Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) has announced the 2nd Annual VUSD Art Show, highlighting its incredibly talented K-12 student artists, will open on Thursday, April 18, 2019. A VUSD Artists Opening and Ventura Education Partnership (VEP) Reception will take place from 6-8 pm at the Museum of Ventura County. This event is open to the public with a suggested donation of $10.00, with all proceeds supporting VUSD’s Art programs.

“We are very proud of the long history Ventura Unified, and our community has of supporting the arts in our schools. Arts education is critical in helping all of our students be well-rounded citizens in the modern economy – one where creativity and technology interact in continually evolving ways,” stated Sabrena Rodriguez, VUSD Board President, and longtime Ventura Arts Collaborative member.

The juried show will run at the Museum from April 19-May 5, Tuesday-Sunday, 11 am-5 pm. During the course of the exhibit, the museum is offering a discounted family membership to all VUSD families. May 5, 2019, will be the show’s closing day featuring “People’s Choice Awards” and entertainment. This event will be free to the public from 11 am-5 pm.

VUSD offers an incredible array of Arts education, beginning in elementary school with curriculum-aligned art instruction for all students. The caliber of these student artists is a testament to the investment our community has made into preserving and expanding Arts education.

The show is made possible through the efforts of the Ventura Arts Collaborative, a cooperative program of Ventura Unified School District, the City of Ventura, Ventura Education Partnership and the Museum of Ventura County.

“The Museum of Ventura County is proud to collaborate with and support VUSD and VEP in their ongoing efforts to elevate the arts in the lives of Ventura youth. These young artists deserve to have their work displayed for all to enjoy,” stated Denise Sindelar, Museum Programs Director.

Featured artists include:

Maria Aguilar a Senior at Buena High School where she is in her second year of art.

Marina Bretz a Senior Buena High School is a digital, watercolor, and colored pencil artist who focuses on creating playful, crisp art in a cartoonish, colorful style.

Justice McKenzie is a Sophomore Foothill Technology High School

Shea Sullivan a Junior Foothill Technology High School who since a young age, has been passionate about art and nature.

Laura Kemble a Junior Ventura High School this is her third year of art.

For more information on the 2nd Annual VUSD Student Art Show, contact Nancy Kellogg, VUSD Elementary Art Teacher at [email protected].

A Conversation with Astrid Preston at Museum of Ventura County Sunday, March 17, 2019 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Astrid Preston has been called “one of America’s most important contemporary landscape painters.” Her evolution as an artist is impressive, spanning over five decades of expression from her early days assisting her father, an architect, which influenced her linear drawings, to exploring the myriad of contemporary art movements. Her work has been exhibited in respected galleries and is held in notable museums throughout the United States and abroad. To learn more about Astrid, visit www.AstridPreston.com.

Free to FOTM members, $15 for public; $10 for seniors.

Special invitation to educators and students: The Artist Spotlight is open to students attending as a class assignment free of charge. FOTM is happy to assist with tracking attendance and sign-in sheets. Reservations required.

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

Special Exhibit: In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Vita Art Center, located at 28 W. Main St., Ventura, will exhibit the artwork of four women artists that will be formally documented by FOTM in 2019. The work of Astrid Preston, Hilary Brace, Linda Ekstrom and Peggy Pownall will be on display through March 22. This is the third annual all Women’s art exhibit co-curated by Vita Art Center and Focus on the Masters.

Karen Payton and Adonna Ebrahimi will display their artwork in a show titled “Flower Power” at Fox Fine Jewelry from March 14 to May 12, with an Art Reception on March 16 from 6 – 8 pm.

Karen Payton attended her first Grateful Dead concert in the late ’80s, where the tie-dyes, textiles, and flowing fabrics filled her soul as much as the music. She fell in love with doing embroidery, and applied this to her art.

Instead of brushstrokes, Karen uses needle and thread to paint her canvas with textiles.

From the moment she studied art in high school, Adonna Ebrahimi knew art was the path for her. She spent 16 years after graduation working for small, family-owned advertising and marketing agencies throughout Kentucky and New Jersey.

Primarily working in acrylic and incorporating other mixed media, Adonna creates bright, colorful compositions of flowers atop abstract backgrounds.

The Museum of Ventura County is honored to host the new exhibit Broken: A Holocaust History in Fused Glass, on display until April 27, in the Community Gallery.

“My parents’ stories were incubating in my soul”, explains artist Frances Elson. The desire to frame her parents’ experience in the Holocaust and their family’s displacement in numerous immigration camps as lessons for others mended perfectly with the artistic medium of fused glass.

The exhibit consists of six beautifully detailed and touching glass panels, as well as a book of poetry by Frances Elson’s sister, a memoir to her great-uncle, a compilation of Cantorial and Yiddish music, and much more.

