Art season kicks into high gear
By Jesse Phelps

Local artists continue to make Ojai special over the next several weeks with two exhibits worth checking out.

The Ojai Art Center has an exhibit full of heavyweights, as usual, but maybe not the kind you'd think. An entire show dedicated to the elephant explores the mystical and physical power of these ancient beasts, in paintings, sculpture and ceramics. And over at Stir Crazy, a number of Ojai Day contributors have a show of their own.

This month's exhibit at Stir Crazy, a coffee shop located in Mira Monte at 11534 N. Ventura Ave., honors 14 of the more than 60 contributing Ojai Day Artists.

According to organizer and contributing artist Linda Harmon, over the past nine months, these artists have generously volunteered their time and talents to Ojai Day.

"They provide all the signage for the event itself as well as the art for stage backdrops, street banners and arcade banners, the Arnaz grade banner and the highlight of Ojai Day itself, the street mandala," said Harmon. "Artists also volunteer their time for workshops with adults and youth."

The Stir Crazy exhibit contains several past Ojai Day Posters. A highlight of this year's reception was an appearance by artist Chong Lee, whose painting of the Ojai Day street scene was chosen for this year's poster.

Lee drove up from Glendale to attend and meet some of the other artists. "He loves Ojai and has been painting it for years," said Harmon.

Lee retired from the ceramic business where he was a designer for more than 20 years, both in the United States and in his native country, Korea.

For this year's Ojai Day celebrations, many Ojai Day artists will be at the Ojai Art Center, located at 113 S. Montgomery St., offering workshops, demonstrations, poetry readings and music.

In addition, the Ojai Film Festival will be screening some of their most popular films from past festivals. The main gallery features an exhibit of the Ojai Studio Artists, and a docent will be on hand during the day. All events are free.

For now, however, the Art Center is still home to its intriguing elephant exhibit. Sparked by a conversartion in the park, local artists Tom Hardcastle and Gretchen Greenberg came together, and with the recommendation of art center director Teri Mettala, hatched the idea for "The Elephant in Art."

Said Greenberg, "A year ago June, at Art in the Park, we were all sitting around talking and we were staring at this giant elephant painting that Tom had done. We talked about how amazing elephants are. Teri piped up and suggested we do a show at the Art Center."
Greenberg said that she and Hardcastle started floating the idea with local artists. "Some just jumped on it right away," she said, while others needed to ruminate some on the concept.

"They gathered facts and then others just clicked in about how ancient elephants are and the whole thing about how they played into religion and art and mythology," said Greenberg. "And some we really lobbied. And lo and behold, people just really got into it."

The show encompasses many styles of art and the contributors range in age from 10-year-old Sam Gall (son of metal master Ted) and two high school students to a host of Ojai all-stars.

A special large decorative elephant head created by Greenberg and Hardcastle is being auctioned to benefit Ahali, a non-profit dedicated to identifying, monitoring and assisting captive elephants living alone or in inadequate conditions ion North America.

The show will continue to run through the first of the month.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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