Category Archives: Ventura Art Scene

An iconic image of St. Junipero Serra is now on permanent display at Mission San Buenaventura. 

art Serra TapestryArtist John Nava designed the tapestry based on the oil painting using the electronic Jacquard technology.  John Nava studied art at U.C. Santa Barbara and did his graduate MFA work in Florence, Italy. His work is found in numerous private, corporate and public collections throughout the United States, Europe and Japan including the National Museum of American Art in Washington D.C. Nava has done large-scale public works including projects for the Tokyo Grain Exchange in Japan, the Seattle Symphony Benaroya Hall and Westmont College.

The Serra tapestry is an exact replica of the original tapestry that was blessed by Pope Francis in November 2015 in the sacristy of the National Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.  The original tapestry is on display at Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel where St. Junipero Serra is interred.

Arts for Earth Foundation: Green Street Ventura comes to the July 4th Street Fair

by Karen Helen Szatkowski

Can passion for the arts create compassion for the earth?  Arts for Earth Foundation, (AFEF), was created to do just that.  Recently, founder Michelle Nosco, hosted think tanks on behalf of local environmentalism:  Sierra Clubs’ Wildlife Corridor, iMatterYouth’s Climate report-card and Surf Rider’s Matilija Dam Wetlands project. Now AFEF is sharing the wealth of Ventura’s artists and environmentalists with the public bringing “Green Street” to Ventura’s July 4th Street Fair!  Their booth, sponsored by the Ventura Climate Hub and Rincon-Vitova, unveils a 20’ hand painted tourist map mural highlighting local green projects.

Simply put, the arts community and the organizations for sustainable living in our beautiful city are logical partners to inform and inspire everyone. The intent of AFEF is to involve hundreds, even thousands of people at the festival to join the many different campaigns supporting the natural world right here at home.  “It’s all about reconnecting aesthetically to become healthy.  One gains a sense of well-being at an affordable price, and much of it is free.  Organic Gardening with neighbors for family and FOOD Share is sustainable.  Trading work for Ventura Timebank hours is a great way to shop local.” Says Nosco

See you at the Street Fair!  You’ll also meet the CA Native Plant Society, Bicycle Hub, Ventura Food Co-Op, Community Roots Garden, Abundant Table, artists: D.Bell, M.Brasa, S.Foster, ArtByJudd, Burton, K.Mann, “Kimo”, MJ.Murphy, M.Nosco, G.Pocock, C.Quan and L.LeTourneau. www.ArtsForEarth.org

Duo Show “Wild About Paper” by artists Janet Black and BiJian (BJ) Fan at Buenaventura Gallery

art BuenaventuraDuo Show by artists Janet Black and BiJian (BJ) Fan entitiled “Wild About Paper” at the Buenaventura Gallery, 700 E. Santa Clara St. Exhibition runs June 28 – July 23.

Artists Janet Black and BiJian Fan create figurative collages and sculptural images bringing to life a menagerie of creatures, real and imaginary, only using paper.

Fan, a Camarillo resident, and Black, of Ventura, will be at the gallery for a reception 5-8 p.m. July 1, during First Fridays Ventura, the city’s monthly arts celebration. Each is donating original art for a raffle at show’s end as a fundraiser for the Buenaventura Art Association.

“Wild About Paper is a statement of both my paper addiction and that both BJ and I are incorporating wild creatures (and some domestic ones) in our artwork,” Black said.

The Art of Chalk: by Venturean Tracy Lee Stum

For anyone who pays the least bit of attention, chalk art is making a comeback. As an outdoor chalk artist, Venturean Tracy Lee Stum boldly embraces both the perils of precipitation and the casualties of crowds. The impermanence and “delightful and pleasing ephemera” of outdoor chalk art is part of its allure, according to Stum.  She is an internationally renowned, award winning street painter who brings integrity to this ethereal art form. In her recently released book, The Art of Chalk: Techniques & inspiration for creating art with chalk, Stum explores the types, techniques and topography used by some of the world’s most prominent chalk artist. The Art of Chalk is part how-to and part where-to-go. Published by Quarto, Stum’s book explains the chalk painting process, a blow by blow of making your own pastels and a list of national and international street painting festivals for inspiration.

After graduating with a degree in art from Temple University, Stum went on to paint murals in luxury Las Vegas casinos. As an envoy of the U.S. Department of State, Stum also conducts international 3D street-painting workshops as far away as Tajikistan and India.

12 Annual Channel Islands Harbor Fine Art Festival at Harbor Landing July 9-10

The Channel Islands Harbor Fine Art Festival will return to the Harbor Landing, on July 9 – 10 for its 12th annual event. The festival will feature artists displaying their own original work in all medium of fine art and fine craft. Work presented will be paintings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, mixed media, jewelry and more. Artists will be available to discuss their work with the public. Harbor Landing is located at 2800 Harbor Blvd., at Channel Islands Harbor Blvd. The hours of the Channel Islands Harbor Fine Art Festival will be from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking are free.