Category Archives: Ventura Art Scene

Artlife Foundation

Carol Vogl’s 6” x 9” submissions that reveal the character and quality of work folks are sending in.

The pandemic has curtailed our “live” interactions, and we hope to get to some in person events soon. But be assured the Foundation is alive and well and has a current ongoing project we want to tell you about.

We are receiving submissions for our Post-Pandemic Mail ART project on a daily basis. So far, we have over 60 pieces of art from the USA and from Spain, Turkey, Romania, Basil, Japan, Germany, Italy, Macedonia, Poland, Uruguay, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, and several pieces from University of the Arts, Berlin, Germany.

The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2021. You may want to submit a piece, with information about how to do so available at our current website http://joecardellalegacy.blogspot.com.

The plan is to copy all entries, which are limited to 6” x 9” originals, and place originals on placards for display in various store fronts in downtown Ventura. And then have an exhibit of all of them in some gallery space.

Finally, we received a note from a Romanian artist Stefan Balog who praises Joe Cardella for his mail art endeavors, a tradition we are keeping alive: “Hello again. We are involved for many years in the mail art movement, and we organized till now 26 international mail art shows. I as an artist love mail art. Mr. Cardella is a legend in this field. I am looking forward for future cooperation. Sincerely, Stefan Balog, Alba, Romania.”

The Artlife Foundation Inc. Board is Bob Chianese President, Nello Panelli, Curtis Cormane, Jonell McLain, Jone Pence, Jeanne LaRocco, Pete Ippel.

Camarillo Quilter’s Association welcomes quilt artist, Mathew Boudreaux

Camarillo Quilter’s Association welcomes quilt artist, Mathew Boudreaux, on Tuesday, April 13 at the monthly Zoom meeting at 9:30 AM and quilt workshop on April 14.  He will speak about the traditional Lone Star quilt pattern, and how to make it lively, colorful, and contemporary.  Those interested in joining the zoom session at no cost should contact CQA at [email protected].  

Ventura Pottery Gallery celebrates Mermaid Month

If it is March, it must be Mermaid Month at Ventura Harbor. Mythological creatures come alive and the Ventura Potters’ Gallery is jumping into the water for this fun event. Mermaids (and Mermen) and the sea creatures they befriend will appear adorning all forms of ceramic surfaces. Being at the beach has its benefits!

Throughout March the Gallery will have a special exhibit featuring Treasures from the Sea. You will find mugs, bowls, pitchers, platters, coasters, wall hangings, sponge holders, jewelry holders, jewelry and more featuring sea creatures. Don’t miss out on a chance to get a glimpse of, or take home, a real ceramic mermaid.

The Ventura Potters’ Gallery is in the Ventura Harbor Village. We love being by the sea and after a visit to the gallery we encourage you to stroll around the harbor for other mermaid viewings. The Ventura Pottery Gallery is located at 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105. The Gallery is open seven days a week from 11-6. We also have an online store for those who can’t make it to the harbor. For more information visit  www.venturapottersguild.org.

The Ventura Pottery Gallery at Ventura Harbor Village

Featured Artist – Ruty Levy

The ceramic artists at The Ventura Pottery Gallery have been busy experimenting, creating and firing exciting new works of art. If you haven’t visited the Gallery in a while it’s time to discover this crown jewel nestled in the Ventura Harbor Village. Each month they will be featuring ceramic artists from The Ventura Pottery Gallery and preview some of their new work.

Fluid and transformational easily describe the ceramic work of Ventura Potters’ Gallery next Featured Artist, Ruty Levy. Ruty moved from Israel to Southern California in the late 1970s. Studying at Long Beach State gave her a firm foundation under renowned ceramic artist Tony Marsh and a degree in graphic design.

“Creativity has been a very important part of my identity” states Ruty, “It has always been an essential form of self-expression for me. I was drawn to clay with its basic elemental nature and tactile qualities without boundaries.”

Ruty is adept in both functional and sculptural work, always putting her unique style on her work. The Ventura Pottery Gallery is loaded with many award-winning artists.

Visit the gallery and see how ceramic artists unleash their creative talents during the pandemic.

The Gallery is located at 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105 in Ventura Harbor. They have hand sanitizer available if you would like to examine the pottery. The Gallery is open seven days a week from 11 am – 6 pm. Can’t visit the gallery? Visit online store at venturapotteryonline.com.

For more information visit www.venturapottersguild.org.

Good News!! BAA Exhibits Still Showing

We may be isolated, but we’re not alone!

SpiceTopia
New BAA Member Show — January 3-March 7
576 E. Main Street, Ventura — Hours 11-6 daily
Continuing exhibits of BAA Artist work at the downtown SpiceTopia location.

