ANDRUS PORTRAIT: Mixed Media by Artist Mike Saijo

FIRST GREY GABLES RESIDENTS: Residents of Grey Gables were committed to Dr. Andrus’s vision of the older years as a time of growth and service to others. Courtesy of: The Gables of Ojai Archives
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GREY GABLES MINI VAN: To service the valley’s growing senior population, Gray Gables administrator Dick York proposed several NRTA-AARP outreach programs: meals-on-wheels, a senior center, a retired senior volunteer program, and a mini-van transportation service. Courtesy of: The Gables of Ojai Archives
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OFFICE NRTA-AARP: In 1960, Dr Andrus constructed a new office building across from Grey Gables on Montgomery Street. It operated 24 hours a day with over 200 employees making NRTA-AARP Ojai’s largest employer at the time. Courtesy of: The Gables of Ojai Archives
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DR. ANDRUS AND THE ROBERT YOUNGS: Shows Andrus with her former Lincoln High School student Robert Young and his wife Betty (far right). Courtesy of: AARP Archives
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DR. ETHEL PERCY ANDRUS: Educator, Social Innovator, Humanitarian - Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, Founder and President of NRTA-AARP, testifying before the Kefauver Committee on Hearing Aids, April 19, 1962. Courtesy of: Ojai Valley Museum Archives
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An original history exhibit, “Ethel Percy Andrus: How One Woman Changed America,” opens June 28th in the Ojai Valley Museum’s Rotating Gallery. This one-person show is the culmination of three year’s of research on Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus by local historian Craig Walker. He has written articles and given lectures on this Ojai woman who created social change for senior citizens in mid-century America. From her office in Ojai at Grey Gables of Ojai she founded the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) in 1958.

Wall texts and accompanying photographs serve to illustrate Dr. Andrus’ impact across America and for retired Americans everywhere. The exhibit tells the story of her life as a social innovator, an educator and a cultural visionary. In addition to archival materials, texts and historic photographs, the exhibit includes mixed media artworks by Los Angeles artist Mike Saijo.

The upcoming show will highlight milestones suchas her distinguished career as a high school principal and her eventual attention to the plight of retired teachers when she discovered a former colleague living in a chicken coop. This particular indignity galvanized her into action; she founded the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA) in 1947 with three goals: livable pensions, healthcare and affordable housing.

In 1954, Dr. Andrus moved the NRTA to Ojai and founded Grey Gables, a revolutionary retirement community that became a national model. Andrus developed the nation’s first group health plan for retirees. In 1958 she founded AARP and expanded the NRTA health plan to include all retired persons. Her success with the NRTA-AARP helped pave the way for Medicare in 1965.

Championing her path of social change, Dr. Andrus then mounted a relentless legislative campaign to end discriminatory practices against older Americans, including mandatory retirement laws. She also created travel programs, a mail-order prescription drug service, continuing education programs, and widespread discounts for AARP members. Most importantly, she played a key role in transforming retirement into a time of independence, dignity, and purpose.

The exhibition also features her years as an educator. Dr. Andrus served as the first woman principal of a large urban high school in California. In a profession dominated by men, she emerged as a leader, helping to shape the modern comprehensive high school. She was an innovator in the areas of vocational education, student government, elective classes, extracurricular activities and school guidance programs. Dr. Andrus had a lasting impact on her students, many of whom went on to excel in life. Stories about some of her more notable students are also a part of the exhibit.

This groundbreaking historyexhibit is a coordinated effort by researcher Craig Walker, writer Mark Lewis and Museum Exhibit Committee members Laura Crary and Claire Hill. Museum Director, Michele Ellis Pracy, organized and integrated the contributed materials to create the exhibit.

The exhibit is underwritten byThe Gables of Ojai and AARP. Additional sponsors include: Ventura Roofing and AM-PM Rooter and Plumbing.

The Ojai Valley Museum, established in 1967, is generously supported in part by museum members, private donors, business sponsors and underwriters, the Smith-Hobson Foundation, Wood-Claeyssens Foundation, City of Ojai, Ojai Community Bank, Rotary Club of Ojai, Ojai Civic Association and a grant from the Heritage Fund of Ventura County Community Foundation.

The museum is located at 130 W. Ojai Avenue, Ojai, CA. Admission: Free for current 2014 members, adults - $5.00, children 6–18 - $1.00 and children 5 and under – free. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday, noon to 4 pm. Tours are available by appointment. Free parking is available off Blanche Street at back of museum.

