Scholarship recipients Hugo Castillo, Marissa Gonzales, Lizbeth Zamora, Logan Werner, Leah Kopp, Ashley Konzmann, Jonathan Weiser, Bailey Huerta, Amber Talbot, and Kayla Petrucci. Not pictured are Reiko Heartland and Audrey Hernandez.
Audrey Hernandez of Nordhoff High School was presented the top Ojai Studio Artists’ 2016 art scholarship at a celebratory reception at the Ojai City Hall.
OSA Scholarship Committee Chair Richard Franklin presented the promising art student the “Ojai Award” of $2000. In all, Franklin awarded over $10,000 in scholarships to nineteen Ventura County art students.
Three runner-ups for the award received $1000 each. They are Marissa Gonzales of Adolfo Camarillo High School in Camarillo and Hugo Castillo, California State University of Channel Islands, and Lizabeth Zamora from Nordhoff High School.
Three students received $800 scholarships. The Rotary Ojai West Award of $500 was awarded to Kayla Petrucci of Ojai, a student at Ventura College. Three other artists were awarded $500 scholarships and smaller amounts to other students..
In OSA’s 23 year-old scholarship program, the art organization has awarded over $210,000 in scholarships. This year’s $10,000 total marked a new high in scholarship fundraising. The prestigious Beatrice Wood and Otto and Vivika Heino awards honor the legacy of these important Ojai artists and past OSA members. The Ojai and Rotary West Ojai awards go specifically to local students.
Selected works by the scholarship winners will be shown at a two-month exhibition at City Gallery, located at 410 S. Ventura St. The Ojai Arts Commission generously hosted and installed the show throughout City Hall for the benefit of the public.
On Saturday, July 23, at 2 p.m. join international artist M. Nicole van Dam at the Ojai Art Center, for smiles and a spirited blend of art, humor, poetry and prose, based on Nicole’s book “Tempo – The Rhythm and Rhyme of the Artist.” Nicole’s artwork and writings are licensed internationally, creating lovely products, and Nicole’s work has been publicly exhibited for many years, including at Santa Barbara City Hall and Community Memorial Hospital. One of Nicole’s solo exhibitions was recorded by the Montecito History Committee, and Nicole has been named an artist to watch by the “Montecito Journal.” For a sneak peek at Nicole’s unique blend of art and writing please visit www.ArtSanctuary.us. Ojai Art Center 113 S. Montgomery St. Suggested Donation $5.
“Annie Get Your Gun” is the rough riding, exciting fictionalized love story of sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, composed to the beloved songs of Irving Berlin. This Tony Award winning musical runs from July 1 – 31 at Ojai ACT, 113 S. Montgomery St.; at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are only $20 general, $18 for seniors and Art Center members and $15 for students. Reserve your seat at 640-8797 or online: www.OjaiACT.org.
There will be a special Opening Weekend Gala for “Annie Get Your Gun” on Sunday, July 3 featuring a Prosecco Reception a half hour before the 2 p.m. matinee. It also includes reserved priority seating and a cocktail party after the show with the cast at a private home in Ojai. Only 50 tickets are available at $50 per person for the Sunday Special, available at http://tinyurl.com/AnnieCelebration
