Ojai - An Enclave of Creativity
The Small Town Attracts Big Talent and Nurtures the Creative Spirit
By Janis Flippen

Ojai's small town charms have attracted artists to nurture their creative spirits. This artsy getaway draws an impressive list of world-class musicians and performers to perform at the city's indoor and outdoor venues.

Among the favorite art centers is the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts. Wood celebrated her creative artwork until the age of 105 when she passed away. The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts celebrates her life and attracts visitors to see her works of art. The Center is complete with beautiful pink walls (her favorite color), an art gallery, with
regular changing exhibitions from local artists, a gift shop and her workroom studio. Ongoing workshops allow for budding artists to work in her studio and create their own works of art. The studio is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.

Janis' Art Garden, Gallery & Ojai Art Workshop combines the creative displays of local artwork with an inspiring environment for art students to learn and create. The Garden Art Gallery is surrounded by displays of precast and sculpted fountains, statuary furnishings and water-conserving plants. Regular arts classes are offered for both children and adults. The studio is open Monday through Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm.

Artists, poets, dancers, photographers, actors and others can be found at the Ojai Center for the Arts. The center, the longest-running nonprofit art center in California, draws artists from all over the state. It features changing exhibits in all mediums and explores the ever-changing world of photography. In addition, the center provides dance classes, musical theater and chamber music concerts.

The community theater branch has featured such popular productions as South Pacific, My Fair Lady and Romeo & Juliet, and offers a full season of plays throughout the year. Theater 150, a small professional theater, was named for the state highway that runs through town and has grown to include concerts, a reading series, educational outreach programs, stand-up comedy shows, new play development and award-winning plays.

The scenic setting of Ojai has provided inspiration to artists who display their works in the galleries that dot downtown. Visitors will find abundant opportunities to purchase original works of art or simply admire them as they stroll through town. Best known for their custom design jewelry, HumanArts Gallery is filled with a mix of contemporary crafts, art, wearables, sculpture, paintings, furniture and gift items. Primavera Gallery represents one hundred different artists from around the country in glass, wood, jewelry, paintings, furniture and more. Other finds include the Ojai House featuring functional art for the house and garden, Nomad Gallery known for their Tuareg jewelry collection, and Palette Gallery, featuring fine artists from around the world.

Signature cultural events have enhanced Ojai's reputation as an enclave of creativity. The Ojai Storytelling Festival in May features old-fashioned storytelling at the intimate Libbey Bowl.

Ojai's annual Art in the Park on Memorial Day weekend draws local and California artists and provides an opportunity for visitors to meet the artists, obtain some artistic insights, or even purchase art.

The Ojai Music Festival attracts artists performing pieces of contemporary and classical music. The Festival has presented some of the world's finest conductors, composers and performers. Now in its sixth decade, the annual festival continues its unmatched musical legacy and international reputation for artistic excellence. Each year, the festival wel- comes a new music director who creates his or her own artistic programming.

In August, selected playwrights from all over the world join together to participate in the development of new plays during the Ojai Playwrights Conference, an intensive two-week in-residence workshop. This conference culminates with public readings of new works and special performances in the OPC Summer New Works Festival. Many of the plays have gone on to become full stage productions in Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, San Francisco and even Asia and Africa. October brings the annual Ojai Studio Artists Tour, attended by thousands of art lovers. Visitors can go at their own pace, visit the studios, meet the artists, view works in progress, and share interesting conversations with
the artists.

Visit www.ojaivisitors.com or call
1-888-OJAI-NOW for more details on

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