What’s your favorite photo?

To be eligible, photos must be taken in the Ventura Botanical Gardens and highlight botanical specimens, visitors and activities in the Gardens (animals, insects, people, etc.), or a special place or view in the Gardens. Complete rules and entry requirements can be found on the Ventura Botanical Gardens website: www.VenturaBotanicalGardens.com.

Entries will be accepted from April 1 – 26, 2024. Winning entries will by announced in mid-May 2024. Similar to past contests, the Peoples Choice winners will be selected by visitors voting on Facebook from May 1 – 10, 2024. A panel of professional photographers will choose the Judge’s Choice winners. Last year’s judges were Greg Montana – owner of Dexter Camera, Stephanie Hogue – owner of Latitudes Gallery, and Monica Furmanski – assistant professor of photography at VCCC.

We look forward to seeing many seasonal highlights from the Gardens through the lenses of members and visitors of all ages.

Located at Grant Park in the City of Ventura, the Ventura Botanical Gardens’ goals include conserving plant species and encouraging visitors to strengthen their connection to nature.

To find out more about this event, contact Nancy Kettner – [email protected]

To find out more about the Gardens, visit the VenturaBotanicalGardens.com and join us on Facebook.

Staring Tiger, Oil on canvas, Yuliya Greben

Buenaventura Art Association at Studio 99 @ The Bell Arts Factory
Animals Wild & Domestic, Real or Imagined exhibit runs to February 24.
Reception on First Friday, February 5th, 6 – 9pm

Our artists start the year at Studio 99 with a collection of stunning depictions of nature and animals. Realistic or redesigned, these animals will give you a new appreciation of nature and its boundless variety.

A previous winner.

The Museum of Ventura County is proud to announce that applications for the Bonita C. McFarland Scholarship for the Visual Arts are now open. This significant scholarship program, established in honor of Bonita C. McFarland—a devoted supporter of the Museum and the broader arts community—aims to increase opportunities for emerging artists and amplify their impact on our community.

The Museum of Ventura County is committed to empowering the next generation of artists. The Bonita C. McFarland Scholarship has $10,000 to award. Winners also become part of the program’s alumni network – a community of emerging artists and art supporters. “The Bonita McFarland scholarship program reflects the Museum’s dedication to nurturing arts in education, aspiring student artists, and fostering a vibrant cultural landscape within our county.” – Elena Brokaw, Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director

The Bonita C. McFarland Scholarship is open to all high school seniors and college undergraduates residing in Ventura County who demonstrate exceptional talent and commitment to the visual arts. Applicants will be evaluated based on the quality of their submitted portfolio, academic achievements, personal essay, and recommendations. Applications are due by April 7, 2024, 11:59 PM PST. For further details and to apply, visit: https://venturamuseum.org/2024-museum-of-ventura-county-bonita-c-mcfarland-arts-education-scholarships/

We invite all eligible students to apply and help us continue Bonita C. McFarland’s legacy of supporting the arts. Together, we can shape the future of art in Ventura County and make a lasting impact on our community.

Focus on the Masters Arts Archive & Library’s kicks off its 30th Anniversary year with an Artist Spotlight interview featuring Carmen Abelleira on Sunday, January 21, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

At Namba Performing Art Center – 47 S. Oak Street, Ventura.

Abelleira immigrated from Cuba with her family when she was nine years old. Carmen grew up in Los Angeles and after working as a bilingual teacher, moved to Ojai in 1989.

FREE to FOTM members, $20 for public; $15 for seniors.

Reservations required. To RSVP visit www.FocusOnTheMasters.com or call 805.653.2501.

AfterGlow Fundraising Event: The public is welcome to join the artist for a celebratory fundraising dinner at the home of Dennis Mitchell and Richard Sanders located in Ventura. Paid reservations are required prior to January 17. We expect this AfterGlow to sell out

AfterGLOW: $30 FOTM members, $40 Non-members.

The stark contrast in genres reflects Gocong’s multifaceted identity.

Chris was an NFL football player before retiring in an effort to preserve his health from the long term effects of the CTE associated with the sport.

Christopher Gocong (1983), emerges as a captivating individual, seamlessly blending his illustrious past as an NFL linebacker with a burgeoning career as a visual artist. Renowned for his impactful contributions to the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns, Gocong has embarked on a remarkable journey, gracefully transitioning from the adrenaline-fueled gridiron to the nuanced canvas of contemporary art.

While his inherent talent shines through in his adept portraiture, Gocong’s artistic repertoire stretches beyond, exploring realms from dreamy abstractions to lively pop art, showcasing a versatility that defies categorization. As an accomplished painter, his work has garnered significant recognition, earning him a place at the forefront of the contemporary art scene.

