John Nava, renowned painter and creator of the highly-praised tapestries at the Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, will discuss his newly-published book, Sacred Material: The Art of the Tapestries of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, on December 10 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Levity Live at the Collection in Oxnard. This is a free event Sponsored by Paula Spellman

Sacred Material recounts the ground-breaking techniques employed in creating the three monumental commissions, The Communion of Saints, The Baptism of the Lord and The New Jerusalem for the Cathedral. The commission, combined with Nava’s keen knowledge of art history, masterful painting techniques and state-of-the-art pioneering technology, secured his place in the first chapter of the history of 21st Century American Art.

A generous portion of the proceeds from the sale of Sacred Material will benefit Focus on the Masters wide-ranging arts education programming. Purchasing your copy at this event is a marvelous opportunity to add to your own arts library and to continue the legacy of Focus on the Masters.

RSVP required by calling 653.2501 or on line at www.FocusOnTheMasters.com. Your copy can be reserved when you RSVP. $75 payment for the book will be due at the event.

Individuals who reserve their book before Wednesday, December 6 will be entered to win a portrait of John Nava by FOTM Founder Donna Granata.

Experience the highly-acclaimed fashion and beauty imagery of photographer Neal Barr and meet the artist at the opening reception for the new exhibition, In High Style: The Photography of Neal Barr, 6–8 p.m., Dec. 8, at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St. Admission is $5 for members, $10 for non-members.

The exhibit’s extensive collection of Barr’s iconic photographic images leads the viewer through Barr’s extraordinary life and career, from his early beginnings in Ventura to his fashion career in New York City and back again to Ventura.

Award winning artist, Frances Spencer, invites everyone to a solo exhibit of her art at the WAV (Working Artists Ventura) theater gallery, January 5-26, 2018. The Opening Reception is on First Friday, January 5th, 6-9 pm. Free to the public. Funding has been made possible by a Puffin Foundation grant.

The centerpiece of the exhibit, “War and Peace: Diptych,” illustrates the theme, Peace and Love Will Save the World. Spencer has won many national awards and ribbons including first prize for a block print at the Ventura County Fair. Her large painting, “Jazz Club,” was the cover illustration for the summer concert series, Music Under The Stars, in 2011. Her solo show, “The Visionary Art of Frances Spencer,” was on display at Ventura City Hall during summer of 2014, and chosen for a special showing by the Art Walk committee.

Frances is also a playwright, whose plays and musicals have been produced professionally and on college campuses in the San Francisco Bay Area and locally. Her screenplay, “The Ant Colony,” was a finalist in Hollywood’s Shriekfest Film Festival in 2010 .

WAV Theater Gallery 175 S. Ventura Ave.

Ventura artist Jane Peterson has been hard at work, the past two years, developing a Graphic Novel. The story centers on her character, Jane Gumm I.S.S.T : Inspector of shapes, smells and textures. Jane Gumm works with a coterie of extraterrestrials, and animal-human hybrids(her staff). She follows standard forensic procedure, collecting evidence, to unravel mysteries which “ present themselves”, sometimes Literally, at her doorstep. Jane Gumm has been given a grant, by the Federal Government, to root out “irregularities”.

The City of Ventura 12th Annual Photo Contest winners will be honored at an exhibit and reception in the Bridge Gallery at City Hall, 501 Poli Street, on December 4, 2017, at 5:30 pm. Following the reception, Mayor Erik Nasarenko will award certificates to contest winners in Council Chambers at 6 pm. The winning photos will be on display in City Hall, December 4 through January 31, 2018.

Seventy-two photographers submitted 240 images in three categories; Environment, Architecture, and Culture and Community. Members of the public voted online for the “People’s Choice” awards and a second set of judges made up of visual arts professionals from the City of Ventura awarded “Judges’ Choice” winners.

Photo Contest winners are:

Category 1- Environment

Judges’ Choice- Chris Ramer

People’s Choice- Hector Vargas

Category 2- Architecture

Judges’ Choice- Steve Cattanach

People’s Choice- Tammy Sims

Category 3- Culture and Community

Judges’ Choice- Steve Cattanach

People’s Choice- Jeffrey Grunigen

Judges’ Choice Honorable Mentions

Rip Rippey

Jacqueline Counter

“The stunning and creative submissions we received this year encapsulate the natural beauty of Ventura and embrace the feeling of pride in our community,” stated Nancy O’Connor, Parks, Recreation, and Community Partnerships Director.

The 2017 entries can be viewed at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/photocontest. The 2018 Photo Contest will open on February 5, 2018.

Like Santa’s helpers, the creative elves at Buenaventura Art Association have a busy holiday season planned, with events until the new year at the downtown Buenaventura Gallery and Harbor Village Gallery & Gifts.

