Opera by the Glass Presents "Anna Bolena" at Museum of Ventura County on 11/17, 11/19

Opera by the Glass Presents a Thrilling Immersive Production of Donizetti’s Tragic Masterpiece, Anna Bolena, at the Museum of Ventura County on Friday, November 17, and Sunday, November 19, 2017

Artists collective Opera by the Glass will present its contemporary interpretation of Gaetano Donizetti’s historical masterpiece, Anna Bolena, sponsored by the Museum of Ventura County for two special performances on Friday, November 17 (8:00pm), and Sunday, November 19, 2017 (5:00pm).

Anna Bolena, a thrilling bel canto opera in two acts, recounts the final days of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of England's notorious King Henry VIII, once he had lost interest in her and ruthlessly moved on to Jane Seymour. The fast-paced immersive experience is staged in the museum’s exquisite Martin V. & Martha K. Smith Pavilion, which is punctuated with striking walls of glass and river rock. Anna Bolena features first-rate Ventura-based artists in collaboration with performers from outside the area who have appeared in regional, national, and international productions.

Anna Bolena is widely considered the strongest of Donizetti's three "Tudor queen" operas, noted for its inspired music and fully realized characters. Donizetti’s original opera was over 3 hours in duration. For this production, Opera by the Glass has carefully trimmed the work down to a more palatable 2-hour length. The high-quality production will be presented in its original Italian with English supertitles.

The Friday, November 17th performance of Anna Bolena starts at 8:00pm and the Sunday, November 19th performance starts at 5:00pm, running for 2 hours and 20 minutes (2 hours of performance + a 20-minute intermission). Seating is arranged to resemble a royal court with the performers activating the space for an immersive, intimate experience; complimentary wine and light refreshments will be available for those seated at tables. VIP “King” front row tables for 4 are $300, “Queen” tables for 4 are $250, “Court” tables for 4 are $150, and single seats behind the tables are $30. Adding seats to tables is not possible. Tickets are available for purchase in advance at bolena.bpt.me. Minimum age is 16.

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street, Ventura. Plenty of street and metered parking is available near the venue. For additional information, visit the Facebook event page: https://oby.tg/FBAnnaEvEnt. Or direct questions to (805) 665-3651 / hello@operabytheglass.org. Opera by the Glass is also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Hana Chelberg is featured in the challenging role of “Anne Boleyn,” the ambitious, doomed Tudor queen, as she languishes in anxiety, confusion, and eventual madness while facing execution (remedial spoiler: she’s totally a goner). Dianna Burdick plays the conflicted “Jane Seymour,” who replaced Anne in the king’s affections. Luvi Avendano is “Lord Rochefort,” Anne’s brother, with whom she was accused of having an incestuous relationship. “Lord Percy,” Anne’s former love, is played by Alex Rodin Mendoza. Sally Rose Bates, as Anne’s page “Mark Smeaton,” and Ricardo Mota, as court official “Sir Hervey,” round out the cast.

Additional members of Henry’s treacherous court are characterized by an ever-present chorus of eavesdroppers and spies. Covers and ensemble members include Constance von Briesen-Kamm, Rosa Chang, Grace Kim, Rachel Labovitch, Jessie Missouri, and Esteban Pérez. The production also features a 14-piece live orchestra of area musicians.

Anna Bolena will be staged with a blend of traditional and modern aesthetics in the Museum of Ventura County’s Martin V. & Martha K. Smith Pavilion, a state of the art event space in the heart of historic downtown Ventura. Audience seating will be arranged around a theatrical “runway” in blatantly hierarchical, courtly fashion with tables configured by ticket price. The best seats, with the closest access to the performers, will go to those with the most power and influence (i.e., money). As they perform, players in sumptuous costumes will filter through the audience in the impressive space, offering an immersive experience as the action unfolds all around.

Anna Bolena is the first live performing arts production to be staged in the museum. While not entirely historically accurate, the production should appeal not only to diehard opera fans, but also to history buffs, political junkies, cultural adventurers, and music lovers seeking an accessible way to dip their toes into the often-pretentious world of opera.

In addition to serving as Artistic Director for Opera by the Glass, Zeffin Quinn Hollis also directs Anna Bolena. Timothy León is the Music Director and Conductor. Robert Chelberg is an Executive Consultant.

Opera by the Glass –
Launched in 2016, Opera by the Glass is a community of singers, directors, and musicians devoted to providing fantastic immersive opera experiences for contemporary audiences in non-traditional yet spectacular spaces in Ventura County and beyond. The concept is part of a new breed of intimate opera companies and grass roots arts organizations that strip away rigid performance paradigms to offer accessible and affordable opera in casual settings that are enjoyable and easy-to-follow by a wide audience. Anna Bolena is the second opera staged by Opera by the Glass. The organization’s sold-out inaugural production of Bellini’s The Sleepwalker (2016) met critical acclaim and enthusiastic local audiences last November.

10th Annual Scott Medlock-Robby Krieger Celebrity Golf Tourney and All Star Rock Concert on August 27-28, 2017

The 10th annual Scott Medlock-Robby Krieger Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament Benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and 19th Hole Festivities are planned for Monday, August 28, 2017 at the North Ranch Country Club and All Star Rock & Roll Concert featuring Robby Krieger of The Doors and other rock legends is planned for Sunday, August 27 at 5:30pm at Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu.

Internationally renowned Sports Artist Scott Medlock and the Legendary Guitarist for THE DOORS Robby Krieger are excited to host the event.

After completing play for the day, all golfers are invited to the 19th Hole Festivities for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres hosted by some of the best local restaurants, golf awards,

All proceeds from the event will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the largest pediatric research hospitals in the world. 