In support of Broken: A Holocaust History in Fused Glass, join us at the Museum of Ventura County in the Martin V. and Martha K. Pavilion on Sunday, March 24 from

2 – 4 p.m. for Women’s Stories from the Holocaust, a panel discussion featuring Celina Biniaz, Inga Boldt, Lee Edwards, and Frances Elson. Donna Granata, Executive Director of Focus on the Masters, will moderate this moving and hopeful discussion focused on themes of family, love and survival. Admission is free for museum members, $5 for nonmembers.

“Fran Elson’s powerful tribute to her family will be shared in a compelling and affirming Gallery tour and presentation”, explains Denise Sindelar, Programs Director at the Museum.

For more information on the exhibit and museum events, visit venturamuseum.org or call (805) 653-0323.

Special Exhibit: In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Vita Art Center, located at 28 W. Main St., is exhibiting the artwork of four women artists that will be formally documented by FOTM in 2019. The work of Astrid Preston, Linda Ekstrom, Peggy Pownall and Hilary Brace is on display through March 22. This is the third annual all women’s art exhibit co-curated by Vita Art Center and Focus on the Masters.

For three weekends in March the ARTLIFE Foundation will exhibit new Mail Art from around the world, the US, and Ventura, in a show that reprises artist Joe Cardella’s 25-year promotion of Mail (Postal) Art.

The “plein air” exhibit of 200 mailed-in pieces of art from 20 countries and 13 states is at 539 Howard Street, Ventura. This is the site of Cardella’s home/studio and the ARTLIFE Foundation.

The time is 2:00 to 6:00 pm on March 9-10, March 16-17 and March 23-24. The event is free, with a reception on the first Saturday, March 9.

Parking will be scarce, so walk or car pool if you can. The Vons parking lot on Borchard is not far away.

http://joecardellalegacy.blogspot.com

The ARTLIFE Inc Board,
Bob Chianese, Nell Panelli, Jonell McLain, Curtis Cormane, Pete Ippel
[email protected].

Buenaventura Art Association artists will present some creative flights of fancy in “Things With Wings,” a Feb. 28-March 24 exhibit at the Buenaventura Gallery.

This member’s show theme is intentionally broad and includes “birds, bees, airplanes, angels, dragons and more.” Juror for this show is Lisa Mahoney, a plein-air painter and teacher.

Opening reception will be 6-9 p.m. March 1, during Ventura’s First Friday gallery crawl, when many of the city’s art groups open their studios so visitors can mingle and talk with the artists.

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 nonprofit cooperative and its programs, visit www.buenaventuragallery.org or call 648-1235 during gallery hours.

Planning your solo show – Artists’ Talk Saturday, March 16, 10:00am – 12:00 pm

Instructor: Darlene Roker

Sooner or later, many artists dream of having their own solo show, yet they wonder

about all the details involved. The President of BAA’s Board, Darlene Roker, says,

“If this is you, help is at hand! After putting on numerous solo shows, both in Ventura and Santa Barbara, I’ve learned some of what works and what doesn’t. Let me walk you through the process, from creating a theme to opening night reception. It’s really quite do-able!”

Cost: $5.00 – Public Fee (non-member)

Free – BAA members

Buenaventura Gallery – 432 N. Ventura Ave.

At the Bell Arts Factory, entrance at the corner of Harrison and Ventura Ave.

Featuring art by Turning Point Foundation Clients

March 13 – April 1, 2019

Public Reception March 20 from 1:30 – 2:30 pm

At Ambrosia by Caffrodite 7:00am – 3:00pm (closed Tuesdays)

1987 E Main Street-805.628.9289.

Join Focus on the Masters Archive and Library (FOTM) and Turning Point Foundation for an exhibition featuring artwork created in FOTM’s Learning To See (LTS) art program through Turning Point’s Quality of Life Project by residents of Board and Care Homes who struggle with mental and physical health challenges this exhibition celebrates their endeavors and serves as inspiration for all in our community.

Turning Point’s Quality of Life members have been exploring their creative spirits through weekly art programs with the LTS program for over 4 years. Each class offers them the valuable opportunity to engage with others, express creativity, practice physical dexterity, and gain a sense of accomplishment as they face the challenges of living with mental illness.

Turning Point Foundation addresses the critical community support needs of mentally ill adults, serving more than 500 clients each year through its shelter, supported housing and rehabilitation programs. Turning Point improves our communities by helping those facing mental illness remain or become functioning, integral community members. They are a critical support organization for families dealing with the devastation of mental illness.

Participating locations The Elms in Ventura and Sunrise Manor in Oxnard.

For more information about Learning To See, contact [email protected] or 805.653.2501

Turning Point Foundation (805) 652-0000 TurningPointFoundation.org