
Arts & Lectures unveils its new season — and a return to in-person events.
The Santa Paula Art Museum’s fall exhibition schedule includes three original art shows featuring over 100 unique artists, and two of the exhibits are already on view! The exhibits can be enjoyed in person at the Museum, as well as online at www.santapaulaartmuseum.org.
The Museum’s newest exhibit, “Work From Home,” is on view now through January 9, 2022. The show features art created at home during the COVID pandemic by 50 distinct California artists. Delightfully diverse in media and genres, “Work From Home” illustrates how making art helped many artists through the darkest days of the pandemic and 2020.
The Museum of Ventura County presents the First Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on Saturday, October 3rd from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sponsored by Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), the event will take place at the Museum with light refreshments, live performances by the Youth Mariachi Band from Inlakech Cultural Center, and booths staffed by Ventura Unified School District and the Girl Scouts. Rounding out the celebratory event will be a variety of cultural family-friendly activities.
“We are excited to highlight Hispanic Heritage Month through different art forms and experiences,” commented
Ventura County Arts Council invites your submissions for
VALUE
Dark to Light | Principal and Principles
Exhibition dates: Friday, October 8th to Tuesday, November 16th
We are back to in-person art-on-walls exhibitions
Juried Competition, CASH PRIZES
Your opportunity to have your artwork in one of the largest and most visible art venues in Ventura County!
The Rebozo Festival Inc. has awarded grants up to $15,000 awarded to qualified non-profit organizations focusing on the Ventura County communities deeply affected during this difficult time.
In accordance with COVID-19 restrictions, the 2021 Rebozo Festival Inc .annual event has been postponed to May 15, 2022 and the application process is suspended.
The awarded non-profit organizations are:
Clinicas Del Camino Real Inc. — “Feeding the Frontlines”
Boys and Girls Club of Camarillo
Friends of Field Workers — “Grocery Security Network” (GSN)
The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard, with support from the Port of Hueneme and the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC), will celebrate numerous historical commemorations, including Mexican Independence Day, with the opening of two art exhibitions.
Twenty twenty-one marks the Bicentennial of the Consummation of Mexican Independence and 500 years of the historical Memory of Tenochtitlan, the fall of the Aztec empire. On September 15, 2021, the Consulate of Mexico in Oxnard presents two exhibitions of Mexican art that celebrate the past and connect us to the present with contemporary work. One exhibit brings visitors closer to the giants of mid-20th century Mexican Art, including Leopoldo Mendez, Rufino Tamayo, Clemente Orozco, Francisco Toledo, Jose luis Cuevas, Fanny Rabel, and others through the incredible Mexican Print Collection of Gil García and Marti Correa de García from Santa Barbara, CA.
Philanthropist, businesswoman and arts advocate Sara Miller McCune, co-founder and executive chair of SAGE Publishing, brings together an extraordinary production of the Tony Award®-winning musical KISMET with The Santa Barbara Symphony and State Street Ballet, all under the direction of New York’s acclaimed Lonny Price. Price is renowned for Broadway productions of Sunset Boulevard, Sweeney Todd, Company, and Sondheim! The Birthday Concert. The show is executive produced by two-time Tony® Award-winning theatre producer Ken Davenport, and regionally produced by Miller McCune.
KISMET’s unique, one weekend only run, comes to The Granada Theatre October 23-24, 2021 for three performances only.
First Annual
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Presented by SoCalGas
at the Museum of Ventura County
October 3
The Plaza, Courtyard, Children’s Garden, and Sculpture Garden at the Museum will be free and open to the public, registration is not required. Enjoy live music, drinks, cultural activities, and booths with our other community partners, including the Girl Scouts! Partake in and discover Latino traditions with activities for the whole family.
Class: Still Life in Oil – Essential Skills (Ages 16+)
Four consecutive Saturdays starting Saturday, September 4, 2021, from 11 AM to 2 PM
There are only a few spots left in the four-part Still Life in Oil – Essential Skills course starting Saturday, September 4, at the Santa Paula Art Museum. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to oil paint, or are looking to improve your skills, this is the perfect class for you! Teaching artist Gabriel Islas will break down the theory and process, and provide you with one-on-one guidance. The cost of the four-part class series is $140. All materials will be provided. Preregistration is required.