For more information, call the museum at (805) 640-1390, ext. 203, e-mail ojaimuseum@sbcglobal.net or visit the museum website at: Ojai Valley Museum.org or find us on Facebook at Ojai Valley Museum

On View Beginning June 28, the Display Features More Than 60 Contemporary-Traditional Paintings that Capture Idyllic Landscapes and Other Imagery that Defines California.

SANTA PAULA, Calif. – The California Art Club will showcase more than 60 paintings that highlight the enduring appeal of the Golden State with the exhibition Quintessential California, on view at the Santa Paula Art Museum from June 28 to November 2.

A reception with the exhibiting artists will be held on the opening day from 4 to 6 p.m. Admission to the reception is $15, or $10 for members of the Museum or the Club.

The four-month display spotlights the works of more than 50 contemporary-traditional artists, who present a variety of subjects that define California, ranging from scenic landscapes and seascapes to still lifes and figures. The imagery includes famed beaches and majestic mountainsides, as well as historic sites and abundant agriculture. A section of the exhibition pays tribute to sites and scenes of the city of Santa Paula, known as the “Citrus Capital of the World.”

“We are delighted that Quintessential California features many outstanding landscape paintings of pristine vistas throughout the state, as the California Art Club was founded in 1909 by leading historic plein air landscape painters,” says Madeleine Aguilar, exhibitions coordinator for the fine arts organization. “These artists, who migrated to the state from the Midwest and East Coast, chiefly drawn to its natural beauty and ideal conditions for year-round outdoor painting, influenced California Impressionism, the first artistic movement to be defined as uniquely Californian,” adds Aguilar.

During the exhibition, the president of the California Art Club, Peter Adams, will present a special gallery talk on the “History of California Art: The Four Distinct Styles.” The lecture will take place on Thursday, July 10, at 3 p.m., and admission is $4 for adults and $3 for seniors. There is no charge for students and museum and CAC members.

All of the exhibiting artists are juried Artist Members in the California Art Club. They include Peter Adams, Reza Alhosseini, John Asaro, Bobbie Belvel, Nanette Biers, Betsy Bland, Thomas Breeden, Scottie Brown, L.T. Bunning, Ginny Burdick, Larry Cannon, Raymond Cuevas, Steve Curry, Karl Dempwolf, Rhonda Egan, Esther Engelman, Mark Fehlman, Terri Ford, Marian Fortunati, Bill Gallen, David C. Gallup, Joseph Gyurcsak, Nita Harper, Laurie Hendricks, Carolyn Hesse-Low, Debra Holladay, Pamela Ingwers, Rose Irelan, Wajahat Khan, Chuck Kovacic, Paul Kratter, Patricia Kuebler, Carolyn Lord, Lee MacLeod, Didi Martin, Jennifer Moses, D. Wynne Nixon, Frank Ordaz, Macario Pascual, Gail Pidduck, Robert Porter, Anette Power, Richard Probert, Christina Ramos, John Rasberry, Barbara Reinertson, Rodolfo Rivademar, Cecilia Robertson, Dan Schultz, Frank Serrano, Michael Situ, Jane Thorpe, Robert Tate, Michele Usibelli, Laura Wambsgans, Sharon Weaver, Beverly Wilson, Karen Winters and Chris Zambon.

For more information about Quintessential California, visit www.californiaartclub.org or www.santapaulaartmuseum.org.

CA State Old Time Fiddlers will meet Sunday 6/22/14 from 1:30-4:30pm at the Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley Road, Oak View. We will be playing, listening and dancing to Country Western and Bluegrass music. Free admission and parking, refreshments available. calfiddlers.com or call 805-797-6563.

The Artist Guild of Fillmore is currently exhibiting their art in the Santa Paula "Blanchard Library. This outstanding showcase of our 10 local artists is running now through to July 26, 2014 with the reception on June 26, 5:30 to 7:30. Come and enjoy !

"Delicate Arch" by Photographer Steve Moulton.
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"Humbug Mountain" by Photographer Steve Moulton.
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The Ojai Photography Club welcomes Steve Moulton as our June presenter and guest judge. The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm, Tuesday June 17, at Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 Santa Ana Street, Ojai, CA.

