THOUSAND OAKS, CA. – The public is invited to celebrate Dia de los Muertos on Thursday, Oct. 28, at California Lutheran University.

A traditional Day of the Dead altar will be built starting at 10 a.m. in the Student Union Building (SUB) as part of the Latin celebration of All Saints Day. Everyone is welcome to visit throughout the day and place items on the altar in honor of their deceased loved ones. Samples of traditional pan de muerto (bread), and pictures and information about the holiday’s history will also be available.

The Latin American Student Organization will present a program featuring entertainment, face painting and light refreshments from 7 to 9 p.m. in the SUB.

CLU’s Office of Multicultural Programs and International Student Services is sponsoring the free events.

The SUB is located north of Memorial Parkway on the Thousand Oaks campus. Parking is available in the parking lot at the corner of Mountclef Boulevard and Olsen Road.

For more information, call Linda Boberg at (805) 493-3323.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - An Arizona curator will discuss a Swedish artist known for his paintings of the Grand Canyon at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

Alan Petersen, chair of the fine arts department at Northern Arizona University, will present “Painter of the Grand Canyon: Gunnar Widforss” in the Roth Nelson Room. A painter himself, Petersen is also Fine Arts Curator at the university.

Widforss was born in Stockholm and spent 13 years during the Roaring ’20s and the Great Depression documenting the beauty of the American West. Unlike many other Western painters, he never resorted to sentimental or romanticized depictions. He died suddenly at age 55 in the Grand Canyon, where he had lived for many years.

A post-lecture reception will be held at the Scandinavian Center, where works by Widforss and Petersen will be on display.

The Scandinavian American Cultural & Historical Foundation, the CLU Art Department and the Swedish Club of Los Angeles are sponsoring the free event.

The Roth Nelson Room is located on Mountclef Boulevard between Olsen Road and Memorial Parkway. The Scandinavian Center is located nearby at 26 Faculty St.

For more information, contact Anita Londgren at (805) 241-1051.

MOORPARK, CA. – “Rent,” the award-winning Broadway rock opera, will lead off the Moorpark College 2010-11 Theatre season. Opening night is Friday, October 15, 2010, with weekend performances running through October 30.

This beloved rock opera, with score and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, is based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera, La Boheme. It tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of AIDS. The unforgettable and timeless story of these starving artists, who learn to love and find their voices in the shadow of poverty and illness, rings out a universal message of hope for everyone.

On Broadway the musical won every major award, including the Tony and the Pulitzer Prize. Over the course of its unprecedented 12-year Broadway run, “Rent” transformed the definition of musical theater – and changed Broadway forever. The exuberant rock score is one of the most beloved in Broadway history, showcasing numbers such as "Light My Candle," "You'll See," "La Vie Boheme," "Goodbye Love," and the show's signature "Seasons of Love."

"We have assembled an amazing cast of actors for the production," said Director Rolland Petrello. Jonathan Bluth plays the role of Mark Cohen. Jeremiah Shoop plays Mark Cohen best friend, Roger Davis. Joelle Georgeff plays Mimi Marquez, Roger's love interest.

Danielle Judovits plays CONTINUED »

Thousands of stamps will be available for young -- and young at heart -- collectors at the 20th annual Youth Stamp Fair sponsored by the Ventura County Philatelic Society and the Anacapa Middle School Stamp Club on Saturday, Oct. 16.

The free event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Dudley House at Loma Vista Road and Ahswood Avenue in Ventura.

In addition to boxes of stamps to search through, the event features a cachet (pictorial envelope) contest, stamp-related games, and stations to learn how (and why) to get stamps off paper, how to store stamps, how to determine watermarks and perforations, topical collecting (collecting stamps by subject matter rather than countries), collecting covers (the stamp collector's term for envelopes, especially those that have gone through the mail) and other subjects. Visitors can also make stamp bookmarks.

Those who enter the cachet contest will have their entries mailed back to them with a special pictorial cancel. Others who would like the cancel can bring self-addressed, stamped envelopes to the event or send a request to the Ventura County Philatelic Society at P.O. Box 7042, Ventura 93006.

Everyone who attends will receive a bag of stamp-collecting items, including information, a small stamp album, stamps and other items. Many door prizes will be given away.

