CLU to Present Shakespeare's "As You Like It" November 7th through 17th

CLU to present Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’

Victorian setting highlights similarities to today

California Lutheran University will present Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” Nov. 7 through 17 on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Performances of the Mainstage Production are slated for 8 p.m. Nov. 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16, and at 2 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Black Box Studio Theatre. The production is part of CLU’s All About the Arts Week.

Under the direction of veteran actor and director Brett Elliott, CLU’s “As You Like It” sets Shakespeare’s famous comedy in the early Gilded Age America – an era that has many contemporary parallels.

Similar to today, Victorians witnessed an expanding chasm between the ultra-wealthy robber barons and the struggling middle and lower classes, with all the social and political tensions that follow. They were becoming increasingly aware of the environmental havoc that industrialization was inflicting on the natural world. And they often found themselves bewildered at the breakneck pace with which technology was reshaping their society and world.

It was a world, like that today, in which traditional values and roles were reexamined and challenged. “As You Like It” is one of Shakespeare’s famous cross-dressing comedies, in which female characters don male disguises in order to survive and thrive in a man’s world. CLU’s production takes the gender-bending one step further, casting women in several roles traditionally played by men. In particular, the role of the melancholy Jaques will be presented as an androgynous, world-weary figure reminiscent of the provocative female French novelist George Sand. Natasha Buran, a theatre arts major from Thousand Oaks, will play Jaques.

“As You Like It” also features one of Shakespeare’s premier roles for women. The largest of any of his female roles, Rosalind will be played by Kaitlin Ruby, a theatre arts and communication major from Scottsdale, Ariz., making her CLU debut.

Other major roles will be played by Matthew Case, a criminal justice major from Thousand Oaks, as Orlando; Kevlyn Holmes, a psychology major from Milwaukee, as Celia; and Kevin Repich, a theatre arts and communication major from Simi Valley, as Touchstone.

Elliott is associate artistic director for the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company and was a member of its inaugural acting company in 1997. 

Black Box Studio Theatre is located in the Theatre Arts Building on the north side of Memorial Parkway near Pioneer Avenue.

Admission is $10. For information, call the theatre arts department at 805-493-3415.

Channel Islands Fish Sculptures and More at Ventura Pottery Guild Through October 31

Channel Islands Fish Sculptures and Chile Peppers with Many Faces by Senchal Hatton Through October 31, 2013

Senchal Hatton will be exhibiting her newest kiln load of ceramic sculptures as the featured artist of the Ventura County Potters' Guild Gallery through October 31, 2013.

As a native Californian, Senchal has always felt a strong sense of connection to animals, nature, and the spiritual which binds all. She enjoys the arts, and has worked as a make-up/hair and special effects artist in the movie industry, face painter, and also a professional belly dancer. Hatton is also a poet and muralist and enjoys playing guitar. Hatton says "I like to employ a bit of twisted humor which shows in my one of a kind Chili Pepper designs and other works. I often strive for realism, but then I will go in the opposite direction towards fantasy as a balance. I hope you enjoy my work, and may you be inspired to find your own creativity  in this mystical experience we call life." Hatton will greet guests on Tuesday, October 22nd from 11 am - 6 pm

Ventura County Potters' Guild Gallery is located at Ventura Harbor Village, 1567 Spinnaker Drive Suite 105, Ventura (805) 644-6800. Open 11am to 6pm every day.

New Farmers' Market on Friday Evenings at the Simi Valley Town Center

A new Friday night Farmers' Market had its grand opening last Friday, August 23, 2013. The market is located at the Center Court of the Simi Valley Town Center, 1555 Simi Town Center Way. Hours are 4pm to 8:30pm and the weekly market features local certified and organic farmers, great food, arts and crafts, live entertainment and a kids and family fun zone. Learn more about the Simi Valley Town Center Farmers' Market at www.farmersmx.com.

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.