Offering neighbors, collectors and the curious a rare opportunity to experience world-class artwork in the spaces where it’s made. Studios across the Ojai Valley will open to the public in neighborhood-specific tours on the second Saturday of every month from February through August.
Painters, sculptors, potters, weavers, printmakers, glass artists, jewelers and apparel makers are participating in the Ojai Studio Artists (OSA) Second Saturday program, kicking off on February 11 with eleven artists in and around the Oakview area opening their doors.
Unlike the October tour, a three-day extravaganza in which more than 70 OSA artists open their doors, Second Saturdays offer a more casual and intimate opportunity to see Ojai artists at work. Crowds are smaller and artists are more available to meet and talk.
“Second Saturdays are the best-kept secret of the local arts scene,” says Linda Taylor, OSA’s president. “There’s no way to see everything in the October tour – there’s just too much ground to cover. By breaking up the artists into smaller neighborhoods, Second Saturdays gives you a chance to take your time and really appreciate the incredible array of artwork being made here.”
The February Oakview lineup includes landscape painter Shahastra Levy, painter of fantastical dreamscapes of the Ojai valley, Carlos Grasso, maker of gorgeous mystical abstractions and famed fashion printmaker Leslie Plimpton.
The March event features 14 artists from the East Side of the Valley, followed in April by a Downtown group, the Arbolada in May, Mira Monte in June, the West End in July and Meiners Oaks in August. Check the OSA website for a full list of participating artists.
Ojai Studio Artists supports community education that promotes art awareness, preparing the next generation of artists, and celebrating the importance of the arts within the region. To date, OSA has given more than $200,000 in art scholarships. It also purchases art books for local libraries, partners with schools in teaching classes and mentoring students, and supports public art projects and other community programs.
For more information and a full list of artists, see the OSA website: www.ojaistudioartists.org.
On Sunday evening, February 5, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Ojai author and naturalist Lanny Kaufer will lead a Full Moon Sunset Nature Hike to vista point above the Ojai Valley where his group can watch the near-simultaneous sunset and moonrise.
Kaufer’s group will meet at the trailhead at 3:45 p.m. for a 4:00 p.m. start, then gradually hike about 1.5 miles to the viewing site, experiencing some elevation gain on a well-worn, dirt fire road with uneven footing in places. Along the way they’ll stop to meet some valuable edible and medicinal plants, including Black and Purple Sage, Blue Elderberry, Coastal Sagebrush, Horehound, and Toyon. They will also identify Poison Oak.
After witnessing the sunset and moonrise, they’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the trailhead by 7:00 p.m. Kaufer will have copies of his book, Medicinal Herbs of California,for sale and signing before and after the hike.
Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain or chance of thunderstorms will cancel the hike. No dogs or smoking, please.
The cost for the hike is $35/person. Senior, student and child discounts are available by request. Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email a few days prior to the event with all necessary info, including what to bring, weather forecast, and directions to the trailhead. Afterwards, they will receive a follow-up email with a list of all plants and wildlife seen. Register now at HerbWalks.com or by calling 805-646-6281.