Museum of Ventura County update for Jan. 18

Thank You to Union Bank for a Wonderful Evening

Over 350 people attended the opening reception of the new Neal Barr exhibit, In High Style: The Photography of Neal Barr, hosted by Union Bank at the Museum of Ventura County this past Saturday. Attendees enjoyed an evening of high-fashion fun and art, featuring the iconic photography of Neal Barr and a celebration of our community, with the music of Studio 54 and fabulous food and refreshments from supporting downtown Ventura merchants, including Anacapa Brewery, Capriccio’s, Himalaya, Paradise Pantry, Ventura Rental Party Center and Main Course Catering. More than $1,400 was raised in support of the United Way Ventura County’s Thomas Fire and Flood Fund. Thank you to Union Bank and to all who came out to the opening to celebrate our community.

Forged by Fire

We invite everyone to help us remember and document our common experience by collaborating with the Museum of Ventura County and CAPS Media. Go to capsmedia.org to upload video content or email your stories or digital images to thomasfire@venturamuseum.org.

Grab a lunch and head on over to the Museum every Thursday between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for music by local talent. This month features the acoustic and unorthodox ukulele stylings of talented musician Shay Moulder. Feel free to tip the musician! Remaining date for this month is January 25.  For information call 805.653.0323.

Think of the wacky inventor who creates a comically complicated, laboriously-contrived contraption to perform a simple operation. Remember the game “Mousetrap?”

Now kids and their adults can have fun exploring mechanics and creating their own Rube Goldberg machines with a series of four fantastically-fun classes presented by popupeducation@icloud.com. Check out the schedule and class descriptions here.
To sign up, please email popupeducation@icloud.com. Classes meet at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St., Ventura.

The Museum of Ventura County has announced the call for entries for its annual Wearable Art Fashion Show, scheduled for March 30, at the Museum’s Smith Pavilion. This year’s theme, “Wearing Our Stories,” challenges artists, artisans and community members to tell their stories of the impact of the Thomas Fire through an article of clothing or accessories designed for this wearable art showcase. Deadline for entries is March 1. For a prospectus, please send an email to:abermudez@venturamuseum.org.

Join the Museum’s Resident Artist Ryan Carr for the next scheduled figure drawing session at 6 p.m., February 6, at the Museum’s Smith Pavilion, 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! No liquid mediums, please. All skill levels welcome. Admission is free.

Celebrated fashion and beauty photographer, and Ventura native, Neal Barr has photographed some of the world’s most famous faces, including Warren Beatty, Sophia Loren, designer Halston and boxer Cassius Clay for top publications, such as Harper’s Bazaar, Ladies’ Home Journal and Sports Illustrated. In High Style: The Photography of Neal Barr is an exciting exhibition that focuses on Barr’s extraordinary life and career, spanning more than five decades, from his early beginnings in Ventura to his fashion career in New York City and back again to Ventura.

On display now through April 8 at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main Street, Ventura. Visitventuramuseum.org for more information.

Working in wood or fiberglass overlaid with automotive paint, local artist Lori Cozen-Geller creates geometric sculptures with cutouts, creating unique works driven by emotion and intuition. She explains her process as “a journey that begins with a feeling” and develops into a piece of art by “by freezing emotions and placing them into concrete form…as if the emotions themselves dictate the specifications of how the art is developed.” In the final product, Cozen-Geller’s emotions are represented by the sculpture’s dimensions, color and finish. On exhibit now through April 8 in the Main Street Museum’s Nook.

The museum offers Free First Sundaysand free admission for featured groups on designated Appreciation Weekends.

January 27-28:  Zip Codes 91359, 91360, 91361, 91362
February 4:  Free First Sunday

 Free First Sundays are sponsored by TOLD Corporation and Mimi Allin. 

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.