Robin Nahin, owner of Firestick Pottery, will visit the Ojai Library on Sunday, September 29, at 2 p.m. to teach a hands-on pottery workshop. This interactive workshop will allow participants to learn the basics of working with clay to create art.

Clay is a magical material—use it to turn your fantasy into a real piece of art! Participants can make a bowl, a soap dish, or a planter, or can sculpt their favorite animal. You can take your project home with you or go to the Firestick Pottery Studio to have it kiln-fired.

All ages are welcome to attend. There is no charge, and all materials will be included. Space is limited, and you can make your reservation by calling (805) 272-8760 or by email at [email protected].

This event is free and open to the public.

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai. Hours of service are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Studio Channel Islands Art Center (SCIART) is hosting its annual Art à la Mode Gala, 5:30 p.m., Sept. 7, at the Saticoy Country Club, 4450 Clubhouse Dr, Somis. The Art à la Mode Gala offers an evening of gourmet dining, an opportunity to see inspirational artists demonstrating their craft and a chance to walk away with a work of art or other item from the live and silent auctions. This year’s event honors Dr. Joseph (Joe) Halcomb III and his wife Joani Halcomb as the recipients of the 2019 Medici Award, SCIART’s highest recognition, for their support of the arts, artists and the art community. The Art à la Mode Gala is SCIART’s largest fundraiser with all proceeds going to support its art education and outreach programs, and contemporary art exhibitions.  Tickets are available online at http://bit.ly/SCIART_2019_Gala or by calling 805-383-1368. For more information or to submit an auction item or donation, contact Peter Tyas [email protected] or call 805-383-1368.

“Abstractions,” the next exhibition at the Buenaventura Gallery, slated Aug. 29-Sept. 22 in Ventura, will feature a range of nonrepresentational works by Buenaventura Art Association members.

Whether painting or sculpture, abstract art doesn’t set out to describe the world we see, but rather it uses form, line, color, pattern, texture, composition and process to explore the inner world of both the viewer and the artist. Juror for “Abstractions” will be Tony MacIsaac of Ventura, who studied painting and drawing at UC Santa Cruz and Washington State University, and who owns Traveler Cafe.

An opening reception for both shows will be 6-9 p.m. Sept. 6 as part of Ventura’s First Friday gallery crawl.

Also featured during these dates will be several paintings by Ventura artist Gina Niebergall on the gallery’s Triangle Showcase.

Buenaventura Gallery, in Studio 30 at Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Ave., is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. For more about the 65-year-old BAA nonprofit cooperative and its programs, visit www.buenaventuragallery.org or call 805-648-1235 during gallery hours.

Focus on the Masters (FOTM) Arts Archive & Library, together with Cumulus Media and Jordan Laby, present FOTM’s 25th Anniversary Celebration For the Love of Art on Saturday, September 14, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Four Points by Sheraton in Ventura. The Celebration is a benefit in support of Focus on the Masters’ award-winning arts education programs including the Learning To See Outreach, a sequential in-school and community outreach art program for at-risk youth and Title 1 schools.

“Our 25th Anniversary is such a tremendous milestone!” stated Founder and Executive Director Donna Granata.

Guests will experience an expansive 75-foot interactive FOTM timeline chronicling the last quarter century of local artists, art history and notable events.  The event will be full of “art for all” including FOTM’s famed $20 Celebration Mystery Bags filled with all kinds of art related treasures worth at least $50, unique live and silent auction items and the chance to win an original serigraph by Mary Michel.

FOTM has served the community for over twenty-five years through their educational arts programming. Since that time, their Learning To See program has brought compelling lessons to over 250,000 students throughout Ventura County.

Program director Aimee French explains, “The local artists featured in every Learning To See lesson serve as strong role models. Students learn that every artist has their own story and that they persevered in pursuit of their passions.”

Everyone will enjoy the great comradery, delicious food, music, live and silent auctions all For the Love of Art in support of FOTM’s community outreach. Tickets for the event and for the opportunity drawing for an original serigraph by Mary Michel are available on line at www.FocusOnTheMasters.com or by calling 805.653.2501.

Mary-Gail King and Gerald Zwers will display their artwork in a show titled “Synergy” at Fox Fine Jewelry from September 12 to November 11, 2019 with an Art Reception on September 14 from 6 – 8 pm.

A teacher of Intuitive Painting, Mary-Gail King takes her own “intuition” method to heart, letting her creativity lead her in new directions. She likes to paint with mindfulness, and collaborate with other artists. Her artwork can be representational or abstract, or sometimes a combination of the two, as she balances color and light.

From a young age, Gerald Zwers has been passionate about art and learning. He decided to keep art a hobby and pursue formal education outside of the arts. As a well-rounded entrepreneur, he still manages to be a prolific artist, known to regularly produce over 100 pieces per year (his record is over 1000!). One of his biggest driving forces as an artist is to mindfully create work that will spread goodness and joy.

The 15th annual Mayor’s Arts Awards nomination forms are now available online at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/maa. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, September 6, 2019 at 5:00 pm. These awards recognize the artistic achievements and contributions to the cultural community of Ventura residents in seven categories:

Arts Patron, a business or individual whose strong support of the arts has been ongoing through philanthropic and/or volunteer service

Artist in the Community, an established individual artist in any discipline for artistic excellence and singular efforts in contributing to Ventura’s cultural vitality

Creative Entrepreneur, a locally owned for-profit business which exemplifies the impact and vitality of Ventura’s creative economy

Arts Leader, a nonprofit arts professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, organizational stewardship, and partnership within the arts community

Arts Educator, an individual or organization whose achievements and contributions to arts education have been significant and far-reaching

Emerging Artist, a working artist under 40 who has demonstrated outstanding promise and commitment to Ventura’s arts community (students are ineligible)

Student Artist, an active student artist in any discipline under the age of 19 who has demonstrated outstanding promise and commitment to the arts

In September, a panel of community members representing the arts and business worlds, will review applications based on: the significance and magnitude of the nominee’s contributions; leadership in the arts community and commitment to service to the arts; benefit and impact of the nominee’s contribution to the citizens of the City of Ventura; and potential contribution to the arts in the emerging artist and student artist categories. The panel’s selections will be presented to the Cultural Affairs Commission who will make recommendations for the Mayor to approve.