"Stamp collecting is fun, relaxing and educational," said chairman John Weigle of Oxnard, a member of the Ventura County Philatelic Society and the adviser for the Anacapa Middle School Stamp Club. "It can be as inexpensive or expensive as you wish," he added.

Stamp collecting is known as the king of hobbies and hobby of kings because of the number of kings, queens and other high-profile people who have collected over the years.

Although the event is called the Youth Stamp Fair, it's open to anyone of any age who wants to learn more about stamp collecting, Weigle said.

For more information or to have questions answered, contact Weigle by e-mail at jweigle@vcnet.com.

by Deb Haugen
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Camarillo, CA. – The Art Program at California State University Channel Islands (CI) has announced an upcoming exhibition featuring artists Deb Haugen and Evani Lupinek. The public is invited to an opening reception to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14. The exhibition will continue through Nov. 12.

Nature has always been a great source of intrigue for Deb Haugen. Her art reveals the ever changing organic complexities that surround us and the relationship between time and layering, and the correlations of complexities. Her art can be serene and reflective, and at other times raw, harsh and primordial. Organic layering’s, whether it’s strata on the side of a mountain or decayed grasses, provide the viewer a look into systems that are primitive, yet very tangible, and speak to us of our own existing mortality and vulnerability.

Deb Haugen attended both Pasadena Art Center and Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. She traveled extensively studying art first hand in Europe. Her work has been exhibited extensively in California and throughout the US and Europe. She maintains her residence and studio in Malibu, CA.

On a thematic level, Evani Lupinek’s works depict the eternal nature of the environment with the ever-present horizon representing an emotional response to the dualities of our human condition. Each painting points to a place that exists between concrete form and abstraction, a place where spatial relationships serve as a gateway to an abstract world beyond form. The passing of time reveals itself in the subtle shifts of color and various atmospheric conditions, leaving them paradoxically both inviting and brooding. Color is drawn from hues observed and imagined, applied in multiple oil paint glazes to capture mood, stillness and tranquility.

Evani Lupinek, a native of The Netherlands, moved to Australia when young and there received her early art education. After extensive travel she moved to the USA and furthered her art studies at the Art Students League in New York. Her work is exhibited and represented in collections nationally and internationally. She resides in Paso Robles, California.

The art gallery is located at 92 Palm Drive in “old town” Camarillo and is open Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information, contact the CI Art Program at 805-437-8570, email art@csuci.edu or visit http://art.csuci.edu/gallery.

CSU Channel Islands is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

CI Mission Statement
Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.

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In the Day of the Dead tradition, artists and community groups honor the departed in Altars & Art, on exhibition at the Museum of Ventura County from October 26 through November 5.

Visitors can participate by putting the names of their loved ones on paper butterflies hung in the museum courtyard. Among the artwork and altars on gallery exhibit will be a traditional Aztec ofrenda; fantastical beings made of cut paper by a twelve year old artist; a paper, plastic and cloth altar featuring 11-foot tall stitched cascades; an altar to honor soldiers who died in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars; seed mosaics of pre-Columbian design by fifth grade students from Sheridan Way Elementary, and a mixed media altar by students at the De Anza Academy of Technology & the Arts; a commemoration of the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution featuring a death mask of Poncho Villa made at the time of his death; altars to honor specific members of the community, including one created by children in The Good Grief Club of Camarillo Hospice. Participating artists include Margaret Garcia, Pete Ippel, Angel Matadamas, Rafael Matias, Amadeo Perez, Chuy Rangel, and Art Rivas, Jr.

Altars & Art will be on view during the museum’s October 29 adult fundraiser Long Live the Night, as well as during the museum’s free annual Day of the Dead Community Celebration for all ages, on Saturday, October 30, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The festival of Día de los Muertos honors the dead who are said to come back to walk among the living on November 1 and 2. Celebrated in many parts of Mexico and Latin America, Día de los Muertos is now popular in the United States among Latinos and non-Latinos alike.

For more information go to www.venturamuseum.org or 805) 653-0323.

