Beatrice Wood was an important contemporary artist, craftsperson and writer. Her history as part of the New York DADA movement alongside Marcel Duchamp and her later involvement in ceramics, led to her being an important figure in art history. The history of the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts is closely tied to the story of Happy Valley. When Annie Besant, a supporter of progressive movements, from female suffrage to Indian independence, first saw the land which is now called Happy Valley, she envisioned that it would be a center for people who would usher in a new world. Besant’s vision contributed to Ojai’s development during the 20th century as a spiritual center and art community, and Beatrice Wood moving to Ojai in 1947 was central to this growth. The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts exists as part of this original vision - a place where arts, cultural studies and education are paramount. To learn more about our center, please visit http://www.beatricewood.com
