Art Branch
Gallery Exhibits
Gallery hours are 12:00 through 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday thru Sunday
The Art Branch is an active group of volunteer members who strive to promote these early tenets set forth in the Articles of Incorporation, ”The purpose of the Art Center is to advance the interest, influence and usefulness of the Arts in the community, to engage in the promotion from an a vocational standpoint of fine and applied arts.” Which means to us joyfully creating, exhibiting, networking and providing hands on experiences in the Arts.
The galleries are a source of pride for the Art Center, displaying a high quality of local work from Ojai, Santa Barbara, and Ventura County artists as well as artists from as far away as New York. Many artists who have since gained national recognition have had their start at the Ojai Art Center.
The galleries are a source of pride for the Art Center, displaying a high quality of local work from Ojai, Santa Barbara, and Ventura County artists as well as artists from as far away as New York. Many artists who have since gained national recognition have had their start at the Ojai Art Center.
3 Artists...
Philippe Mathieu / Rita Solomon / Gretchen Greenberg
Month of August
Reception for all artists: Saturday, August 10, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Three artists will be on display throughout the month of August.
Philippe Mathieu in the Main Gallery.
Philippe Mathieu was born in Orleans, France, and immigrated to Santa Barbara at the age of six. From an early age, Philippe’s love and talent for painting was evident on countless walls of his family’s home. At the age of sixteen, he fell in love with a Monet painting in the Santa Barbara Art Museum, drawing him to learn all about the French Impressionist movement of the 1880’s.
It was the breathtaking beauty of the California Coast that led Philippe to begin studying oil painting earnestly in his early twenties. He began selling his first works within a year. Philippe’s philosophy for his art is simple: a careful observation of light and color as it interplays with nature, along with countless years of practice, makes a beautiful painting. With over four decades of painting experience, he has become well-known for his romantic depictions of California’s coast through paintings, prints, and greeting cards.
The works of Rita Solomon will be featured in the Fireplace Room.
Born in 1933 in Quebec, Canada, Rita discovered her artistic talent early in life, preferring to sketch and draw while her peers played games. She honed her skills at L’Ecole des Beaux Arts in Quebec, capturing the charm of Old Quebec City with oils and dark palettes. Her travels through the Caribbean Islands brought new vibrancy to her work, inspired by the lush landscapes and colorful scenes.
In 1966, Rita moved to California, where the coastal grey mornings influenced her to adopt cooler hues in her art. She further expanded her repertoire by painting on raw silk for decorators and couturiers in Santa Monica. After retiring to Florida with her husband in 1984, Rita's art blossomed with watercolor beach scenes, reflecting the serene beauty of ocean life.
Now residing in Ojai, California, Rita continues to create, focusing on female figures, faces, and the delicate medium of dried flowers. Her work is a testament to the wonders of the universe and the simple joys of life. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience her artwork at the Ojai Art Center.
In the showcases… Masks and Sculpture by Gretchen Greenberg
Making masks is a pleasure; especially being part of a connection to one of the most ancient and universal art forms of humankind. The Elephant masks are inspired by Ganesha, the popular divinity of India venerated worldwide. The Palm tree in our garden, dropping its long-stemmed fronds, inspired the palm masks.
The sculptures, drawing from different aspects of nature, and carved from American Basswood, combine abstract sculptural form, relief carving and color.
- Philippe Mathieu in the Main Gallery
- Rita Solomon in the Fireside Room
- Gretchen Greenberg in the Showcases
Philippe Mathieu in the Main Gallery.
Philippe Mathieu was born in Orleans, France, and immigrated to Santa Barbara at the age of six. From an early age, Philippe’s love and talent for painting was evident on countless walls of his family’s home. At the age of sixteen, he fell in love with a Monet painting in the Santa Barbara Art Museum, drawing him to learn all about the French Impressionist movement of the 1880’s.
It was the breathtaking beauty of the California Coast that led Philippe to begin studying oil painting earnestly in his early twenties. He began selling his first works within a year. Philippe’s philosophy for his art is simple: a careful observation of light and color as it interplays with nature, along with countless years of practice, makes a beautiful painting. With over four decades of painting experience, he has become well-known for his romantic depictions of California’s coast through paintings, prints, and greeting cards.
The works of Rita Solomon will be featured in the Fireplace Room.
Born in 1933 in Quebec, Canada, Rita discovered her artistic talent early in life, preferring to sketch and draw while her peers played games. She honed her skills at L’Ecole des Beaux Arts in Quebec, capturing the charm of Old Quebec City with oils and dark palettes. Her travels through the Caribbean Islands brought new vibrancy to her work, inspired by the lush landscapes and colorful scenes.
In 1966, Rita moved to California, where the coastal grey mornings influenced her to adopt cooler hues in her art. She further expanded her repertoire by painting on raw silk for decorators and couturiers in Santa Monica. After retiring to Florida with her husband in 1984, Rita's art blossomed with watercolor beach scenes, reflecting the serene beauty of ocean life.