Detailed Information and Contacts for
Museum of Ventura County’s 10th Annual Day of the Dead
Altar & Art Installation
On display October 26- November 5, 2010

Descriptions of Altars

Altar in Honor of Mary Cox
Altar Makers: The daughters and family of Mary Cox
Mary Cox was a long time Ventura resident and was an active volunteer at the Museum of Ventura County and with Friends of the Library. Mary always volunteered to work at the Museum’s Day of the Dead event teaching people how to make paper flowers. She also worked with students at Sheridan Way School to help them create art to be used on their school altar installation.

Mary died December 20, 2009 as the result of being hit by a car while taking her morning walk in her east Ventura neighborhood.

Contact Person: Julie Compton (805) 389-9266

Altar in Honor of Mel Arnold
Altar Maker: Maude Etchart
Mary Ellen “Mel” Arnold was a long time Ventura resident and an active volunteer at the Museum of County. Mel had a personal interest in the observance of the Day of the Dead and had traveled to Mexico several times to see the traditional observance of the Days of the Dead. Mel had worked at every one of the Day of the Dead events at the Museum.

Mel’s altar will be created by her long time friend Maude Etchart.

Mosaic Art: Altar Installation
Altar Makers: Fifth Grade Students from Sheridan Way Elementary School in Ventura
Local artist Luis Perez is working with two fifth grade classes from Sheridan Way Elementary School in Ventura to create seed mosaics that will be included on an altar representing the school. Mr. Perez is teaching the students about pre-Columbian designs from Mexico. Each student will create a small seed mosaic using a pre-Columbian design. They are using seeds because they represent the eternal cycle of life and death that is part of the symbolism of the Day of the Dead especially in ancient Mexico.

Luis Perez is a professional artist and musician and Director of the Vita Art Center in Ventura. Mr. Perez was born in Mexico City and has dedicated his life to the study of Pre-Columbian music and the living musical traditions of the ethnic groups of Mexico.

Contact Person: Luis Perez, Artist Instructor (805) 644-9214

Tanya Zimmer & Craig Michels, 5th Grade teachers at Sheridan Way School
(805) 641-5491

Altar by the students at the De Anza Academy of Technology & the Arts
Altar Makers: Middle school students from DeAnza
Art teacher, Anne Campbell, is working with a group of students at her school to create art pieces based on the art traditions from Mexico that surround the Day of the Dead. Students will be working in a variety of media including painting, printing, and sculptural figures. All the art will be displayed on an altar representing the school.

Contact Person: Anne Campbell, (805) 641-5165 ext. 2022

Art and Poetry to Help Remember
Altar Makers: The children of the Good Grief Club of Camarillo Hospice

All the children in the Good Grief Club have suffered the loss of a loved one. For many of them it was the loss of a parent. As part of their work in the club they will be creating watercolors and poetry to honor the loss of their loved one. The Good Grief Club is under the direction of Kathy-Leary-Wilde.

Contact Person: Kathy Leary-Wilde (805) 218-9798

Altar to Honor Sal Godoy

This altar is created by the Godoy family in memory of Sal Godoy, the former Oxnard School District Director of Facilities who passed away in September of 2008.

Sal was born and raised in Oxnard and attended Ventura College before transferring to USC where he graduated and received his degree in architecture. He married his college sweetheart Linda, and moved to the Bay area while he completed graduate school at Berkeley.
For Sal it was all about the kids: from coaching Little League, to designing and building a community gym and new elementary schools in El Rio, to spending time with his grandchildren. Sal was a friend to all.

A Circle of Friends Community Altar
Altar Maker: Alice Braun
Museum volunteer, Alice Braun, will erect communal altar.

“In our darkest moments, a circle of friends gather to surround us in love and light. All are welcomed to participate in remembering a loved one by bringing copies of photos to be placed on the community altar.”

Contact Person: Alice Braun, (805) 649-8646

Traditional Aztec Altar
Altar Maker: Señor Capitán General Pedro España Figueroa
Note: Due to the use of fresh flowers, fruit, food, and water, this altar will only be on display October 30 & 31st

Mr. Figueroa is from the Mesa Quinto Sol in Morelos, Mexico. He will be constructing a traditional altar based on t Aztec traditions. The altar will include traditional elements: cempasuchitl, marigold flowers with a strong scent to guide the souls, copal, a tree based resin, fresh fruit, food and water in clay vessels to feed the souls who are hungry after their journey from the beyond. The altar will be created using layers that represent the stages of the journey of the soul from earth to the afterlife.