Moulton is a photographer, an educator, and a commercial and fine art printer with over 30 years of experience in black and white and color printing. His commercial printing work has included Banana Republic, Calvin Klein and Guess campaigns and his fine art clients have included Herman Leonard, Julius Shulman, and Arthur Tress. His prints have been seen in most major magazines, books, galleries throughout the world, and over 150 reside in the Smithsonian. He has been teaching photography and advanced black and white printing since 2000 at Ventura College and Santa Monica College.

Moulton will present on his life as a photographer and his experience as a black and white printer. He has been a darkroom printer for 33 years and has made over 300,000 custom prints. Black and white images encompassing his personal work, work for clients and student work will be on display.

Monthly presentations are part of the Ojai Photography Club’s community service and education outreach. Visitors are welcome to attend.

The club, which is devoted to education, inspiration, and camaraderie, meets on the third Tuesday of each month, February – November. Only members may submit images for critique. More information is available at: www.ojaiphotoclub.com/

A hundred juried artists are exhibiting, demonstrating and selling their work on Sunday, June 29, from10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the grounds of Studio Channel Islands Art Center in Old Town Camarillo. For the first time, 18 of Ventura County’s arts organizations are participating with their artists in this collaborative event. Admission and parking are free.

Children and the young at heart can participate in a colorful chalk paint-out for all ages from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. followed by awards. Call 805-383-1368 to reserve a square, as space is limited. Scratch Food Truck and Rushed Art Food Truck offer gourmet foods from noon to 4:00 p.m., and a free concert of Americana & country music by John Zipperer & Friends will take place from 3:00 – 5:30 p.m. A $300 gift card will be given away in a free raffle.

Arts Alive is the first annual west coast showcase involving both artists and Ventura County nonprofit arts organizations and universities. Visit their displays in the Studio Channel Islands’ Blackboard Gallery and learn about their diverse community contributions and volunteer opportunities.

Participating nonprofits include Arts Council of Conejo Valley; Buenaventura Art Association; California Lutheran University; California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks; Carnegie Art Museum; Focus on the Masters; Museum of Ventura County; Ojai Studio Artists; People Sketchers of the Conejo Valley Arts Council; Simi Valley Art Association; Studio Channel Islands Art Center; Thousand Oaks Art Association; Ventura County Arts Council; Ventura County Handweavers and Spinners Guild; Ventura Music Festival; Ventura County Potters’ Guild; Westlake Village Art Guild. Exhibiting artists at Arts Alive give back 10% of their sales to the arts organization of their choice.

A Pre-Event is scheduled at the Blackboard Gallery on Saturday, June 28, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A panel discussion on the benefits and the state of the arts in Ventura County will be moderated by Donna Granata, Executive Director for Focus on the Masters.

Studio Channel Islands Art Center offices, Blackboard Gallery and Resident Art Studios are at 2222 Ventura Boulevard in Old Town Camarillo. For more information, visit us on Facebook, go to www.studiochannelislands.org or call 805-383-1368.

Join us June 7th at High Noon for the next program in the Rancho Camulos Museum music and presentation series. Summer rose care and maintenance will be the focus of a presentation by Rosarian Steve Klittich. Steve is the head of the renowned rose purveyors, Otto and Sons Nursery in Fillmore. Gain tips on battling the effects of the summer heat and pests and keeping your roses at their prime.

Steve’s presentation will be followed by a discussion about the old heritage roses still growing at Rancho Camulos and a tour of the rose gardens. The gardens are at their peak and the aroma is breathtaking.

The $5 suggested donation also includes a docent- led tour. Reservations are not required but are appreciated. Rancho Camulos is on Highway 126, 2 miles East of Piru and 10 miles west of the I-5 at the Santa Clarita Newhall Ranch Road exit and will be open for tours at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00. See www.ranchocamulos.org for more information about the museum.

CA State Old Time Fiddlers will meet Sunday 6/8/14 from 1:30-4:30pm at the Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley Road, Oak View. We will be playing, listening and dancing to Country Western and Bluegrass music. Free admission and parking, refreshments available. calfiddlers.com or call 805-797-6563.

The annual photography will be at the Ojai Center for the Arts from June 7th through July 9th. There will be an artists reception Sunday June 8th from 1 to 3 p.m. with refreshments.

There is still time to submit entries. Complete information about the exhibit and how to submit images can be found at http://www.ojaiacphoto.org/exhibit-information.html

Applications for the Forum of the Arts Endowment Grant Program are now available from the program’s administrator, the Museum of Ventura County. Ventura County artists (individual applicants) and arts organizations (organizational applicants) are eligible to apply for grants in the range of $250 to $1,000 for visual, performing and literary arts projects. All projects must take place in Ventura County. Applications will be evaluated on the project’s individual merit as well as impact on the community. A total of $2,500.00 will be awarded to selected recipients on a competitive basis.