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L), the Central and South Coasts’ premier cultural arts presenting organization, proudly announces its 2021-2022 season of world-class events. Highlights include two new series, Soul of America and Justice for All; dazzling dance; revered musical superstars; several new commissions; a world premiere; and so much more! Series subscriptions go on sale Wed., Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. and single tickets go on sale the following week on Wed., Sept. 8 at 10 a.m.
Saturday, August 28, 2021, from 4 PM to 6 PM
There are only a few weeks left to enjoy NorCal artist Michelle Jung’s immersive exhibition, Making Waves, and Saturday, August 28, is the perfect time to see it. The artist will be on hand for the exhibit’s closing reception from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission to the event is free for everyone. Meet the artist and spend the evening meditating on the beauty and drama of the Pacific coast. Making Waves is on view now through September 12, 2021.
The Museum of Ventura County is pleased to announce and unveil its newest acquisition, John Nava’s Big Platter. A gift of Laura and William Peck, the 27-foot-long tapestry spans the north wall inside the Martha K. and Martin V. Pavilion, where numerous events, pop-up exhibits, and activities occur year-round. Big Platter will remain in the Pavilion as a permanent display.
Inspired by the coastal cuisine of Ensenada, Baja California, the new owners of Baja Bay Surf N’ Taco in Ventura Harbor Village are dishing up a fresh menu featuring savory Mexican fare. Entrees originate from their Mom’s Baja style home-cooked meals and her experience working in a fish factory in Baja, California where she shared her authentic recipes.
“We were inspired to open up a Mexican restaurant in Ventura Harbor Village because of our love and passion for cooking homemade Mexican food. We dreamed of one day having our own restaurant which has now become a reality,” says Co-owners Rick Magana and his wife Christina.
Santa Paula Art Museum visitors are loving the new exhibit, Vistas, Varmints and Vagabonds: The PAC6 Paints the Wild West, on view now through November 7, 2021. And we’ve got six fun ways to connect with the PAC6 during the run of their show! First, if you haven’t yet had the chance, you can peruse the exhibit online and share it with friends using the link below. All of the artworks are available to purchase.
Artist Talk | Virtual Residency in Contemporary Craft
August 19, 2021 | 10 – 11:30 am PST
Join us for a virtual conversation featuring emerging artists Becca Vasquez and Sespe Miller. Moderated by ELA Fellow, Sydnie Pace, the artists will elaborate on the artwork that they produced during their five-week virtual artist residency. The residency program was hosted by Pace, and is centered around contemporary craft.
The Santa Paula Art Museum’s biggest fundraiser of the year is happening now! Register to bid on Bidsquare.com. Then place your bids on any of 21 stunning works of art by some of our region’s most popular historic and contemporary artists. (Catch a glimpse of a few of our auction items below).
You can also purchase raffle tickets for your chance to win one of two paintings by historic Santa Paula artist Jessie Arms Botke! All proceeds from the auction and raffle benefit the Museum and the thousands of students and visitors it serves each year.
The Santa Paula Art Museum’s biggest fundraiser of the year starts Monday, August 16, and it’s all online! Bid on 21 stunning works of art by some of our region’s most popular historic and contemporary artists. You can preview the auction items and preregister to bid online on Bidsquare.com now. The auction artworks are also currently on display at the Museum during regular business hours.
You can even purchase raffle tickets for your chance to win one of the two paintings pictured below by historic Santa Paula artist Jessie Arms Botke! All proceeds from the auction and raffle benefit the Museum and the thousands of visitors it serves each year.
Voting has opened for the Santa Barbara Independent’s Best of
Santa Barbara 2021 Readers’ Poll
2021 has not been easy, but MCASB persevered! From collaborating with local artists to record attendance for our recent exhibition, Shana Moulton: The Invisible Seventh is the Mystic Column, we have been actively working on enriching the Museum experience for everyone. But it doesn’t stop there! We look forward to sharing our plans for upcoming exhibitions, special guest talks, dinners, yoga, shopping events and more.