Contact Person: Elena Rios (805) 646-2026

Altar in Honor of Soldiers from California who have been killed in
the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Altar Maker: Anonymous
Each of the past 9 years there has been an altar honoring soldiers who have been killed in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year’s altar will include a slideshow of images of the fallen soldiers with quotes from friends and loved ones who remember them. .

Contact Person: Wendy VanHorn, Director of Education (805) 653-0323 ext. 300

Altar Commemorating the Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution
Altar Makers: Joyce Soto and Javier Gomez, founder of Inklakech Cultural Center in Oxnard

This altar will commemorate the struggle and the lives lost during the Mexican Revolution. The altar will include a death mask of Pancho Villa made at the time his death.

Artists
Work from the following artists will be exhibited alongside the altar installations.

MARGARET GARCIA
Acrylic Paintings
Margaret Garcia studied at California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles City College, and the University of Southern California where she received an M.F.A. In her paintings and mural projects, she attempts to define herself in relation to her community and vice-versa. For Garcia, being part of a community is part of being human. Her oil paintings with their saturated, expressive colors are rooted in the tradition of Mexican folk art. Margaret’s works are in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Laguna Art Museum and the Cheech Marin Chicano Collection.

PETE IPPEL Pete Ippel, known for his conceptual installation pieces, will be creating a specialized artwork for the annual community observance of the Day of the Dead. In Ippel's Dia de los Muertos altar he will be exploring the properties of a variety of materials including paper, plastic, and cloth. The 11 foot tall stitched work will move with air currents when the cascading waterfall of bones and spirits rustles as viewers walk through the gallery. The piece's monumental scale contrasts with its near-weightless materials. By integrating reused plastic bags and scrap paper into the installation, Pete Ippel gives items headed to the landfill an afterlife.
Pete Ippel is an artist and record setting high jumper who employs an iterative process honed by experience in research, athletics, and art to present complex ideas in compelling ways. Ippel's art is in numerous private collections and has been exhibited in New York, California, and internationally.
http://peteippel.com, http://hypermodern.net or email pete@hypermodern.net for additional information.

ANGEL MATADAMAS
Paintings

RAFAEL MATIAS
Mosaic Paintings
Rafael Matias uses glass beads, Venetian glass tiles, and Mexican tile to create brushstroke – like delicacy in his mosaic paintings. Each piece starts with a rough painting on a wooden board. In a labor intensive process he glues on beads and glass pieces one by one to create his intricate designs.

His imagery, like himself, is multi-cultural. Matias combines designs and techniques from his own Native American, Tarascan Indian, Spanish, and French heritage with imagery from South Africa, where he lived for five years.

AMADEO PEREZ
Cut Paper Designs
Twelve-year old Amadeo Perez has been creating art since he was old enough to pick up a pencil. He has always created art from whatever he could find, even hauling trash home to convert into sculptures. For the past several years Amadeo has been focusing on cut paper art creating fantastic beings by intricately cutting out designs that come purely from his imagination.

CHUY RANGEL
Artist Chuy Rangel began art lessons at the age of ten and his first job as a professional artist was as a sign painter at the age of twelve. Strong visual communication was instilled in him at an early age. This talent is seen not only in his work as a printmaker and photographer but also in his award-winning graphic design. He also notes his work as an
activist, serving as a volunteer for the United Farm Workers Union and currently working at the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center of the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department.

ART RIVAS, JR.
Latino and hot rod culture mixed with airbrush, acrylics, metal and pin striping characterize the work of Oxnard artist Arturo Rivas. In 2003 Arturo began exhibiting his work in galleries, art museums and magazines. That same year he donated a mural to the children of the Inklakech Cultural Arts Center in Oxnard. In 2005 he painted a mural for the HBO production, Walkout, directed by Edward James Olmos. In addition to his Dia de los Muertos and Chicano artwork, Arturo derives inspiration from the hot rod, rockabilly culture. His latest creation is a custom made metal stroller decorated with pin striping for his daughter.