Applications may be obtained from the museum’s website, or at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001, Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the Museum. Please write “Danielle /Forum of the Arts Grants” on the outside of the envelope being sent to the Museum. Completed applications are due at the Museum no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 4, 2014. Mailed applications must be postmarked no later than August 4, 2014.

The Forum of the Arts was formed in 1961 and was the first organization to offer grants to the local arts community. In 1987 the Forum of the Arts Endowment was transferred to the custodianship of the Fine Arts Committee of the Museum of Ventura County, which continues to award the Forum of the Arts grants.

For more information email sdavis@venturamuseum.org or call (805)653-0323, x303

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Ventura. Hours are 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Paid events include free admission to the galleries, and the first Sundays of every month are free general admission for the public. For more museum information go to www.venturamuseum.org or call 805-653-0323.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company Summer Theatre Camp returns for its 29th year with a new director.

Aaron Anthony Bonilla takes the helm after serving as assistant director and helping to develop a new curriculum last summer. He also designed a new teacher development program for the apprentices who teach in the camp and previously served as lead teacher. A graduate of the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts, he has spent 13 years devoted to theater production, performance and education.

Co-presented by California Lutheran University, the camp provides opportunities for children to learn theater techniques and try them out on stage while developing self-awareness, confidence and discipline. Everyone is cast in a final presentation for family and friends. Students in the Shakespeare camps perform shortened versions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” or “The Comedy of Errors.”

In “Beginning Shakespeare,” children aged 8 to 12 will learn about the Bard, textual analysis, vocabulary, stage movement and combat techniques as they prepare to present scenes on stage. Training for 8- to 16-year-olds continues with “Advanced Shakespeare I” and “Advanced Shakespeare II,” covering Shakespeare scenes, stage combat, period dance and acting techniques in more depth and concluding with the presentation of challenging scenes. In “Acting Techniques,” students 12 to 16 will study voice, movement, improvisation and stage combat while preparing to perform prepared scenes and original work. “Musical Theatre” for 12- to 16-year-olds will cover vocal technique, acting and dance and culminate in a performance of selections from a musical.

Former Director Michael McCambridge, an associate professor of education at CLU who has more than 40 years of experience in education and drama, is on the camp staff. Barbara Wegher-Thompson, who teaches dance and movement at CLU and has been involved with the Young Artists Ensemble, will again teach “Musical Theatre.”
Teachers, actors and Kingsmen Shakespeare Company members round out the staff.

Two-week morning and afternoon sessions begin June 16 and continue through Aug. 1. Classes will be held in the CLU Theatre Arts Building and adjoining spaces.

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, the professional theater company of CLU, presents the annual Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival each summer, coordinates apprentice programs for professional and aspiring Shakespearean actors and provides an educational tour program in local schools.

For more information, visit http://www.kingsmenshakespeare.org, call 805-493-3452 or email info@kingsmenshakespeare.org. Registration is available online.

Photo by Sally Carless
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Ojai photographer Sally Carless will be exhibiting her photographs of Ojai’s bald eagle family at the Ojai Community Bank from June 9 through August 8.

Sally Carless is a photographer, educator, and writer who has called Ojai home for almost twenty-five years. Her current exhibit, “A Year with the Eagles,” is the culmination of a documentary project that began on her birthday in April of 2013 when she went to the lake and discovered two baby eagles! She immediately fell in love, and followed the chicks from when they were just over a week old until they left the nest and flew off to new adventures later that summer. Sally immersed herself, spending hundreds of hours observing, photographing, filming, and documenting the first bald eagles to nest in the Ojai area in over 90 years. She has continued to visit the eagle parents, and is now happily watching their latest chick discover the world. Sally is very excited to share her love of the eagles with the Ojai community.

A reception will be held on Wednesday evening, June 18, from 5:30-7 at Ojai Community Bank, 402 W. Ojai Ave. Along with the photographs, Carless plans to show video clips of the eagle chicks in the nest.

The show is open during the bank’s regular lobby hours: from 9-5 Monday through Thursday and Fridays from 9-6. A percentage of sales will be donated to the Ojai Raptor Center. For more information visit sallycarless.com/photography.htm or contact Sally Carless at photos@sallycarless.com or 208-2951.

