Big Platter, Museum of Ventura County. Courtesy image.
VENTURA COUNTY — 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.
John Nava, who lives in Ojai, studied art at UC Santa Barbara under Howard Warshaw and completed his graduate work in Florence, Italy. His work is found in numerous private, corporate, and public collections throughout the United States, Europe and Japan, including his creation of the Communion of the Saints tapestries for the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles.
“There is a long tradition in art of the Arcadian image — Arcadia as the setting of a harmonious image of people within nature,” explains local artist, John Nava. “For me Seurat?s famous La Grande Jatte is a modern (19th century) version of this image: a quiet, sunlit shore with the bourgeoisie of Paris taking the place of the idealized shepherds who populate the Arcadian paintings of Poussin.” Nava added, “Big Platter (la grande jatte translates as big platter or bowl) makes the Ventura Promenade the setting for my version of this image. The Promenade near Surfers Point is, in fact, a magnetic gathering place for our community — a place where all sorts come to stroll, to surf, to rest in the sun. We find ourselves immersed in this beautiful nexus of shore, sea and sky completing the composition. I wanted to make Ventura’s own Arcadian image.”
The Museum of Ventura County unveiled and celebrated the acquisition during a private ceremony this summer and is honored that Big Platter is being displayed with its visitors.
About the Museum — The Museum of Ventura County celebrates, preserves and interprets the art, history and culture of Ventura County, the California Channel Islands and the surrounding region through its collections, exhibitions, events, educational programs, publications and its research library, and serves as a gathering place for the community. The Museum has two locations – the main museum is located at 100 East Main Street, Ventura, California (805-653-0323). The Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula, California (805-525-3100). Both museums are open Thursdays through Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – venturamuseum.org.