State of the Arts - Issue 5, January - February 2008

Working Artists Ventura (WĀV) Project set to Break Ground!

The Working Artists Ventura Project is hosting an evening of champagne, art and hors d'oeuvres at the Ventura County Museum on Thursday, February 7 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. We are gathering to celebrate the start of construction in late February and to thank all of you who have helped make this project a reality.

We are also planning a series of events, workshops, fundraisers and celebrations, etc. that will take place throughout 2008 and which will culminate in the eventual opening and ribbon-cutting celebration when the building phase is completed by late 2009. As we finalize the plans for these various events, we will send you updates.

When the Working Artists Ventura (WĀV) project commences principal construction on February 22, historic Downtown Ventura will become the first city in the nation to create a $57 million state-of-the-art green community designed for creative people and businesses. In fact, WĀV will stand as downtown Ventura's most important economic development catalyst in a decade, providing 54 affordable artist housing units, 15 supportive housing units, 13 market-rate condominiums, a gallery/theater space, park space and arts-related commercial space. WĀV represents a national landmark that brings together the arts, environmentalism and social justice, all in a fiscally-responsible package.

Letter from Cultural Affairs Manager, Kerry Adams Hapner

Embracing the Arts in 2008: Reflect, Rejoice, and Refocus

The start of 2008 has me reflecting on the impressive cultural "seeds of change" that have been planted in the City of Ventura since I began working in our community in 1999.

These eight great years have brought about many accomplishments in the arts to our city, but I'll list a few of the more catalytic projects:

• The renovation of the Laurel Theatre, and its purchase by the Rubicon Theatre to create a permanent home for the company's world class performances;
• The proliferation of public art in Ventura - from some of the first installations along the Ventura River Trail to Bus-Home and the Streetscape Murals at our bus shelters, capped by Movement, our newest sculpture at Montalvo Hill Park-over 40 works now comprise our diverse public art collection that weaves art into the fabric of our city;
• The continued development of the Downtown Cultural District, with a sense of arrival and unique experience offered through its creative businesses, organizations, galleries and cultural happenings;
• The exponential growth of the cultural organizations in the Downtown Cultural District including Ventura Music Festival, Museum of Ventura County, Buenaventura Art Association, Focus on the Masters, San Buenaventura Foundation of the Arts, Rubicon Theatre Company, and more;
• The advancement of the visual arts as new galleries and studios open including: Accolades Gallery, Bell Arts Factory, Harbor Village Gallery, Sea Breeze Gallery, San Buenaventura Artists' Union Gallery, Municipal Art Collection, Upfront Gallery, and, to name one of our newest, the Red Brick Gallery.

We can see the cultural changes we've made in the community-the growth and increased awareness of the arts in our city - and their impacts on people's lives. We can feel the "hair raising" excitement of experiencing powerful art as our extraordinary artists create it in Ventura-a city becoming increasingly known nationally for its creative community.

In fact, 89% of respondents agreed with the statement, "Ventura is a City that embraces the cultural arts, including music, theatre and museums" during a citizen survey about issues in our community that the City of Ventura recently conducted.

As we reflect on this progress and rejoice in our momentum, it is an invigorating time to refocus our ambitions and intentions to create an ever more culturally vibrant community-with the courage and aspiration to shape Ventura as California's New Art City. Our goals in the areas of heritage, built environment, cultural infrastructure, arts education, public awareness, resources, and cultural equity are well defined in our 2005 Ventura Cultural Plan. Now our collaborative task is to draw them into physical reality through our thoughts, words and actions.

