Offering intimate glimpses of Cuba at the turn of the millennium, a new photography exhibit at Coffee Connection. The images in “My Angle on Cuba” are all from photographer Myrna Cambianica’s 2001 Ventura College trip to Cuba conducted by photography professor and mentor Bill Hendricks. Reflecting her profound reaction to the Cuban experience, most of the images are tilted to an oblique angle. “Cuba turned my perpendicular life askew with its vibrancy and wealth of spirit,” Cambianica explains in her artist statement. “My Angle on Cuba” will be on view through October 31. The Coffee Connection, is located at 311 E El Roblar in Meiners Oaks, open 5 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 6 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Working Artists Ventura (WAV) will have open studios, artists’ gallery pods along adjacent Garden St., and a solo show in the WAV Theater Gallery for ArtWalk 2016. The gallery has 3500 cubic feet of available space for very large installations, and featured artist Tiger Huang will make use of it by draping his meditative calligraphy on paper from the WAV’s lofty cathedral ceiling.

Huang, a native of China and graduate of Chin Gun Ye Art and Design, will exhibit his monumental works from October 1 to November 19. He will greet guests at the gallery on ArtWalk weekend October 1st and 2nd.

Singing bowls will make their sounds in the courtyard as an accompaniment to the exhibit throughout ArtWalk weekend.

Breeze: “I want to thank you so much for promoting the event for Norman Kirk. Norm was overjoyed seeing his past students, drawing buddies, collectors (from as far away as AZ and San Francisco!) and friends who attended. The scrapbooking was particularly enjoyed, as it gave a vehicle for people to express themselves in a permanent way to Norm. Plus many of them were artists!”

“It was a successful opening for Norm as we sold over a dozen works. But really it was simply a special evening – a true tribute to Norm. So thank you again for helping us get the word out. “

Regards,

Debbie Fox
Fox Fine Jewelry

Watercolor Art exhibit–Oceans Hills & Mountains at the 4th floor gallery at the Ventura County Government Hall of Administration. The show is curated by Michelle Nosco of Arts for Earth. art in support of environmental consciousness and education. Prices for the art are quite reasonable.

Most travelers take pictures, but few bring along a half-century of photography expertise. Robert Diehl is one of those few, and his recent results will be on display Sept. 20-Oct. 15 at the Buenaventura Gallery in downtown Ventura in a solo exhibition titled Cuba — The People of Havana. This is the gallery’s second recent look at this popular topic by one of its stable of professional fine art photographers.

For more than 10 years, he’s made annual photo forays out of the country. In May 2015, the destination was Cuba, where Diehl spent eight days.

“When I visit a place, I enjoy photographing the activities of its people and showing their attitudes as seen in graffiti, posters and billboards. The exciting challenge is to artistically reveal these characteristics in photographs,” he said.

The show will feature 25 photos on various media, ranging from 24 by 18 inches to 30 by 40 inches. Diehl will attend an opening reception 5-7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the gallery.

Buenaventura Gallery, 700 E. Santa Clara St., is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more about the nonprofit Buenaventura Art Association and its programs, visit www.buenaventuragallery.org or call 648-1235 during gallery hours.

This beautiful art photo is by Breeze contributing photographer Michael Gordon

Pierpont Racquet Club presents the soft pastel and watercolor art of  Mona Neuhaus. The subject matter of her work focuses on the natural environment of land and sea, the California countryside and vastness of the American West. Much of her inspiration comes from California’s Central Coast, as well as our great American treasures – The National Parks. The style of her work ranges from representational to abstraction.

Mona Neuhaus is a native of Southern California and has been painting professionally for more than 30 years. Her work is in the Museum Ventura County “Bank of A. Levy Corporate Collection”, the Carnegie Art Museum’s “Jackson Wheeler Collection”, the Municipal Art Collection for the City of Oxnard, and in many other corporate and private collections. Her exhibits have included myriad shows hosted by the Ojai Art Center, the Buenaventura Gallery of Ventura, California, Studio 83, Ventura Art Walk,

Pierpont Racquet Club – Club Room, 500 San Jon Road. 648-5161
Saturday, November 5, 5pm – 8pm
ArtTalk/Demo Sunday, November 6, 3pm-5pm
www.monaneuhaus.com

Nomination forms are now available online until September 8 for the 12th annual Mayor’s Arts Awards. For more information visit the website. To have a form mailed to you please contact Georgeanne Lees at 805/658-4720 or [email protected].

The awards recognize the artistic achievements and contributions to the cultural community by City of Ventura residents in seven categories:

1. Arts Patron, a business or individual whose strong support of the arts has been ongoing through philanthropic and/or volunteer service
2. Artist in the Community, an established individual artist in any discipline for artistic excellence and singular efforts in contributing to Ventura’s cultural vitality
3. Creative Entrepreneur, a locally owned for-profit business which exemplifies the impact and vitality of Ventura’s creative economy
4. Arts Leader, a nonprofit arts professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, organizational stewardship and partnership within the arts community
5. Arts Educator, an individual or organization whose achievements and contributions to arts education have been significant and far reaching
6. Emerging Artist, a working artist under 40 who has demonstrated outstanding promise and commitment to Ventura’s arts community (students are ineligible)
7. Student Artist, an active student artist in any discipline under the age of 19 who has demonstrated outstanding promise and commitment to the arts

“These annual awards are an important tradition for everyone who loves the arts in Ventura,” said Mayor Erik Nasarenko. “They cultivate a greater understanding and visibility of the value of the arts to the public at large. They showcase the economic impact of Ventura’s creative businesses and arts leadership and patrons. The Mayor’s Arts Awards are one small way to say ‘well done’ and ‘thank you’ to everyone involved in our creative community–for their contributions, their dedication and their passion to serve the arts in our city.”

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 Cultural Affairs Commissioners who will make recommendations for the Mayor to approve.

The Mayor will announce honorees on October 10, and present each recipient with a non-monetary award at a reception on November 3, including a limited edition artwork, Mark of Excellence, created by Lis J. Schwitters. The awards are presented as a joint project of the city departments of Community Development and Parks, Recreation and Community Partnerships.