ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

It was a difficult collaboration given time and financial constraints. But it was appreciated by the few who saw it. The next collaboration was very much a community effort. The Fabulous Hat Party involved local artists creating hats to be auctioned. Merchants gladly came on board displaying hats in their store windows over a weekend. The party was well attended and double the amount of money was raised from the year before. And talk of the next one included much more planning time. I had my arm twisted to do a staged reading at Theater 150 of a play written by an Ojai native. I rarely find plays I want to be involved in and this one was quite enjoyable.

Then, along came the notion of a fundraising project that would make a difference in meeting the challenge of funding the arts in Ojai. I witnessed the head of an Ojai arts organization being turned down in a request for funding. “We just get hit up so much,” the reluctant patron said, “but you’re welcome to use our house for a fundraising event.” Fair enough. But yet another fundraising event in a calendar year jammed packed with social obligations. I’ve learned that no matter how noble the cause, Ojai can only take so many fundraising events. And besides, the effort it takes to put on a fundraiser takes away from the time needed working in the field of your chosen cause. The idea of a male calendar spread like the Day Fire. Only fear would prevent it from becoming a reality. This next collaboration would require an artist who was fearless. Salina Dews and I first collaborated about 6 years ago. I had been given my first assignment at T150 as co-producer on their production of American Buffalo. As an assistant to Timothy Teague, Salina was given the assignment of shooting publicity photos and color postcards –two firsts for T150. Last year Salina was on hand for the first Fabulous Hat Party, capturing that magical night. I had a closer glimpse at what she sees through lens of the camera. Her show at city hall revealed that she has much more to offer beyond her event photography, which is her bread & butter. And her photo chosen for last years’ Ojai Day showed the town that she has an eye for the intimate view of the soul. No other came to mind for the assignment of shooting the Men of Ojai Calendar.

Our first conversation revolved around the idea of iconoclasm and the essence of a man and how he is perceived in Ojai. After two days of pondering these things, Salina returned with a concept that took in all we had discussed and a plan of execution that would be labor-intensive and time consuming. It also was in alignment with her own mission to promote progressive and alternative art in Ojai. With the Men of Ojai she chose to launch Majique Avant Garde. Proceeds from the sales of the Men of Ojai 2007 Calendar will establish the Majique Avant Garde Fine Arts Grant, a fund for artists and arts organizations in Ojai. An announcement for the grants will be announced in January. The calendar will be completed and in stores November 20. An artist’s reception will be held November 25 at Nathan Larramendy Gallery. We will have a booth on Ojai Day for presales of the calendar. Those who purchase a calendar on Ojai Day will go into a drawing for an enlarged calendar photo of their choice. Here on the post is a slideshow of Salina’s work. Included is the photo Mr. January, Paul Lefebvre. I am very proud of this collaboration and the work Salina has presented. And many thanks to the Men of Ojai who gave the shirts off their backs for the good cause. Please buy as many calendars as you can! Go to majiquephoto.com. Thanks!