Llewellyn Kingman Sanchez Werner shown with VC Symphony Orchestra Director E. Burns Taft at the October 2007 Ventura College concert.

VENTURA: The Master Chorale of Ventura County celebrates the 200th anniversary of composer Joseph Haydn, recognizes music director Burns Taft’s 70th birthday, and welcomes child prodigy Llewellyn Kingman Sanchez Werner as a soloist in a spectacular homecoming to Ventura College on Saturday, May 2, at 8 pm.
Llewellyn earned a degree from Ventura College before he was eight years old and is now enrolled at the Julliard School of Music at Lincoln Center in New York. When he started at Julliard, he was the youngest degree student in the school. Now 12 years old, Llewellyn returns to play the Grieg Piano Concerto with the Master Chorale Orchestra under the baton of Burns Taft.
The Chorale celebrates Haydn by performing his last, great masterpiece, the “Harmony” Mass. Written in 1802 after he surged into international stardom during his spectacular London sojourns, the Mass was the last large piece he wrote. It is extremely expressive and includes many joyous, spectacular moments. CONTINUED »

VENTURA: Featuring the first great choral masterwork of Beethoven, the Ventura College Choirs and the Ventura College Symphony present their final spring concert on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 8 pm. With ticket prices low at $5 and $10 for general admission, the concert brings a variety of exciting music to the Ventura College Theatre. Tickets are available at the door the evening of the concert.
Beethoven wrote “Christ on the Mt. of Olives” when he was 33. It was his intention to commemorate the agony of Christ on the night before he was crucified. For this he employed three soloists, a full choir and a large orchestra. It is a very expressive work, with many big moments. The last chorus, a Hallelujah Chorus, is one of Beethoven’s most beloved pieces.
Elizabeth Helms, the director of VC Choirs, chose Laura Wargo to sing the role of the Seraph, a six-winged angel. Mitchell Burris is singing the part of Peter. The professional soloist Daniel Plaster of Los Angeles is singing the role of Jesus. It is one of the major, large dramatic presentations of the Christ story in choral music. Ms. Wargo, of Santa Paula, and Mr. Burris, of Ojai, are outstanding student members of the VC Choirs. CONTINUED »

VENTURA: Ventura College is pleased to announce its Annual Student Awards Exhibition to be held in both the New Media Gallery and Gallery 2 on the Ventura College Campus, from April 16 to May 7. The campus is located at 4667 Telegraph Road, in Ventura. The artists’ reception will be held on April 16 at 7:00 p.m. on the patio by the Gallery 2. More than $6,500 in awards and prizes will be distributed to the winners of the juried show at the reception.

Hours for the Spring Semester are Monday through Friday, noon - 4:00 p.m. Please call Kate Martin, Gallery Manager, at (805) 648-8974 for additional information.

Book by JOSEPH STEIN
Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
Based on the film "La Femme de Boulanger" by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono

Old world charm permeates every moment of this bittersweet, wise and gently offbeat fable of life, love and bread by Joseph Stein (“Fiddler On The Roof”) and Stephen Schwartz (“Godspell,” “Pippin,” “Children of Eden” and the films “Pocahontas,” “The Hunchback Of Notre Dame” and “The Prince Of Egypt”).

The bickering residents of a small Provencal town at last find peace and contentment in the heavenly bread of the newly arrived baker and his attractive young wife, but when she is lured away by the attentions of a handsome young gigolo, the middle-aged baker loses all zest for life and baking, throwing the community into chaos. CONTINUED »

May 1 and 2, 7pm
At Ventura's historic Dudley House
197 N. Ashwood, Ventura

Tickets: $25
Reservations/info: (805) 647-4622 or jkasmir@roadrunner.com

Description: All proceeds will benefit local nonprofit Straight Up Ventura County (http://www.straightupvc.org). Three popular magicians will create spellbinding illusions in three different rooms in the historic Dudley House, a Victorian home built in 1892, which is now a living history museum. All three magicians are well-known performers in California; Shawn McMaster recently appeared on an episode of Fox TV's "Masters of Illusion."

For more information, contact (805) 647-4622 or jkasmir@roadrunner.com.