Toledo Art Museum And Ann Scanlin. Photo by Les Dublin.
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Michele Pracy Addresses Toledo Art Museum Group. Photo by Les Dublin.
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Toledo Art Museum Volunteers Gather for Ojai History Walking Tour. Photo by Les Dublin.
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The Ojai Valley Museum welcomed a large group from Ohio’s Toledo Museum of Art for its first visit to Ojai on Wednesday, May 21. Mayor Carlon Strobel warmly welcomed this group, who were here to celebrate our common history, philanthropy, and vision of Edward Drummond Libbey, both cities’ greatest benefactor.

Known as the glass magnate, Libbey founded Libbey Glass and was a major part of Libbey Owens Ford Glass, both internationally known. Edward Drummond Libbey and his wife, Florence Scott Libbey, founded the world-renown Toledo Museum of Art. Toledo is also known as “The Glass Capital of the World.”

Libbeychose Ojai as his western residence in the early 1900s. Ojai would not be the same place today without his contributions: Libbey Park, the Post Office Tower, the Arcade, the Arbolada, and The Ojai Valley Inn. After the 1917 fire destroyed St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel, Libbey generously donated funds to help in its rebuilding. This structure now houses the Ojai Valley Museum, a National Historic Landmark.

Toledo’s Museum Director, Brian Kennedy, was joined by a group of 40 museum donor/service members, the Ambassadors, and its president, Susan Kruse, to learn more aboutLibbey’s Legacy in Ojai. Director Kennedy’s interest was piqued after a presentation about Libbey’s connection to Ojai. The Ojai program was compiled by David Mason, Laura Twining Crary (both OVM Board Members) and Laura’s sister, Tina, (Libbey House Foundation Board Member).

Ojai’s historian, David Mason, led a private historical discussion about Edward Libbey for a smaller group. OVM’s Board President, Ann Scanlin, spoke of both communities exchanging information about Libbey. To continue the dialogue, she suggested that an Ojai Museum group might like to plan a visit to The Toledo Museum of Art and The Libbey House, a National Historic Landmark, in Toledo.

Ojai Valley Museum’s Director, Michele Pracy, informed the Toledo group about the recent renovation of the permanent gallery and led them on a tour of the museum, including a special case of Libbey memorabilia and glass curated by her especially for this occasion.

The Twining sisters expressed to the group that they were born and raised in Toledo: several maternal relatives were employed by Libbey Owens Ford Glass, they attended Girl Scouts’ Camp Libbey, and attended art classes at Toledo’s Museum. In 1984, when Laura moved to Ojai, she was surprised to see that the same Libbey from Toledo had done so much for Ojai!

Following their museum visit, the Toledo group took the Historical Downtown Walking Tour, enjoyed a tour of the historic Libbey Ranch, and visited the art studios of Gary Lang and Ruth Pastine.

Ojai and Toledo have now developed a strong connection through the Libbey Legacy that will, hopefully, endure over time.

The Ojai Valley Museum, established in 1967, is generously supported in part by museum members, private donors, business sponsors and underwriters, the Smith-Hobson Foundation, Wood-Claeyssens Foundation, City of Ojai, Ojai Community Bank, Rotary Club of Ojai, Ojai Civic Association and a grant from the Heritage Fund of Ventura County Community Foundation.

The museum is located at 130 W. Ojai Avenue, Ojai, CA. Admission: free for current 2013 members, adults - $5.00, children 6–18 - $1.00 and children 5 and under – free. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday, noon to 4 pm. Tours are available by appointment. Free parking is available off Blanche Street at back of museum.

For more information, call the museum at (805) 640-1390, ext. 203, e-mail ojaimuseum@sbcglobal.net or visit the museum website at: Ojai Valley Museum.org Find us on Facebook Ojai Valley Museum

Established in the 1970s by Santa Paula High School friends, The Canela Band is reuniting for one performance at the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum on Friday, June 6, 2014. The band will play from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to come to the concert after Santa Paula’s Main Street Cruise Night for this very special “Music at the Ag” event.