Performances by more than 20 actors and dancers from the world famous Hemet Ramona Outdoor Play will highlight the third annual “Ramona Days” – November 6, 10AM-4PM at Rancho Camulos Museum National Historic Landmark, Piru, CA.

Helen Hunt Jackson’s 1884 classic California novel, Ramona, will come to life at the “Home of Ramona” as we celebrate all things Ramona. In addition to seeing vignettes from the play (11:00, 1:00, and 3:00), visitors can watch the 1910 Mary Pickford movie filmed on location at Camulos, view unique memorabilia and historic displays, experience living history and attend presentations by Ramona experts such as “Ramona Memories “ author Dydia DeLyser, Ramona pageant historian Phil Brigandi, and film maker Hugh Munro Neely. There will also be food, music, dance, art and craft sales and demonstrations, museum and garden tours, free children’s activities and more.

Visitors are encouraged to come in costume and character for a true immersion experience. View last year’s event filmed for Roger Martin’s Out and About series at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UmGbXwCMao .

In order to encourage wide community participation, admission fees are reasonable with advance tickets for $5, and gate admission $8. Children aged 12 and under will be free. Advance tickets are now available in person at our gift shop and the Camulos fruit stand, via email, phone, mail, and at will call. Additional details will be posted at www.ranchocamulos.org / 805-521-1501 as available. Vendor, volunteer, and sponsorship opportunities are also available for this unique event. All proceeds benefit the historical preservation, restoration, and educational efforts of this 501(c) 3 museum. Rancho Camulos is located on HWY 126, 2 miles East of Piru / 10 miles West of the I-5 Newhall Ranch Road exit.

“Ramona Days” – November 6, 10-4: Rancho Camulos Museum National Historic Landmark, Piru, California - Helen Hunt Jackson’s 1884 classic California novel, Ramona, comes to life at the “Home of Ramona”. Celebrate all things Ramona. Experience more than 20 members of the world famous Hemet Ramona pageant cast perform vignettes, watch the 1910 Mary Pickford movie filmed on location, view unique memorabilia , historic displays and presentations, and watch living history. Enjoy food, music, dance, art and craft sales and demonstrations, museum and garden tours, free children’s activities and more. Come in costume and character if you choose. Advance Tickets: $5 / at Gate: $8; Age 12 and under free. Details at www.ranchocamulos.org / 805-521-1501
“Ramona Days” – November 6, 10-4: Rancho Camulos Museum, Piru. Helen Hunt Jackson’s novel comes to life at the “Home of Ramona”. Celebrate all things Ramona: Hemet play, 1910 Pickford movie, memorabilia, living history, presentations, music, dance, vendors, children’s activities, etc. Advance Tickets: $5 / Gate: $8/ age 12 and under free. Visit www.ranchocamulos.org / 805-521-1501

Advance Tickets - $5, At Gate - $8, Children 12 and under Free
Museum Wed-Sat- Sun, 10-4
Fruit Stand 9:00 - Dusk Daily
Phone - 805-521-1501 / Email – info@ranchocamulos.org / Mail Check - Will Call

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The Ojai Valley Museum has selected its final exhibition of the year, entitled “Ojai Celebrates Art III,” which runs October 7 through December 31, 2010. An in-house museum committee of art professionals reviewed over 100 artworks submitted by 64 regional artists. The OVM committee ultimately chose 57 artists for the exhibition.

For the third consecutive year, artists working in Ventura County were invited to participate in “Ojai Celebrates Art.” This year’s theme is open, with winning artwork to receive cash awards. Media in two and three dimensions were submitted. The selected artworks include glass, paint, ceramics, photography, wood, and metal. Miniatures to over-sized pieces are included at all price ranges. This is a varied art experience not to be missed!

Specially invited judges Tim Schiffer, Director/Ventura County Museum and Ojai’s Khaled Al-Awar, Owner/Primavera Gallery, will select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners from among the 57 exhibited artists: one prize per artist for one stellar work. The criteria for bestowing the cash awards are stringent and based on quality and excellence of art execution.