In 2008, several big milestones lie ahead for our cultural community to cross:

• Cultural equity and diversity will be a main area of focus for the Cultural Affairs Division programming, with the goal to ensure comprehensive access to and involvement in cultural opportunities for all segments of our community;
• Inaugurating the Ventura ArtWalk as a two-day event (April 26-27) - and a prestigious regional weekend celebration of art with expanded events and activities;
• Completing the design of the Olivas Adobe restoration and beginning the physical renovation;
• Beginning the construction of the expanded Museum of Ventura County - which will temporarily relocate in spring 2008 - to realize this cultural institution's potential to be a crown jewel of our region; and
• Breaking ground in February for WĀV (Working Artists Ventura) (WĀV) to create the nation's first "green community" of affordable housing and workspace for over 54 artists and their families as well as space for other creative businesses.

These reflections and goals are amongst the innumerable accomplishments we achieve each day. Rejoice and resolve in the work ad the visions of our art community. See the change you create each day.

Montalvo Hill Park opens

Montalvo Hill Park - the City of Ventura's newest neighborhood recreation site at Hill Road and Tanager Street - opened with a free celebration on Friday, January 18, from 2 until 4 pm. Festivities included a dance performance by Montalvo Elementary students, music and refreshments. Special guests included Mayor Christy Weir and public artist Louis Longi, creator of the park's two bronze sculptures, Movement and Kid's Play.

Developer John Ashkar and Pacific Heritage Communities designed, constructed and dedicated this six-acre park to the City of Ventura in accordance with an approved development agreement. The park came about through the collaborative efforts of the City of Ventura, Southern California Edison Company and Developer Ashkar. The site, located directly behind the Montalvo Square shopping center is bordered on all sides by new and existing residential housing. Featuring open turf and playground areas, a full basketball court, landscaped pedestrian paths and other amenities, Montalvo Hill Park is now ready to serve as a major recreational site for residents in the neighborhood.

The City of Ventura Public Art Program selected the Laguna Beach-based artist Louis Longi in 2004 to create two new public art works for the Montalvo Hill Park. Longi was selected for his proposal of two bronze sculptures titled, Movement and Kid's Play. Movement is a ten-foot-high bronze sculpture of a female figure in motion sited near Victoria Avenue at the west entrance to the park. A second smaller sculpture, Kid's Play, is sited within the park near the main recreation area.

As part of the creation of Kid's Play, a five-foot bronze figure, Longi conducted a two-day workshop with students from Montalvo Elementary School to create small wax figures that were cast in bronze and placed on the outstretched arms of the childlike figure. Longi received a $20,000 contract to design, fabricate and install the works.

Fashion Week Ventura

February 29 - March 2, 2008

Fashion Week Ventura started last year with one sold out night of super style and rocking performances. The response from our community was so overwhelming we have expanded in 2008 to showcase more of what Ventura has to offer.

Come join us for a fabulous week of fashion related events including the Kick-Off party at a downtown hotspot, Movie Night in the Park, Surf and Skate night featuring local bands, the Cirque de Couture extravaganza with entertainment and sideshows, and the Après party at a local nightclub. Leading salons, local designers and merchants, and amazing talent make each night unique, and all proceeds will benefit AIDS Project Ventura - helping improve the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS.

For more information on sponsorship, donations, volunteering, or the events themselves please contact info@FashionWeekVentura.com or call ArchiTexture Salon at 805-641-3900. Thank you for your help in spreading the word to those in need and those who can help!

"Because helping our community never goes out of style."

• www.fashionweekventura.com

See World-Class Opera live in Ventura!

As part of its efforts to reinvigorate opera and reach out to a broader public, the Metropolitan Opera launched a groundbreaking new program, Metropolitan Opera: Live in High-Definition, six opera performances transmitted live in high-definition to movie theaters around the world including Ventura's own Cinemark Stadium 16.

The Met's experiment of merging film with live performance has created a new art form," said the Los Angeles Times of the groundbreaking series of live, high-definition performance transmissions to movie theaters around the world. The series enjoyed box office success, reaching an estimated audience of more than 325,000 viewers. In 2007-08, the Met offers its second season of international HD transmissions-this time with eight broadcasts, up from last year's six. Don't miss the chance to enjoy thrilling, world-class opera at your neighborhood theater! This season's performances include Hansel and Gretel, Macbeth, Manon Lescaut, Peter Grimes, and Tristan und Isold.

