Fiesta & Fright at the Museum of Ventura County

by Community Contributor • October 5, 2021 • Comments Off

Fiesta & Fright at the Museum!

Now – January 7, 2022.

The Museum of Ventura County has recently installed Women’s Qualities, an installation by New York based artist Ghada Amer as originally commissioned by Desert X and curated by Neville Wakefield and César García-Alvarez at the Sunnylands Center and Gardens, Coachella Valley Rancho Mirage. The installation consists of steel planters fabricated in the shape of large letters spelling out seven words describing women’s qualities: Beautiful, Caring, Determined, Loving, Nurturing, Resilient, and Strong. This Ventura County installation was made possible through a collaboration between the Museum of Ventura County, the City of Ventura, the Downtown Ventura Association, and the Ventura Botanical Gardens. Click here to find all seven throughout downtown Ventura.

Story Time

at the Museum of Ventura County

October 9th @ 11:30am

The Museum of Ventura County has partnered with the county library to bring in-person Story Time on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 11:30am, through the end of the year! On October 9th, we’ll gather for a spooky story about Monsters. On the 13th of November, just in time for Thanksgiving, we’ll feature a story about Gratitude. And finally, on December 11th, our focus will be on Family. Join us for stories, then play & learn in the Children’s Garden, a fabulous and FREE outing for ALL!

Arte Para la Gente:

The Collected Works of Margaret Garcia

Exhibit Opens November 11 @

Opening Reception November 13 @ 2-4pm

at the Museum of Ventura County

Arte Para la Gente explores artist Margaret Garcia’s vast body of work that captures and encapsulates culture, family, and urban life. Over the past four decades, Margaret Garcia has been a leader in the L.A. Chicano Art Movement, championing women, community, and those individuals who are marginalized by society. Her most recent work, many shown here for the first time, were painted in Ventura County.

Upcoming Día de los Muertos Events

Craft Kits For Kids

October 23-31 or until supplies last

at the Museum of Ventura County and

at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula

In celebration of Día de los Muertos, the Museum of Ventura County invites you and your family to pick-up a Day of the Dead Craft Kit at the Ventura Museum and at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula.

The MVC and AG Day of the Dead Craft Kits include:

· Let’s Learn about Dia de los Muertos

· Mini Skull Book

· Calavera Necklace/Decoration Craft

· Ofrenda Word Search

· A Letter to the Dead

· Day of the Dead Coloring Sheets

· Calavera Stickers

Build An Altar

Outdoors, At Home, Online

Creation: October 24th-29th

On View: October 30-November 7

The Museum of Ventura County invites our community members to contribute mementos, photos, drawings, poetry, or other items to be included in the large outdoor altars that will be erected at the Museum of Ventura County and Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula.

If you are interested in volunteering to create an altar on your own or collaboratively, please contact dsindelar@venturamuseum.org.

Community members who plan on creating altars in their homes are encouraged to submit images to submissions@venturamuseum.org. The Museum will share these images online. Just use the hashtag #MVCDDLM2021.

Día de los Muertos

October 30 @ 2-4pm

at the Museum of Ventura County

The Day of the Dead season is here! It’s time to honor the lives of our dearest departed and send them love. Join the Museum for an afternoon of music with Xocoyotzin Moraza and friends, poetry, altars, with refreshments for purchase from food trucks Game Over Catering and Desserts to Die For.

Día de los Muertos

October 31 @ 11am-1pm

at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula

Join us in celebration of 2021 Día de los Muertos at the Agriculture Museum from 11am to 1pm with traditional Aztec and Ballet folkclorico dancers as well as a Youth Mariachi band. Crafts tables will include time-honored Day of the Dead tissue flower folding as well as origami crafts.

Día de los Muertos programming at the Museum of Ventura County

and the Agriculture Museum made possible in part

by the generous support of EJ Harrison & Sons.

Spooky Online Fun

Digital Jigsaw Puzzles

New online jigsaw puzzles using photography from our archival collections.

This month’s theme is: Halloween!

Take a moment or two to relax with new online jigsaw puzzles using photographs from the Museum. We have over 100 Digital Jigsaw puzzles for your enjoyment!

