Working Artist Ventura (WAV) is a sustainable arts community. For the last ten years WAV has housed hundreds of artists and their families.

Don’t miss Andres Salazars Opening in the WAV Theater Gallery on July 12th 2019, “Deconstructing the Comic Book Medium; Storytelling With Pictures”, 7:00 live music and free food. Come down on a First Friday when many artists have their studios open. The WAV Theater Gallery usually has a new art show opening on First Friday, and often live music is playing in the amphitheater courtyard.

Reception: Friday, July 5, 6 – 9pm during First Fridays gallery crawl

Award-winning artist Brent Hanson exhibits many of his bold, vivid, colorful and intense arboreal works. “I’ve always loved trees,” says Hanson. “They share many similarities to people. They have a character all their own and stories to tell.”

Showing until July 21, 2019.

The Pastel Society of the Gold Coast, a nonprofit, is pleased to present their award-winning, professional paintings and sale “Passion for Pastels 2019” to benefit Camarillo Hospice, a program of Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association. The month-long show runs from July 8 to the 27^th, Monday through Saturday, 11:00 to 5:00 at the Thousand Oaks Community Gallery, 2331 Borchard Road, Newbury Park. “Meet the Artists Reception and Fundraiser” for the Hospice will be held Sunday, July 14^th, 1:00 to 3:30.

Dab Art is pleased to present Latent Ability at H Gallery in Midtown Ventura. This interactive exhibition is comprised entirely of 3D artwork and large scale installations. Eight years in the making, this is a first for Dab Art.

This exhibition concentrates on the philosophical aspects of material, form, time, presence, and places in our natural world. The works featured in this exhibit bring to fruition the off-center and unorthodox concepts 6 multifaceted artists.

Artists on Exhibit
Carl Shubs | Blair Cahill | Annette Huelly | Curtis Taylor | Gina M. | Clint Imoden
Curated by Yessíca Torres

Dab Art
1793 East Main Street
805 626 8876
www.DabArt.me

“A dream come true. It all started about six months ago when I was asked to paint a painting for the cover of The Montecito Magazine, which would be featuring an article about the new Rosewood Miramar Beach Hotel in Montecito Santa Barbara.”

“This had been a dream of mine since I move to the US and started painting… “I want to be on the Montecito Magazine one day”!

The new issue of Montecito Magazine has an article “My Miramar Beach” where several of my paintings are featured. And, it also has an article about my art “Storyteller Inspired by Nature”

by Jill Forman

Donna Granata believes that artists’ stories can inspire. Her nonprofit, Focus on the Masters, endeavors to share those stories along with their works, demonstrating the importance of the arts to a healthy community. “Art can save lives, my own personal journey is proof of that.”

FOTM literally started in Donna’s kitchen. Disabled from an accident, in pain and battling depression, the recent Brooks Photography graduate was trying to focus on what she could do instead of her limitations, driven by “a need to find what was nurturing to my soul.” She was on the verge of losing her home, had no income, and took a brave step: she started a nonprofit. Her own story is as inspiring as those the FOTM artists tell.

As a photographer, she was already submerged in the art community; a graduate project she had done for Art City became the basis for what organically grew into a bona fide art archive and library. At her offices in Ventura, there are fireproof cabinets with art, documents, sketch books, show reviews, video tapes and so on from many area artists. And of course, all the research is digitized and safely stored. “It’s a treasure trove of humanity,” Granata rejoices. Archives contain hours of interviews and extensive research on each subject.

In the beginning, she started going through old photos and found images of well-known local artists which she would share. Her first Artist Spotlight presentation was a lecture on Beatrice Wood, then a friend suggested she interview some of these artists as part of future productions. As she says, “the penny dropped” for her future mission of sharing art with the community. “Art is a mirror of society; it’s common humanity.” As an example, she tells about one artist from an abusive home whose art tells the story of pain and fear. “It takes courage to allow yourself to be vulnerable.” People hear these stories and don’t feel alone; they see what the artist has done with their experience, turned it into art.

Learning To See is FOTM’s art education program offered through the schools, “…empowering your child with the gift of creative and critical thinking.” This outreach is ideal for 7th and 8th grade, but appropriate for any age. Every lesson is based on the life and work of one of the artists. Cross-curricular it can include geography or science as relates to the artists’ life. The students love that they are utilizing the work of living artists in their community. The pieces the students make is always exhibited throughout the community; kids get to see their work up in libraries, coffeehouses, etc. There is also a partnership with turning Point, teaching art to those with mental illness and exhibiting their work. A flyer from a recent show says, “A celebration of the creative spirit!”

FOTM’s archives are used by books, magazines, museum and gallery support staffs. Students use her resources for master’s theses. The highest profile exhibition utilizing her information was at the Getty, of Horace Bristol and Dorothea Lange. Getty staff came to FOTM to do the research on Horace Bristol, including two full filing cabinets of his memoirs.

FOTM presents the Artist Spotlight series monthly at the Museum of Ventura County. A gala celebrating their 25-year anniversary will be September 14. A cultural excursion to Oaxaca celebrating Dia de Los Muertos happens October 29-November 5. Details, tickets or reservations for all these events can be found at focusonthemasters.com

On June 8th, students from De Anza Academy of Technology and Arts (DATA) installed their first temporary public art mural, Eyes on the Westside, at 481 N. Ventura Ave. The temporary mural showcases the Westside’s diversity and community through portraits of children from the Westside. Five eighth grade students; Ruby, Lukas, Cash, Carina, and Naia, worked on the project. They developed the why, photographed and edited the portraits, participated in the Public Art Commission’s design review process, and supported its installation.

DATA’s mural is part of a larger project by artist JR, titled Inside Out, which is a global platform for people to share their untold stories and transform messages of personal identity into works of public art. Eyes on the Westside, which measures 70 ft. by 30 ft., will be up for approximately six months.

DATA’s project is a community collaboration between the Ventura Unified School District, City of Ventura, Westside Community Development Corporation, and Local 805 Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters. Each INSIDE OUT group action is documented, archived, and exhibited online. The INSIDE OUT project has traveled from Ecuador to Nepal, from Mexico to Palestine, inspiring group actions on varied themes such as hope, diversity, and climate change.

Channel Islands Harbor will host its Fine Art Festival featuring fine arts and crafts 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., July 13-14, at the Harbor Landing, located at 2810 Harbor Blvd., at the corner of Channel Islands Blvd.

The event features accomplished artists presenting their original work in all mediums of two- and three-dimensional fine art, including paintings in acrylics, oils, watercolors, photography, and sculpture in glass, metal, and wood. Each artist will be present to meet with the public and discuss their work. All work is available for purchase.

This event is produced by West Coast Artists, which has presented fine art shows throughout Southern California, Arizona and Nevada since 1983.
For more information about the Fine Art Festival, visit the Channel Islands Harbor’s website, www.channelislandsharbor.org.