ANONYMOUS Exhibition and Gala
Dozens of well-known and emerging local artists will donate their creative efforts for a fundraiser for the Vita Art Center, a West Ventura teaching facility which offers local youth a safe and nurturing environment during their least structured and therefore highest-risk times: after school, on weekends, and during the summer months.
Called the "Anonymous" exhibition, the event features 12-inch-by-12-inch canvasses. The paintings are exhibited anonymously with the artists signing the back of their paintings.
"Visitors collect art without knowing who the artist is until after they've purchased the piece," said Vita Art Center Founder Mary Perez. "The fun is for visitors to collect work they like and maybe pick out a favorite artist's work or collect a new artist."
The Friday, Dec. 2 event begins with a 5-6 p.m. "First Dibs" gala, for those who want the first chance to look over and purchase the exhibited works. Wine and delicious appetizers will be served. After 6 p.m., the event is free and open to the public.
This is the third year of the annual "Anonymous" exhibition. "It's our biggest fundraiser of the year," Perez said. "Last year we sponsored hundreds of youths in our art programs, totaling more than $14,000 in scholarships to families with financial need."
All Vita Art Center classes are taught by local artists. "Not only do we help youth, we create jobs for local artists," Perez added.
The Vita Art Center, located at 432 Ventura Ave. Studio 30, in the Bell Arts Factory, offers consistent, quality art education and mentoring which impacts social development, academic achievement, and vocational opportunities for youth and teens. Studies show that when youth have substantial engagements with the arts they are more likely to go to college, get good grades, obtain a degree and to hold a full-time job. The facility is an educational not for-profit organization under the sponsorship of Bell Arts Factory, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. Contributions to the Vita Art Center are fully tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.
For more information, contact Mary Perez at (805) 644-9214, MaryPerez@sbcglobal.net or visit www.VitaArtCenter.com
Exhibiting Artists Include:
John White
Amy Schnieder
MB Hanrahan
Alex Juhaz
Donna Granata
Hiroko Yoshimoto
Steven Falconer
Misako Inaoka
Hilda Kilpatrick
Robert Amend
Vonder Gray
Helle Scharling
Slyvia Raz
Gayle Childress
Julie Palmer
Nicole Rapattoni
Cole Smothers
Elisse Pogofsky Harris
William Litwa
Dona Weikowski
Elle Je Freehart
Juan Cervantes
Sylvia Tayan
Rob Hannah
Ruth Farnham
Kara Davis
Sue Pollock
Pamela Price Klebaum
Christine Beirne
Karen Lewis
Chuck Trunks
Beatrix Rolsen
Beverly Decker
Monica Wiesblot
Lori Cozen Geller
Luis Perez
Elena Brookes
Jill Shanbrom
Jennifer Guernsey
Maribel Hernandez
Colin Gray
Len Poteshman
Laurie Raskin
Silvia Huerta
Shelby Harbison
Amadeo Perez
Luther Gerlach
Ricardo Rodriguez
Johanna Spinks
lynn Le Tourneau
Claudia Pardo
Fred Ziegler
Erik Reel
Edmund Lara
gauvin
Rolando Camarena
Anna Bermudez
Deborah Haagenson
Deborah Guthrie
Sonya Burke