New George Stuart Historical Figure to Join Museum’s Renaissance & Reformation Exhibit

A newly created historical figure by artist and historian George Stuart will join Renaissance and Reformation: George Stuart Historical Figures, on exhibit at the Museum of Ventura County from February 7 through May 20. The figure of Machiavelli will be added after its March 6 unveiling at the first of three accompanying George Stuart monologues held at 3:00 p.m. The other monologues are April 3 and May 1.

The ¼ life-size sculptural figures are renowned for their expressiveness and intricately detailed costumes. Among the 28 on exhibit are Lucrezia and Cesare Borgia, Lorenzo de Medici, Popes Alexander VI and Leo X, Martin Luther, John Calvin, St. Ignatius de Loyola, Teresa of Avila, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Mary Stuart. A life-size costume of Juan Borgia, created by Robert Lamarche of Ojai, will be included as well. The exhibition covers the 15 and 16th centuries, which brought remarkable change to Europe, including the Renaissance flowering of the arts and sciences, the religious Reformation, and competition among its rulers to control not only their continent, but the New World.

Music before Columbus: The Collection of Luis Perez opens at the Museum of Ventura County on February 25, exhibiting Ventura-based musician and archaeomusicologist Luis Perez’s collection of Pre-Columbian musical instruments and ritual objects from Mesoamerica. A related exhibit entitled The White Instruments: Recent Creations by Luis Perez, features modern wind and percussion instruments sculpted in clay by Perez. He uses these Pre-Columbian inspired pieces to compose and record contemporary music. Both exhibits run through May 27, 2012.

Music before Columbus provides an introductory glimpse into the pre-Columbian world of music, dance and ritual with detailed information on selected artifacts. In a gallery video, visitors can hear the sounds made by several of the pieces. Perez, who grew up in Mexico City, has devoted himself to extensive research into Pre-Columbian music and mythology, the collection of archaeological artifacts, and the study of living musical traditions in Mexico.

The rich textile tradition of Teotitlán del Valle, a Zapotec community in Oaxaca, Mexico, is on exhibition February 25 through May 27, when the Museum of Ventura County presents Hilos de la Vida / Threads of Life, featuring woven pieces from the Bii Daüü Zapotec Arts Center. Work by local Zapotec weaver and artist Porfirio Gutierrez of Ventura is also featured. Gutierrez uses traditional methods but applies a more modern interpretation to Zapotec-inspired designs. Included with the exhibit is a demonstration of the techniques of the foot loom and a look at how textiles are used in everyday life.

Established in 2004, the Bii Daüü Zapotec Arts Center is a cooperative dedicated to the production of textiles using only natural dyes and original designs. It makes a commitment to cultural sustainability by teaching young people in Teotitlán del Valle traditional methods, in order to preserve the ancient Zapotec techniques.

Gerri McMillin, Sarah Kalvin and Pat Richards Dodds will display their art in a show titled “Ocean Above & Below” at Fox Fine Jewelry from May 17 through July 9, 2012.

Gerri McMillin is known for her fishbone vessels and knotted fiber sculptures. She catches her own albacore tuna, using their pectoral fins and monofilament to create her fishbone vessel forms. “The ocean and what lies beneath its surface is the driving force behind my art” says McMillin.

In 1972, she took her first basketry class. Although this is now her main medium, she still enjoys weaving, spinning and knotting. Since 1999, Johnson-McMillin has been an Artist-in-Residence at Studio Channel Islands Art Center (SCIART) in Camarillo, where she teaches and was instrumental in developing the Fiber Art Studio.

An internationally exhibited artist, her work is in the permanent collections of the Long Beach Museum of Art, the Museum of Ventura County, and the City of Ventura’s Municipal Art Collection.

Sarah Kalvin is best known for her book “The Spirit of Ventura,” a collection of Kalvin’s paintings of Ventura’s landmarks. Growing up in Santa Monica, and moving to Ventura in 2001, the coastal living lifestyle has permeated her art. Kalvin’s watercolors are loose and flowing, with some painted on recyclable polypropylene and YUPO (YUPO is 100% recyclable, tree-free synthetic paper extruded from polypropylene pellets).

After a ten year career in the fashion design industry, Kalvin is now a professional artist, a graphic and web designer, and the event coordinator for the WAV (Working Artists Ventura)

Pat Richards Dodds began painting as a child in Santa Monica, continued as an art major at the University of Washington, while raising her three sons, and during her twenty year career as an executive banking officer.

Her current work focuses on ocean vistas with their warm palette of colors reflected under the setting sun. She travels the waters frequently for inspiration, but the current show, says Dodds, is “My homage to the California coastline: the sunsets, the winter sky and the ever present surfers, braving the winter break.”

Dodds is a founding member of Studio Channel Islands Art Center, and served as Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

Artists’ reception for Gerri McMillin, Sarah Kalvin and Pat Richards Dodds show titled “Ocean Above & Below” at Fox Fine Jewelry.  Meet the artists and enjoy some delightful treats.

Assemblymember Das Williams (D- Santa Barbara) is partnering with the City of Ventura, the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and the Ventura County Community College District to convene the second annual Green Jobs Summit.

The summit, which will feature networking opportunities and discussion on the economics, education and employment needs of the emerging green industries, will focus on the following topics, “What are Green Jobs?” “Where are the Green Opportunities?” and “Economic Outlook for Green Economics.” Each panel will feature experts in various industries sharing best green practices, from agriculture and green waste recycling to sustainability consulting and a regional green business incubator.

The Green Jobs Summit will feature educators, green industry leaders and government officials. Throughout the event, attendees can visit booth exhibits by green businesses and advocacy organizations, the green job fair and network with employers in green industries.

The Green Jobs Summit is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Ventura Chamber of Commerce (805) 643-7222.

The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market has fresh vegetables, fruit, honey, eggs, baked goods, cut flowers, and potted plants all at the peak of their season.

Arts & Crafts by the Sea is sponsored by the San Buenaventura Artists’ Union located In Ventura’s California Street Plaza next to the beach, between the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the Artists’ Union Gallery. Handcrafts, home & garden art, jewelry, clothing, and accessories. All items are hand-made and are sold by the artist.

Conquest of the Americas, the newest exhibition of George Stuart Historical Figures® at the Museum of Ventura County, illustrates how conquistadors, explorers and settlers brought far-reaching consequences for the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and for the entire world. The exhibit opens May 22 and runs through August 5.

Among the 27 one-quarter life-size figures are those of Christopher Columbus, Hernán Cortés, Moctezuma II, Malinche, Junipero Serra, Alexander Mackenzie, Jedediah Smith, and John Charles Frémont.

Swapmeet at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.