ArtWalk Ventura - Blog

ArtWalk Ventura Artist Spotlight: Evan Mendel

9/28/2016

Next up in our Artist Spotlight series for ArtWalk Ventura is Evan Mendel, an artist/mural painter who was born in 1988 and raised in Ventura County, currently residing in Oxnard, Ca. Evan's earliest creative influences stemmed from his cultural roots in skateboarding, surfing, and graffiti.

After graduating high school Evan enrolled into drawing and painting classes at Ventura College. This marked his transition from painting traditional graffiti to figurative based work. Since then, Evan has painted murals in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Oxnard, and has exhibited in various group shows and galleries in Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Don't Miss: ArtWalk Ventura's Bowl Hop

9/28/2016

ArtWalk Ventura's Bowl Hop 2017
The Bowl Hop Tent is located at the intersection of California and Main Streets

Buy a beautiful, hand-crafted bowl during ArtWalk and receive a punch card that allows you to visit participating ArtWalk restaurants during the weekend for a delicious sampling of their cuisines! A Bowl costs $25 with all proceeds benefiting ArtWalk Ventura and Project Understanding’s food pantry.

How It Works

Local artists make bowls and donate their creations to the fundraiser.
Bowl Hop patrons purchase a one-of-a-kind handmade bowls during the week prior to ArtWalk and during ArtWalk weekend for $25.
Patrons receive a punch card when they buy their bowl listing the names of all participating restaurants, their location and the food they are offering during the event. Patrons receive their punch cards at ArtWalk or by email, if purchased online.

ArtWalk X Ventura College Performances Line-Up

9/28/2016

One of the many highlights of ArtWalk Ventura is always the concert series presented by Ventura College. Located right in the middle of all the ArtWalk venues and PODS® Containers, this stage makes a perfect spot to break and catch some entertainment before you head to your next exhibit. Expect to find a range of music, dance, and stage performances that culminating with performance from the Ventura College Symphony Orchestra. There is also a special film screening immediately following the performance.

We've outlined the entire performance schedule below. New to town or visiting and not sure where to find the stage? Download a PDF map HERE.

ArtWalk Ventura Artist Spotlight: Scott Gordon

9/27/2016

Up next in our Artist Spotlight series is Scott Gordon, who will be exhibiting in his studio at Bell Arts Factory for ArtWalk. He received his Masters Degree in Studio Painting from California State University Northridge. He has been exhibiting nationally and internationally for over 20 years and his work is included in numerous private and public collections both.

A brief description of his exhibit is immediately below. Following is a series of questions to allow you to get know Scott, his creative process and of course, his artwork.

empty architecture
A painting by its nature offers stillness and silence. It offers a glimpse into what the mind perhaps can't contain with language. The act of painting offers a chance for one to lose oneself and then find oneself anew, reinvented. The empty architecture series as about this sense of rediscovery- finding those moments where I have lost myself and found a visual poetry in the process...

ArtWalk Ventura Artist Spotlight: Anne K. Graca

9/25/2016

Next in our Artist Spotlight series is Anne K. Graca, who will be exhibiting in the PODS Container for Ventura Botanical Gardens for ArtWalk Ventura 2016. This is a series that gives you a chance to get to know some of this year's participating artists on a more personal level, exploring not only their work, but also their inspiration and their connection to the Ventura arts community.

Anne K. Graca was born in Minnesota, growing up amid its beautiful woodland lakes, which instilled in her a profound, life-long love and respect for nature. She now enjoys residing near the beach in Southern California. She often returns to water themes as the source of her inspiration.

Graca studied under Hans Burkhardt at CSUN, where she received her B.A. degree. At Ventura College, Gerd Koch introduced her to oil painting, her preferred medium. She is equally proficient with acrylics and mixed media, as well as sculptural and other 3-D works. Her art is in many private and commercial collections and is available for private or commercial commissions.

Take a moment to find out about Anne K. Graca below. Here are her words:

Don't Miss The “Ventura Plein Air Invitational” During ArtWalk Ventura

9/24/2016

During ArtWalk Ventura, 17 regional artists will compete in the Ventura Community Bank’s Ventura Plein Air Invitational for Best of Show and other prizes jurored by California Art Club Vice-President David Gallup. The artists will be painting as a group and on their own in locations throughout Ventura and Ojai, California. The culmination of their efforts will be available for public viewing at Gallery V, 540 E. Main St. in Ventura.

The artists will also be competing in a “Quick-Draw” on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 9 am to 11 am on the sidewalks and corners around Gallery V. The artists have 2 hours to complete a painting from start to finish. The public is invited to vote for their favorite through Sunday, Oct. 2 at Gallery V. The artist will be awarded a cash prize.

Print Exchange At Topa Topa Brewing Company For ArtWalk Ventura

9/23/2016

Print Exchange Group @ Topa Topa Brewing Company

Topa Topa Brewing Company is pleased to host the Print Exchange Group with works from local artist and former Brooks Institute students in photography, drawing and graphic design.

The Print Exchange open to all local artists in order to spread awareness, cross pollination and networking in a casual environment that lets artist display and discuss their work without having to invest large amounts of money on a venue.

This exhibit during ArtWalk Ventura 2016 will give all local artists the chance to bring prints of their work out into the public space in a free and welcoming environment. All artists are free to bring their own work, just please be mindful that nothing will be able to be displayed that may damage the Venue's Walls.

The Topa Topa Brewing Company is at 104 Thompson Blvd.

For more information, check out the Facebook Group.

