State of the arts

[Nathan Larramendy, owner of the Nathan Larramendy Gallery in Ojai]

Did you see any exhibits locally outside of your own gallery that impressed you?

At the Upfront Gallery, I saw a show there this year I was impressed with, Christine Morla. I thought it was ambitious. They were kind of landscape-based, but there were a number of works on panels that were landscape-based but they incorporated a large amount of collage, so they were kind of abstract and futurist. Then she did this whole wall installation of different types of material, and it was sort of floral-based. It was gorgeous. And then the back room had all these drawings of her left hand, and they would have a knife stabbed into it or staples, something gouging underneath the fingernails — all these painful situations she would put her hand in. They were really hot pieces of art. If I had money, I would’ve bought one.

What would you like to see happen in the Ventura County arts community in 2008?

The city of Ventura offers a grant every year — one year it’s visual arts, the next year it’s performing arts. This year, it’ll be visual arts again, but it’s limited to artists who have studios or live within the city limits. I think it needs to be open countywide because the same people are winning it over and over and over again, and there are so many artists living in the county that merit the attention and the financial help. I understand it’s city money, so why should they be giving it to people in the county, but I think it would provide an opportunity for greater dialogue and better exposure for Ventura as the New Art City. If you give the same award to the same people every year, it’s boring.

I think Ventura is becoming more supportive of the arts and giving it more attention, and I’m very, very thankful for my local collectors, but I think that could expand on all levels. Because if you want these art organizations and galleries such as mine that are participating in the national dialogue to survive in your community, they need to get behind the artists that you show and collect the work. It’s hard if you’re not selling it. There’s enough money here for people to start collecting art, even on a modest scale. People think it’s such a luxury item that they can’t have it. But everything that’s a luxury item is a sacrifice.

[Paul Benavidez, owner of Upfront Gallery in Ventura]

Did you see any exhibits locally outside of your own gallery that impressed you?

The McNish Gallery [at Oxnard College] is bringing in some top-notch exhibits, consistently, too. The 643 project space is a new space, it’s getting off the ground, it’s artist run — that’s where I had a solo show. And of course Nathan Larramendy. In terms of those galleries I mentioned, I think Ventura County has a lot to be proud of.

What are your hopes for the local arts scene in 2008?

It’s about the quality of the art, whether it’s contemporary or more traditionalist. I’d like to see a little more enthusiasm in terms of the city and the community looking for and wanting better quality art.

At this point, is Ventura truly a “New Art City” or is it still simply a marketing tool?

That is a marketing tool. They have rolled out the red carpet for one or two people that came from out of town, but they haven’t shown any activity in terms of bringing quality art here. We’re kind of wondering about that, because what are we doing here? We’ve been here, and we’ve been showing consistent art. My expectations for the city and the community are they educate themselves a little bit more. I have yet to see one city councilperson come into our gallery. These are top people, real international artists, and I’ve yet to see even the cultural affairs department come to the gallery. Yet they keep blabbing about California’s New Art City, but they don’t do anything other than blab then promote the local art, which is fine, but then they’re promoting mediocrity outside Ventura to pull in tourism, and the real art ecosystem doesn’t take them seriously. I think that’s wrong, and I think the city really needs to wake up and take a look at themselves and make some adjustments.

[Jennifer Livia, owner of Red Brick Gallery in Ventura]

Is there anything you saw this year that made you believe Ventura is actually becoming a “New Art City”?

The ArtWalks are getting bigger for sure. And a lot more artists are showing. I think more people are getting involved [in ArtWalk]. More merchants are having artists out in front, more restaurants are featuring artists for the ArtWalk, where before I think it was less important. Everyone else is realizing how important it is.

Would you like to see more people purchasing art?

Definitely. I think it’s nice that everyone appreciates the art, but the bottom line is the only way artists can make a living doing their art and actually continue their passion of being an artist is by people purchasing it, and not expecting to purchase it at $20 but at the value compensating time and supplies. I still feel like a lot of people are looking more than buying.

It seems like we all want it to be an Art City, but the number of galleries is shrinking. The city keeps saying we’re a New Art City, however our artist community and the places to show it is shrinking.