Meet ArtWalk’s Featured Artist Dan Holmes at Museum of Ventura County during Ventura’s Spring ArtWalk weekend, April 25 and 26. Holmes will be signing the official ArtWalk posters featuring his work on Saturday, April 25, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. He will show and sell his photography from 1:00 - 7:00 p.m. that day, and on Sunday, April 26, from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Holmes’ photographs can also be seen in the museum’s current exhibition Discovery: The Photography of Dan Holmes, which will continue through May 31. It includes both color and black & white photography, including scenes from Africa and the American west. He describes his images as reflections of those “moments in time when light, form, and color fit.” CONTINUED »

One year ago, the Breast Center at Community Memorial Hospital joined with the Buenaventura Art Association to kick-off “A Celebration of Life.” Co-sponsored by Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation, local breast cancer survivors were partnered with eleven Buenaventura Art Association artists who were commissioned to create unique and personal artistic impressions associated with the cancer survivors’ experiences. One pairing consisted of survivor Tamilyn Taylor and artist Janet Black. They found common ground, first, over their love of cats and coffee, and later met to talk about Tamilyn’s experiences with breast cancer.

Black, who does portraiture in collage, took the lead from Taylor’s story and has created a portrait of Taylor with, of course, her cat. “The most fascinating thing about this partnering,” said Black, “is that Tamilyn kept a journal during her diagnosis and treatment, and I was able to use pieces of that journal in the collage itself, surrounding her with her own words and memories, in her own handwriting.” CONTINUED »

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Hear children’s book authors and illustrators read their own words, at Museum of Ventura County’s free Family Times, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 and Sunday, May 17. Book signings and art activities are also part of the free afternoon.

On Sunday, April 19, Ventura author Amada Irma Pérez will read her bilingual books in Spanish, including Mi propio cuartito( My Very Own Room). Also on that day, author and illustrator Mary Ann Fraser of Simi Valley will read her books for children, which include Where Are The Night Animals? Jody Fickes Shapiro of Ventura will entertain with her writings, which include Up, Up, Up! It’s Apple- Picking Time.

On Sunday, May 17, author Alexis O’Neill of Simi Valley will read The Recess Queen, along with her other books; and Thousand Oaks author and illustrator Carol Heyer will include Humphrey’s First Christmas in her readings. Jody Fickes Shapiro will return to read her books again for Family Times.

Families who attend can enjoy a cozy reading nook, part of the museum’s current exhibit, Picture This! The Magic of Children’s Books. The exhibition, running through July 5, features original illustrations and writing by the authors and illustrators visiting Family Times, as well as work by Caldecott winner Simms Taback of Ventura. The exhibit area includes a cozy nook for families to read together. Children can also don costumes replicating garments in some of the books, such as the patched coat in Simms Taback’s book, Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, or the colorful rebozo, or shawl, featured in the Amada Irma Pérez book Nana’s Big Surprise.

Museum of Ventura County is at 89 South California Street, Ventura. Open Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday -Thursday, Saturday & Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free admission, except for some events. (805) 653-0323 or go to http://www.venturamuseum.org.

“Between the Lines: Paintings, Prints and Poems,” a solo show by Ventura artist and writer Mary Kolada Scott, will run April 28 through May 23 at the Buenaventura Gallery in Ventura. The exhibit will feature paintings, collages, linocuts, etchings and poetry broadsides. A reception for the artist will be on Saturday, May 2 from 4 – 7 pm. A special preview of the exhibit will be at the Buenaventura Gallery during the City of Ventura’s Spring Artwalk on April 25 & 26. In addition, the artist will be present during Ventura’s First Friday Gallery Crawl on Friday, May 1.

Scott had wanted to be an artist since kindergarten and envisioned her framed paintings hung on the wall. In junior high school, the art classes were full, so a counselor enrolled her in creative writing instead. When the teacher got her first poem published, Scott pursued the language arts instead.

