September 1st is the last day to join the Ojai Women’s Fund and participate in its inaugural year of community support. The Ojai Women’s Fund (OWF) is a nonprofit that feeds other local nonprofits via financial grants. Thus far, over 200 women of Ojai have joined together to pool resources to fund grant awards to local nonprofit organizations.
Membership in and donations to the OWF become powerful agents of change that will enhance Ojai’s communities through substantial financial grant awards to local nonprofits that serve Ojai’s arts, education, environmental, healthcare and social service programs.
Visit www.ojaiwomensfund.org or call 746-3096 to join, donate, and/or learn more about the OWF.
Ojai artist Shahastra will provide the cover art of the 2016 Ojai Film Festival program guide. The cover features Shahastra’s beautiful landscape Three Guardians, a pastel that depicts three palm trees set against a backdrop of majestic mountains and lush lemon groves. Executive director Maryse Gartner stated, “Shahastra’s aesthetic is perfect for conveying the natural beauty of the Ojai Valley.”
Shahastra has a long and distinguished career as a multimedia artist, teacher, and illustrator and is a member of Ojai Studio Artists, Shahastra illustrated the Magical Rainbow series of children’s books, contributed to the experiential Ojai art installation “The Walk,” and published a fifty-card reflection deck entitled “Meeting the Self.”
The Ojai Film Festival has received 407 film submissions and 67 screenplays for the 2016 competition. Featuring a range of quality films from around the world, the Festival will be held November 3 -13. More information on the Festival’s notable achievements, film submissions process, key leadership, and history is provided on its website www.ojaifilmfestival.com.
On Saturday, September 17, after an 11-year hiatus, Ojai’s Bowlful of Blues will return to Libbey Bowl, in Ojai’s Libbey Park, with performers scheduled from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m., including headliner, blues legend Arthur Adams, and featuring Mitch Kashmar, Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan, Calire-Marx Organ Quartet, and rising star Jade Hendrix. Gates open at 2:00 p.m. with popular locals Richard Kaller and Annieville Blues on the lawn stage.
Food will be on hand, including fried and roasted chicken dinners by Rondia’s Kitchen. The Shrimp vs. Chef and All American Softy food trucks will also be onsite. Premium beer, wine and snacks will be available. Tickets may be purchased online; from businesses in Ojai, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, and Thousand Oaks; via mail; or at the box office on the day of the show. For pricing and more information, see event website, bowlfofblues.org, or email Lanny Kaufer, [email protected], or Michael Kaufer, [email protected].
The work of local visionary artist Joyce Huntington is on display at the Ojai Community Bank, 402 W. Ojai Ave., through September 16. A reception for the artist will be held Tuesday, Sept. 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The show is called “Meditations” and features large, colorful works drawn from Huntington’s own meditation practice and the inspiration it gives her.
Originally from Seattle, Huntington spent most of her childhood in the desert southwest. A precocious, dance-obsessed child, she won a life-threatening death battle with polio, but the disease left her confined to a wheelchair. No longer able to dance, her creative spirit found new expression in painting. Huntington and her husband, Gerald Stanek own Frameworks of Ojai, and customers can often find her painting there.
For more information, about Huntington, her artistic process, and her paintings, visit her website: http://www.joycehuntingtonart.com.
