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Museum of Ventura County — Wrinkly is the Opposite of Irony and Other New Exhibit Particulars

by Community Contributor • June 28, 2023 • Comments Off

NEW EXHIBITS AT

MUSEUM OF VENTURA COUNTY!

Spin Cycle: Unfolding the

Science of Laundry

Everybody’s clothes get dirty, meaning we all must deal with the dreaded laundry. Through the years people have tried different ways to clean their clothes and now we have the science to explain why some of those methods actually work!

Using 19th and early 20th century laundry items from MVC’s historical collection, visitors will learn about the “how” and “who” behind everyone’s least favorite chore. Let’s explore how our everyday world works together.

This exhibit is made possible by the

Ventura County Credit Union

The Murder of Tom More:

A True Crime Story

In the early hours of March 24th 1877, a mob of angry settlers set fire to Thomas More’s barn and shot him over 11 times. Motivated by a passionate battle over land ownership and water rights turned deadly, news of his murder rippled through California.

Amid the rubble of lies, perjuries, briberies, and omissions in the historical record, there are puzzles regarding his death that remain forever unsolved. His story stands today as a warning about the strong emotions unleashed over limited natural resources.

This exhibit is made possible by

the John Hammer Family.

Proximity to Water: Works from MVC’s Permanent Collection

Just in time for summer, come be inspired by the ever-changing coast captured by our regional artists.

From plein air painting to photography, the mutable coast provides an endless supply of inspiration. Art helps us admire, respect, and revere our region, reminding us of our own place in the natural world. Proximity means a closeness in space, time, or relationship. These artworks from the Museum’s permanent collection bring us closer to the water, both visually and in feeling.

This exhibit is made possible by the Esther and Thomas Wachtell Family Fund, the Paul and Anne Leavens Family Fund and the Bonita McFarland Fund.

For more information on exhibits, click HERE

150th CELEBRATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

150th KICK-OFF SUCCESS

Thank you to all!

Over 600 party-goers of all ages came out to enjoy the official 150th Anniversary of Ventura County’s Kick-Off Celebration at MVC in Downtown Ventura last Friday, and we thank you for making memories with us.

The opening of MVC’s new interactive and immersive exhibits was a great success. Guests also enjoyed dancing the evening away to live music, sipping the 150th specialty cocktail, and socializing with friends, family and neighbors. In essence, everyone had a fantastic time. If you were not able to join us last week, not to worry. There are many more opportunities in the coming months, as well as virtual adventures to be had from the comfort of home.

Digital Jigsaw Puzzles

Discover Ventura County through these jigsaw puzzles. These puzzles shine a light on every corner of our County, and for most of us, should reveal a part of our environment and community that we never knew existed.

The next 150 days will be an ever-developing puzzle of fun facts, games, events, programs, and more, all designed to reveal what makes Ventura County uniquely itself – and how we all have been a central part of creating that identity.

View our puzzles HERE!

150th Celebration Save the Dates!

October 21, 2023 – Family Fair and Music Festival in

Santa Paula

November 2, 2023 – 150th State of the County at Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Online Games & Interactive’s Introduced Monthly

Pop-Up Festivals at: Ventura County Fair on Aug. 4, Strathearn Historical Park on Sept. 16, Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center on Nov. 11, and much more to be planned – stay tuned!

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

“HUMANE SOCIETY VC DOGGIE DAYS”

Microchip Clinic and More

Free Admission, Register HERE

The Humane Society of Ventura County is excited to offer a simple, low-cost microchipping procedure that takes a few minutes and includes life-time registration for a fee of $25! Participate in a pack walk, educational resources, children’s mini-class and more.

If participating in Pack Walk & Mini Class, please bring comfortable clothes & shoes, dog poo bags, and a water bottle for you & your dog. Register for this free event HERE.

SUMMER CAMP

Play-Well TEKnologies

Summer Camps

Weekdays, July 17-August 11

9:00AM-12:00PM or 1:00PM-4:00PM

@Museum of Ventura County

@Agriculture Museum

Registration Required

Summer is right around the corner and Play-Well is back at the museums! Week-long Engineering with Lego® Summer camps will be held in Ventura and Santa Paula between June 26-August 11. With camp themes like Pokémon Engineering with LEGO® and Mickey’s Fairytale Adventures with LEGO®, building memories and friendships will be a snap. Click HERE for more information!

OTHER EXCITING NEWS

+ ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcing the Winners of the Bonita C. McFarland Scholarship for the Visual Arts 2023

On June 7, 2023, MVC hosted a reception in the Museum courtyard for the winners of this year’s Bonita C. McFarland Scholarship for the Visual Arts. These talented artists demonstrated remarkable dedication to their craft, and they will continue to make significant contributions to the world of visual arts and beyond. Congratulations to all the recipients!

The Bonita C. McFarland Scholarship, generously endowed by the late Bonita C. McFarland and administered by the Museum of Ventura County and its Fine Arts Committee, supports exceptional young artists in the pursuit of their careers in the visual arts.

Finalists:

Audrey Abbe – Ventura

A graduating student at Ventura College, Audrey is transferring to CSUCI in Fall to pursue Studio Art, Spanish, and a teaching credential. With dreams of teaching art at the high school level, Audrey is well on her way to inspiring future generations of artists.

Alex Lozano – Simi Valley

Currently studying Studio Art and Biology at CSUCI, Alex aspires to work as a scientific illustrator or conservation artist. With a passion for merging art and science, Alex is poised to create a lasting impact in both fields.

Charlotte Scott – Oak Park

A graduating senior at Oak Park High School, Charlotte will attend the Laguna College of Art and Design in the fall. With dreams of working in animation, Charlotte is ready to bring her unique artistic vision to life.

Piper Snowber – Camarillo

Graduating from Rio Mesa High School, Piper is headed to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to study Fiber, Textiles, & Fashion, with an emphasis on social justice and sustainability. Piper is one to watch and is bound to make a difference in the world through her talents.

Anya Spiers – Thousand Oaks

A graduating senior at Thousand Oaks High School, Anya will attend Chapman University in the Fall. With a goal of working in graphic design, Anya is set to make her mark on the visual communication landscape.

Honorable Mentions:

Danae Olivares – Oxnard

Currently studying Art at Ventura College, Danae hopes to become an illustrator, capturing imaginations through her captivating artwork.

Elora Bacon – Oak Park

A graduating senior studying in Oak Park, Elora will attend Ringling College of Art & Design to study Computer Animation. With aspirations of being a character animator, Elora is ready to bring her creations to life on screen.

Congratulations from MVC!

Exhibits + Programming

AGRICULTURE MUSEUM

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

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 became part of our economies.

Learn more here.

Made possible by the

Heritage Fund at VCCF

Farm to Market Children’s Hands-On Exhibit

at the Agriculture Museum

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 market

Explore More Exclusive

MVC ONLINE CONTENT

Watch “history buff” and Museum Docent Andy Ludum talk about the prohibition era in Ventura County.

Explore over a dozen virtual and 3D exhibits, including Amendment 19: Votes for Women, Patterns on the Land, and Arte Forastero.

Engage with us on social media, where you’ll find our latest news and incredible artifacts, reels, and art from our collections!

MVC RECOMMENDS

Online Exhibition

California Counties

150+ Years Documenting California History

The California Historical Society has been collecting and sharing stories from throughout the state for more than 150 years. They strive to gather and preserve the extraordinarily diverse stories from throughout the state. It is with this in mind that staff scoured their archives to find images from each of California’s fifty-eight counties to feature in this online gallery.

Click HERE to view the online gallery.