Buenaventura Art Association Seeks Entries for 5th Annual Watercolor Competition

Buenaventura Art Association Announces Call for Entries for 5th Annual Watercolor and Aqua Media Open Competition
Restful Mooring, by Rex Kochel, Best of Show winner 2012

The Buenaventura Art Association, in partnership with the California Gold Coast Watercolor Society, is announcing a call for entries for its 5th annual Watercolor & Aqua Media Open competition. This competition is open to professional and amateur artists from Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties. The exhibition of selected entries will run from October 2 to October 28, 2013 at BAA’s Harbor Village Gallery, 1591 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura.  Entries must be submitted online via the art association's website, www.buenaventuragallery.org, no later than midnight, Monday, September 21.
 
Cash prizes and a one-year, non-volunteering membership will be awarded to one Best of Show and two First Place winners, one in the Watercolor category and one in the Aqua Media category. Two Second Place winners will receive cash prizes and a 6-month membership; two Third Place winners will receive cash prizes and a 3-month membership, and two Honorable Mention winners will receive 3-month memberships. A reception and awards ceremony will be held Saturday, October 5, from 5pm to 8pm at the gallery.

Specifications:

Transparent Watercolor – On a single piece of untreated watercolor paper.
Aqua Media – All paintings must be executed only in water-based media. Water-based media on watercolor canvas, acrylic canvas, paper, illustration board, watercolor board, clayboard, or yupo may be entered. If collage is incorporated, only paper painted in water media will be accepted. No 3-D work, commercially printed material, or gold leaf.
 
Z.L. Feng will be the juror for this competition.  Feng is an artist-signature member of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, and the Pastel Society of America (as master pastelist). His work has been featured in The Artist’s Magazine, American Artist, Watercolor 90, Watercolor Highlight, Omni Magazine, Watercolor Magic, and the Chinese National Magazine, China-Watercolor. Before coming to the U.S. in 1986, Feng received his BFA degree from Shanghai Teacher’s University and taught in its art department for four years. He completed his MFA degree at Radford University in 1989 where he is currently a Professor of Art.
 
More information about the Buenaventura Art Association and its merger with the Gold Coast Watercolor Society, as well as the prospectus for this competition, can be found on the association's website, www.buenaventuragallery.org or by calling 805-648-1235.

Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks Sunrise Spearheads New Special Needs "Dreamcatcher Playground" Project

Old Meadows Park at 1600 Marview Drive, Thousand Oaks houses the Therapeutic Recreation Unit of the Conejo Recreation and Park District, which provides recreation programs for Conejo Valley residents with disabilities. There is an existing special needs playground at the park but the playground needs to be expanded and refurbished. The popularity of this playground has steadily increased due to expanding awareness of the playground and its special features, the steady rise in incidence of autism.

Currently, there is opportunity to increase the square footage of the playground at Old Meadows Park. The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks Sunrise is spearheading the effort to improve, modernize and expand the playground. Through careful research and a survey of the special needs community, the Rotary DreamCatcher Playground will be designed with great sensitivity to the needs, comforts and inclusion of special populations and their families.

The playground will include active and passive play areas allowing children to engage in stimulating activities, and areas to which they can retreat and calm themselves after anxiety-producing experiences while remaining close by to other children, parents or caregivers.

The goal is to raise $500,000 through funding partners and fundraising activities with the project completed in phases by 2016.

Would you like to learn more about this effort and find out how you can support it? Visit www.rotarydreamcatcher.org.

Join the Conejo Senior Volunteer Program to Stay Active in the Local Community

Studies show that seniors who volunteer live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. The Conejo Senior Volunteer Program (CSVP) helps seniors stay active and involved. If you are 55 or over, you can join over 1,000 local men and women who serve as volunteers in our community.

CSVP volunteers do just about everything: They tutor students, plant gardens, serve as volunteer police and program computers. CSVP volunteers meet community needs and make a lasting difference. Your life experience is your best qualification! You’ll receive the support you need to put your know-how to work for others or learn new skills. You become part of a family of caring volunteers supporting our community.

And like most CSVP volunteers, you’ll find that by helping others you help yourself. Conejo Recreation and Park District sponsors the Conejo Senior Volunteer Program. We have been promoting volunteerism in the Conejo Valley since 1972. Call CSVP for a free brochure with exciting volunteer opportunities at (805) 381-2742, visit www.crpd.org/csvp or in person at the Goebel Adult Community Center.