The Mayor will announce honorees on October 7, 2019 and present each recipient with an award at a reception on November 15, 2019 at the Museum of Ventura County. The awards are presented as a joint project of the City Manager’s Office and the Community Partnerships Division.

Ruthanne Tudball Ceramic Demonstration and Talk on Friday, August 30th, 6pm.
Santa Paula Museum of Art, Cole Creativity Center

123 North 10th St.
Directions: Route 126 to 10th Street exit, building on the left with parking in the rear.

Members of the Guild, interested artists, and public are invited to join for a very special free 2-hour demonstration and talk by internationally known ceramic artist Rutanne Tudball.

Tudball has developed a technique in which, as an example, a tea pot is thrown, manipulated, altered and assembled while on the wheel. The primal connections to such physical elements as the mountains, sea and desert have formed and been essential to the inspiration for her making pots. In1989 she graduated with a Commendation and two years’ worth of research into soda glazing from Goldsmith’s. This led to writing a book Soda Glazing published by A&C Black in 1995. She now lives in England. https://www.ruthannetudball.com/

Ruthanne will also be holding a full-day, hands-on workshop on 8/31 and 9/1.
Please contact B. Burgess for information at [email protected]. Deadline for registration is 8/28/19.

With over 40 resident and local artists showing their original works in the 3rd annual Art Walk at the Shores there is sure to be something for every shopper’s taste! The one-day event will be held August 24th 10am-3pm in Mandalay Shores. Sculpture, mixed media, print press & photography, fine jewelry, seashell creations, rock mosaics, watercolors and many more art mediums will be on display. The art walk begins at the corner of Wooley and Harbor.

Maps available at the venue or online at artwalkoxnardshores.com. Art Walk at the Shores began three years ago as a volunteer collaboration to promote a strong sense of community through art awareness and inclusivity. As a result the event has continued to grow each year. Neighbors, friends, summertime visitors, art collectors or first-time buyers are all encouraged to take a stroll through the beautiful beach side neighborhood of Mandalay Shores, meet the artists and shop the unique treasures! Visit us at artwalkoxnardshores.com or find us on Facebook and Instagram for more information.

ArtWalk Ventura 2019 is back again with a full day of new artists and great new art venues.  Join in for the 26th annual ArtWalk Ventura, Sept. 28th 11-7pm where you can ride on the ArtWalk shuttle through the WestSide and Downtown Ventura to become a part of a whole day art experience.  The cultural district of Ventura will be alive with a wide variety of artist venues interactive public art exhibits, live art demonstrations, kids’ activities, music and more.

New and improved this year is the 3 ArtWalk shuttles that will be continuously rotating between the several stops along the ArtWalk route from Downtown Ventura to the Westside.  With 3 shuttles circulating all visitors will have an easy access to visit all of ArtWalk in one day.  ArtWalk is also organizing several Pop Up gallery locations that will host a variety of artists from Ventura, Santa Barbara, LA and Santa Clarita Counties.

Some of our exciting art stops along the ArtWalk route this year included The Museum of Ventura County, The WAV, Bell Arts, Art City Studios, John White Studio and Pacific Wonderland Inc.

ArtWalk Ventura is currently seeking artists and venues interested in participating in this fun annual art extravaganza where you are the focus of a fun day full of creativity.  Artists and  Venues will be listed on ArtWalk map, included in all print ads/ press releases, featured on social media and more.  Deadline to become a part of the event is Aug 14th, please see web-site for all of the details and application www.artwalkventura.org.

ArtWalk Ventura 2019 is being organized by a new all-volunteer group composed of local artists who wanted to see ArtWalk continue. If you are interested in lending a hand or helping in any way, they welcome anyone who wants to get involved.

For more information and details about what is to come please visit us at www.artwalkventura.org.

About 40 residents at Azahar Place Apartments in Ventura enjoyed a paint night courtesy of two teens with an artist’s knack who donated their time to teach fellow residents ages 3-70 how to paint.

William Caceres. 14, and Jazmin Garcia, 12, both residents of Azahar Place apartments, stepped in when the professional instructor originally contacted to conduct the event canceled at the last minute, said Gabby Vignone, resident manager at Azahar Place Apartments.

Jazmin said she had a lot of fun working with fellow residents and helping them learn to paint. “I was a little shy at first, but the people were nice and made me feel comfortable,” she said.

William, who attributes his talent to his family, since his grandmother and great grandfather are both artists, said the biggest challenge in putting on the event was trying to find inspiration to know what to paint and speaking to a room full of people.

“It felt amazing to teach a room full of people how to paint because some of the people that were in the room may never get to have the chance to take an art class,” he said.

The paint night event is part of a series of community events that take place each month at Azahar Place Apartments.

Vignone said resident Maria Sanchez, grateful for the teens’ instruction, asked if they could teach an art class once a month so everyone at Azahar could become as talented as William and Jazmin.

“The teaching aspect alone created confidence in the young teens, gave them an item to put on their resume, and a way to say thank you to all of their community. Paint Night was an immensely beautiful and special event and provided an opportunity for families who cannot afford to purchase tickets to a paint night a chance to have the same experience with their entire family present,” Vignone said.

Office Depot, Veronica Garcia and Cabrillo’s Resident Services Department, provided supplies for the event