Category Archives: Ventura Art Scene

Ventura City Council Municipal Art Acquisition Program

In May of 1999, the City Council established the Municipal Art Acquisition Program to document the history of visual art in Ventura through the annual purchase of important works of art created by area artists. The collection provides increased access to art of the highest quality and of distinctive merit through its display in the public areas of City Hall and other municipal buildings.

In the corridors of city hall is Meredith Brooks Abbott’s Oranges Against Shadows, 1999, oil on canvas.

She studied and learned from several recognized American Impressionist painters – Douglass Parshall, Richard Meryman and Clarence Hinkle. Abbott’s family-owned, fifty-acre ranch in Carpinteria is the landscape found in her plein air paintings.

Buenaventura Art Association presents its ninth Watercolor Open Competition April 25-May 26

Buenaventura Art Association will present the top entries in its ninth Watercolor Open Competition April 25-May 26 at the Buenaventura Gallery in Ventura.

Cash prizes and one-year BAA memberships will be awarded at a reception 6-9 p.m. May 3 during Ventura’s First Friday gallery crawl. The Norman Kirk Best of Show Award is $300, and first- through third-place winners will receive $200, $100 and $75, respectively. Honorable mention also earns a one-year membership.

Juror for the exhibition is Frank Webb, a Dolphin Fellow of the American Watercolor Society who has conducted painting workshops internationally, written five books, and received more than 120 major awards. Webb also holds lifetime achievement awards from watercolor societies around the world and his works are in the permanent collections of 10 art museums.

This year’s Open Competition is for original paintings using transparent watercolors only, excluding other aquamedia, which is a return to the category’s original form.

Buenaventura Gallery, in Studio 30 at Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Ave. is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. For more about the 65-year-old nonprofit cooperative and its programs, visit www.buenaventuraartassociation.org or call 805-648-1235 during gallery hours.

Focus on the Masters Archive & Library (FOTM) at the Ojai Library

The public is invited to join Focus on the Masters Archive & Library (FOTM) at the Ojai Library for a celebration of the creative spirit from students at Topa Topa Elementary and residents from Providence Ojai.  Artwork created in the Learning To See Outreach (LTS) will be exhibited from May 9 – June 10, with a reception on Tuesday, May 21 from 5:30 – 6:30.  Awards will be presented, and all are welcome to create their own beautiful leaf print with us! 111 East Ojai Avenue.

 FOTM documents the lives and works of extraordinary artists from our community, providing art programming for all ages. 

 

Marta Nelson (1922 – 2019)

Marta Nelson, one of Ojai’s most beloved artists, passed away peacefully at age 96. Marta was a painter, a printmaker and a sculptor in papier mâché. She was a traditionalist who knew when to bend the rules, an optimist who felt compelled to paint something beautiful, a citizen of the world who strongly believed that artists have a mission: to use the arts as a vehicle for peace.

She dedicated her life to community, establishing art programs that continue to this day. Among her legacy, is the co-founding of the prestigious Ojai Studio Artist (OSA) Tour. Established in 1984, OSA is a highly respected group of artists that open their studios annually the second weekend in October, with mini tours throughout the year.

Marta was originally from the Los Angeles area, settling in Bakersfield, before she and Hank retired to Ojai in 1981. Her formal education includes studying illustration at the Chouinard Art Institute. Marta shared in her 2006 Focus on the Masters Oral History, “I chose illustration so I could earn a living.” She worked as a newspaper illustrator at a time when a woman was credited under their husband’s name. She added, “That always bothered me – being listed as Mrs. Henry Nelson. It was as though a woman had no identity of their own.”

While in Bakersfield, Marta taught art classes at Bakersfield Community College and Spanish to elementary school students. Her love for teaching continued throughout her life with her most recent students among her fellow residents at The Gables of Ojai retirement community.

In Marta’s early days, she worked in the animation department for Screen Gems Colombia Pictures painting backgrounds and mixing color for the animators.

As a college student, Marta majored in Spanish, an experience that opened her eyes to the beauty of culture throughout the world. She became a folk dancer in the 1950s – Spanish dancing being among her favorite – and traveled to festivals throughout the state. She took up belly dancing at age 40 to address her arthritis. Her love for travel and cultural experiences became an inspiration for many paintings and prints. She described herself as a perennial student, always experimenting and eager to learn something new.

