Santa Paula Art Museum — You Make All of Our Work Possible

Art creates community.

Photo courtesy of Boys & Girl Club of Santa Clara Valley

A lot has changed this year. What hasn’t changed at the Santa Paula Art Museum is our commitment to our mission and our desire to serve, uplift, and inspire everyone in our community.

While the Museum’s indoor galleries have been closed since March, our staff has been working to provide our community with a wide variety of virtual programming, as well as outdoor art classes, free classroom art kits, and over 1,800 free Art To-Go Bags. Click here to see what your continued support has helped the Museum to accomplish over the past 6 months.

Now, more than ever, communities need the arts. And we need you. We invite you to make a donation today to help ensure that the Santa Paula Art Museum continues to be a source of learning and joy in Ventura County. The impact of your gift will be doubled, as every donation received will be matched up to $250,000.00 by longtime museum supporter Lee Cole.

Thank you for your continued support. Without you, none of our work would be possible.

In Loving Memory

The Museum lost two of its greatest supporters this month: Randy Axell and Mary Schwabauer. Our hearts are heavy from their loss, but we are grateful and better for having known them. The Museum’s staff and board will honor their memories in all of the work that we do moving forward.

Randy Axell was the immediate past president of the Museum’s board of directors, but he was much more than that. Randy helped to install almost every single one of the Museum’s 60 exhibitions since 2010. He also attended nearly every museum event (the exceptions being when he was busy visiting with his beloved grandchildren). More recently, Randy oversaw the year-long renovation of the Museum’s Cole Creativity Center and even handled some of the smaller construction projects himself. And he never missed an opportunity to deliver a bag full of avocados from his ranch for our docents and staff to enjoy. Randy had that rare ability to make every person he met feel like the most important person in the room. As it turns out, he was the best person in every room.

Mary Leavens Schwabauer was raised in Santa Paula, but her generosity has been felt in every corner of Ventura County. After retiring as a schoolteacher and county school board member, Mary served on the boards of the Ventura County Community Foundation and Museum of Ventura County, and helped to found what is now the Museum Alliance of Ventura County. She was even referred to as the “Queen of Moorpark” for her services to that city. Her gifts to Ventura County and to our museum are quite simply incalculable. Mary’s greatest legacy though is her son, David, who serves on our board of directors and who inherited his mother’s bigheartedness.

Outdoor Art Class: $5 Craft Night – Abstract Sculpture (Ages 16+)

Thursday, October 15, 2020, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Join teaching artist Mariann Romero in the Museum’s outdoor courtyard to learn the easy and endlessly creative art of abstract sculpture. Repurpose cardboard into stunning shapes and designs, and leave class with a fun, personalized creation. The cost of this class is $5.00 per person. All skill levels and all students ages 16 and over are welcome. Space is limited as class sizes are being kept small to maintain social distancing. Read more about our new class policies for maintaining a safe learning environment here.

Untitled by Chris Zambon, oil on panel, 11.5 x 11.5 inches. Available in the online auction.

Online Art Auction Coming in November

This year, we’re bringing our art auction to you! For two weeks in November, you’ll be able to bid on 20 gorgeous works of art from the comfort of your own home. Items will include beautiful pieces by historic Santa Paula artists Jessie Arms Botke, Cornelis Botke, and Douglas Shively, as well as stunning contemporary paintings donated by some of our favorite local artists. All proceeds will benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum. Keep an eye out for an email with a link to the online auction in November!

Shop to Show Your Support

We’ve said it before, but shopping from our gift store is the most fun you can have while supporting the Museum. Our entire gift shop is now online, and we’ll be adding new items up until the holidays, so check back often. Once you place your order, we’ll have it ready for pickup in 48 hours or less. Museum members receive 10% off every purchase (just use the coupon code “MEMBER” at checkout).

Like Us on Facebook