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Museum of Ventura County — Ch-ch-ch-Changes Happening at MVC

by Community Contributor • May 16, 2023 • Comments Off

Kid’s Drum Circle: Celebrating National Children’s Day

Sunday, June 4, 2023

1:30PM—3:00PM

@ The Agriculture Museum

Free Admission, Parental Supervision Required

Drum circles unite communities and can teach world traditions. Drum circles also enhance interpersonal skills, increase self-awareness, encourage self-control, reduce stress, and reduce anti-social behavior. Come play in the Kid’s Drum Circle, lead by John Laques.

Museum of Ventura County is proud to sponsor

the Ventura Land Trust’s Environmental Speaker Series

Synthetic Seas

with

Dr. Andrea Huvard

Thursday, June 8, 2023

7:00PM—8:30PM

@ Museum of Ventura County

Free Admission

Dr. Andrea Huvard, California Lutheran University Professor of Biology and Environmental Science, has been conducting a long-term study of microfibers to examine the accumulation of microfibers in marine sediments, invertebrates, and fish. Dr. Huvard’s presentation on this research will tie in with the MVC’s exhibit Spin Cycle, opening on June 23, 2023.

Ventura Land Trust’s Environmental Speaker Series is one of the many ways VLT works to educate the public about important environmental topics. These events are free to the public. Click here to RSVP on Ventura Land Trust’s website to let them know you’ll be there!

SAVE THE DATE

Ventura County’s 150th Anniversary

Kick-Off Celebration

Friday, June 23, 2023

5:30PM—7:30PM

@ Museum of Ventura County

Free Admission

The Museum of Ventura County will host the official kick-off celebration for Ventura County’s 150th Anniversary. We will also be opening three new exhibits at the Museum! Don’t miss out on this historic event! More information coming soon.

In 2023, Ventura County officially turns 150 years old! This is a milestone opportunity to create community connection and pride, to share our region’s unique history, and to create a sense of pride as we move forward together into a brighter future.

The County of Ventura and Museum of Ventura County are co-presenting many programs to mark this sesquicentennial celebration. Official programs include (but are not limited to):

Four Pop-Up Festivals across the county (a 150^th festival booth with activities, programs, performances, and more tailored to specific communities – dates TBD)
A day-long Community Festival in Santa Paula on October 21 with a streetfair, carshow, performance, activities, games, and more
State of the County presentation in Simi Valley on November 2, to incorporate opportunities for local groups to perform and provide activities
Your own individual programs that can be branded to be part of the 150^thanniversary

The Museum of Ventura County has created a program to encourage local groups to participate in these programs with monetary stipends. There is a total of $40,000 available through this program, with stipends ranging from $100-$2,500. The program is open to all individuals and organizations – you do not need to be a 501(c)3 to apply.

Through this program, we invite groups to submit their proposals for:

Activities in the pop-up festivals (award range: $100-$500)
Activities/performances at the Community Festival ($100-$2,500)
New programs that you will independently present, and need funding for ($100-$1,500)
Participation in the State of the County event ($50-$250)

Proposals are due May 31, 2023. Decisions will be made by June 15, 2023. Museum of Ventura County staff will consider and make the awards; consideration criteria will focus on having a variety of programs across all the events.

ONLINE PROPOSAL CAN BE FOUND AT https://forms.office.com/r/8pFQmccx1d

Docent Robin Lamar recently noticed that the Museum did not have adequate signage facing the parking lot. Thanks to Robin’s brilliant idea and generous donation, the Museum now has a beautiful new logo painted by MB Hanrahan. Robin’s dog Charlie even got in on the fun!

The Museum of Ventura County is so thankful for our supporters who make our work possible. For ways to support the Museum, please visit: Ways to Donate – Museum of Ventura County (venturamuseum.org)

Visit our Website

Check out this video of Robin’s inspiration coming to life through MB Hanrahan’s creative work.

Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes:

Ventura School for Girls

By Library Volunteer Andy Ludlum

Ventura residents were shocked in February 1921 when they read about girls rioting at the local state training school. Learn more about the Ventura School for Girls and it’s history through the years. Read the full blog on our website!