Now residing in Ojai, California, Rita continues to create, focusing on female figures, faces, and the delicate medium of dried flowers. Her work is a testament to the wonders of the universe and the simple joys of life. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience her artwork at the Ojai Art Center.
In the showcases… Masks and Sculpture by Gretchen Greenberg
Making masks is a pleasure; especially being part of a connection to one of the most ancient and universal art forms of humankind. The Elephant masks are inspired by Ganesha, the popular divinity of India venerated worldwide. The Palm tree in our garden, dropping its long-stemmed fronds, inspired the palm masks.
The sculptures, drawing from different aspects of nature, and carved from American Basswood, combine abstract sculptural form, relief carving and color.
Coming in September:
The Great Art Theft
Sunday, Sept. 22nd, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Purchase tix online or at The Ojai Art Center
At the Great Art Theft (where great art is a steal), local artists have donated paintings, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics, and much more to be on display starting Aug 30. Come view the art, pick your favorite(s), and buy a ticket. For the mere price of $100, you can own an original piece of art donated by local artists (art valued at much more than the price of a ticket.)
When you buy a ticket, your name is put in a basket and drawn one by one at the gala on Sunday, Sept. 22nd. As your name is called, you choose your favorite piece.
When you buy a ticket, your name is put in a basket and drawn one by one at the gala on Sunday, Sept. 22nd. As your name is called, you choose your favorite piece.
November Show: Take a Look Back to 1939
"Transcriptions: An 85th Birthday Party for the Ojai Art Center"
As the 85th birthday of the Ojai Art Center comes up in November we’d like to invite artists to take a look back to the year 1939 or thereabouts and choose a work of art in any medium (painting, photography, music, film, drama, dance, sculpture, 3D) and transcribe it. A transcription is a copy that is not an exact replica. It can also take just a piece of the original to copy. Transcribing a work of art teaches a person about important elements of the original. For instance, in a painting we’d look at the composition, the color, the values, the underlying structure (where are the darks and lights, what shapes seem to lead the eye around the canvas?) For this celebration we suggest people find a piece of art that they love from the late 1930s and create a copy that can be anything from an homage to a parody. The idea is to get inspired by a work of art, and you can change media too: make a photograph from a painting, a collage from a photograph, a painting inspired by a sculpture or movie poster, or a sculpture or 3D inspired by a painting, etc. The years leading up to and following 1939 were politically and economically challenging. We face some of the same challenges today. Artists have engaged with challenges in all kinds of ways, from Picasso’s “Guernica” to Matisse’s fantasia of beautiful women and flowers painted in the thirties. We encourage artists to find their own voice when making a transcription. When submitting your piece(s) please provide a photograph of the original that inspired your work. Interesting websites concerning transcriptions and art of the 1930s: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/in-these-quarantine-tableaus-household-items-turn-into-art-history-props https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/articles/2023/9/the-art-of-the-great-depression https://www.seattleartistleague.com/2020/10/19/fran-oneills-transcriptions/ ART CENTER GUIDELINES: This an open show. 2D work must be framed or have finished gallery edges and be securely wired for hanging; 3D work welcome. Original work only, no AI or giclee. No wet paint or work previously shown at the Art Center; all work must be available for purchase. Size limit on 2D work is 48" wide. A 30% commission will be charged on all sales. Fill out entry form below (clearly) before you arrive. LIABILITY: Every precaution will be taken in handling the artwork; however, no liability for damages or loss can be assumed by the Art Center or its volunteers. All exhibiting artists must be members of the Art Center; a 30-day membership is available for $10.00. A regular year membership for an individual is $50 or $30 for a senior. Artists who wish to insure their work must provide that insurance. |
The 1930s were a dynamic decade marked by significant cultural, technological, and social changes. Here are some popular things from that era that you could consider for your artistic homage or parody:
Art and Literature
Each of these elements offers a rich source of inspiration for creating an artwork that captures the essence of the 1930s. Choose a subject that resonates with you and let your creativity bring it to life in your unique style! |
The Great Art Theft - 2023
We'd like to take a moment and thank all those who helped make our 9th Annual Great Art Theft event such a success!
From the art committee planning sessions, volunteer help, and generous donations from local artists -- to all the ticket purchasers (the Gala was sold out!)
Thanks so much. We couldn't have done it without you!
Here is a list of our wonderfully talented artists. A very special thank you to each of you!!
What Else...
We now have a selection of scripts, plays and books from the collection of John Slade. Everything has been lovingly chronicled by his wife, Laurie Walters Slade, and is available to browse or borrow.
Interested in Exhibiting at the OAC?
Artists interested in being considered for an exhibit should call 805-646-0117 to find out how it’s done.