Category Archives: Ventura Art Scene

VUSD Districtwide Student Art Show

Water color by Michelle Parra from Buena High

After a challenging two years, the Ventura Unified School District and Museum of Ventura County are happy to announce that the annual VUSD Districtwide Student Art Show is back! The VUSD Art Show will run at the Museum of Ventura County from June 2 to June 19, 2022. The opening night reception is a free event held on Thursday, June 2, from 5-8 pm. All are welcome, and student musicians will be performing during this event. Following the viewing, high school student awards will be presented at 6:30 pm.   

 According to Elena Brokaw, Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director of the Museum of Ventura County, “This partnership between the school district and the museum is a direct result of our community’s commitment to the Arts. Ventura is a city where art and artists are celebrated and welcome. We are proud to be a part of this annual tradition.” 

“With the passage of Measure Q, Measure R, and the passage of art specific parcel tax Measure H in 2020, the citizens of Ventura made it very clear that they believe in the value of art education in our public schools. Preserving and supporting a diverse array of educational opportunities is very important to us as a school district. This is nowhere more evident than in our continued support of Arts education for all students,” stated Sabrena Rodriguez, VUSD Board Member and longtime Arts Collaborative member.

William D. Winbush’s solo exhibition “Meaningful Images” at Bell Arts Factory

“Meaningful Images” is the theme of William D. Winbush’s solo exhibition May 27-July 30 in Buenaventura Art Association’s Studio 99 gallery at Bell Arts Factory in Ventura.

Winbush paints in oils on canvas and gravitates toward landscapes, seascapes and portraiture, both people and animals. “I paint traditional, representational realism,” he said, “Therefore, I really enjoy ‘re-creating’ what I see in all its glorious detail.”

Open Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 4pm

What is Plein Art Painting?

The before and after photos are Andrea Vargas from New Mexico and Maddi Simpson from Ventura. Photos by Patricia Schallert

by Patricia Schallert

“En Plein air” is a French expression that means “in the open air”. It is used by artists to describe the art of outdoor painting, capturing landscapes, sunsets, bodies of water and majestic views. Santa Cruz Island fit the description perfectly.

Saturday morning, May 21st brought a group of artists to the Island Packers boat launch for a one-of-a-kind adventure to Santa Cruz Island to paint with esteemed artist Margaret Garcia. Unfortunately, Margaret Garcia was unable to go but her replacement, Renee Tallent , Ventura coordinator for the Arts from the County of Ventura Museum was able to take the lead in making sure the experience would go on.

Roberto Vargas, Latino Advisory committee joined the group and was instrumental in helping the artists get to know each other once they arrived on the Island. From there, the artists went their separate ways and found a variety of locations to create their open-air art and as Claudia Soto enthusiastically said, “We will let the art unfold”.

Upon returning to Ventura Harbor, several of the artists said, “It was like being in a different world.” There were no cellphone or Wi-Fi distractions and Andrea Vargas, from New Mexico said “We could just stay focused on our art.” Others commented that they could go slow as they were inspired by the beauty of Santa Cruz Island with its incredible weather and beautiful scenery.” When asked if they would do this again, a resounding “absolutely” was the answer.

Hey, You’ve Got MAIL! MAIL ART we mean.

Imagine sending in a piece of art through the mail, and then having it displayed in a museum, online, and in local venues. That’s happening in Ventura right now.

The ARTLIFE INC. Foundation is holding its annual MAIL ART Exhibit.

Hundreds of artists throughout the world have submitted over 200 pieces of art in a small 6” x 9“ format with all kinds of imagery and it must come through the mail!

We will show these works at the Museum of Ventura County on Saturday June 4 at 100 E. Main Street, Ventura, 2 to 5 pm. The Public is invited. Admission is free.

After that, various venues throughout Ventura County will display our frames of MAIL ART in their stores and businesses for about a month. ((NAMBA, Stephen’s Grill, House of Rio, and other places)

Check out our website to see the entries online : https://artlifefoundation.org/

“Meaningful Images” at Bell Arts Factory

“Meaningful Images” will be the theme of William D. Winbush’s solo exhibition May 27-July 30 in Buenaventura Art Association’s Studio 99 gallery at Bell Arts Factory in Ventura.