Brought to you in part by the

generous support of

Ellen Brokaw and

Al Lowe Construction.

House of the Angel

When two pirate ships appeared off the California coast in November 1818, it was a moment the governor of the Royal Presidio of Monterey had been dreading for six weeks. He had been warned that Hippolyte Bouchard, a ruthless Argentine pirate, had set his sights on Monterey believing there was gold and other treasures hidden in California’s Spanish missions. The appearance of the ominous ships triggered events that led to a mother’s tragic loss on a hill above Mission San Buenaventura.

Made possible by the

Ventura County Credit Union,

Pierpont Racquet Club, and

Chrisman Estate Co.

Out and Back

Ventura County Backcountry Adventures

In 2018 our library staff discovered 20 reels of 16mm film showing backwoods scenes from 1920s Ventura County.

The film was too fragile to project, but

with a grant from the Schwemm Family Foundation, the film was conserved and digitized. It is a one-of-a-kind glimpse

into the backcountry experience

from 100 years ago.

Exhibits + Programming

Museum of Ventura County

The Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula are open Thursday—Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

Admission to both Museums is FREE through the end of the year.

Take a look at our current exhibits below!

Huelga!

Photographs from the Frontlines

by Jorge Corralejo

at the Museum of Ventura County

Huelga! is a photography exhibit that focuses on the 1970s labor strikes and is featured alongside memorabilia from the collection of longtime local activist and

civic leader, Jorge Corralejo.

Promotional support for this

exhibit generously provided by

Lazer Broadcasting

Crossing Borders

at the Museum of Ventura County

Crossing Borders features select works from the Museum collection along with works by artists in the community who have immigrated to the US, sometimes as refugees in search of a safe haven, bringing their talent and

creative ideas with them.

America’s Revolution

George Stuart Historical Figures®

at the Museum of Ventura County

Through his intricately created Historical Figures, George Stuart captures the colorful personalities involved in America’s struggle for independence.

Funding provided by the

Fred W. Smith Gallery Fund

Rock Paper Scissors

at the Museum of Ventura County

Taken from the childhood game of the same name, this exhibit features works from the Museum’s collection that utilize these materials: rock, paper and scissors.

Made possible by the

Tom and Esther Wachtell Family Fund

Exhibits + Programming

Agriculture Museum

Tomols to Trains:

County Transportation

through the 1900s

at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula

Tomols to Trains explores how transportation played a role in Ventura County history. Visit the communities that struggled with the changes brought about by new modes of transportation.

See how towns and cities changed, how suburbs grew and how our farms and other industries became part of regional, national, and international economies.

Made possible by the

Heritage Fund at VCCF

Farm to Market

at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula

An interactive exhibit promoting healthy lifestyles through role-play, the Ag Market is an immersive environment where children and families identify healthy food choices in a market-like atmosphere.

Special thanks to

Santa Paula’s Mayor Carlos Juarez for volunteering his time and talent in building our fun-filled indoor market.

2021 Programming at the Agriculture Museum is

Supported by Topa Topa Flywheelers

Admission is free!

Admission is free through 2021

in Ventura and at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula.

Enjoy exhibits in the galleries, and spend time with family and community in the gardens. Register for live broadcast events where panels and guests discuss fascinating topics and take your questions.

VenturaMuseum.org

MVC Recommends

Camerata Pacifica

High Definition Chamber Music

at the Museum of Ventura County

October 10, 2021 @ 3 pm

Camerata Pacifica is “the best chamber music reason to get out of the house in these parts,” says the Los Angeles Times. Drawing the finest chamber artists from around the world, Camerata Pacifica explores the breadth of the chamber music genre in live, dynamic performances presented for a live, dynamic 21st century audience. Download program notes here.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.cameratapacifica.org

Sampaguita In My Pocket

A Fundraising Event

at Herzog Wine Cellars

October 21 @ 6-9pm

Annual fundraiser mixer for PINAYSPHERE Filipina-American youth arts organization. This year’s PINAYSPHERE event will feature filipino-american vocalist, Liezel, to set the ambiance; a silent art auction, raffle prizes, Filipino kosher fusion food, & dancing.