Instead of an opening reception for the exhibit, an awards and presentation ceremony is organized for Ojai Day, October 16th from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Ojai Valley Museum. Admission to the museum will be free to the public on October 16th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Everyone is welcome to see the exhibit as well as attend the award ceremony.

For additional information please contact the museum at (805) 640-1390.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - In keeping with tradition, the California Lutheran University choral ensembles will present an eclectic program of exciting and innovative music at the Homecoming Choral Concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, in Samuelson Chapel.

The Women’s Chorale will open the concert by singing Rachmaninoff’s beautiful and melodic “Six Choruses, Op. 15” in the original Russian. The CLU Choir will take the stage singing New York composer William Hawley’s “Two Motets” scored for four separate choirs performing in surround sound. The choir and soloists will then sing “Missa Brevis,” which Haydn wrote when he was 18. They will also perform Robert Schumann’s “Zigeunerleben” (“Gypsy Life”) in honor of the 200th anniversary of his birth. Rounding out the program will be lighter fare including “MLK” by U2 and “A Thousand Beautiful Things” by Annie Lennox.

Wyant Morton, chair of the CLU music department, will conduct.

Samuelson Chapel is located near the corner of Olsen Road and Campus Drive in Thousand Oaks. Additional parking is available in the lots at the corner of Olsen and Mountclef Boulevard.

Donations will be accepted. For more information, call the Music Department at (805) 493-3306 or visit http://www.callutheran.edu/music

Learn about the man who was arguably California’s first printer, and the twists of fate that led him to San Buenaventura, when Museum of Ventura County Research Librarian Charles Johnson explores the legendary life of Jose de la Rosa, a musician and one of the first printers in early California. The lecture is on Sunday, October 24 at 3:00 p.m. in the Museum of Ventura County’s Pavilion.

Johnson discusses the political turmoil of the time, and the connections between de la Rosa, a resident of Ventura from 1880 until his death in 1891, and a long printing tradition in his hometown of Puebla, Mexico. Two small religious books in the Research Library Collection may link de la Rosa to family publications in Mexico. Both of the devotional books are now on exhibition in the museum’s History Unexpected: Surprises, Insights and Revelations from the MVC Research Library Collection, on exhibition through November 28.

Johnson heads the Museum of Ventura County Research Library, and has been with the library for the past 20 years. He is a frequent speaker on Ventura County history.

Admission is $5 for general public and free for museum members, and includes entry to all museum galleries. For reservations, please call (805) 653-0323 x 315. The museum is located at 100 East Main Street in Ventura.

Story by Museum Research Library Head Charles Johnson

October 25 is the deadline to postmark applications to the Museum of Ventura County’s 2010 Bonita C. McFarland Scholarship program. Scholarships are open to continuing college students of the visual arts who are also Ventura County residents. Applicants need not be full time students, but must be actively pursuing art education.

A total of $5,000 will be distributed in varying amounts, depending upon need and the number of students chosen. Applications must be received by mail only, by the postmark deadline of October 25. Further information and an application can be downloaded from the home page at www.venturamuseum.org. Applications are also available at the Museum of Ventura County’s lobby desk, 100 E. Main Street, Ventura, on Tuesday – Sunday 11a.m. -5 p.m. An awards ceremony announcing recipients will be held on November 17 at the museum.

Bonita C. McFarland was a generous benefactor to the arts in this county, and funds for this scholarship are generated from her endowment – held and administered by the Museum of Ventura County.

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Meet metal sculptor and photographer David Rivas during Ventura’s Harvest ArtWalk on Saturday, October 16 from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m., and on Sunday, October 17 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. Rivas is the museum’s ArtWalk artist, and his titanium sculpture exhibition Transformed is running October 6 through November 28. ArtWalk visitors to the museum will find Rivas and his sculptures and photographs inside the Courtyard and Sculpture Gallery.

Also on ArtWalk Saturday, October 16 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Museum Store artists will be showing their techniques in the front Plaza. Tasia Erickson will demonstrate in pastels and jewelry; Maribel Hernandez in glass and mosaic; Christa Huwe in textiles, Susan Seaberry in painting and drawing; and Elizabeth Serna in jewelry making.

