Porch Gallery presents artists Takeda, Hatano
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Sumi ink and handmade washi. Paper on wood.
Souun Takeda and Wataru Hatano will be featured in their joint exhibit entitled “Awareness” that runs through April 21 at Porch Gallery Ojai, 310 E. Ojai Ave.
As one of Japan’s foremost calligraphy artists, Souun Takeda is highly praised for his innovative, yet traditional way of expressing the beauty of the Japanese language and spirit. Wataru Hatano is renowned for his innovative process of blending the beauty of the washi paper with stationery products, furniture and interior spaces such as wallpaper and flooring.
Partnering for the first time in the United States, “Awareness” features Takeda’s drawings produced on Hatano’s washi paper-based canvases that were created to enhance the depth of Takeda’s signature brushstrokes.
Landmark String Quartet to perform in Ojai March 3
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Landmark String Quartet members
The members of Landmark String Quartet — a mixed group of Brazilian, Czech, Korean and Taiwanese muscians — is scheduled to perform twice this year in Ojai and once in Santa Paula.
The quartet’s first Ojai performance in 2019 will be March 3 at 4 p.m. at Ojai Presbyterian Church, 304 Foothill Road, Ojai. The musicians will perform Mozart: String Quartet No.19 in C Major, K. 465 (Haydn Quartet No. 6, "Dissonance") and Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 18, No. 4 in C Minor.
‘Crazy for You’ music will keep audiences humming
Photo by Mary M. Long
One way to wake up the sleepy little town of Deadrock is to "Slap That Bass" when Broadway comes to Nevada in "Crazy For You." Shown are (from left) Bryan Schurmer, Quinn Davis on bass, Benny Schurmer and Stella Moore.
John Hankins, Special to the Ojai Valley News
There may be countless rifts among the audience when filing out after “Crazy for You,” the Broadway smash opening in Ojai this coming Thursday, March 7 through 17 by the Nordhoff High Musical Department in Matilija Jr. High’s auditorium.
That would be over “which song people will be humming or singing as they leave,” predicted Bill Wagner, musical director.
Ojai native debuts in ‘Night Must Fall'
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Angelica Smith
Enamored with the theater since she was a child, Angelica Smith never really pursued acting, instead focusing more on education and travel. That was until she met director Richard Camp in Ojai Coffee Roasters. “He encouraged me to audition,” she said. “I actually didn’t know the story at all. After reading together, I think he saw me more as Olivia than anyone else.”
Debuting as the lead in “Night Must Fall” can be a daunting task. Smith has been up to it, learning as she goes from two great mentors in her co-star, David Taylor, and Camp. “Richard is incredible and provides the perfect balance between guiding us as a director and allowing us to make discoveries of our own,” Smith said. “If I’m ever fortunate enough to direct, I hope to emulate his ways. David has been a huge support to me as well. The three of us have spent countless hours together talking of life and acting. These conversations have really helped me develop Olivia. I’m forever grateful to both of them.”
Jim Kimo West concert at Beato Center March 2
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Jim Kimo
The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts presents a performance by Jim Kimo West on March 2 at 7 p.m. West, recognized as one of the world's top slack key guitarists, will perform selections from his Grammy-nominated album “Moku Maluhia: Peaceful Island,” as well as classic works.
West is a prolific composer. He also writes and produces music for feature films and television shows. A Canadian native, West grew up in Florida and was playing professionally in various rock bands by age 16. A decade later, he landed in Los Angeles and began working with "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Featured Artist Sherry Loehr
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“Oranges” by Sherry Loehr
“Inspiration for my artwork comes from nature: flowers, fruits, birds, plants,” says Sherry Loehr. “My paintings play in the balance of reality and imagination.” She will be showing her recent work, including an oil of a camellia in bloom titled “Luscious,” at her East End studio on March 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the Ojai Studio Artists Second Saturday Tour. Other East End artists opening their studios for the tour are Cindy Pitou Burton, Devin Oatway, Sylvia Raz, Mick Reinman and Elizabeth White. The tour is free and self-guided. For more information and a tour map visit http://www.ojaistudioartists.org.
NHS musical opens March 7
Photo by Mary M. Long
The Follies Girls took Broadway by storm and you should see their effect on the sleepy town of Deadrock, Nevada.
By John Hankins
“Crazy for You” is a crazy quilt of songs and ideas mined from other musicals, with jazz, cabaret and variety show elements that “grabbed the musical back from the British” when it was produced on Broadway in 1992.
Ojai’s Nordhoff High School is now grabbing it back from Broadway March 7 to 17.
It rose to grand reviews hailed as “The New Gershwin Comedy” coupled with playwright Ken Ludwig (“Lend Me A Tenor”).
Review: 1930s thriller is exhilarating
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Mrs. Terence, the housekeeper (Laura Ring), confronts Dan (David Nelson Taylor) in “Night Must Fall.”
By Sami Zahringer, Special to the Ojai Valley News
It’s 1935 in the English countryside and a woman with a reputation for scandal is missing from a luxurious country hotel. The papers are full of it and the denizens of a quiet, isolated household near to the hotel where she was last seen are all atwitter with sensational horror. The gleeful hand-wringing, however, soon turns into a dark foreboding when the woman’s body is found in the house’s rubbish heap. Suddenly, the safe, rural home seems not so safe after all.
Ojai’s ‘Townies Podcast’ brings block party to Ventura
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Students in Kim Maxwell Studio’s teen class gather in a group hug, from left, John Juarez, Arley Sakai, Lacy Shifflette, Quinne Venokur, Chloe Samia, Nora Crawford, Ren D’Angelo and Kelly del Manzano.
Every town has its stories and Ojai’s “The Townies Podcast” is ready to prove it by bringing a free block party to the Museum of Ventura County on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m., sponsored by Rabobank.
“The Townies Podcast” is a collection of live original stories and music, written and performed by local friends, neighbors and strangers and available in free online podcasts. The writers/performers have developed their stories in Kim Maxwell's 10-week writing and performance class in Ojai.
Freeman holds art auction for charities on Feb. 23
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Artist Valerie Freeman
Ojai Studio Artist Valerie Freeman is holding an Art Auction Charity Fundraiser and reception Feb. 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. for all nonprofits at the Ojai Art Center, 113 S. Montgomery St. It is free and open to the public.
All artworks for the exhibit's silent and live auctions can be viewed at Freemanart.com. There is a “buy-now” option. For more information, visit OjaiArtCenter.org.
“With 50 percent of profits benefiting charities, it’s really a benefit for all,” Freeman said. Each bid winner chooses any charity of his or her preference to receive profits.
BRAVO celebrates Music in the Schools with free concert, Music Van
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The University of California Santa Barbara Middle East Ensemble will perform a free concert March 1 at Ojai Valley School.
To celebrate Music in the Schools Month in March, the Ojai Music Festival’s BRAVO program will feature a concert March 1 at Ojai Valley School and deploy its Music Van to demonstrate musical instruments to students in elementary schools.
The Imagine concert will be two performances of the UC Santa Barbara Middle East Ensemble at Ojai Valley School’s Greenberg Center, including a free community concert March 1 from 4 to 5 p.m. Seating will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.