The Ojai Art Center (OAC) has eight branches -- each offering their featured performances and events -- and hosts a series of classes and special events such as Art in the Park and The Blues Festival. Our mission, since we opened our doors in 1939, has been to support and advance the interest of the arts within our community.
Please feel free to come down and enjoy all we have to offer. We encourage you to consider becoming a member which will bring you the satisfaction of supporting the arts on a local level as well as providing you discounts on theatre productions, discounts on activity fees, art purchases, events and our monthly newsletter.
Please feel free to come down and enjoy all we have to offer. We encourage you to consider becoming a member which will bring you the satisfaction of supporting the arts on a local level as well as providing you discounts on theatre productions, discounts on activity fees, art purchases, events and our monthly newsletter.
Ojai Art Center Zoom Event:
Poetry Songs of the Shoshone Ghost Dance
Judith Vander
Monday, February 8, 2021 at 7 p.m.
To join us on Zoom for this event, email OACVanderevent@gmail.com.
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In the 19th century, belief in and performance of the Ghost Dance Religion swept through many tribes of the Great Basin and Plains. For many years, Judith Vander worked with the Shoshones of Wyoming, recording 147 Ghost Dance songs, each with a short poetic text, beautiful ecological scenes drawn from nature. Choosing a representative sampling, she will present an English translation of the poetic text and let you hear what the Shoshone singer had to say about the meaning of the text. Finally, Judith will sing the song in the original Shoshone language. The Great Basin version of the Ghost Dance invokes the power of song and dance to protect Shoshone health, and to make the world of plants and animals abundant. They reveal how Shoshones understood and related to their natural world. More info.
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44th Annual Art in the Park
May 29th and 30th, 2021
Libbey Park
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We are hoping that all will be back to normal by the end of May so please join us in participating as an exhibitor or vendor for the 44th Annual Art in the Park!!
Apply now. We can't wait to see you again this Memorial Weekend: Saturday, May 29th and Sunday, 30th, 20201 10 AM - 5 PM Libbey Park, Downtown Ojai |
Dear Art Center Members and Supporters:
It has been several months since we last reached out to you. On behalf of the Art Center’s Board of Trustees, I again hope you are all well. It has been a strange year, and the last few months...
After opening for a couple of months late fall, we shut down again a couple of weeks ago. We hope to re-open on or about March 1, with a new show in the gallery and fireplace room… the work of Caroline Allen. Caroline recently taught a six-week painting class at the Taft Garden. It has been a year since we have had a new exhibit, and I for one am really looking forward to seeing Caroline’s work. Gallery hours are noon through 4:00, Tuesday thru Sunday.
We have cancelled our annual meeting, which is traditionally held the first Monday in February. With the state of emergency meeting in effect, in person is of course impossible, and we did not believe more than a few people would be interested in a Zoom annual meeting. Fortunately, the entire Board of Trustees has agreed to extend their respective terms; it is a pleasure to serve with this interesting and interested group.
We have a couple of up-coming on-line events that we want to let you know about.
- On Monday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m., the Literary Branch welcomes former Art Center Music Branch chair Judy Vander, who will be discussing Ghost Dance songs of the Shoshones. Judy spent many years working with the Shoshones of Wyoming, and recorded 147 Ghost Dance songs. She will sing a few in the Shoshone language, and present both English language translation and the Shoshone’s singers thoughts on the meaning of the text. Judy is a fascinating person, with great humor and endless knowledge. This is an event you do not want to miss. To join us on Zoom for this event, email OACVanderevent@gmail.com.
- Also upcoming is a streaming presentation of Belle of Amherst, with Anna Kotula reprising her role as Emily Dickenson. This is a co-production between the Art Center Theater Branch, the Catalyst Players, and Svengren Media. Belle ran for a couple of weekends at the Art Center several years ago, and for shorter runs at the Rubicon and Beacon theaters in Ventura. We hope to have this ready for the Valentine’s Day weekend. Look for additional information in your e-mail, or check the Art Center’s webpage, or the Ojai Valley News.
