Bunning, charcoal on paper, 24 x 20 inches, Collection of the artist.
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SANTA PAULA, CA - The annual De Colores Art Show returns to the Santa Paula Art Museum with a premiere reception on Saturday, October 22, 2016, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The group exhibition features art by 30 contemporary artists whose vibrant works are inspired by Latino culture. The premiere party will include live music by Paraguayan harpist Ignacio Lopez and Trio Príncipes. Admission to the event is $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors, and is free for students and museum members.

With the De Colores Art Show now in its 23rd year, longtime curator and featured artist Xavier Montes is excited to showcase new perspectives. “This year’s show is about envisioning and working together toward a better future,” says Montes. “It’s about acknowledging the struggles and achievements of the previous generation and empowering young people to embrace their diversity and pursue their passions.” The artworks on display come in a variety of styles and media, and tell meaningful stories of hope, heritage, strength, and peace.

The exhibition features art by Richard Arenas, Jackie Bermudez, Joe Bravo, L.T. Bunning, Ray Cirerol, Lynn Coleman, Pedro de la Cruz, Beverly Cunningham, Roy Grillo, Dolores Gonzalez Haro, Sergio Hernandez, Gina Herrera, Silvia Huerta, Carolyn Jorgensen, Beverly Lazor, Renate Lichter, Maria Lopez, Rhonda Magnus, Mike Molina, Xavier Montes, Rick Ortega, Betty Saunders, Christina Ramos, Sylvia Raz, John Robertson, Mark Tovar, Veronica Valadez, and Doreen Villanueva. The show is made possible through the generosity of its sponsors which include Calavo, Clinicas del Camino Real, La Cabana, and Santa Paula Latino Town Hall. The 23rd De Colores Art Show runs through January 29, 2017.

The Santa Paula Art Museum, Jeanette Cole Art Center is located at 117 North Tenth Street in beautiful downtown Santa Paula. The Museum features rotating exhibitions of vintage and contemporary art, educational programming for children and adults, artist talks and demonstrations, a gift shop, and more. 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 free for museum members and students. For more information, please contact the Museum at (805) 525-5554 or info@santapaulaartmuseum.org.

 
Accomplished cellist to conduct Founders Day Concert
Yoshika Masuda
Yoshika Masuda

Revamped ensembles and a new conductor will make their debut at California Lutheran University’s annual Founders Day Concert.

The concert will begin 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, in Samuelson Chapel on the Thousand Oaks campus.

The 20-member University String Symphony, which includes members of the former University Symphony, will perform selections from “Capriol Suite” by Peter Warlock, Theme and Variations by Aleksandr Glazunov and Mozart’s Divertimento for Strings in F major under the direction of Yoshika Masuda. The accomplished musician also began giving cello lessons at Cal Lutheran this fall.

The University Wind Ensemble will close the concert with an eclectic mix of traditional favorites and exciting contemporary works. The ensemble became an all-student group this fall. It continues under the direction of assistant professor of music Michael Hart, the director of bands at Cal Lutheran.

Masuda has performed as a cellist at the Solitär at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Sydney Opera House, the Dai-ichi Seimei Hall in Tokyo and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. A keen advocate of contemporary music, he presented the world premieres of works by Michael Cutting, Xander Rodzinski and Bent Sørensen.

The cellist took first place in the 40th Midland-Odessa National Young Artist Competition in Texas, the 25th Australian Concerto & Vocal Competition and the 11th All-Japan Viva Hall Cello Competition. He received the prestigious Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe String Award in 2010.

Masuda is a founding member of the cello quintet SAKURA, whose performances were recently described by the Los Angeles Times as “brilliant” and “superb.”

Born in Kobe, Japan, Masuda moved to Australia after the 1995 earthquake destroyed his family’s house. He began playing the cello at the age of 5 and studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music with first-class honors and a master’s degree in music with distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music in England. He holds a doctorate in musical arts from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where he studied with the legendary cellist Ralph Kirshbaum.

The chapel is located at 165 Chapel Lane. Additional parking is available in the lots at the corner of Olsen Road and Mountclef Boulevard.

Donations will be accepted. For more information, call the Music Department at 805-493-3306 or visit CalLutheran.edu.

 

Oxnard, CA - Bridge Carney, PT boat historian and model maker, will be the featured guest at the next Channel Islands Maritime Museum Speaker Series, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Oct. 20, at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum, 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard. Carney will share his experience with the ELCO PT boat and its missions in the Pacific, as well as discuss the PT 157, its crew, and its assignments in the Solomon Islands, including some of the more notable and harrowing missions in the South Pacific during the summer of 1943. These missions include the 157’s skillfully executed rescue in contested waters of the PT 109 crew and its skipper, Lt. John F. Kennedy, who would go on to become the 35th President of the United States.

Carney’s two books on the subject, written in collaboration with the original skipper and torpedo man of the PT 157, also cover the making of his highly accurate and detailed PT 157 model, which will be on display at the presentation.

The Speaker Series is a lecture series held every third Thursday at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum. Refreshments are served at 6.30 p.m. and the lecture begins at 7.00 p.m. Entry is free with membership, $5 for non-members, $4 for seniors. For more information, visit www.cimmvc.org or call (805) 984-6260.

 
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