Chief Curator: Carlos Ortega

Carlos brings two decades of museum experience to the Museum, where he will help connect the present and future through recognizing, exploring, and appreciating the past. As Chief Curator, Carlos will create thoughtful exhibitions that reflect our community’s rich and diverse cultural history. Carlos has built an impressive 20 year career working in collections and curation for various Southern California museums. He officially started at the Museum of Ventura County on May 1st.

A special message from Carlos: This is such an exciting time for me to be joining the staff at the Museum and I am honored to lead the planning for an exhibition opening in October, which will be part of Ventura County’s 150th Anniversary Celebration. In the next few months, I will also be developing the Museum’s upcoming exhibition plan, which will include several community-based exhibitions. I invite newsletter readers to reach out to me with ideas for exhibitions that you would like to see at MVC. Please send your suggestions to cortega@venturamuseum.org.

Finance Director: Angela Sanchez

Angela comes to us with over 20 years of banking, finance, and non profit experience, with her most recent previous management positions at Community West Bank and Montecito Bank and Trust. She began her banking career at US Bank in 2001 in the West Los Angeles, Beverly Hills market. Angela was born and raised in both Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and currently lives in Ventura County with her husband and children. She has a passion for helping her community and currently sits on the Board of Directors for Santa Barbara Zoo.

Current Exhibits Leaving Soon

Your last chance to see Finding the Light, All That Glitters Is Not Gold, andChromatic: The Museum in Six Colors is May 28, 2023! Come check it out before they’re gone!

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 now FREE.

Finding the Light

Works from MVC’s Permanent Collection

Artists use light to elicit emotion, tell stories, and impart meaning to viewers. These works are showcased in the Thomas and Esther Wachtell Gallery, which is dedicated to highlighting MVC’s permanent collection.

Finding the Light is supported through the gifts of:

Bonita McFarland Fund

Suzanne Chadwick

Featured art above:

Andrea Vargas

The Trestle, 2011

Behind the Curtain:

An Insider’s Look at

The George Stuart Historical Figures®

People argue about whether the Figures are works of art, historical objects, or maybe something else entirely. Mr. Stuart himself objects to both the titles of Artist and Historian. Investigate each Figure closely so that you can decide for yourself.

Made possible in part by the Fred W. Smith Gallery Fund and additional support from Bethe and Tim Sullivan in memory of Rosemarie Magness

All That Glitters

Is Not Gold

A surprising history of the 1920s and Prohibition in Ventura County. As population and wealth boomed, creativity flourished – but so did a tide of repression and exclusion. This exhibit tells the local story of the jazz age through our collections and archives.

This exhibit made possible in part by the generous support of:

The John Hammer Family,

The Heritage Fund at VCCF,

The DeArkland Family, and

Chrisman Estate Co.

Chromatic:

The Museum in Six Colors

MVC’s permanent collection, amassed over 100 years, ranges from everyday items belonging to real people who lived and worked in the county, to rarities and precious works of art. Each object has a story to tell, and this exhibit opens the door to those stories.

This exhibit made possible in part by the generous support of:

and Pierpont Racquet Club

NEW EXHIBIT from Smithsonian Gardens

Pollination Investigation – The Essential Role of Pollinators in the Natural World

at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula

Nearly 90% of flowering plants rely on about 200,000 species of animal pollinators for fertilization. Explore the essential role that pollinators play in the natural world in the Smithsonian poster exhibition Pollination Investigation. Through “pollinator profiles” visitors can learn about different pollinators—from butterflies and hummingbirds to bats and the wind—and their favorite flowers based on floral characteristics like flower shape, color, scent, and more. The set of 14 posters is bilingual (English and Spanish) and designed to educate and inspire people to explore the natural world looking at flowers and insects. Learn more here.

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’s 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.

Learn more here.

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.

Learn more about what the

Agriculture Museum has to offer here.

Special thanks to

Santa Paula’s Former Mayor Carlos Juarez for volunteering his time and

talent in building our

fun-filled indoor market