by Veronica Johnson
For the month of August, the Ojai Photo Club will focus on humor. Sergio Aragonés, internationally known cartoonist for over 50 years, will speak about creating a humorous story. On Tuesday, August 16, at 7:00 p.m., at Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 Santa Ana St.
The presentation will be as spontaneous as his cartooning – relating to the audience that evening. Expect a discussion of his life as a cartoonist, changes in cartooning in this century and his process of creating a story. Aragonés, widely regarded as “the fastest cartoonist in the world today,” will demonstrate his amazing talent using an easel and pens.
Monthly presentations are part of the Ojai Photography Club’s community service and education outreach. Visitors are always 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 review. For additional information please visit www.ojaiphotoclub.com.
Two veteran performers are uniting their talents for a journey back to the 1920s through the 1950s in a nostalgic musical treat at Ojai Art Center entitled “Songs Our Mothers Sang” on August 6.
“We’ll involve the audience with songs that are fun to sing and I’ll croon some old favorites,” said Gale McNeeley, who was a boy soprano at his Catholic church in the 1950s, and has sung for his supper ever since. He has performed in the Blue Jacket Choir in the Navy, at Cabarets in New York and on Broadway.
“We’ll be doing duets, too,” said Betty Faas, his long-time collaborator. At an early age, Faas taught herself to play the piano so well that her relatives asked her to accompany them at a large family reunion. That began a 70-year career playing for glee clubs, soloists, special events and school programs.
McNeeley and Faas have been seen at the Ojai Art Center for six years, presenting shows entitled “Archy and Mehitabel,” “Over the Rainbow,” “Songs and Satire,” “A Jacquel Brel Cabaret,” “A Tribute to Pete Seeger,” and last summer’s “50 Years in Musicals.”
For the Saturday show, the songs range from “Stardust” and “As Time Goes By” to “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” and “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”
The celebration starts at 3 p.m. at the Ojai Art Center, on Saturday Aug. 6.
No reservations are necessary and there is a suggested $10 donation at the door. For more details, call McNeely at 406-4997.
Ojai’s real-life “blues brothers,” Michael and Lanny Kaufer, are bringing the long-running Bowlful of Blues festival back to Libbey Bowl on Saturday, September 17, after an 11-year hiatus. Michael Kaufer, co-founder of the festival with the late Clarence Sterling, will co-produce this year’s event with brother Lanny and promoter Shane Butler of the popular Ojai Concert Series. The show is a benefit for the non-profit Ojai Mardi Gras Wake-Up! Krewe. Net proceeds will be used to bring music and art supplies and extended educational opportunities to local youth. The festival will run from 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Information and online tickets are available now at www.bowlfofblues.org. Tickets are $40 in advance for general admission festival seating but are being offered online at a $35 early-bird price until August 17. Admission price at the gate will be $45.