Influenced by popular soul, funk, latin and rock music they heard on the radio, and by Mexican music their parents loved, The Canela Band members composed soulful ballads and up-tempo dance tunes, in both English and Spanish. They played at many local parties and events in the 1970s and 1980s before going their separate ways to start careers and families. On June 6, George Castaneda, Jr., on keyboards and vocals, Billy Ramirez, on guitar and lead vocals, Danny Hernandez, on bass and vocals, Robert Torres, on percussion, Raul Rico, Jr., on congas, Peter Ramirez, on guitar, and Noah Castaneda, on keyboards, will come back to Santa Paula to play their most popular hits, including “El Amor” and “Cha Cha Linda.” A special performance by Xavier Montes’ guitar students will take place during intermission.

“Music at the Ag” concerts take place monthly at the Agriculture Museum, usually on the first Friday of the month. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, $2 for kids with an adult, and $5 for Museum members. Seating is first come, first seated. Food Truck service will be provided by Chef Alberto Vazquez of “Rock Chef Rolls,” beginning at 7 p.m., and made-to-order dinner items may be brought into the air conditioned concert area in Limoneira Hall. Chef Vazquez learned to cook from his father at Harry’s Plaza Café in Santa Barbara, started cooking professionally at age 17, honed his craft at 5 star restaurants across the country, and recently was head chef at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks and at Westlake Village Inn.

The Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum is located in historic downtown Santa Paula at 926 Railroad Avenue. Hours are 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Paid events include free admission to the galleries, the first Sunday of every month is free general admission to the public, and the Second Thursday Gallery Talks are followed by an additional gallery talk at the Santa Paula Art Museum. For more information, go to www.venturamuseum.org or call (805) 525-3100.

CA State Old Time Fiddlers will meet Sunday 5/25/14 from 1:30-4:30pm at the Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley Road, Oak View. We will be playing, listening and dancing to Country Western and Bluegrass music. Free admission and parking, refreshments available. calfiddlers.com or call 805-797-6563.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - An exhibit celebrating beauty in American life will run from May 30 through Sept. 11 in the William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art at California Lutheran University.

An opening reception for “The Beautiful: Contemporary Art Featuring America” will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 7.

Referencing the patriotic song “America the Beautiful” in its title, the exhibit offers glimpses of subjects both ordinary and monumental, from dramatic landscapes and “amber waves of grain” to cityscapes and the everyday pleasures people allow themselves. The mix of Americana reflects the country’s diversity, including many ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The exhibit features the work of installation artist Chris Christion of Claremont, landscape photographer Terry Evans of Chicago, painter Sonya Fe of Los Angeles, figurative painter Roni Feldman of Los Angeles, landscape photographer Frank Gohlke of Arizona, painter Amanda Joseph of Ohio, photographer Scott McFarland of Toronto, photographer Catherine Opie of Los Angeles, painter Sandra Mendelsohn Rubin of Boonville, painter, photographer and sculptor Nicolas Shake of Los Angeles, painter Seth Tane of Oregon, painter Christopher Ulrich of Los Angeles, photographer, painter and collage artist Jessica Wimbley of Claremont and painter Christine Wu of Los Angeles.

Art is on loan from Gallery Luisotti, Garboushian Gallery, LA Louver, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Regen Projects, Western Project and Zg Gallery.

Rachel T. Schmid is the curator. University Advancement and the Ann Peppers Foundation Arts Education Series are sponsoring the free exhibit and reception.

The gallery is located in William Rolland Stadium at 160 Overton Court on the Thousand Oaks campus. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 805-493-3697, email rollandgallery@callutheran.edu or visit www.callutheran.edu/rolland.

Paul Lindhard at ArtCity Studios

VENTURA COUNTY, CA - ArtWalk Ventura, an annual two-day tradition of Ventura’s thriving arts community, which returns for its 21st year July 19-20, has announced renowned sculptor, Paul Lindhard, as this year’s Artist of Distinction.

Lindhard’scareer as a working sculptor spans more than 40 years and has evolved through woodcarving and bronze casting into a reverence for and fascination with stone, his principal medium for the past 25 years. He creates large and monumental sculptures, many of which that have been showcased in museums and galleries throughout the United States.

The scultpor’s leadership has helped cultivate greater visibility and understanding of the value of the arts in Ventura. Lindhard—who also teaches as a fine arts instructor at Santa Barbara City College—founded Ventura’s Art City Studiosalmost 30 years ago, a place that has launched the careers of scores of sculptors and new patrons for the arts.Lindhard isalso a former board member of the San Buenaventura Artists’ Union and co-founded the annual Fire & Light festival. He was a recipient of a 2007 Ventura Mayor’s Arts Award.