First up are the Small Image Show and Holiday Boutique, Nov. 14-Dec. 30 at the Buenaventura Gallery, 700 E. Santa Clara St. The show will feature original artworks sized and priced for gift-giving, while the boutique centers on artisan crafts, jewelry and wearable art. The public is invited to an opening reception 5-7 p.m. Nov. 18 in conjunction with Ventura’s bi-monthly Arts & Eats self-guided tour.

On weekend dates in December, Harbor Village Gallery & Gifts, 1559 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 106, will team up with neighboring December Store & More to present a European Marketplace. Additional vendors, kids’ crafts, music and other holiday cheer will fill their village courtyard. The dates are Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 17 and 23.

BAA — a grassroots, 63-year-old nonprofit organization — also invites the public to its Holiday Charity Party featuring games and prizes at the downtown gallery, slated 3-6 p.m. Dec. 9.

Attendees are asked to bring donations of art supplies for homeless and/or underserved youths for whom art can be self-expression and an escape from daily difficulties.

Buenaventura Gallery is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Harbor Village Gallery & Gifts is open seven days a week, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For more about the group visit www.buenaventuragallery.org or call 648-1235 during gallery hours.

Focus on the Masters (FOTM)Volunteers announce their 5th annual Holiday Gift Shop located at 83 Palm St. The Holiday Gift Shop always carries unique, hand-made and lovingly crafted gifts. From Nov.17-19. Nov.17 opening reception 5-8pm with wine, gifts and wish lists. Nov.18, from 10-5, Nov. 19 from noon-4. The Children’s corner on Saturday will feature children’s gifts and special sections.

This is a great chance to wind down from the work week, meet with artists and friends, and shop for those special people on your list where you can select from a variety of one-of-a-kind items including colorful quilts, jewelry, unique scarves, handmade paper lanterns, charming felted wool creatures, ceramics, photography and much more. All items are produced by FOTM volunteers, staff, and outstanding Ventura County artists including Staci Brown, Sonya Burke, Maria Erlichman, Cecile Gurrola Faulconer, Richard and Yvette Franklin, Aimee French, Judee Hauer, Karen Hoffberg, Mike Horwitz, Mady Julian, Camille King, Patty Kreider, JoEllen Lee, Joyce Lombard, Frank Massarella, Oats and Ivy Farms, Mariana Peirano, Gloria Rupio, Knitting in Recovery, Gayle Bentley Swanson, Cassandra Tondro, Elaine Unzicker, Mary Galbraith, Donna Granata and others.

Focus on the Masters is grateful to OFI Management LLC for their sponsorship of this event. Community partnerships are the heart of a healthy community.

Proceeds benefit FOTM acclaimed Learning To See and other outstanding arts education programs.

To learn more about Focus on the Masters, visit www.FocusOnTheMasters.com or call 653.2501.

Amy Lynn Stevenson and Susan Lorenzana will display their art at Fox Fine Jewelry from November 16, 2017 – January 15, 2018, with an Art Reception on November 18 from 6 – 8:00pm. Musician Corinn Conant will sing and play guitar during the reception.

The Ojai Photo Club will host a presentation by Donna Granata, Founder and Executive Director of the Ventura based Focus on the Masters (FOTM), a highly respected non-profit educational program documenting contemporary artists. The event will be held on Tuesday, November 14th, at 7 p.m. in Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 W. Santa Ana Rd..

Focus on the Masters is recognized as one of the leading arts organizations in California. Founded in 1994, the goal of Focus on the Masters is to demonstrate the importance of the arts to society. Granata will present an in-depth look at her creative process in achieving this goal; including highlights and a behind the scenes look into the documentation process for the FOTM Portrait Series.

Recently she completed a Master’s Degree in Arts Journalism from USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism and is putting the new practices to good use.  

An accomplished artist in her own right, Granata is an internationally published and award-winning painter turned photographer. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Honorary Master of Science Degree from the Brooks Institute of Photography where she was an adjunct professor. For more information on this outstanding photographer and her award-winning arts organization, go to http://www.focusonthemasters.com

Monthly free presentations are part of the Ojai Photography Club’s community service and education outreach. The general public is always welcome to attend.

More information is available at: www.ojaiphotoclub.com/

Ventura College professor and avid art collector, Tomás Sanchez, will be featured speaker at the November 14 “Speaking Of Ventura County” lecture series, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St.

Tomás Sanchez has been a serious Chicano Art collector since the mid-1980s. At Ventura College Santa Paula, Sanchez teaches World History, Western Civilization History, United States History and Chicano History. This presentation will be a combination of art and history as it intersected during the Chicano Movement in southern California.

Free for members; $5 for non-members. Light refreshments will be served.