She continued to publish her poetry and majored in journalism and creative writing in college. Scott wrote a popular weekly column about poetry for four years in the Ventura County Star, and her poems have been published locally and nationally in literary magazines and books. A partial list includes the periodicals Calyx, Rhino, The Ledge, and Her Mark 2009 (published by Woman Made Gallery in Chicago, Ill.), and recent books “The Art of Bicycling” and “Proposing on the Brooklyn Bridge.” CONTINUED »

Where can you develop your talent and build self-confidence? Right here in your own backyard! Every Thursday, 4:30 to 6:00 PM at the Community/Sr. Center, through Parks & Recreation, students will learn dance, acting, voice and improvisation by Director, Sandie Allen. Ms. Allen has produced over 100 musicals. An 8-week workshop class is being offered, followed by a performance workshop, culminating in an exciting live stage performance at Fillmore’s Towne Theatre on Central. All this for only $40 a month (Price break for siblings) Parents are encouraged to join. What a wonderful way to create special memories for your whole family! DON’T MISS OUT! We hope to have our first production by this summer.
HURRY TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!! Sign up at City Hall – Rec. Dept.
For more information contact:Priscilla Rzezuski (805) 524-0553, Sandie Allen (805) 991-1488

Attention all Artists, those whom love to draw, color, oil paint, watercolor, color pencils, crayons, well you get the idea, anyway, it’s that time to enter your artwork into the Fillmore May Festival Poster Art Contest.
This year the winner will take home $50.00! Not to mention your work will be on the Poster. There are no age limits, we just ask that you do your artwork in color and on a 8x11 piece of paper.

This year’s theme is “Bringing Back Tradition”. This festival has been going on for 97 years now. It first started as a Farmers Market downtown and now has grown to be one of the largest Events in Ventura County. The May Festival offers that small town enjoyment for the entire family--not to mention our town is one of the last best smallest towns in Southern California.

The Deadline to turn in your work in is Friday April 17, 2009. Please take your work to the Fillmore Chamber Office located on Hwy 126 at 557 Ventura Street or call Cindy. The winner will be awarded after the parade in front of City Hall.

If you have any questions please feel free to call Cindy Jackson-Bires at 805-524-7706. Good luck and have fun!

Hosting a magical event for all ages, the Ventura County Ballet Company invites one and all to enjoy a spot of tea with Princess Cinderella from 2-4pm on Sunday April 26 at the historic Elks Lodge in Ventura.

Guests will be entertained with vignettes from the upcoming ballet company presentation of the Cinderella ballet. The menu will feature tea sandwiches, scones, small treats and special tea etiquette with Cinderella.

“We are very excited to present an intimate tea party with Cinderella,” said Kathleen Noblin, executive director of the Ventura Ballet Company. “It is every little girl’s dream to be a princess and this is an enchanting opportunity for families to enjoy together.”

Tickets are $30 per person; seating is limited. For tickets, purchase online at www.venturacountyballet.com, or call 648-2080.

Cinderella, the Ballet; June 6-7

With state-of the art theatrics and video effects and perfection in choreography, the Ventura County Ballet Company will present the timeless tale of Cinderella in a thoroughly modern way June 6 and 7 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. CONTINUED »

Jack Halbert’s original oil paintings and drawings will be at the Buenaventura Gallery from March 31 through April 26 with a special artist reception on Saturday, April 4, 2009. April 4 is the 55th year anniversary of Buenaventura Art Association and there will be a special celebration of that event as well. In addition, Halbert will be present during First Friday Gallery Crawl on Friday, April 3 and during the City of Ventura’s Spring Artwalk on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday April 26.
Halbert’s works utilize abstract design elements similar to early 20th century painters such as Severini and Cezanne. Futurist painters broke light and color into stripes and marks – the cubists developed this further into expressing energy into every stroke of color.
Halbert’s energetic style is a natural result of his energetic personality. Halbert attended art school as a young man in Detroit and later became President of his family’s large sign company and real estate development company. A wish for a change of scenery brought him to California where he stumbled into the world of film and RV and became an actor. He later became entranced with Ventura and moved here devoting himself to his art. He is currently President of Buenaventura Art Association.
He is an accomplished painter and graphic designer and has won many painting competitions. His works are in numerous public and private collections throughout the United States. This is Halbert’s first solo exhibit in Ventura.
The 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. Buenaventura Art Association is celebrating 55 years of great art!

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VENTURA: Ventura College is pleased to announce that the Art and Photography Departments will host the 2009 Art Auction to raise funds for scholarships for arts students on Friday, March 27, in the Ventura College Library and Learning Resource Center Breezeway and Tutoring Center (1st floor). The Auction viewing and silent auction begin at 5:00 p.m., and the live auction begins at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments, with wine included, will be provided. Attendees will receive free ceramic vessels created by the Ventura College ceramics students. Music will be provided by a Ventura College student jazz quintet.