The Museum is free during ArtWalk hours only, and is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Ventura. Go to www.venturamuseum.org for more information or call (805) 653-0323.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. California Lutheran University will celebrate its founding with a concert of contrasting works at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, in Samuelson Chapel.

The theme of the 2010 Founders Day Concert is “Baroque, Romantic and Contemporary.” The University Symphony will perform works in three contrasting styles, beginning with sections from the baroque masterpiece “Water Music,” which Handel composed for King George I to be played by musicians floating down the River Thames on a barge. The symphony will also perform “Old and Lost Rivers,” written in 1986 by Tobias Picker, one of the nation’s most prominent contemporary composers. The concert will conclude with “Sigurd Jorsalfar Suite,” which was originally composed by Edvard Grieg in the late 19th century as incidental music for a play based on the life of King Sigurd of Norway.

In addition, the CLU Honors Ensemble featuring Clark Crane of Lancaster on clarinet, Brad Boelman of Ladera Ranch and Holly Sutton of Ridgecrest on violins, Rebecca Cardone of Katy, Texas, on viola, and David Mason of Ventura on cello will perform a movement from Brahms’ “Quintet for Clarinet and Strings.”

Daniel Geeting, director of instrumental music at CLU and conductor of the California Chamber Artists, will conduct.

Donations will be accepted.

The chapel is located near the corner of Olsen Road and Campus Drive in Thousand Oaks. Additional parking is available in the lots at the corner of Olsen and Mountclef Boulevard.

For more information, call the Music Department at (805) 493-3306 or visit http://www.callutheran.edu/music.

California State Old Time Fiddlers District 8 invites the public to their annual barn dance Saturday, Oct 9 from 6 - 9 pm at the Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley Road, Oak View. The $5.00 admission includes sandwich/soup/chili/salad/dessert/coffee or punch. Come, enjoy the evening then return the next day for our regular jam session from 1:30 to 4:30. Information 640-3689 or 517-1131.

October 6 – November 28
Transformed: Titanium Sculpture by David Rivas
Taking pieces of titanium headed for the scrap pile, sculptor David Rivas transforms them from the tailings of spacecraft manufacture, into art in metal. His sometimes whimsical, always enticing sculpture creates a feeling of free, kinetic motion.

October 26 - November 5
Altars & Art
Day of the Dead altars created by artists and community groups to honor the departed. The 16 altars (ofrendas) include work by students at Sheridan Way Elementary & De Anza Middle School, and artists Pete Ippel, Amadeo Perez, Rafael Matias, Chuy Rangel, Margaret Garcia and Art Rivas, Jr.

Join former Ramona Pageant archivist, historian and author Phil Brigandi to learn about realities, misconceptions, and marketing techniques connecting the beloved Ramona story to Rancho Camulos, when Brigandi presents Charles Lummis and Rancho Camulos on Tuesday, October 12 at 1:30 p.m. at the Museum of Ventura County’s Pavilion. Admission is $5 for the general public and free for museum members. Attendance includes admission to all galleries. To RSVP, please call 805-653-0323 x 315.

Brigandi, who has written three books about the Ramona Pageant and lectured extensively about the 1884 book and story, will discuss the Ramona myth and California booster Charles Lummis, who was among those effectively promoting Ventura County’s Rancho Camulos as “The Home of Ramona.”

Author Helen Hunt Jackson hoped her popular novel Ramona would inspire a public outcry for government reform in the treatment of American Indians. However, her intended message took a back seat to readers’ fascination with the book’s romantic depiction of 1850s California. After the book’s publication, railroad competition touched off Southern California’s largest real estate boom, and an accompanying influx of tourists came looking for the locations depicted in the book. Ventura County’s Rancho Camulos was one among many claiming to have inspired the rancho in the fictional story.

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street in Ventura. Go to www.venturamuseum.org for more information.

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Perfect Timing! Just when its ideal planting time in the Ojai Valley and just as we’re trying to use less water, the Ojai Valley Museum is hosting its annual Fall Native Plant Sale on Saturday, October 2nd from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the museum’s back courtyard.

Hundreds of drought tolerant, eye-catching plants and trees will be available from two Ojai growers: Lawrence Nicklin of Plantasia Landscaping, and Scott Smith of Euterpe Farms. A new vendor at this sale is Denise Ritchie of Malibu Compost, the first certified Biodynamic compost in the nation! David Mason of the Village Florist will provide hothouse Orchids to the mix.