Finally, Music Branch Chair Steve Newkirk, has posted five videos of chamber performances he has presented over the past couple of years. The artists who perform are each an extraordinary talent and the sound in the videos is quite excellent. Click here to view and listen.
We are, at present moving forward with Art In The Park during Memorial Day weekend, and the Blues Festival presented by Tommy Marsh the following Saturday, June 5. Both of these live events are still, of course, in the “who knows what will happen” category.
I close by asking those of you who are members to please renew when you get notice that it is time to do so, and ask those of you who are not members to please consider becoming a member. Membership information and a donation link are available by clicking here. If you prefer, sending a check to us at P.O. Box 331, Ojai, CA. 93024, is of course welcome.
Thank you so much for your support of the Ojai Art Center,
Len Klaif
President Board of Trustees
It has been several months since we last reached out to you. On behalf of the Art Center’s Board of Trustees, I again hope you are all well. It has been a strange year, and the last few months...
After opening for a couple of months late fall, we shut down again a couple of weeks ago. We hope to re-open on or about March 1, with a new show in the gallery and fireplace room… the work of Caroline Allen. Caroline recently taught a six-week painting class at the Taft Garden. It has been a year since we have had a new exhibit, and I for one am really looking forward to seeing Caroline’s work. Gallery hours are noon through 4:00, Tuesday thru Sunday.
We have cancelled our annual meeting, which is traditionally held the first Monday in February. With the state of emergency meeting in effect, in person is of course impossible, and we did not believe more than a few people would be interested in a Zoom annual meeting. Fortunately, the entire Board of Trustees has agreed to extend their respective terms; it is a pleasure to serve with this interesting and interested group.
We have a couple of up-coming on-line events that we want to let you know about.
- On Monday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m., the Literary Branch welcomes former Art Center Music Branch chair Judy Vander, who will be discussing Ghost Dance songs of the Shoshones. Judy spent many years working with the Shoshones of Wyoming, and recorded 147 Ghost Dance songs. She will sing a few in the Shoshone language, and present both English language translation and the Shoshone’s singers thoughts on the meaning of the text. Judy is a fascinating person, with great humor and endless knowledge. This is an event you do not want to miss. To join us on Zoom for this event, email OACVanderevent@gmail.com.
- Also upcoming is a streaming presentation of Belle of Amherst, with Anna Kotula reprising her role as Emily Dickenson. This is a co-production between the Art Center Theater Branch, the Catalyst Players, and Svengren Media. Belle ran for a couple of weekends at the Art Center several years ago, and for shorter runs at the Rubicon and Beacon theaters in Ventura. We hope to have this ready for the Valentine’s Day weekend. Look for additional information in your e-mail, or check the Art Center’s webpage, or the Ojai Valley News.
Finally, Music Branch Chair Steve Newkirk, has posted five videos of chamber performances he has presented over the past couple of years. The artists who perform are each an extraordinary talent and the sound in the videos is quite excellent. Click here to view and listen.
We are, at present moving forward with Art In The Park during Memorial Day weekend, and the Blues Festival presented by Tommy Marsh the following Saturday, June 5. Both of these live events are still, of course, in the “who knows what will happen” category.
I close by asking those of you who are members to please renew when you get notice that it is time to do so, and ask those of you who are not members to please consider becoming a member. Membership information and a donation link are available by clicking here. If you prefer, sending a check to us at P.O. Box 331, Ojai, CA. 93024, is of course welcome.
Thank you so much for your support of the Ojai Art Center,
Len Klaif
President Board of Trustees
Become an Art Center Member
Become an Art Center Member and support the arts in Ojai:
- Individual Membership: $50
- Family Membership: $65 (Family membership includes 2 children under 18 years of age.)
- Student Membership: $30
- Senior Membership: $35
- Business Membership: $275 (Includes 4 individual memberships, events listed on OAC site, monthly newsletter link, social media support, facilities rental discounts, marketing materials distributed at Art in the park and OAC calendar.)