Ventana Monthly - March

WILD AND WOOLY

SHEPHERDESS LAND AND LIVESTOCK’S ADVENTURES IN SUSTAINABLE WOOL

BEAD ARTIST MARA COLECCHIA

MEISCH MADE FURNITURE

TOOTHBRUSH TOYS

805-386-1211 or email somisnuthouse@gmail.com for We Ship Anywhere in the U.S.! Nuts • Dried Fruits • Candy • Gift Packs

ORDER Enjoyed by locals for over 60 years!!!

MARCH 25

SAT 3 & 7 PM

IMPACT

"There are no coincidences, only connections." Written & Performed by Amy

Engelhardt

"I followed a series of 'follow-signs' pointing to a major world event 30 years ago to Lockerbie, Scotland. I expected a somber solo trip, but found the true meaning of community."

MARCH 31 -APRIL 2

FRI & SAT 7:30 PM

SUN 2:30 & 7:30 PM

SPY FOR SPY

love, shuffled

Written & Directed by Kieron Barry

Spy for Spy asks if our lives make more sense in the wrong order, and if love is enough to fuse together two radically different spirits. This hilarious and heart-rending 90-minute play stars celebrated LA actors Meeghan Holaway and Gloria Ines.

orders

Date: _______________________________

Our patient safety is top of the class.

At Dignity Health – St. John’s Hospital Camarillo and St. John’s Regional Medical Center, helping our patients heal starts with putting safety front and center. And we take it seriously—implementing rigorous staff and facility standards. Our top-ranked “A” grade from the nation’s leading safety reviewer is a welcome affirmation. Like any grade worth earning, this recognition is a reflection of our commitment to patient care—built on compassionate listening, a personal connection to provide comfort and hope, and a steadfast belief in the healing power of humankindness. Learn more about us at dignityhealth.org/stjohnscamarillo and dignityhealth.org/stjohnsregional

FEATURES

Editor’s NotE 6 Lasting Impact

About towN 8 Built to Last

Riley Meisch challenges the “fast trash” furniture industry.

CoNvErsAtioN 12 “I Am Quite Often Surprised by What I Create”

Bead artist Mara Colecchia

CovEr story 18 Moral Fiber

Shepherdess Land and Livestock integrates land management with sustainable wool.

ProfilE 22 A Brush With Creativity

Toothbrush Toys make oral hygiene fun.

DEPARTMENTS

COVER STORY: Shepherdess Land and Livestock

Founder Brittany Cole Bush with Ranch and Program Manager Diane Anastasio and beloved dairy goat Alice.

Photo by Viktor Budnik

PHOTO BY VIKTOR BUDNIK

Heart care that’s with you for every beat.

At Dignity Health Medical Group – Ventura County, our cardiovascular experts are here to help you keep pace with your plans. Our team of board-certified cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons help prevent, diagnose, and treat a range of cardiovascular diseases. So if you have concerns, or are simply due for a checkup, schedule an appointment today. Learn more at dhmf.org/ventura/cardiology

John Hubner, PA Cardiology

Savannah Harris, NP Cardiology

Jon Sherman, MD, FACP, FACC, FSCAI Cardiology

Thomas Kong, MD Cardiology

LASTING IMPACT

The Made in Ventura County issue is always one of my favorites on Ventana Monthly’s editorial calendar. It’s an opportunity to spotlight some of the most interesting artisans in the area, and there are always so many to choose from! Woodworkers and metalsmiths, jewelry and clothing designers, people who create body creams and accessories and all manner of objects both beautiful and functional. I’m constantly impressed by the number of makers in our midst, and the myriad techniques, both old and new, that they employ in their crafts.

Something else I’ve noticed as these issues unfold: Small-scale artisans tend to be concerned with, and committed to, eco-conscious creation.

Brittany Cole Bush, featured on our cover, is the founder of Ojai-based Shepherdess Land and Livestock. She specializes in targeted grazing for fire risk management, weed control, invasive species removal and other land management needs. But because “mindful sourcing of things that come from animals” is part of Shepherdess Land and Livestock’s ethos, the wool gathered from her sheep plays a role in Bush’s holistic approach to land stewardship. It’s a new endeavor for her and her team, and she tells us all about it, and her hopes for a California wool revival, in our Cover Story.

Sustainability is at the heart of custom furniture mak-

er Meisch Made (About Town). Founder Riley Meisch is committed to constructing pieces that last, combatting what he calls the “fast-trash” industry one table, chair and bookcase at a time. In addition, his preferred medium is wood sourced from trees that have been felled naturally in local forests.

