Photo by John C. Lewis
CAMARILLO — Studio Channel Islands’ 2017 Collectors Choice fundraiser promises to be the most spectacular event yet. Over 100 artists from across the United States have donated artwork into the exhibition and every ticket holder for the March 25th fundraising event is guaranteed to walk away with a piece worth a minimum of $350. One lucky guest will walk away with an artwork valued at almost $3,000 and there will be plenty to choose from with artworks to suite every taste.
The exhibition of donated artwork will be on display at the Blackboard Gallery from the 4th of March until the finale event on March 25th. The event is the ideal opportunity to start your art collection or grab a bargain while sipping signature cocktails served by Twenty88 Wine Bistro.
Artwork donated for the exhibition is scrutinized by a professional juror, and this year competition for places was intense with almost 350 works submitted by photographers, painters, print makers and ceramicists, glass artists and sculptors. The 2017 exhibition was selected by Andi Campognone, a California-based curator, author and film producer known for championing artists from Southern California. Andi will announce the $1,000 top prize winner at the exhibition launch on the 4th of March and the public will be given the opportunity to vote for their favorite piece throughout the month. The people’s choice award carries a prize of $500 and will be announced on March 25th.
In preparation for the event the Gallery is hosting a panel discussion on the subject ‘why we collect art’. The panel discussion will take place on Saturday the 18th of March at 1:30pm. Tickets for the panel discussion are $5 at the door, free admission for members. The panelists are Donna Granata, Tish Greenwood and Anette Power and the moderator will be Handel Evans, President Emeritus of California State University Channel Islands. Donna Granata is the founder and Executive Director of Focus on the Masters, a non-profit dedicated to art educational and documenting the lives of contemporary artists in Ventura. Tish Greenwood is the Executive Director of California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks, a unique cultural space where creativity flourishes and ideas are shared. Anette Power is an and award-winning visual artist who spent more than a decade working for Disney, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network and Universal Studios before turning full time to fine art.
All proceeds from the Collectors Choice event will support Studio Channel Islands’ art programs. Each ticket for the fundraiser admits two people and includes hor d’ourves and signature cocktails from Twenty88. Each ticket holder will enter a raffle to determine the order in which guests select their artwork. There will be surprises throughout the event with pop up art and snap auctions to allow guests to jump the line and grab their favorite piece before it is snapped up by another guest.
Tickets are available now. Please visit our website for more information www.StudioChannelIslands.org or call 805.383.1368.
“Collector’s Choice” is generously sponsored by Dennis Brent of Airtight Alliance, Twenty88 Wine Bistro and Mekaniks Plus, a family run Camarillo auto repair shop.
Studio Channel Islands Art Center and Blackboard Gallery are at 2222 Ventura Boulevard in Old Town Camarillo. Hours are Tuesday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 3:00. For information, visit www.studiochannelislands.org or call 805-383-1368. On the First Saturday of the month, as many as 40 professional resident artist studios are open to the public.