UPCOMING EVENTS CURATED BY THIS YEARS’ ELA FELLOWS!
MCASB is delighted to present three unique
Independent Curatorial Projects from the 2021 ELA cohort.
As the culmination of their nine-month-long experience-based fellowship, these projects aim to support and encourage Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) within the Santa Barbara Community.
Twenty-one stunning works of art by local artists will soon be up for grabs during the Santa Paula Art Museum’s online Fine Art Auction Fundraiser. Online bidding will open Monday, August 16, 2021, and will close Sunday, August 29, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. PDT. The Museum’s annual Fine Art Auction is the nonprofit’s biggest fundraiser each year. All proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum and the thousands of children, families, and adults that the Museum serves through its educational programs every year.
Bid online for your chance to take home artworks by historical artists like Jessie Arms Botke, Cornelis Botke and Douglas Shively, and contemporary pieces by some of this region’s most popular artists: Linda Brown, Norman Kirk, Sherry Loehr, Susan Petty, Gail Pidduck, Anette Power, and more. Individuals must preregister to bid online at www.bidsquare.com/auction-house/santa-paula-art-museum.
The new exhibit, Vistas, Varmints and Vagabonds: The PAC6 Paints the Wild West, is now on view at the Santa Paula Art Museum! PAC6 is a group of six women artists from Southern California who joined forces in 2014 to travel and paint across the country. The artists are Linda Brown, Marian Fortunati, Nita Harper, Debra Holladay, Laura Wambsgans and Sharon Weaver. Meet the artists during their exhibit premiere party on Sunday, August 1. The exhibit runs through November 7, 2021, and all of the artworks are available for purchase.
There are only three days remaining to view Shana Moulton: The Invisible Seventh is the Mystic Column at MCASB! Stop by this weekend to see the exhibition in its final form. Over the last four months, The Invisible Seventh is the Mystic Column has taken on new elements, adapting and changing as Shana Moulton has explored this iteration of herWhispering Pines series. Join us for the final days of this exhibition from Thursday – Sunday, 11AM – 5PM!
The PAC6 Painters return to the Santa Paula Art Museum this summer with their second major exhibition. “Vistas, Varmints and Vagabonds: The PAC6 Paints the Wild West” will open July 31, 2021, and will be on view through November 7, 2021. The artists will be on hand for an opening reception on Sunday, August 1, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission to the reception is $10.00 for SPAM members and $15.00 for non-members. All of the 81 artworks in the exhibition will be available for purchase. The exhibit will also be available to view online at www.santapaulaartmuseum.org beginning July 31, 2021.
Citing the growing number of COVID-19 infections throughout the area, the Southeast Ventura County YMCA has decided to cancel its 4th Annual Gala that was set for Saturday, September 18 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village.
“After careful consideration of the rising uncertainty of the pandemic, our board and staff have decided to cancel our gala for 2021,” says Ronnie Stone, President/CEO of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA. “We look forward to hosting an in-person event in September of 2022.”
Despite canceling the event, the Y’s mission continues. The Y encourages the community to continue supporting the Y. Every dollar raised provides vital funding to individuals and families in need. To donate, please visit www.sevymca.org/mission.
Once upon a time, there was a little Black girl who used to compose music in her head as she read stories about Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. She “heard” music as she gazed upon the lyrics of Peter’s morning song. She thought that everyone could compose music in their head like she did.
Last year, Emily Wilson interviewed the gifted African American composer Nkeiru Okoye (click on the link to read the interview and for YouTube videos of her work), who as a girl did not recognize her formidable gift. Her story, in more than one sense of the word “classic,” is a classic American story that spans a full range of human experiences: giftedness, discouragement, prejudice, encouragement, recognition, and ultimately triumph. As a young adult, she studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and earned a doctorate in music theory and composition at Rutgers University, one of only nine “colonial colleges.” These colleges have deep roots, as they were chartered before the American War of Independence.
As Santa Barbara begins to return to a ‘normal life’ after the pandemic, the Santa Ynez Valley Riders (SYVR) are helping provide some open-air, family fun this summer.
