Category Archives: Ventura Art Scene

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.

Anne K. Graca solo exhibition May 31-June 25 at the Buenaventura Gallery

art gracaThe natural world fascinates artist Anne K. Graca, both pictorially and materially, so her solo exhibition May 31-June 25 at the Buenaventura Gallery in downtown Ventura is naturally titled Spirit of the Earth.

“In exploring the theme of ‘spirit’ in relation to the natural world, I want to convey the living, spiritual aspect of the materials that come from the earth,” she said. “I want to cause people who view my art to consider the source of these materials, as well as the beauty and feelings they may evoke.”

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

Jeff Sanders “Tell Someone Who Cares” at Vita Art Center

art sandersJeff Sanders “Tell Someone Who Cares”
Opening Reception: Friday, June 3, from 6-9 p.m.
Exhibit Dates: June 3 – 25,
Vita Art Center
432 North Ventura Ave. Studio 30
www.vitaartcenter.com
Gallery hours: M-F 10-4 pm Sat. & Sun. by appointment

Jeff Sanders was born in San Francisco. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design and a master’s in Sculpture from California State University at San Jose. After briefly working as a college art instructor in the early 1970s, Jeff became a full-time artist, art-fabricator and art project manager. Bronze or steel are the preferred media for most of the artist’s outdoor sculpture, which is held in both private and public collections. His subjects involve the everyday image of America. From small to monumental.

Eco Shumaker first solo exhibition, Wanderlust, until May 28 at Buenaventura Gallery

art ShumakerEco Shumaker, a Ventura mixed-media artist, will present her first solo exhibition of works, titled Wanderlust, until May 28 at the Buenaventura Gallery in downtown Ventura.

“These are the paintings that have come from my travel to Costa Rica and Hawaii. I am feeling the pull to travel and have been intuitively painting whatever moves me through traveling, reading and dreaming,”

Shumaker said she started painting in high school, then studied fashion design in Los Angeles and worked in the garment industry for many years. “I found painting again in 2008 and haven’t put my brush down since,” she said.

Examples of Shumaker’s art can be found online at indigoarthouse.com.

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, visit the website www.buenaventuragallery.org or call 648-1235 during gallery hours.

 

Three downtown Ventura galleries will host artist receptions on Saturday, May 21.

Buenaventura Art Association (5 – 7pm), Fox Fine Jewelry (6 – 8pm), and Gallery V (6 – 8pm).

Buenaventura Art Association presents the 4th Annual Collage and Mixed Media Open Competition from May 17 – June 11.  The reception is May 21 from 5 – 7pm with award presentation at 6pm.

Buenaventura Gallery, 700 E. Santa Clara Street, (805) 648-1235, buenaventuragallery.org.

Fox Fine Jewelry presents “An Affinity for Light” with works by Christine Beirne and Sparkle Taylor from May 19 – July 10. An Artist Reception will be held on May 21 from 6 – 8pm. Kris Sheppard, Magic Castle member, will perform (http://krissheppardmagic.com/).

Fox Fine Jewelry, 560 E. Main Street, (805) 652-1800,

Gallery V presents the group show “A New Earth” from April 30 – June 5. An artist reception will be held on May 21 from 6 – 9pm.

Very Ventura Gift Shop and Gallery V, 540 E. Main Street, (805) 628-3540, [email protected], very-ventura.com. Hours Sunday – Thursday 11 – 6pm; Friday and Saturday 11 – 10pm.