Museum of Ventura County (Thomas Fire) update for Dec. 22

We invite everyone to help us remember and document our common experience by collaborating with the Museum of Ventura County and CAPS Mediato create a series of exhibits, videos and stories that were forged by fire. The Museum and CAPS staffs, along with students in the El Camino high school ECTV program, are gathering photos, videos, artifacts and personal anecdotes from the public, officials, responders and others to create a multidimensional, multimedia series of presentations that capture the remarkable stories of the most devastating natural tragedy in county history. We welcome everyone to contribute to the archive of media and stories of heroism, sacrifice and tragedy. Go to capsmedia.org to upload video content or email your stories or digital images to thomasfire@venturamuseum.org.

Photo credit: Nicole Noren

A big thank you to everyone who supported our Free Family Activities in the Pavilion and at the Ag Museumduring this time. Thank you to those who donated crafts, time, supplies and refreshments:

Museum of Ventura County Docent Council – Trader Joe’s – Reiter Affiliated – The Thille Family – The Faulkner Family – Main Course Catering – Joanne and Bill Bowie – Alberta Word – Jeanne Hunt – Roberta Cordell – Ross Goodman & Ilse Lang – Linda Kimbrough – Focus on the Masters – Dan Long – Dave Bayer – Chelsea Faulkner – Judy Hodson – James Maddox – Marianne McGrath – Ventura Police Department – Ventura Fire Department

For up to date information on recovery efforts, visit http://venturacountyrecovers.org/, the information site for recovery efforts related to the Ventura County fires. This is the official page for the County of Ventura. Ventura County Recovers is intended to guide residents through the recovery process, regardless of the size of their loss.

During the Thomas Fire, the Milligan home in Santa Barbara was evacuated and their art collection was brought to the Museum of Ventura County. This popup exhibit, titled Seeking Safety – Evacuated Art from the Marshall & Gretchen Milligan Collection, includes selected works from the former Bank of A. Levy Collection and will be on view in the Museum’s Main Street Pavilion from January 2nd until January 12th, 2018. The Pavilion will be open from 11 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday. Entrance to this exhibit is free.

Join the Museum’s Resident Artist Ryan Carr for the next scheduled figure drawing session at 6 p.m., January 2, at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main Street, Ventura. This popular event meets twice-monthly to draw live, clothed models. The group alternates between meeting at the Museum and meeting at local breweries. Bring your drawing pads, charcoal, pencils, pen & ink, pastels, whatever your favorite medium! All skill levels welcome. Some instruction provided.

Grab a lunch and head on over to the Museumon Thursday, January 4, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for music and free entry to the galleries. Enjoy your lunch break in one of our colorful patio chairs while listening to local musicians, then take a stroll through the galleries with free admission. Feel free to tip the musicians! Munchtakes place every Thursday. For information call 805.653.0323.

Let’s come together, our doors are open! It’s an evening of art and a celebration of our community in support of downtown Ventura and the Ventura Community fire relief effort, 5 to 7 p.m, January 13, for the Museum of Ventura County hosts the opening reception of the new Neal Barr exhibit, In High Style: The Photography of Neal Barr.

Meet renowned photographer Neal Barr, a Ventura native, and enjoy an exhibition of iconic fashion and celebrity images created over a career spanning 50 years. Admission and parking are free.

Thank you to our opening reception sponsor:

The Museum of Ventura County’s Main Street Ventura location will be closedfrom Friday December 22 through January 1 for exhibition preparation and gallery cleaning, as well as the holidays.

The Museum of Ventura County’s Administrative Offices will be closed from December 26 through January 1.

If you wish to make an end of year donation or have an immediate need to speak with staff, please call the  Agriculture Museum at 805-525-3100.

The Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula is open regular hours but will close at 3 pm on Sunday December 24th and Sunday December 31st in observance of the holidays.