SYVR is a riding club dedicated to the sheer enjoyment of trail riding and is open to all breeds of horses and styles of riding. SYVR offers opportunities for individuals and families to bring their horse and trail ride on some of the most beautiful and remote landscapes in Santa Barbara County and the Central Coast area. They invite anyone who shares a love of horses to join them for some fun and unique trail riding in time for the summer.
THOUSAND OAKS — Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D – Thousand Oaks) held a press conference at Conejo Creek North Park (on July 14) to announce $3.3 Million secured in the 2021-22 State Budget for the Conejo Recreation & Park District (CRPD). The announcement included some words from Doug Nickles, Chair of the CRPD Board of Directors and General Manager, Jim Friedl. Both the legislator and guest speakers covered the need for the crucial state budget funding that was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom late Monday evening.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, CRPD went above and beyond to fulfill the needs of our community members who most needed help,”stated Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. “Senator Stern and I were determined to secure this funding in the state budget, because the work their amazing staff have done for our community during these trying times is truly priceless.”
If you joined us for Local History Happy Hour with Frank Barajas, thank you. Dr. Barajas spoke about his book Mexican Americans with Moxie: A Transgenerational History of El Movimiento Chicano in Ventura County, California, 1945-1975. During this lively conversation with the Barbara Barnard Executive Director Elena Brokaw, he shared personal stories, deep insights into the cross-cultural dynamics of the region, and answered questions from the audience.
If you missed Local History Happy Hour with Frank Barajas, the video is now available to view and share on the MVC YouTube Channel!
We are delighted to welcome you back into MCASB galleries!
Join the MCASB family! Membership offers you invitations to opening receptions, tickets to programs, access to more than 900 museums in North America, AND you are helping to sustain MCASB’s key role in supporting community resources and the perspectives of artists as they explore contemporary discourse, ideas, and representation. Become part of the MCASB family by selecting one of our four membership levels, or joining one of our five supporting circles!
OPAC, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation, is hosting a student video competition as part of the nonprofit’s COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Campaign. The competition will challenge young creatives to create educational and promotional videos that encourage Ventura County residents to get vaccinated against COVID. Winners will receive a 1st place prize of $350 cash, 2nd place will receive a $100 Amazon gift card, and 3rd place will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.
The County of Ventura has partnered with the Ventura County Community Foundation to provide grant funding to OPAC and other community-based organizations, known as the Complete Reach Committee, to increase vaccination against COVID-19. Currently, 69% of County residents have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Ventura County’s goal is to raise that percentage to the ’80s with the help of the Complete Reach Committee. According to the committee, “Each vaccinated person acts as a barrier to slow or prevent the virus from continuing the spread. Our entire community benefits from a high vaccination coverage, especially those who are most at risk and vulnerable.”
Will you join us in advocating for county federal American Rescue Plan funds to be allocated for arts and culture?
We have crafted a letter to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors in support of this goal, and we are gathering signatures from individuals and organizations who have been impacted, or who support and stand with us in advocating for these funds. We are also asking for stories of economic loss due to the pandemic, some of which we intend to use in making our case to local officials.
You can help advocate with us by visiting our website to preview the letter and fill out a brief survey to indicate your support. Please forward this message and link to other artists or arts organizations who may be interested. We appreciate your participation!
As you probably know Teatro has its own home at 321 W. 6th Street in downtown Oxnard. We continue to be very grateful to Pablo García and his construction company which did a great job of converting a building that had been empty for 10 years into a small and intimate Teatro space. We are happy to be here and are getting very active, especially as the COVID pandemic is coming under control. You will be receiving announcements about all the activities soon, if not already.
The Endless Summer takes on new meaning with more and more travelers re-discovering iconic Highway 101/1 and the idyllic sun-kissed playground that is uniquely Ventura Harbor Village. With a stunning backdrop of majestic yachts, stunning sunsets, blissful weather with gentle ocean breezes paired to casual open-air and sit down dining and unique one-of-a kind boutiques, galleries, and specialty stores, this seaside enclave is the picture-perfect midweek getaway for couples, friends and families. What’s more, admission and parking are FREE at Ventura Harbor Village all summer long!