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, and food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. 

To learn more and buy tickets to both events, visit www.TheMedlockKrieger.com 

Ojai Studio Artists Second Saturday Open Studios - Free Event on January 14, 2017

The Ojai Studio Artists Second Saturday mini-tours begin on January 14 with four open studios in downtown Ojai. Featured this month are Andrea Haffner, Rex Kochel, Marta Nelson and Iris Williams. Studios will be open from 10am - 3pm. Admission is free, and the studios are all located within a few miles of each other.

With enthusiastic response from the community to the Second Saturday tours, OSA is scheduling mini-tours from January through July. "It gives people a chance to spend some in-depth time with each artist," Ms. Moran says. "With over 60 artists on the October Studio Tour, people really have to pick and choose who to see. This is a more leisurely tour."

A professional artist for the past 18 years, Andrea Haffner's resin cast pieces are unique and delicate. Inspired by the natural form - from yucca capsules to maple samaras, Haffner assembles and suspends bits of natural material in resin colored with transparent dyes. With a background in both photography and glass, light is a primary consideration in her work. Elegant yet abstract, she encases her assemblages within small sterling silver or larger steel frames. She creates jewelry pieces as well as large commissions. Haffner has exhibited extensively across the country and recently completed numerous large-scale commissions for hospitals, hotels and private residences.
After 34 years as an educator in the Ventura School District, Rex Kochel is now a full-time artist. His whimsical style evolved primarily from the use of blind continuous line drawings. He begins his watercolors on location, then continues to modify them in his studio before he begins to paint. His work reflects his travels to Mexico, Peru, Panama, Argentina, as well as time spent in San Francisco and Ventura County. He maintains a strong compositional focus in all of his artwork, frequently moving in the direction of abstract realism. His work can be seen at the new Remax Building in Ventura, for which he created 54 paintings which are part of their permanent collection.

Marta Nelson is a painter, printmaker and sculptor and a founding member of Ojai Studio Artists. A lifelong artist, she won her first art scholarship at 10 years old, and attended her first figure drawing classes at Chouinard Art Institute. She later taught at Bakersfield College, teaching painting and sculpture. Her art often reflects her interest in dance, her garden in Ojai as well as exotic scenes from her travels around the world. Her paintings and prints hang in private collections across the United State, Mexico and Japan. Marta is also deeply committed to the International Peace Movement. Incorporating peace doves in all her work, Marta was instrumental in establishing the first Peace Pole in Ojai.

Iris Williams sees art as a silent language. Her oil paintings are often mischievous and whimsical and also involve some aspect of storytelling. “Art was the agent that allowed me to speak,” she explains. She uses her art to explore her imagination and dreams. In all her work, whether still life, landscape or figurative work, she aims to elicit a feeling of wonder. As co-owner of Ojai Creates along with her husband Kirk Lowry, Williams sells art supplies to the community and has a longtime association with the Ojai Art Center.

A map for the January 14th event can be printed from the OSA website: ojaistudioartists.org. Any changes or additions to the list of artists will be posted there.

2015 Ojai Studio Artists Tour Planned for October 10-12

The 32nd annual self-guided Ojai Studio Artists Tour is Columbus Day weekend, October 10, 11 & 12. 

Fifty artist studios throughout the breathtaking Ojai Valley will be open each day from 10am to 5pm. Artist demonstrations proved so popular last year they'll be expanded in 2015 with the Demonstration Schedule distributed in advance.

Another highlight is the special Pre-Tour Program at 7pm on Friday, October 9th.
for locals and early arrivals. Led by an OSA artist, the program introduces the work of each Tour artist and is designed to help people plan their personal Tour schedules.

Also popular, Saturday's Dessert Reception and live music event, open (free) to all Tour artists and ticket-holders. The event features a raffle of beautiful baskets filled with original art and fine local products, such as Ojai honey, olive oil and lavender.

Proceeds from the Tour and Art Basket Raffle fund OSA's "Artreach Program" of youth art scholarships and funding for community arts needs.

Tour tickets are $30 in advance, $35 day of event, $20/person for groups of 10 or more, $15 for students, 17 & under free, and cover studio visits all three days and admission to Saturday's Dessert Reception. Tickets and Tour brochures will be available starting in May at ojaistudioartists.org.

The Ojai Studio Artists Tour has a rich legacy , from early days that included the celebrated Beatrice Wood, Horace Bristol and Otto and Vivica Heino, to today's membership of distinguished, award-winning artists. Come see why leading critics and media describe the Ojai Studio Artists as "world-class," and the Tour, "a rare experience" - wihile the growing influx of stylish shops and trendy restaurants only adding to Ojai's unique "destination appeal."

Art Walk 2015 in Thousand Oaks Planned for the Weekend of June 6th-7th

ArtWalk '15 takes place on Saturday and Sunday, June 6th and 7th from 10 am to 5 pm at The Bank of America Building at Hillcrest and Wilbur Streets in Thousand Oaks.  ArtWalk is a two day, juried, fine arts and designer crafts outdoor exhibition presented by the Conejo Valley Art Museum with the assistance of the Conejo Recreation and Park District. Over 100 artists will have their work on display and for sale.

The museum extends the opportunity for all distinguished artists, designers and crafts persons to exhibit their finest work in this celebrated event. Proceeds of ArtWalk go to the building and endowment funds. FREE admission and parking. Call 805.492.8778 for more information. Food trucks, children’s hands-on art tent, fine arts raffle booth, and live music will be on hand. Also visit cvam.us/events.html.