To learn more about Marta visit: www.OjaiStudioArtists.org

Ventura County Pastel Artists Annual Spring Show

“Nectarine Blossoms” a pastel by Julie Smith

Visit the Ventura County Pastel Artists at their Annual Spring Show, “Spring into Pastels”, a multi-Media event to be held at West Hills Gallery, 1545 Cuyama Road, Ojai.  Pastel paintings along with other mediums will be showcased and offered for sale. Attend the reception on Saturday, May 4, 2019 where you will meet the artists and watch demonstrations on some of the techniques and materials used with pastels.  The doors will open at 11am to 4pm on Saturday, May 4 and the Gallery will also be open on Sunday, May 5, from 11am to 4pm.

Vita Art Center presents the work of four glass artist from southern California

The Vita Art Center is proud to present the work of four glass artist from southern California. The exhibition presents a diverse array of techniques and approaches to handmade glass including functional, sculptural, and wall mounted. The artists are: Joe Cariati, Katherine Gray, Kazuki Takizawa and Susan Stinsmuehlen-Amend.

Champagne Preview Reception: Saturday April 27 from 4-7 p.m

First Friday Community Opening: Friday, May 3 from 6-9 p.m.

Exhibit Dates: April 27 – May 24

Vita Art Center, 28 West Main St.
805-644-9214
www.VitaArtCenter.com

A Conversation with Erika Lizée April 28

A Conversation with Erika Lizée , Sunday, April 28, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

The Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St.

Erika Lizée, artist and professor at Moorpark College, also serves as the director of that campus’s art gallery. As such, she arranges talks with exhibiting artists about their life histories and the way their art has progressed. This month we will turn the tables on Erika. We will listen to her as Donna Granata interviews this young, perceptive artist whose work reflects, in her words, an ever-shifting and nebulous boundary between what is known and unknown. To learn about Erika Lizée, visit www.ErikaLizee.com

Free to FOTM members, $15 for public; $10 for seniors.

To RSVP visit www.FocusOnTheMasters.com or call 805.653.2501.

AfterGLOW Fundraising Event:

Enoy a celebratory dinner at the Ventura home of Delia Gorey & Larry Manson, immediately following the program. Paid reservations are required prior to April 22. Maps will be given to paid guests at the interview. $30 FOTM members, $40 Non-members.

FOTM welcomes new staff member Michelle Glass

Michelle has been working in the arts for nearly twenty-five years as an artist, educator and administrator.

Focus on the Masters Archive & Library is pleased to welcome Michelle Glass as their new Executive Assistant! Michelle lives in Ventura and has been working in the arts for nearly twenty-five years as an artist, educator and administrator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education with an emphasis in Art Studio Photography from the California State University, Los Angeles and a Master of Fine Arts in Public Practice (Public Art and Social Practice) from Otis College of Art and Design.

Most recently she served as the Director of Education at the Santa Paula Art Museum where she built and launched the ArtSPARK School Tour and Outreach program, Teen Open Studio, Family Day, and the Artist in Residence programs. Under her administration, programs expanded allowing the museum to increase arts access and strengthen their partnership with the community. “I am so excited to join the FOTM team in this exciting new chapter of the organization’s growth!” Michelle said. She added, “It is exciting to be able to apply my skills in support of programs that acknowledge and preserve the contributions of accomplished contemporary artists and to be able to share their stories with the community.”

The Focus on the Masters (FOTM) Archive & Library is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year. Founded in 1994, FOTM is one of Ventura’s premier arts organizations. Its mission is to document, preserve and present the lives and works of leading contemporary artists to the public emphasizing the importance of the arts to a healthy society.

To learn more about Focus on the Masters Archive & Library, go to www.FocusOnTheMasters.com.

Ventura County Potters’ Guild Gallery Ceramic spotlight on mugs

The Ceramic spotlight will shine on mugs at the Ventura County Potters’ Guild Gallery (VCPG) in Ventura Harbor. Mugs from over 20 gallery members will be available for purchase on Saturday, May 18 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. We invite our stalwart collectors and newcomers to join us for a coffee and tea reception with light snacks for this “Marvelous Mug Marketplace.” Artists will be available to explain their inspirations, techniques and secrets. You can purchase your mug and immediately enjoy a cup of joe! Or just come to peruse the vast, eclectic collection made by our ceramic artists.

Mugs are a staple of many potter’s wares. They are collectible (and affordable), make great gifts, and we often hear about the joy of starting the day with something hand crafted.

The VCPG Gallery is located at 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105 in Ventura Harbor. The gallery is open seven days a week from 11-6 and exhibits a vast variety of functional and sculptural ceramics. This event is partnered with a reception at the Harbor Village Gallery and Gifts.

The Ventura County Potters’ Guild was founded in 1957 and continues its mission of promoting ceramic arts through the gallery, workshops, and monthly meetings. The monthly meetings are open to the public and feature ceramic demonstrations or presentations. More information at www.venturapottersguild.org