Lori Mohr will visit the Ojai Library at 1pm on Saturday, December 14, to deliver a talk entitled “Beyond Impressionism: Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne.” Ms. Mohr comes to us via the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Community Speakers Program.
In late 19th century France, Impressionism dominated avant-garde painting. But a diverse group of up-and-comers—Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cezanne among them—found fault in the focus on style versus subject. Unlike Impressionists, they were unified not by a single aesthetic—fleeting effects of light in the real world—but by a shared interest in exploring the artists’ perception of the real world. Let the camera capture reality!
Given their differences in style, technique, and subject matter, defining Post Impressionism can be difficult. However, by tracing its history, its artists, and pinpointing distinguishing characteristics, we will better understand how the unique contributions of these innovators formed the artistic roots of modern art for the next 80 years, from Fauvism to Cubism to Surrealism.
This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146.
The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Ave. Hours of service are 10am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 12pm to 5pm Friday through Sunday.
On Saturday, December 7th at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 8 at 3 p.m., the Ojai Community Chorus will present “Song of the Shepherd.” The concerts will be held at the Ojai United Methodist Church. The centerpiece of the program will be selections from “Considering Matthew Shepard,” a stunningly beautiful oratorio written to commemorate this young man, who was tragically murdered because he was gay. The program will include a spectrum of holiday music and selections from Handel’s “Messiah”. The accompanying musicians are James Antunez, John Boyd, and Chris Kimbler.
Matthew Shepard’s death in Casper, Wyoming in 1998 sparked national attention and resulted in galvanizing the civil rights movement for LGBT people. “During this holiday season, it is hoped that bringing this event to people’s attention once again will remind us that we need to do what we can to eradicate prejudice” stated director Connie Woodson.
A boutique and bake sale will also be held. The church is located at 120 Church Road. For ticket information visit ojaichorus.com. Call 805-640-0468 for further information.
The Ojai Valley Museum presents another in an ongoing series of Town Talks. It takes place at the museum on Sunday, December 8, from 4:30-6pm.
When President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed December 7 “a date that will live in infamy,” he got the date wrong. Or so says Ojai artist Karen K. Lewis. December 7 in America is December 8 in the Philippines, which in 1941 was a U.S. territory, and the home of 9-year-old Karen and her family. For most Americans, the stunning news of the air raid that morning on Pearl Harbor meant that their sons and brothers would soon be going overseas to fight a war in distant places, far from the home front. But Karen found herself right in the middle of that war. She and her parents would spend the next three years in a Japanese prison camp, slowly starving to death, until General Douglas MacArthur returned to the Philippines and rescued them. Join us at the museum on Sunday, December 8, as Karen shares her vivid memories of a childhood interrupted by the worst war in history.
Admission to the Town Talk is $5; free for museum members.
The Ojai Valley Museum is located at 130 W. Ojai Ave; 805 640-1390; OjaiValleyMuseum.org.