The Live Auction will present fine original paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics, prints, including works by Rufino Tamayo and Salvador Dali, regional artists and sculptors, gift baskets, restaurant gift certificates and much more! Other fun auction items include:
o Eight for Eight: A faculty-hosted dinner with the Art Department's own chair Bob Moskowitz (department chair) and seven other art faculty who will cook dinner for four lucky couples. The evening includes fine dining and lots of fun! Host your own dinner party without all the work!
o Giddy at the Getty with Ventura College's own art historian Ann Bittl! The winner and three friends of this auction item will be whisked away to the Getty Center for a full day of art and conversation. Package includes lunch at the Getty.
o Handwriting Analysis Party with you and five of your friends – Letters to Wilma
o Jewelry Making Party with Art Faculty Cathy Day and Julie Dahl-Nicolle for five people
o Commissioned Portrait by Artist Julie Dahl-Nicolle
o Photography sitting (for family or boudoir) by Laura Turner Photography

For more information, please contact Ann Bittl at 654-6400 x3205.

Sespe Players, Fillmore’s Community Theater Group, Inc., will present “The Pole Creek Radio Hour” on April 24, 25, 26 May 1, 2, 3; (Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. in the School District Building, 627 Sespe Avenue, Fillmore.

Radio Hour is a comedy/variety show, with a behind-the-scenes look into the live of the actors. Skits and musical acts and commercials for local businesses highlight the annual production. Tickets are adult $15, senior $10, student $10.

If you are interested in advertising your business in connection with the program, here are is what is offered: $50 Sung or spoken commercial with mention in the program; $100 Combination on stage and 1/3 page in print; $50 1/3 Page Business card size in the program; $75 ½ Page in the program with mention on stage; $100 full page with mention on stage; $25 listed in the program.

Sespe Players, Inc. is a 501 c3 non-profit corporation. #74-3127532. Any questions? Contact Janet Foy 217-2402.

Dr. Fritz
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VENTURA: The Ventura College Theatre Department will present four one-act plays directed, produced and acted by student thespians at the Ventura College Theatre on the weekends of March 26 (preview show), 27, and 28, and April 2, 3, 4, and 5. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances will be at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday matinee at 3:00 p.m. Admission to the final dress rehearsal to be held Thursday, March 26 at 8:00 p.m. is free and open to the public. In addition to the free preview performance, the performance on Thursday, April 2 at 8pm is also free to the public. Tickets are $7.00 general admission and $5.00 for students, staff, and seniors. Tickets are available at the door one half hour prior to each performance.

The four one-act plays are:

• Always by Jon Jory, directed by Chris Hull, a story of the joy and excitement that a budding relationship entails and the seemingly inevitable effects of time;

• Ten Thousand Cigarettes by Alex Broun, directed by Hillary Asbury, an exploration of the addiction, fantasies, and consequences of smoking;

• Check, please by Jonathan Rand, directed by TJ Mora, a series of dinner dates that couldn’t get any worse; and

• Dr. Fritz; or the Forces of Light by David Ives, directed by Kevin Bass, a tourist’s adventurous journey to find the mysterious Dr. Fritz, who supposedly can cure anything.

For additional information, call Professor Jay Varela at the Ventura College Theatre department at 805.654.6400 ext. 3194 or by email at jvarela@vcccd.edu. The general information number for the VC Theatre is 805.654.6392.

Winner Aaron Dadacy in front of his winning piece “Slaughter House”

Aaron Dadacy (Oxnard College) won 1st Place and a $1,500 scholarship in Buenaventura Art Associations 3rd Annual Emerging Artist Collegiate Competition. 2nd Place and a $900.00 scholarship went to Anna Rivera of Ventura College. Kenji Webb (Oxnard College) won 3rd Place and a $600 scholarship. Honorable Mentions and a $500 scholarship went to Troy Aiken (Moorpark College); Olguin Tapia (Oxnard College); Ryann Carroll (California Lutheran University); Brock Potter (Brooks Institute) and Zachary Doiel (CSUCI). All winners also won a membership to Buenaventura Art Association with free jurying fees and no required volunteer time (worth approximately $500.00). In addition, Agnet “Chippy” Scharling Todd (CSUCI) Margaret Donahue and Katy Coene (Ventura College), Courtney Ellis (CSUCI) and Susan Guzowski (Moorpark College) all won a membership to Buenaventura Art Association.

