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State of the Arts eNewsletter

Issue 2 - July 19, 2007

Brooks students

Top row standing from left; Troy Harvey, Tom Baker, Ricky Lesser, William Figg, Daryl Peveto and Aaron Bickford (far right). Seated row from left; Greg A. Cooper, Roger Anderson (Vice President of Operations, Brooks Institute), Afton Almaraz, Genevieve Alvarez, Jason Bean and Pat Seminario (General Manager, Marriott Ventura Beach

Unique collaboration supports young artists and highlights Ventura's natural beauty

The Marriott Ventura Beach has teamed up with the prestigious locally-based Brooks Institute of Photography to launch "Visions of Ventura", a photo contest featuring images of Ventura's architectural, historical, natural and lifestyle elements. The idea was hatched when the Marriott was looking for new art for their guest rooms. "We wanted to capture the essence of Ventura in the guest experience by replacing all the artwork in the guest rooms with images depicting the community's beautiful landscape and unique spirit" said General Manager Pat Seminario. Over 1,200 images were submitted by Brooks students of which 12 winning images were selected. These images will be framed and placed within the Marriott's 285 guest rooms and viewed by visitors from around the world. The student photographer of each winning image also received a $500 scholarship from the Marriott.

First Friday Ventura is taking off!

A popular tradition in cities around the country, Ventura now has our own First Friday night! Sponsored by the Buenaventura Art Association, this event is a fun and relaxing monthly opportunity to check our growing arts scene by visiting local galleries that will be open late just for you!

A number of new galleries and artist studios have joined the First Friday Ventura event. The next First Friday is Friday, August 3 from 5 – 8 pm. The group is a loosely formed association of galleries and artist studios in Ventura born out of the MAVericks (Marketing the Arts in Ventura) think tank formed by Kerry Adams Hapner and the Cultural Affairs Division.

The following galleries/studios will be taking part:

For more information about First Friday Ventura, visit their website at /www.FirstFridaysVentura.com or email info@firstfridaysventura.com

New report highlights the economic impact of the arts in Ventura

The newly released Creative Industries study from the national arts advocacy group, Americans for the Arts, reports that the City of Ventura has 370 arts-related businesses which employ a total of 1,068 people. The report offers a research-based approach to understanding the scope and economic importance of the arts in Ventura. The creative industries are composed of arts-centric businesses that range from nonprofit museums, symphonies, and theaters to for-profit film, architecture, and advertising companies. These businesses are the high-octane fuel that drives the "information economy" - the fastest growing segment of the nation’s economy. They employ people, spend money locally, generate government revenue, and are a cornerstone of tourism and economic development. (Note: data is solely based on businesses that have registered with Dunn & Bradstreet, therefore, this analysis under-represents certain nonprofit arts organizations and individual artists and should be considered a conservative estimate.)

New statewide grant program for individual artists

In addition our own Artist Fellowship Grants, many other grant sources for individual artists in all disciplines are available (to find them all, visit www.nyfasource.org). Two new funding programs administered by the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) aim "to enhance the working lives and creative environment for California artists by funding tools and market strategies that will allow them to create their best work more consistently, and distribute that work more broadly to new audiences." Round I of the Grants for Artistic Equipment and Tools and Grants for Presenting and Marketing Work are now open. Artists can download an application at www.cciarts.org/funding.htm

James Irvine Foundation grant deadline August 13th

The James Irvine Foundation provides open and competitive funding through the New Connections Fund for organizations that have new projects, new ideas, or which have not previously received a grant from their foundation. Grants of up to $50,000 are available, over one- or two-year grant periods, and small and mid-sized organizations (with budgets between $100,000 and $2 million) are particularly encouraged to apply.

http://www.irvine.org/grants_program/howto/new_connections/application_process.shtml

Ventura's public art gets a bath!

Serra Statue CleaningThrough the summer, five interns will work to conserve nearly 40 sculptures in Ventura's Public Art Collection, including the sculpture of Father Junipero Serra in front of City Hall and the 32 mile markers that line the Ventura River Trail. "Cities across the country will look to this program as a new model for how to conserve public art in a cost effective way," said Lisa Zaid, Public Art Project Manager and coordinator of the program. "It also provides a rare learning opportunity for local college students and graduates interested in this field."

Interns are degree candidates and graduates of Fine Arts at California State University at Channel Islands. Through the internship they received professional training in conservation from renowned Sculpture Conservation Studio of Los Angeles. Interns include Bradley Barron, James Norwood, Tobie Roach, Jennifer Sapinoso, and Layla Windwillows. In addition to conserving artworks, interns document their efforts through writing and photographs, read scholarly literature on art conservation, and meet weekly to discuss their work. Their experience is being captured on a blog located at http://www.venturapublicart.blogspot.com.

Local Artist Spotlight - Tobie Roach

Tobie RoachA recent graduate of Cal State Channel Islands, Tobie Roach studied fine art and traveled abroad to study at the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute in China. "I tend to be a spiritual person and it’s reflected in my work." Her large scale paintings feature multiple panels and vibrant colors incorporating imagery of the Shri yantra. "They come from the Hindu tradition and are similar to mandalas. The symbols supposedly create a spiritual vibration in whatever space they are in," she explains.

Tobie has an interest in fusing different types of materials into future public art projects. Although there aren’t many opportunities to work with it, she enjoys sculpting in stone - "it’s really messy but such an organic and flowing process," she explains. "When you paint, you have a vision of what you want and can create it pretty much literally. With stone, it creates itself, you’re constantly re-evaluating and re-adjusting your process."

Ventura has been Tobie's home for eleven years. "I appreciate the natural beauty here and the diverse population makes it interesting. It’s growing and becoming more and more beautiful all the time. People really want to be here." Being a young artist in Ventura requires "applying for things, learning the process, getting your name out there," she notes, "We’re lucky to have an opportunity to get involved in the public art process which is hopeful for emerging artists." Besides exhibiting at the Museum of Ventura County, the E.P. Foster Library and Cafe Bariloche, she was selected to participate in the Streetscape Mural Project. This summer she is also working as public art intern with the City of Ventura Cultural Affairs Division.

Masculine-Feminie, Tobie Roach

To view more of Tobie’s work visit her website at http://www.tobieroach.com

Calendar of upcoming Cultural Affairs Division events

JULY

AUGUST

For more information, visit http://www.cityofventura.net/depts/arts_culture

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