Harbor Village Gallery & Gifts
New BAA Member Show — January 15-March 15
Friday thru Monday, 11-6
All locations require customers to wear masks and maintain social distancing.
Occupancy is limited at both locations.
Hand sanitizer, gloves, and spare masks may be available.
. . . . . . . .

Buenaventura Gallery Closed
The Buenaventura Gallery (at the Bell Arts Factory location) is closed at least for the duration of the stay-at-home order. Stay tuned for more info regarding that location.

Lorna Amundson

Lorna Amundson: For years I painted plein-air every summer in Yosemite. During this pandemic I have dipped back into my 30-year trove of photographs instead. I am sharing Rafters on the Merced River.

Meryl Goudey

Meryl Goudey: I painted colorful roses to honor my loving mom’s birthday, on December 18. I will have two paintings in a color show for the new year at Gitana Gallery in San Fernando.

Paintings in the (CCCC) Coastal Communities Cancer Center windows

Paintings in the (CCCC)  Coastal Communities Cancer Center windows on the corner of Loma Vista & Joanne- this artist has exhibits in both windows

Laura Jean Jespersen is an award winning acrylic artist living and working in Ventura. She draws inspiration from the built and natural environment. Her experiences of a space, including the light, form, color or context provide the basis for her paintings. Painting is a creative outlet that allows her to connect to others in a visual way through composition and color.  Her 6 by 28 foot design of 192 connected painted plates that create a large pixelated art hanging titled Sunflowers is featured in the large windows of the Cancer Center on the Loma Vista side of the building.

For more information on Laura and her work go to; ljjespersen.weebly.com
If you are interested in hanging art in the Coast community Center Windows please contact:

Kathryn Dippong Lawson
Public Art, Cultural Education & Historic Sites Supervisor
City of Ventura,  Parks & Recreation
501 Poli Street, room 226
Ventura CA 93001
805-658-4720
[email protected]
www.cityofventura.ca.gov
Stay Safe Ventura – We are Committed to Serving You

BAA’s Small Image Show at SpiceTopia

Harbor Village Gallery & Gifts at Ventura Harbor Village, Buenaventura Gallery at the Bell Arts Factory, and BAA’s Small Image Show at SpiceTopia are all open for business and ready to help you with your holiday shopping for affordable original art, unique artisan crafts, and handmade jewelry! All locations have open, public hours and they all offer appointment-only, private shopping times for you and your bubble to shop safely. For appointments at BVG and HVG&G call 805-648-1235 or for SpiceTopia, 805-628-3267.

Or shop online at www.BuenaventuraArtAssociation.org. We can offer curbside pickup for any purchase!

New mural celebrates the school’s musical excellence.

Local Ojai artist Ben Román has given the band building at Matilija Junior High School a beautiful new mural which celebrates the school’s long standing history of musical excellence.

Román grew up in Ojai as a student of art, both in school and with some of Ojai’s prominent art professionals. The 30-year-old artist now paints and draws professionally, and he specializes in large mural paintings, many of which appear in Ojai and other locations in Ventura County, as well as in Los Angeles.

Va Por La Avenida announces Punto de Intersección

Lisa Kelly is one of the artists in the pop-up mural exhibit.

Va Por La Avenida’s Punto De Intersección project is a series of collaborations between local artists and small businesses along Ventura Avenue, launching in December 2020. Punto De Intersección has artists working with small businesses to develop limited edition campaigns to support local business and celebrate the Ventura Avenue community.

Punto De Intersección soft launched in the fall with a poster campaign designed by Sue Franco, encouraging Ventura’s residents to wear masks. Upcoming collaborations include: a ceramic bowl series, pairing Sara Beckton-Leon with Indian Rasoi; a handmade run of coffee mugs designed by Patti Keller, available at Love Well Tea and Coffee; and, a hand-printed tote bag by Angel Villareal, Bell Arts Factory’s 2020 Young Artist In Residenece, available at El Jarocho Restaurant. A pop-up mural exhibit is also on display at Restore Ventura, featuring four 5’x5′ murals by: Maribel Hernández, Lisa Kelly, Sergio Martínez, and Andrew Rodriguez.

All Punto De Intersección projects are limited edition and available while supplies last. The ceramic and tote bag projects are free with minimum purchase from the respective businesses. Posters are now available at local businesses along the Avenue, with other distribution points to be announced. For more information, including release dates, project photos, artist bios, and locations please visit: https://bit.ly/vplapunto.

Punto De Intersección is an extension of the Va Por La Avenida event series, a creative place- making project funded in part through the California Arts Council and the City of Ventura’s Cultural Affairs grant programs. It is a collaborative project between Bell Arts Factory and the Westside Community Development Corporation. For more information about how to participate or stay updated about the event, please visit the website at www.vaporlaavenida.com.