Dama Gallery is pleased to premier our first exhibition of 2024 with a solo immersion into the zenith of Chris Gocong’s multidimensional artistry. A luminary straddling the worlds of contemporary art and elite athleticism, Gocong’s artistic opus navigates the complex interplay between his illustrious career as a professional athlete and the nuanced depths of his burgeoning identity as an artist. In a symphony of mediums ranging from dramatic wearable art, evocative and familiar figurative pieces to his most recent abstract paintings that brilliantly showcase his talent for controlled chaos on canvas; Gocong elegantly unravels the dichotomies that have sculpted his remarkable journey.

This collection serves as a visual testament to his optimistic magnanimity as an artist, interwoven with the intricate tension stemming from his formidable achievements in the NFL. The stark contrast in genres and mediums reflects Gocong’s multifaceted identity – a life lived on the field intricately entwined with the profound fulfillment found within the sanctuary of the studio.

Exhibition Dates: January 27 – April 30, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 27th, Time: 6 to 8p
Location: Dama Gallery, 1793 E Main St. Ventura
Curated by Gallerist Yessíca Torres

Dear Buenaventura Art Enthusiasts,

You, yes, you, are an important part of our art association jamboree! Our members are the life of our party, creating beautiful art for the world to enjoy, but we can’t do what we do without you, the belle of the ball, and your dazzling support.

Are we taking the party metaphor too far?

Well, we do feel like celebrating! That’s because, as 2023 wraps up, your donations are helping to launch us into a new year of artistic revelry.

Did you know that 2024 will mark Buenaventura Art Association’s 70th anniversary?

And, 2024 will also mark the return of BAA’s Annual Open Competition, not held since February 2020, right before the world shut down. It will be our 35th prestige exhibition.

Please join the jubilee and consider a tax-deductible donation to BAA, or include BAA in your Charitable Trust planning.

Here’s a few reasons your generosity will steal the soiree:

Workshops: We have just launched “Art Studio Live” for artists to hone their skills in Life Drawing and the public to participate in all kinds of artsy endeavors from Paint ‘N Sip to medium-specific workshops. Look for class line-ups in early 2024!

Nonprofit Partnerships: BAA will continue to welcome partnerships and render assistance to other worthy causes where art is an important element in their practice, like the upcoming

Autistic Minds art show with the Autism Society or the recent Nature Journaling class we held with Channel Islands National Park Service.

Ready to be the belle of the ball? Visit BuenaventuraArtAssociation.org and click “Donate Now” to join the art party!

Become another Rembrandt.

Weekly Life Drawing Sessions & Monthly Workshops beginning in 2024.

Buenaventura Art Association is excited to share some good news with our patrons, friends, collectors and fellow artists!

We are adding a fourth BAA location — joining Studio 99 @ The Bell Arts Factory, Harbor Village Gallery & Gifts, and SpiceTopia — at H Gallery & Studios, 1793 E. Main St. in midtown Ventura!

We will continue to have art exhibits at our other three locations but now we can forge ahead with our mission of connecting artists with each other, the community with artists, and learning and growing as artists ourselves, by launching art education programs for the public.

To start, we will be hosting weekly Life Drawing Sessions with live models on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings starting Tuesday, January 9th for $20 each session (pre-registered). But you can preview these sessions in December for the low cost of $15 each session (pre-registered)!

H Gallery + Studios is a 10,000 square foot vintage 1930’s building completely dedicated to creatives and entrepreneurs. It includes a 2000 square foot contemporary art gallery, a 2700 cubic foot suspended installation area and 22 work studios for individuals to nurture their creative endeavors. We will hold our sessions in Studio #14, just inside the building entrance on the right.

Friday, January 12, 2024 is the deadline to enter and submit artwork for the 38th Annual California Strawberry Festival Artwork Contest. The artist with the winning strawberry-themed design will receive $2,000 and VIP tickets to the Festival, which takes place May 18-19, 2024 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Entries will be evaluated by a judging panel looking for creativity and the best use of a strawberry design. The winning design may be used in printed and digital advertising collateral as well as on souvenir merchandise. Artists should keep in mind that judges may give preference to artwork that will print well on promotional items like t-shirts.

Artists can create their designs in a variety of mediums–digital, oils, watercolors, inks, pencil, photograph, and mixed media. Entries must be 16-1/2 inches wide by 17 inches high. Artwork should be scanned or photographed and submitted digitally through the Festival website. Uploaded files should be of the highest quality possible in jpg or png format. Artists may be contacted by the Festival for access to the original work. Multiple entries by a single artist will be accepted. There is no fee to enter.

The winner will be notified around the second week of February and will be the guest of honor at a March luncheon when the design will be revealed to media, dignitaries, and festival sponsors. The winning original design and all rights of the winning design will become the property of the California Strawberry Festival.

Visit www.castrawberryfestival.org (click on Interactive Events) for artwork contest rules and entry form.