For more information and performance information, visit www.metoperafamily.org

For tickets and showtimes, visit www.fandango.com

Veterans Writing Workshop to begin in January

Described as "for veterans of all wars and their family member, to promote healing, wholeness and a sense of peace". This workshop strives to be "a safe, meditative space to write and to speak the unspeakable among people who understand and who care."

The group will be meeting on Sundays from 2:30 PM - 5:30 once a month:

January 27, February 10, March 9, April 13, May 4, June 8. Dinner will be provided at the first meeting on January 27, all other sessions will conclude with a potluck meal. The workshop is faciliated by Elijah Imlay and Jan Christian.

Says founder Elijah Imlay, "I had been in a group like this and saw how helpful it was for vets to overcome trauma, to feel part of the community and break through isolation. There's something about writing that is different than telling it out loud. We are looking for participation from any vets including vets who have served in Iraq."

Elijah Imlay is a Vietnam veteran, poet, and social worker and has participated for many years in the Veteran Writers Group facilitated by Maxine Hong Kingston. His work is included in the recent book Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace, edited by Kingston, and in several other anthologies and journals.

Jan Christian is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church and is writing a book entitled Always Faithful: A Sister's War Memoir which begins with her brother's death in Vietnam and chronicles her recent connections with his Marine brothers and her trip to Vietnam.

To reserve your space in the workshop, please call the church at 805.644.3898 or email office@uuventura.org or by contacting Elijah Imlay at poets@jetlink.net or 805.654.0055

Local Artist Profile - Emy Reynolds

Voted "Most Likely To Be a Rock Star" by her Nordhoff High Senior class, local musician Emy Reynolds is well on her way. Besides playing guitar and piano, she writes and performs all her own songs. Her unique sound blends acoustic folk and jazz with musical influences as varied as Ella Fitzgerald, Nirvana, Johnny Cash, Louis Armstrong, David Bowie, Tegan and Sara, the Pixies, Loggins and Messina, Radiohead, and Howlinwolf.

"I love the thriving music scene in Ventura County," say Emy, "There's such a wealth of opportunities and places to be seen by ever-expanding, enthusiastic audiences". Her interest in music began singing in her high school chorus and taking guitar lessons. Emy first played her own songs for a high school assembly at Nordhoff, before playing at local restaurant Eric Ericssen's and then a few "local music" nights at the Ventura Theater.

She got her first big break winning First Place in the "Locally Grown Battle of the Bands Contest" in August 2007. Although she was the only solo act in the event, she won the chance to open the "Food For Thought" benefit concert at Ojai's Libby Bowl (featuring nationally touring artists Brett Dennen and Perla Batalla). Since landing a manager, things have really taken off - performing twice at her favorite Ventura music venue, Zoey's Café, the Meiners Oaks haunt The Farmer and the Cook, and venues up and down the Coast from Santa Barbara to Hollywood. Now performing with a band for most shows, Emy is accompanied whenever possible by UCLA symphony cellist, Ro Rowan, guitarist/background singer Piper Denney, and Jo Pusateri on drums.

The last few months have seen the easy-going local becoming very busy - besides being a full time student at CSU Channel Islands, and playing as often as possible, she's also in the studio recording her first CD, due out in Feb/March 2008.

Emy's upcoming performance dates include:

• Jan. 29th, Soho, Santa Barbara (with Jonathan McEuen and Angela Correa), 8 PM
• Feb. 6th, Zoeys Café, Ventura (with Colin Gilmore), 8 PM
• Feb. 7th, Hotel Café, Hollywood, 7 PM

Visit Emy online at www.myspace.com/emyreynolds.

Tell a friend - subscribe to e-SOTA!

Keep abreast of all the latest cultural news in Ventura - subcribe online to our electronic version of State of the Arts. Sign up at http://www.cityofventura.net/enews/sota/subscribe.asp.