ArtWalk Ventura Artist Spotlight: Cassandra Tondro

9/23/2016

Cassandra Tondro is a Ventura artist who has found an innovative use for leftover house paint ‐‐ she repurposes it for her colorful abstract art. Cassandra rescues the paint from recycling centers before it is disposed of, and by visiting these outlets regularly, she has assembled a palette filled with unusual colors. She has developed several methods of working with the paint, including pouring, pulling, pressing and dripping it onto canvas. While the paint is wet, she often uses tools, washes of water, or her fingers to create imagery. The paint dries slowly, and in the process of drying, serendipitous things sometimes occur, such as bubbles that pop to reveal another color below.

Cassandra Tondro’s paintings have been featured in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad. In addition, her work was selected for the American Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon in conjunction with the Art in Embassies Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Her art can be seen on her website.

We are thrilled Tondro took the time to participate in this Artist Spotlight series for ArtWalk Ventura 2016. Here are her words:

The ArtWalk Ventura 2016 Map Is Now Ready. Download It Here.

9/23/2016

The ArtWalk Ventura 2016 map is here!

This will be your key to all the PODS® Containers, official ArtWalk Venues, and Bowl Hop locations. You can download the file HERE in a PDF format and print it out to take with you. You can also pick up a copy of the map in the VC Reporter, available Sept. 29th, 2016. Make sure not to miss this issue, as it will have a complete preview of all things ArtWalk.

For 2016, ArtWalk Ventura is October 1st from 11 a.m to 7 p.m. and October 2nd from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For a complete rundown of all ArtWalk events, please click here. The page will be updated frequently, so check back often.

The ArtWalk Ventura 2016 Posters Are Here!

9/17/2016

You know it's just about time for ArtWalk Ventura when the posters start popping up around town. Well guess what?! The posters are now here!

This year's photographers Turner + Fitch have been working long hours the past month or so, setting up photo shoots with ArtWalk artists who will be displayed in one of our PODS® galleries or participating venues. All the photographs were then sent over to our graphic artist Sabine Dodane who used her skills to create the final poster design.

ArtWalk Ventura Artist Spotlight: Phyllis Gubins & Jen Livia From Red Brick Art Gallery

9/17/2016

Next up in our ArtWalk Ventura 2016 Artist Spotlight series are is a mother & daughter team, Phyllis Gubins and Jen Livia. For this year's event, they will be exhibiting their own PODS Gallery. The exhibit is titled "Synergy" and is a collaboration of watercolors and acrylics.

This is a series where we highlight some of the many talented artists participating in this year's event. It is your chance to sit with an artist and learn about their medium, how they find their inspiration and get a quick glimpse of some of their work. It doesn't matter if they are an ArtWalk vet or if this is their first year; a painter, a poet, or a photographer- these brief Q&A's will cover it all!

So take some time and get to know Phyllis and Jen...

ArtWalk 2016: Watch The Tradición Universal Mural's Progress In 9 Photos

9/16/2016

A Tradición Universal

As one of Downtown Ventura's flagship events, ArtWalk has become not only a celebration of local talent, but also a symbol of international collaboration. This year, ArtWalk Ventura is honored to host over 20 Oaxacan Artists who will be here to exhibit their work, teach classes, and work on other cooperative projects.

One of the highlights this year is the Tradición Universal mural project, with is a collaborative project between Rolando Sigüenza, our 2016 Global Artist of Distinction, MB Hanrahan, our 2016 Artist of Distinction, and Uriel Leon, a Mayor of Ventura Arts Award recipient. Similarly to last year's Havana to Ventura project, this mural began as a conversation across boarders in a series of phone calls, emails, and video chats.

Tickets For The ArtWalk Ventura 2016 Collectors Reception Are Now On Sale

9/11/2016

ArtWalk Ventura 2016 Collectors Reception:

Thursday, Sept. 29th from 6:30-9:00 PM the City of Ventura will host the ArtWalk Collectors Reception for a preview of juried works by 2016 ArtWalk featured artists. This ticketed special preview event will provide art patrons and artists an opportunity to reserve works for purchase in advance of the 2-day ArtWalk. Hosted in the beautiful and historic City Hall, located at 501 Poli Street, selected works will be displayed in addition to over 90 works from the permanent Municipal Art Collection...

ArtWalk Ventura 2016 Artist Spotlight: Celeste M. Evans

9/6/2016

Welcome to the ArtWalk Ventura 2016 Artist Spotlight series where we highlight some of the many talented artists participating in this year's event. This is your chance to sit with an artist and learn about their medium, how they find their inspiration and get a quick glimpse of some of their work. It doesn't matter if they are an ArtWalk vet or if this is their first year; a painter, a poet, or a photographer- these brief Q&A's will cover it all!

For Artwalk 2016, our first feature of this series is Celeste M. Evans from Ojai, CA. Her current visual art endeavors involve painting, drawing, mixed-media, sculpture, and photography. She holds a BFA in Art (2011) from California Institute of the Arts, and has exhibited at galleries and unconventional venues in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties...

Calling ArtWalk Ventura 2016 Artists! Have Your Work On Display At the Collectors' Reception

9/5/2016

Attention all participating ArtWalk Ventura Artists and Venues! The deadline for submissions for the 2016 Collectors' Reception has been extended now through SEPTEMBER 9th. This is an unique opportunity to have your work on display in Ventura's City Hall in a juried show.

The Collectors' Reception takes place Thursday, September 29th from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM and serves as the official kick off to ArtWalk Ventura 2016...