Buenaventura Art Association’s 23rd Annual Open Competition brought entries from all over Ventura County. Juror Dennis Reed, Dean of Humanities/Arts at Los Angeles Valley City College had a tough time picking the approximately 125 pieces of art to be exhibit out of the 350 pieces submitted.

Amani J. Fliers of Thousand Oaks won “Best of Show” for her digitally enhanced photograph “Genocide B4”. The prizes in two-dimensional works are as follows: 1st Place, Jack Halbert for “California Streamin;” 2nd Place, Agnete “Chippy” Scharling Todd for “Bodily Apparatus;” 3rd Place, Susan Seaberry for “Brendon;” Honorable Mention, Karen L. Brown for “A Message to the Moon;” and Honorable Mention, Erik Reel for “1211 – Was the War Good for You?” The prizes in three-dimensional works are as follows: 1st Place, David Blackburn for “Buckeye Triangle Box;” 2nd Place, Bob Privitt for “Beyond Toys: Target;” 3rd Place, Joanne Duby for “Sands of Time;” Honorable Mention, David Blackburn for “Haiku Bench;” and Honorable Mention, Christine Watté for “Perseverance.”
The Buenaventura Art Association celebrates 55 years of great art this year. Buenaventura Gallery is located at 700 E Santa Clara St. in downtown Ventura. Hours are Tues – Friday from noon – 5 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. For more information, visit their website at www.BuenaventuraGallery.org.