CSVP is located in the Goebel Adult Community Center at 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Office Hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

Chris Harrison Named 2013 Honarary Chair of Thousand Oaks Arts Festival

Television host, Chris Harrison, of ABC's The Bachelor, has been named the 2013 Honorary Chair of the Thousand Oaks Arts Festival.  The two-day Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 21 and 22 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and The Lakes.

Chris Harrison began his television career by covering local sports in Oklahoma, but a visit to L.A. in 1999 ended in a permanent move and later that year Harrison landed the job as host of HGTV’s "Designer’s Challenge," consistently ranked as one of the network’s highest rated shows. In 2001 he became host of ABC’s hit romance/reality series The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

Harrison will again co-host ABC’s live coverage of “The Miss America Pageant” in September 2013. Additional hosting credits include “Emmys Red Carpet Live” at the 2012 Primetime Emmys; ABC’s 2011 “American Music Awards Red Carpet”; ABC’s 2008 “American Music Awards Red Carpet Live!,” and “Road to the 60th Primetime Emmy® Awards.” In 2010 he announced the creation of his own production company, Harrison Productions, and that he will continue to host and executive-produce all of TV Guide’s red carpet shows.

The Festival features more than 60 local visual artists as well as a variety of local performing artists on two stages.  An interactive children’s area lets youngsters experience art on a personal level, and wine tasting offers adults a quiet respite during the weekend.  Visitors to the Arts Festival will also have the opportunity to meet Harrison in person.

Thousand Oaks Arts Festival admission and parking are free to the public.  Artist prospectus and application deadline is August 15 and performing artists’ applications are due August 1.  Both applications are available on the website, www.toartsfestival.com or call 818-991-6158.

Shave It Camarillo Opened to the Public on Saturday, July 13th

As previously indicated in April, the new Camarillo Shave It location opened this past Saturday, July 13th. This location is at 455 Carmen Drive, in the Carmen Plaza, conveniently and perhaps appropriately located next door to the 24 Hour Fitness! Their phone number is 805.445.4423 (4ICE).

Owner Arla tipped us off that this coming Saturday, July 20th, they will be hosting a grand opening event featuring the Chainsaw Chicks, as featured on America's Got Talent. Everyone is invited and the Ice Queen and her court will be performing 4 afternoon shows - at 1, 3, 5 and 7. The Chicks expertly carve giant blocks of ice with their chainsaws. Now this looks quite interesting!

Studio Channel Islands Art Center Moves to New Location on Ventura Boulevard

Art Center Celebrates Move To New Location With Rededication Ceremony on Saturday, August 3rd

A rededication ceremony on Saturday, August 3 will celebrate the conversion of Pleasant Valley School’s former auditorium to Studio Channel Islands Art Center’s regional offices and new Blackboard Gallery.

State and local dignitaries will speak at the ceremony which begins at 2:00 p.m. with speakers including state and local officials, as well as school district and art associations’ dignitaries. The school auditorium was added to the Pleasant Valley Elementary School in 1949, when it was dedicated by then School Board Chairman Adolfo Camarillo.

The celebration will continue with a ribbon cutting ceremony, live music, refreshments, art activities for children, and artists’ demonstrations. From 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. a free public art reception will open in the new Blackboard Gallery for the exhibit “Unlimited,” juried by contemporary artist Gary Lang.

The Art Center move will unite all their activities, classes, exhibits and programs on the former elementary school campus in Old Town Camarillo. Since 2010, more than 40 working artist studios have been located in converted classrooms behind the former auditorium. The new facility includes not only the new Blackboard Gallery which is three times the size of their former space, but an enlarged art gift store, a stage for performances, and offices.

The new address for Studio Channel Islands Art Center offices and gallery is 2222 Ventura Boulevard in Old Town Camarillo. Hours are Tuesday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The artists’ studios behind the new gallery are open to the public every First Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please visit our website www.StudioChannelIslands.org or call the office at 805.383.1368.

Simi Valley Public Library to Close June 15-30 As It Transitions to Municipal Library

The City of Simi Valley has announced that the Simi Valley Public Library will be closed from Saturday, June 15, 2013 through Sunday, June 30, 2013 for refurbishment as it transitions from the Ventura County Library System to a municipal city public library. During the closure, patrons may use their Ventura County Library card to check out materials from other Ventura County Libraries, the nearest site being the Oak Park Library.