The winners’ pieces as well as all entrants will be on exhibit at Harbor Village Gallery through March 23, 2009.
The funds and the awards for the exhibit are generated from Buenaventura Art Association’s “Who Got Framed?!” fundraising event sponsored by the Ventura County Wine Trail, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Lauren Lee Henry Realtor, Spinnaker Seafood Broiler, Island Packers, Focus on the Masters and Embassy Suites at Mandalay Bay as well as the 50 artists that donated works for the event. In addition, funds were donated by the Jessica and Stanley Prescott Trust and the Shirley Ransom fund.

The Harbor Village Gallery is located at 1591 Spinnaker Dr , Suite 117C, (before the big lawn) Ventura, California, Phone: (805) 644 – 2750. Hours: noon – 6 pm. Closed Tuesday.

ArtWalk is one of the best ways to check out Ventura’s bustling and diverse arts community. The free, self-guided weekend walking tour showcases 200 established and emerging artists and performers at over 80 galleries, events and eclectic gallery-for-a day venues in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District, Midtown and Avenue, just steps from the beach and pier. Multicultural performances, a variety of children’s activities and a free shuttle bus connect venue restaurants, salons, antique shops, boutiques and cafes.

ArtWalk Featured Artist Dan Holmes travels through Africa, the Western United States and the world to photograph nature, wildlife and landscapes. The Museum of Ventura County will exhibit his work including “Remnant,” a study in ocean, light and history.

View works of art inside a work of work of art. Ancient Aromatics—a restored 1925 Mission style art studio and residence at 50 North Oak Street with ornate tilework and carved arches—hosts “Raw Earth,” metal and ceramic sculptures by Ventura College and California State University Channel Islands students and instructors. CONTINUED »

Sergio Aragonés

Franklin's Drawing
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“Imperial Summer Gardens and Palaces” in Beijing.
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Stuart’s Manchu Chinese Figure.
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Mark your calendars as the Ojai Valley Museum has an outstanding series of Sunday Gatherings featuring nationally-known Ojai artists, scheduled for the month of March.

Sunday, March 15th brings celebrated cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, best known for his contributions to “Mad” magazine and award winning comic book creations. He will talk about his life as a cartoonist and demonstrate cartooning.

On Sunday, March 22nd, raconteur and sculptor George Stuart, creator of his Historical Figures®, will describe the architecture and turbulent history of the “Imperial Summer Gardens and Palaces” in Beijing. Several of Stuart’s Manchu Chinese Figures will be exhibited during his multimedia presentation.

In the series finale on March 29th, Richard Franklin, figurative artist, ceramist, instructor and architect, will conduct a figure drawing class working from a live model. Franklin has a life-long love of drawing, as well as making three-dimensional works in ceramics and sculpture.

The “Sunday Gatherings” will be held at the Ojai Valley Museum, 130 West Ojai Avenue, Ojai from 2 to 4 p.m. Students are free; adult cost is $6 per person per event. Seating is limited so reservations are required. To reserve, call 649-1390.

Laudine Borges exhibition of original oil paintings will be at the Discovery Gallery from Thursday April 2 to April 29, 2009. There is an opening reception on Friday, April 3 from 5 – 8 pm. for First Friday’s Ventura Gallery Crawl. Borges will also be part of the City of Ventura’s Spring Artwalk on April 25 and 26. Meet the Artist on Saturday, April 25 from 2 - 4pm and 6 - 8pm and Sunday, April 26 from 12-2pm.

Profound connections with nature’s power and beauty are beating in the hearts of Borges canvases. Art as Adventure and Healer has been brought to the viewer from a wilder place. Transported from the magnificent and ever awe inspiring outdoors, the images Borges chooses to paint have a tangible spirituality. Experiencing one of her views or visions is a lesson or an invitation to learn a little about these powerfully inspirational places. When we are among our daily grind of highways and coffee breaks, Borges teaches us to keep these grand and sacred places close by or to stay connected. CONTINUED »