Last weekend a sizable crowd gathered to remember artist Donald Cecil who passed away suddenly at only 52 years of age.
I worked with Donald for a year, maybe longer, when he was art director at VCReporter.  In those days, the editorial and art departments shared tight quarters in our office at the Harbor, yet despite [...]

Moving beyond ArtWalk

Let me preface this post by saying that I’m a big fan of ArtWalk, I’ve been to nearly every one and I always have a great time. I also try to buy something original if I can and encourage others to follow suit. I will be in attendance this weekend for the Harvest ArtWalk. I [...]

VCReporter one year later . . .

It’s been one year since I returned to VCReporter to reprise my role as arts editor. It’s a labor of love and I’d be loath to find a more perfect fit.  I feel I’ve accomplished much of what I hoped to, yet there’s so much I wish I could do with the section (art & [...]

The Nu Camelot:Michelle Obama gets art

Comparisons of Michelle Obama to Jackie O continue to gain validity with every speech she gives. A champion of the arts, her desire to bring culture back to the White House is refreshing, even comforting to those of us who lamented the backyard BBQ aesthetics of the Bush days.
Her most recent appeal for the arts [...]

“Don’t you wish Ventura County had more to offer culturally?”

Someone asked me this yesterday and my answer was “no.” I find Ventura County to be culturally wealthy. I think much of it is a bit below the radar, maybe that’s why it’s perceived as lacking.
The subject got me thinking a bit about the definition of “culture” and if we’re really clear as to its [...]

New Art City vs. New Bar City

In the midst of decreased funding for the arts in Ventura (the “New Art City”) and the subsequent slow death of ArtWalk, the local music scene is, as I’ve reported previously, exploding. At the same time, the bar scene–if you can call it a scene–has recently been plagued by violence which has led to what [...]

The future of ArtWalk hangs in the balance

It’s been just over two months since I reported on the tenuous state of ArtWalk due to budget cuts. The final ArtWalk of its kind–100 percent city supported–was one of the best ever and left me feeling optimistic about the event’s future.
As the city has given over at least 1/2 the responsibility of coordinating, promoting [...]

Buying into the New Art City: Take my challenge

SHOW OFF THE ART YOU PURCHASE AT ARTWALK AND WIN!
In my article today about the business of ArtWalk, I quoted Focus on the Masters‘ Donna Granata regarding the importance of not only attending ArtWalk but also purchasing art.
While the city of Ventura has long been a destination for its diverse ecology, clean air and [...]

Blessings and curses

One of our favorite sayings in the VCReporter office is “No good deed goes unpunished.” Indeed, local artist MB Hanrahan must be acquainted with the real life manifestation of this dictum as her latest philanthropic contribution to the city of Ventura has come under scrutiny.
As detailed in a recent story in the Reporter by Michael [...]

Personal responsibility and the arts

A compelling op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal addresses the tension between the need for the arts and the burden of funding the arts. Funding for the arts via the National Endowment for the Arts in Obama’s stimulus package barely squeezed through the Senate, even though it was a RELATIVELY small allotment.
When economic [...]