Beginning July 1, 2013, library patrons will need a new Simi Valley Public Library card to check out materials from the Simi Valley Public Library. Patrons may pre-register for their new library card online at www.simivalleylibrary.org beginning June 15, 2013 and will have the opportunity to select one of three new card designs. Once they have pre-registered, at their first visit to the Library, patrons will be issued their card.

Patrons who wish to obtain their new card prior to July 1 may register for the new card in person from Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 28 at the Simi Valley Senior Center and City Hall. Representatives will be available at the Senior Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at City Hall for Library card registration. No appointment is necessary.

The public is invited to attend the Grand Opening of the Simi Valley Public Library on Monday, July 1 at 10:00 a.m. The event will feature a ribbon cutting of the refurbished facility, presentations by local, elected officials, the Summer Reading Program Kick-off by Mr. Nifty’s Balloon Show at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., tours of the refurbished Library that will feature an enhanced collection of materials, new furniture, a refreshed interior, enhanced technology and computers, new signage, the addition of a Teen Lounge, and more.

The Simi Valley Public Library is located at 2969 Tapo Canyon Road, the Simi Valley Senior Center is located at 3900 Avenida Simi, and Simi Valley City Hall is located at 2929 Tapo Canyon Road. For questions, or more information, call (805) 583-6861 or visit www.simivalley.org or www.simivalleylibrary.org.

3rd Annual Conejo Valley Restaurant Week Planned for April 21-25, 2013

Conejo Valley Restaurant Week is back for a 3rd helping this year from April 21st to 25th! Participing restaurants in the Conejo Valley and adjacent cities will offer special prix fixe (that means "fixed price" to English as Only Language types like me), 2 course lunch (NEW this year) and/or 3-course dinner menus to hungry people like you and me!

Meals will be offered at a minimum of 30% off the regular menu price. Gotta love that!

Lunch: two for $10; $10 and $15 pricing. Dinner: two for $15; and $15, $25 and $35 (tax, beverages and gratuity are not included). Participating restaurants include fast-casual and fine dining establishments.

Visit a favorite restaurant, try a new one or dine out every night of the week with family and friends. Prices do not include beverages, tax and tip. Visit www.conejorestaurantweek.com for more details and links to restaurant websites. The list will grow as we get closer to the dates of the event.

Several new local restaurants are participating, including Paul Martin's, Cinepolis, Burgerwerkz, DISH and Mulberry Street Pizzeria.

Bon appetit! (That means...ENJOY YOUR MEAL!)

Restaurants interested in participating can contact Danielle Borja at the Chamber: 805.370.0035 or dborja@conejochamber.org.

Myron Freedman Named New Executive Director of Museum of Ventura County

Myron Freedman Named New Executive Director of Museum of Ventura County

The Museum of Ventura County’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Richard Pidduck, has announced the appointment of Myron Freedman as its new Executive Director. Freedman joins the Museum from Hayward, California, where he served as Executive Director of the Hayward Area Historical Society since 2008. Freedman will be overseeing both the downtown Ventura location and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula.

Freedman is a southern California native who grew up in Reno, Nevada. He relocated to Chicago, where he began his museum career at the Chicago History Museum. With a background in theater, his stagecraft and design skills quickly led to his appointment as the Museum’s Director of Exhibit Design. From there, Freedman moved to St. Louis, where he oversaw a major expansion of exhibition galleries as Director of Exhibitions at the Missouri Historical Society. Later, he was named the Exhibits Curator for Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, a national park best known for its Gateway Arch.

Among the exhibits Freedman developed while with the Jefferson National Expansion was a commemoration of the Lewis and Clark bicentennial. During this time, he also taught Museum Studies at Webster University. Freedman’s exhibition work has received national recognition by the American Association of Museums, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, as well as the commercial film industry.

Freedman says the Museum of Ventura County’s focus on history and art, along with its proximity to the coast, has motivated him to seek the Executive Director position. He and his wife are thrilled to be calling Ventura County their home.

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Ventura. Hours are 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue, in historic Santa Paula. Hours are 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Admission to each Museum is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children 6-17, members and children under 6 are free. 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, please visit www.venturamuseum.org.