Vita Art Center presents Intuitive Spaces: An Emerging Artist Exhibit
Opening reception Friday, May 6 from 6-9pm
Exhibit Dates: May 6-28
Gallery Hours: M-F 10-4 pm Sat. and Sun. by appointment

The term “emerging artist” has become somewhat of a buzzword when it comes to discussing contemporary art and young artists in general considering that so much of the contemporary art market devoted to the discovery of new talent. The importance of recognizing and supporting emerging artists cannot be underestimated because they represent the potential future of the art world and growing art market.

This exhibit will display works from three local emerging artists, Vanessa Wallace, Megan Bisbee and Minga Opazo, as well as works by three artists from the youth arts program Art Division in Los Angeles, Jessica Cuautle, Alex “Otis Woods” Gonzales, and Robert Ortiz.

Vanessa Wallace stated  “My interest began in looking at a single person and their own imperfections. By displaying these flaws for everyone to see through distortion of the body and body language I worked to subvert our desire to maintain a perfect persona. I explored this through building figures from collaging transparent paper with a wash of acrylic color.”  www.vanessawallace.com

Vita Art Center  432 N. Ventura Ave. 644-9214  www.VitaArtCenter.com.

Mariana Peirano is a resident artist at the HUD, 1793 E Main Street. With many other wonderful artists.

Of her work she says “I was born an artist yet at some point in my early adult life I unconsciously moved away from that idea and became an elementary school teacher. Once my family moved away from my native Argentina, my life changed completely. My struggles as an immigrant child prompted me to become a bilingual teacher and help those in similar situations. During those years, my art was limited to creating classroom materials for my students and my own children. “

“Now, more than twenty years later, I return to my true nature and I’m an artist again.  My concern for the human condition, which has permeated my life, is reflected in my artwork.  The grace and beauty of the human body and the perplexity of facial expressions are all recurring themes in my work. I like to create images that evoke emotion and portray the complexity of the human mind.”

“My medium of choice is oil but I also work in acrylic and pastel. After a whole year working in acrylic, I’m once again loving the richness and vividness of the oils. They allow me to take my time and work in layers. It’s almost as if I discover a new painting in each layer.”

“My process reflects my belief that I’m merely an instrument for the creative forces of the universe. I’m inspired by images that evoke a strong emotional response in me. And so I write poems to decipher the messages I receive from those images. Then the words and the images become my painting.”

HUD hours:Wednesday-Friday 5-9 pm
Saturday by appointment only

Solo show by artist Steve Eberhardt
Title: “…of Dwarves, Kings, and Wanderings”,
Buenaventura Art Association’s Harbor Village Gallery
Entrance 3 in the Ventura Harbor Village
644-2750, or email [email protected] for more information.

Selected works from three suites of ongoing work by artist Steve Eberhardt are sure to delight even the most eclectic of viewers. Dwarves, from realms unknown doing the things dwarves do, are set to entertain, kings — serene dream warriors, and wanderings — a collection of surreal, sacred and anciently beautiful vistas. These works are the things that entertain a creative mind after forty years of creative adventures. Join us for the fun ”…of Dwarves, Kings, and Wanderings”.

Show will close on Sunday, May 15th.

Harbor Village Gallery hours are 11am – 6 pm, Tuesday through Sunday.

Jocelyn Davis grew up in Denver, Colorado where she exhibited her early work at various festivals before moving to California to pursue two bachelor’s degrees in Art and Media Production at Pepperdine University. During her time at Pepperdine she took a year to study abroad in Florence, Italy and traveled extensively throughout Europe during her year there, observing the rich artistic styles across cultures. Jocelyn’s art plays with light and exaggerated color, reflecting a fascination with the way colors influence each other to evoke different emotions. Trees hold a central and symbolic role in many of her works. For her, they represent a state of growth. Though the branches may be twisted and imperfect, the tree always reaches to extend beyond itself.

Some of her wonderful paintings are on display at the December Store & More located in the Ventura Harbor.

You can view more of her work at http://www.jocelyndavisart.com

John M. White is a painter, sculptor and performance artist. He has been exhibiting publicly over 40 years. Culturally, politically and aesthetically influenced by the late 60’s, White’s work exemplifies this period of redefinition and experimentation.

Gallery hours: M-F 10-4 pm Sat. & Sun. by appointment
Vita Art Center
432 North Ventura Ave. Studio 30
www.vitaartcenter.com

Buenaventura Art Association is presenting an April solo exhibition of watercolor paintings by Beverly Cunningham, titled Expressions of Grace, at its downtown Ventura gallery.

“I love to paint floral still life’s; I am influenced by flowers in my garden,” said the Ventura artist and retired longtime teacher, whose theme is “peace and beauty through floral still life’s.

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

On April 3 a conversation with Sandra Price was held at the Brooks Institute Screening Room, “Tattoos: Not Just for Drunken Sailors Anymore!” The conversation was held between Focus on the Masters (FOTM) volunteer (and executive assistant) Mary Galbraith and Sandra Price and took the audience to the colorful and fascinating world of Tattoos.

Sandra Price grew up around the world, a Navy “brat.”  Her Philippine father and Norwegian mother encouraged her interest in art and were supportive of her arts education, first at Ventura College, then at Pasadena College of Art & Design. She worked as an animator and was part of a team that won two Emmy awards.

Sandra Price is the owner and manager of White Lotus Body Arts in Ventura. Her life has taken her from Washington, DC to Iceland to California and points in between. For further information about FOTM go to www.focusonthemasters.com or 653-2501.

The Museum Ventura County’s art instruction series, Studio Sunday, has provided a great reason for friends to gather at the museum and cultivate their inner artist.  The Studio Sunday painting classes are taught by Mary Perez and Megan Bisbee of Vita Arts Center, and are open to all regardless of their level of expertise.

Pre-paid reservations are being taken now for  Sunday, April 17: “Frida & A Margarita”

Master the self-portrait as Frida Kahlo did, incorporating symbolic elements and bright colors.

Each class is $40 per person, or $35 for MVC members, which includes instruction, art materials and light refreshments. Registration is limited to 40 people per class. To reserve, call  653-0323, x315, or go to the museum’s website at http://venturamuseum.org/studiosunday and pay online.