The Ojai Valley Museum’s plant sales have virtually sold out every time, with customers eager to add different varieties and textures to their landscape and patios. Most of the plants are native to Ojai with its own microclimate; they are low water users often with prodigious blooms. The proffered plants are hearty native species, especially developed to flourish in the Ojai region’s climate and soil. They are attractive to native butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and other birds, bringing much activity to your garden.

Growers Nicklin and Smith will be on hand to give instructions and ideas; alongside them will be other horticultural experts for additional free advice relevant to the plants for sale and our geographic region. Throughout the day, the California Native Plant Society will sell books, give out related pamphlets, and provide even more advice! Customers will leave with gorgeous, healthy, Ojai-appropriate plants and the know-how to make them flourish!

Plants will sell from $4 to $30, with a 10% discount to current 2010 museum members. All profits from this sale will go to support the Ojai Valley Museum’s operating fund, to support its activities and programs.

The Ojai Valley Museum is located at 130 West Ojai Avenue, Ojai, CA. For further information please call (805 640-1390.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - New abstract paintings by an art and multimedia professor will be exhibited from Oct. 16 through Nov. 19 at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

“Psychcollagic Art by Barry Burns” will be displayed in the Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture. An opening reception will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16.

Psychcollagic art blends unintended textured surfaces, surreal painting techniques and a variety of collage elements to evoke three-dimensional dreamscapes. A mix of media and styles with a little analysis bring the surfaces to life, creating original, expressive and imaginative statements. The show includes 18 decorative paintings that feature tailored collage elements and extreme texture on sculpted surfaces.

Burns, who received his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Houston, has a passion for painting and sculpture and has been most influenced by artists Max Ernst, René Magritte and Richard Diebenkorn. His works include large non-objective abstracts and metal sculptures. Burns’ paintings are in private collections around the world.

The Westlake Village resident has been teaching at CLU for the past 14 years. Burns has illustrated six textbooks in neuroscience for Sage Publications and has held a variety of positions in the multimedia field with experience in animation, art, broadcast, digital intaglio, music, photography and print.

The CLU Art Department is sponsoring the free exhibit as part of a series showcasing the work of faculty.

The gallery is located in Soiland Humanities Center on Memorial Parkway. The building is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Parking is available in the lot on Mountclef Boulevard south of Olsen Road.

For information, call Michael Pearce at (805) 444-7716 or visit http://www.callutheran.edu/kwan_fong

Kathy Ikerd’s solo exhibition “Garden Party” at the Buenaventura Galley will show from October 12 to November 6, 2010. Opening reception is Saturday, October 16 from 4-7pm.

Welcome to the party! Ikerd’s Garden Party celebrates her most recent works. Keeping true to her respect for nature and colorful palate, her show invites you see how her recent visit to a local seed company grew into a stunning arrangement of art works.

Ikerd conducts a conversation with her brush work which is bold, spontaneous and deliberate. Growing up in a structured household with Japanese roots and experiencing many address in her adult years while relocating with her husbands Navy assignments, have honed Ikerd’s skills for focusing on what’s important. Simplicity and elegance are found in her oil paintings which capturing and honoring these small and simple subjects as they are, naturally beautiful.

A native Californian, Ikerd returned to live in this area in ’91. Her studies and creative side guided her down a path towards fashion, interior, landscaping and floral design. All these elements are integrated into Ikerd’s Garden Party. While smelling the roses and strolling along side the pansies, you may forget your in the gallery and look for the croquet game and the parasols!

This is her second solo show with Buenaventura Art Association. Ikerd will be featured at the Buenaventura Gallery for the City of Ventura’s Harvest ArtWalk on October 16-17, 2010 and for November’s First Fridays Ventura Gallery Crawl on Friday, November 5 from 5 – 8 pm.

The Buenaventura Gallery is located at 700 E. Santa Clara St, Ventura, CA 93001. Hours are Tues thru Friday from 12 – 5 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. For questions or an appointment during other hours, please call (805) 648-1235 or visit www.buenaventuragallery.org.