Located on a spectacular stretch of prime Pacific coastline, this California “go to” spot is definitely worth the drive. Below are top picks (some new) of how to celebrate summer at its best:
fter 15 months of closure, and as California’s Covid-19 restrictions are being lifted, The Museum of Ventura County is re-opening both its Ventura location at 100 East Main Street and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula at 926 Railroad Avenue on July 1, 2021. Admission to the museums and parking are free for visitors for the remainder of 2021.
Beginning Thursday, July 1st, visiting hours for The Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula will be Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Research Library located on the Ventura campus will operate by appointment only, Wednesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
We’re thrilled to welcome you back indoors at the Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula starting Friday, July 1, 2021! Both museums will be open Thursday—Sunday from 11am to 5pm.
Admission to both museums is FREE through the end of the year.
Take a sneak peek at all the upcoming exhibits below!
Art Class: Landscapes in Oil: Essential Skills (Ages 16+)
Five Saturdays: June 26; July 3; July 10; July 17; and July 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day
Become a landscape painter this summer during the Santa Paula Art Museum’s five-part Landscapes in Oil course! Join teaching artist Gabriel Islas inside the Museum’s Cole Creativity Center for step-by-step projects that will teach you the basic elements of composition, color, perspective, and traditional techniques in oil painting. The five-part course begins Saturday, June 26, and is $175.00 per person. All skill levels are welcome and all materials will be provided. Space is extremely limited and preregistration is required.
Despite the challenges of past year’s pandemic closures, the Meadowlark Service League was able to raise $180,000 to support several local nonprofit organizations, as well as continuing to fund several scholarships for local students. Earlier this month, the dedicated service organization hosted their annual luncheon celebrating the work that so many nonprofits do around our region, and enjoyed a day that “felt like a return to normal,” according to President Linda Hardy, “as this event is the reason that we work so hard all year. The funds distribution luncheon is like wind in our sails as Meadowlarks, and connects us directly to those who benefit from the hard work we do all year.”
Also see: CNN — Biden signs bill into law making Juneteenth a national holiday
OXNARD — The City of Oxnard, the Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economic, Oxnard College, Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. and the League of Women Voters Ventura County will present the Virtual 30th Anniversary of Juneteenth Celebration of Ventura County to be held June 19 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 19.
Our highly anticipated 30th Anniversary Juneteenth Celebration will be virtual, streaming live on Facebook and via Zoom.
Join us this summer for Mindfulness at the Museum, new weekly free wellness classes outside in the gardens at the Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula.
You can participate at the Museum of Ventura County (100 E. Main St., Ventura) on Thursdays from 4—5pm and at the Agriculture Museum (926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula) on Saturdays from 10—11am in Santa Paula.
These classes provide fun and free activities for individuals and families. Beginners are encouraged to participate. All classes are free! Classes are limited and registration is required. MVC members get priority access.
UCSB Arts & Lectures’ (A&L) annual free summer cinema takes a trip back to the drive-in (and back in time!) with a series of nostalgic comedy and adventure flicks from the ’80s and ’90s. Usher in those summertime vibes with Be Excellent and Party On! – Movies Under the Stars in Your Cars, a fun mix of films that offers something for everyone. The films are free and will screen on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. from July 1 through August 12 at the West Wind Drive-in in Santa Barbara. First come, first served; gates open at 7:00 p.m. Arrive early to enjoy food trucks, concessions, entertainment and prize drawings!
The Meadowlark Service League is hosting “A Taste of Camarillo” this year on Sunday, July 25, from Noon -4pm, at the historic Camarillo Ranch, and spaces are already filling up for the region’s longest running wine, food, and brew festival. Due to reduced planning time with COVID, this year’s event will be a smaller, and more intimate event than in past years, so get your tickets while they last.
Join us this summer for Mindfulness at the Museum, new weekly free wellness classes outside in the gardens at the Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula.
You can participate at the Museum of Ventura County (100 E. Main St., Ventura) on Thursdays from 4—5pm and at the Agriculture Museum (926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula) on Saturdays from 10—11am in Santa Paula.
These classes provide fun and free activities for individuals and families. Beginners are encouraged to participate. All classes are free! Classes are limited and registration is required. MVC members get priority access.