“I paint traditional, representational realism,” he said, “Therefore, I really enjoy ‘re-creating’ what I see in all its glorious detail.”

He plans to fill the Studio 99 walls with 15-20 paintings ranging in size from 20 by 18 inches to 7 by 5 feet.

Receptions for his show will be 5-8 p.m. June 3 and July 1, in conjunction with Ventura’s First Friday gallery crawls on those nights. Normal operating hours are noon-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays for the gallery at 432 N. Ventura Ave.

BAA, the cooperative Ventura arts group founded in 1954, also has an outlet at Harbor Village Gallery & Gifts at Ventura Harbor.

For more about BAA and its programs, call the gallery at 805-648-1235 or visit buenaventuraartassociation.org.

VUSD Districtwide Student Art Show at the Museum of Ventura County

VUSD Districtwide Student Art Show Opening Reception Thursday, June 2nd from 5-8pm at the Museum of Ventura County.

This juried art show will highlight talented student artists of all grades in the Ventura Unified School District. In total, over 50 works have been selected from hundreds of submitted pieces, including watercolors, photography, acrylic paintings, mixed media, and pencil drawings.

Studio Channel Islands Art Center (SCIART) presents Echoes of Nature, a contemporary Chinese art exhibition

Studio Channel Islands Art Center (SCIART) presents Echoes of Nature, a contemporary Chinese art exhibition opening on Saturday, June 4, beginning at noon with a full schedule of activities throughout the day. Events will take place at Studio Channel Islands Art Center located at 2222 E. Ventura Blvd, Camarillo. The day will also include performances by the Westlake Village Symphony and the Pleasant Valley Dance Group. For more information visit https://studiochannelislands.org/ or call 805-383-1368.

Michael Mishou,Tony Smith and Kathy Bodycombe at Studio 99 @ The Bell Arts Factory

Hollywood Beach Sunset – oil on canvas – Tony Smith

A Trio of Solo Artists Featuring, Michael Mishou,Tony Smith and Kathy Bodycombe at Studio 99 @ The Bell Arts Factory

Now thru May 21, 2022
Open Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 4pm
First Friday reception on May 6, 5 – 8pm

Michael Corrigan Mishou’s show, The Eye of the Beholder, features photography, both color and black-and-white. Tony J. Smith of Oxnard, who elevates everyday scenes with vivid colors, is calling his show A Tribute to Beauty and Inspiration. Ojai painter Kathy Bodycombe usually works in oils and acrylics but instead presents Leaving a Stamp, a dozen collage pieces that incorporate postage.

Santa Paula Art Museum presents “Geomorphic: The Living Earth“

The Santa Paula Art Museum presents “Geomorphic: The Living Earth,“ an exhibition of 42 abstract paintings inspired by nature by Ventura artist Kay Zetlmaier. The artist will be on hand on Saturday, May 14, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission to the reception is $5.00 for SPAM members, and $10.00 for non-members. “Geomorphic: A Living Earth” will be on view May 14, 2022, to September 11, 2022.

Kay Zetlmaier has been making art her entire life. Some of Zetlmaier’s paintings contain over a dozen layers of paint. 

She was a high school art teacher for 30 years, at St. Bonaventure High School and then Ventura High School. She is a member of Buenaventura Art Association.

Laura Jespersen in duo show with artist Lisa Mahony at historic Olivas Adobe

Laura Jespersen is an award winning, Ventura-based, acrylic artist. Always a creative, visual person, she has a background in architecture, receiving a Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly. Laura draws inspiration from the built and natural environment and the beauty of our beach town. Her experiences of a space, including the light, form, color or context provide the basis for her painterly realistic style.

Laura is currently showing her work in a duo show with artist Lisa Mahony at historic Olivas Adobe. The exhibit runs through summer 2022 and is themed Florals & Vistas, with colorful paintings of botanicals and Ventura scenery.

Laura enjoys painting weekly with Plein Air Thursday – Ventura County. Fellow painters meet on location in different locations around town each week to sketch or paint.

To see what Laura’s currently working on, follow her on Instagram: @ljjartist. To see a selection of her delightful paintings, drop by the Ventura Visitors Center.