“I never imagined how much Art City Studios would evolve the way it has over the past three decades,” said Lindhard. “I love that this studio offers a platform for local artists to develop their craft and see them create remarkable works of art that is shared throughout the world.”

This is the fourth consecutive year ArtWalk Ventura’s panel of event organizers has appointed an Artist of Distinction Award. The honor recognizes an established individual artist for artistic excellence and efforts in contributing to Ventura’s art community.

“We are pleased to appoint Paul with this year’s honor as Artist of Distinction,” said Kevin Clerici, director of Downtown Ventura Partners. “Lindhardis one of the region’s most prolific artists and an avid supporter of fellow local artists. He has been a driving force of Ventura’s growth as a cultural community.”

About ArtWalk Ventura
ArtWalk Ventura is a free, self-guided tour of dozens of galleries, studios and pop-up venues in Ventura's historic Downtown and Westside Cultural District that features the work of the finest regional artists, drawing cultural tourists from all over. The event is now run by an all-volunteer group which has added new life to the event. For more information about ArtWalk Ventura, visit http://artwalkventura.org/, or email ArtWalk Ventura event organizer and owner of Vita Art Center Mary Perez at maryperez@vitaartcenter.com. Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VenturaArtWalk.

Saturday May 17th, 2014
4:00 – 7:00pm
LIVE MUSIC, WINE, & BEER
Country Roads Band… Rich, Mike, Frank, Ken, Danny.
Modern/Classic Country and Classic Rock.
Location: Giessinger Winery
365 Santa Clara Street
Fillmore, CA 93015
Ph. (805) 524-5000
Contact: Richard Carillo
Ph. (805) 279-6332
Email: crb805@gmail.com

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - Some of Hollywood’s funniest headlining comics will be presenting an evening of entertainment on Saturday, June 7 at 8:00 pm at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, located at 403 W. Hillcrest Dr. in Thousand Oaks. The evening features seven comedians in an hour and a half show offered in an intimate cabaret setting. The show is for eighteen years and up only, and drinks may be purchased with valid ID. Doors open at 7:30.

Don’t feel like driving into Hollywood for comedy? This Lineup includes comics with credits from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Chelsea Lately, VH1, Comedy Central, MTV, National Lampoon’s Radio, Live at Gotham, TBS’ “Deal With It”, collegehumor.com, Comedy Central’s Last Comic Standing, and more!

Comedian Theo Von is the host of TBS’ hidden camera show “Deal With It” from executive producer Howie Mandel. As a standup performer, Von had the highest-rated half-hour special on Comedy Central in 2012. He was voted Fan Favorite as a semi-finalist on Last Comic Standing and was the winner of Comedy Central’s Reality Bites Back.
Jodi Miller has been performing Stand Up comedy all over the country for over 16yrs, and has also done 4 military tours including going overseas to entertain the troops in Afghanistan. She’s a reoccurring guest commentator on CNN’s Showbiz Tonight and has also been seen on The Tonight Show, Comedy Central, SyFy, GSN and Playboy Plus. Jodi was writer on the Cinemax series Co-Ed Confidential and is also the co-author of the WTF Series WTF College, WTF Work & WTF Women SRSLY WTF, WTF America and OMG: GUYS all available in stores and online now.

A native of Long Beach, CA, Jesus Trejo has been described as one of funniest young comics to look out for. Jesus started stand-up in college and soon after he moved on to comedy clubs such as Hollywood Improv, Laugh Factory and The World Famous Comedy Store. His recent credits are Comedy Central's "Adam Devine's House Party", recurring on TBS "Sullivan and Son" and NUVOtv's "Stand Up & Deliver".

Julia Jasiunas is the producer of HashtagComedyLA and a native to the Conejo Valley. She has performed at The Comedy Store, Westside Comedy Theatre, Flappers Comedy Club and many other Hollywood hot spots. Josh Waldron will be hosting the evening.

#COMEDY tickets are only $7 for general admission presale and available for $10 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts Box Office or by calling (805) 381-1246 or www.hillcrestarts.com. Also on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook under the handle @HashtagcomedyLA.

The Ventura County Concert Band golden anniversary concert season concludes with Fab Flashbacks and Timeless Tunes, conducted by Ms. Julie Judd. The concert features a wide variety of entertaining and enriching music, fun for the whole family. Sunday, June 1st, 3:00 p.m., in the Ventura High School Auditorium located at 2 N. Catalina in Ventura. Free.