Opera Santa Barbara will present a series of Free Noontime Concerts at the Ojai Library on the second Thursday of March, April, and May. Each concert will begin at 12 p.m. in the main room of the library and will last approximately 45 minutes. The concerts will feature members of the Mosher Studio Artist Program, a residential training program for accomplished young singers. These concerts are offered free. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, City Librarian, at 218-9146.
Persons interested in serving as Ojai’s next City Clerk have until March 30 to apply for the part-time position. The elected position is currently held by City Clerk Rhonda Basore, who announced in January that she will be retiring from the City in April. Her term as the elected city clerk will expire in November.
Because the city clerk is selected by voters, the City Council had to determine whether to fill the remainder of Basore’s term via election or appointment. The Council determined on February 9 to appoint someone to complete the term until voters choose a successor in the November 2016 election.
To apply for City Clerk, please submit a City Clerk application (available at Ojai City Hall) or go to the City website for more information.
The City is also recruiting separately to fill the appointed position of records manager. That position is appointed by the city manager. The deadline to apply for the records manager position is also March 30.
For more information please contact Deputy City Manager Steve McClary at 646-5581, extension 101 or [email protected] or go to www.ojaicity.org/jobs.
On Monday, March 14th at 7 p.m., the Ojai Art Center Literary Branch will host John Nichols, essayist and photographer, who will read from his latest book, “Essay Man,” and share his publishing knowledge. John’s gallery in Santa Paula displays vintage, vernacular and contemporary photography. $5 donation suggested. For more info www.johnnicholsgallery.com or [email protected].
As the Ojai Music Festival anticipates the upcoming 70th Festival (June 9-12, 2016) with Music Director Peter Sellars, Artistic Director Thomas W. Morris announces the artists who will serve as Music Directors through the Festival’s 75th anniversary in 2021. Following previously announced future music directors Vijay Iyer (June 8-11, 2017) and Esa-Pekka Salonen (June 7-10, 2018), soprano/conductor Barbara Hannigan will be the 2019 music director (June 6-9), violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaya in 2020 (June 11-14) and pianist Mitsuko Uchida in 2021 (June 10-13). Since the late 1940’s, the Ojai Music Festival’s tradition has been to welcome a new Music Director each year to ensure vitality and diversity in programming across Festivals.
The Ojai Film Society will screen three art-related films in March at the Ojai Art Center Theater. The theme for this special trio of documentary films is Celebration of the Arts: Music, Fashion, Fine Art. The series features three extraordinary artists who have each excelled in their craft.
Amy, on March 13, tells the haunting story of the talented British pop icon, Amy Winehouse. Iris, on March 20, portrays the flamboyantly dressed, 93-year-old style maven, Iris Apfel. Hockney, on March 27, explores the life of one of Britain’s most important artists, David Hockney.
The films will be shown at the Ojai Art Center Theater, located at 113 S. Montgomery, at 5 pm. Admission is $10 general admission and $7 for seniors and students. Tickets are sold at the door. For more information visit www.ojaifilmsociety.org.
Local Ventura artist Ellie Tu will visit the Ojai Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, to deliver a talk entitled “Channel Islands National Park Guide Book Illustrations and a Glance at Traditional Botanical Art.” This talk will include a brief history of traditional botanical art and explain the equipment and materials Ms. Tu uses for painting and drawing.
Ms. Tu will also speak on the process of creating the Channel Islands National Park guide book illustrations and give a drawing demonstration. She will bring some plant samples for guests to experience from a botanical illustrator’s point of view. This event is free and open to the public.
“The Addams Family” musical is based on Charles Addams’ New Yorker cartoons. Immensely popular on Broadway, it showcases a ‘normal’ couple, Mal and Alice and their son, meeting the off-beat Addams Family with hilarious and discordant results. Youth actors will take over the lead roles during the 2 p.m. Saturday matinees. It runs from March 11 to April 3 at Ojai ACT, 113 S. Montgomery St., at an earlier-than-usual time, 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are only $18 general, $12 for seniors, students and Art Center members and $5 for youth 12 and under. Either call for reservations at 640-8797 or go online: www.OjaiACT.org