Toothbrush Toys (Profile) is all about making oral hygiene fun and easy for kids…with the intention of establishing lifelong habits. And the adorable characters that are part of the toothbrush design can be removed from the brush to be used…and kept…as a toy. There are even replacement brush heads, meaning you don’t need to buy a new toothbrush every time. Easy to clean by hand or even in the dishwasher, these are items that can be enjoyed and cherished much longer, and in more ways, than your average oral care device.

It’s wonderful to have access to local makers being mindful in their approach to production. Supporting them supports the local economy, and, more often than not, the planet. Better quality, made sustainably, acquired closer to home, that lasts longer — that’s what conscious consumerism is all about. Buying local is one small thing we can all do that can lead to big changes and have a lasting impact. We should take advantage of those opportunities when we can.

– Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer nshaffer@timeslocalmedia.com

RILEY MEISCH. PHOTO BY VIKTOR BUDNIK

ventana

PRESIDENT Steve Strickbine VICE PRESIDENT Michael Hiatt

BUILT TO LAST

Custom furniture creator Riley Meisch abandons “fast trash” for sustainability, quality and longevity.

WBY MADELINE NATHAUS | PHOTOS BY VIKTOR BUDNIK

ith an eye for quality of design and a heart for sustainability, local woodworker Riley Meisch of Meisch Made creates simple yet elegant furniture that is made to last generations.

“Everything around us is designed by somebody figuring out how to solve our problems,” Meisch said. “I’m really fascinated by how to make my furniture look both beautiful and functional.”

Ojai-born Meisch, 32, developed hands for building from an early age. By the time he was 12 years old, his father, who was also a builder, introduced him to the world of construction through working on projects together. In the spirit of a young boy, Meisch remembers his early years building as “crawling around houses” and “banging stuff with hammers.”

His true entrance into the professional world of woodworking did not come until much later. Initially, Meisch attended Santa Barbara City College for graphic design. He said he always knew he had a passion for design and saw this as his original calling.

“Design is elements and how they relate to each other,” Meisch said. “Graphic design is line, color, shape, form, texture. You put those together on a page and it should evoke emotions, it should solve a problem.”

However, soon after moving to Los Angeles post-college, his love of design led him instead to construction once again. He and a friend started working out of a warehouse in Hollywood for a production company that built furniture and appliances for experiential marketing events. They created items such as coffee tables and “weird” lights for corporations like Google, YouTube and South by Southwest.

“I really loved just making random stuff,” Meisch said.

While Meisch was let go due to his inability to commit to the job full-time — he was also touring in a band as a drummer at the time — he was still allowed to rent a space in the warehouse to continue his interest in building. 8

RILEY MEISCH in his Ventura workshop.

This was the beginning of Meisch Made. Meisch carried on creating random pieces and recreating things he saw on Pinterest and YouTube in his own way, trying to improve upon them. All the while, he posted photos and videos of his work on his website, where his graphic design background came in handy.

“In an age where everything is available with a couple clicks of a button, finding someone with an eye like Riley’s is golden,” said Spencer Graves, a production designer.

During this time, he also constructed stages with Graves for music videos and commercials. His notable projects include set design for artists like Britney Spears and The Killers.

“I saw Riley’s detail in craftsmanship,” Graves said. “I knew he could be great in creating set pieces on the side of his highend furniture business he was building at the time.”

Through this experience, Graves introduced Meisch to others for whom he could build custom furniture. After he’d accrued a few solid customers, word of mouth quickly connected him to a larger clientele seeking his skills, and Meisch Made took off.

Though Meisch, now a Ventura County resident once again, previously sold pieces in consignment stores and had an ETSY shop, he presently focuses on custom pieces. Most of his commissions consist of repeat customers, references and people who find him through his website.

“Riley was extremely easy to work with,” said Steven Gordon, who owns an eyewear store in New York for which Meisch made a display and dispensing table. “He was communicative, transparent, and always kept me

abreast of where he was at. I would not hesitate to use Riley again.”

In Meisch’s business, longevity, quality and sustainability are emphasized in all the pieces he makes.

“For music videos, we would build crazy, cool sets,” Meisch said. “But it all becomes trash right after. I hated that part of it because I’ve always been centered around sustainability and accountability.”

So he flipped the script for his own business. Rather than perpetuating 8

Continued on page 10

“I’VE ALWAYS BEEN centered around sustainability and accountability.”

what Meisch calls the “fast-trash” industry, he aims to make furniture that is built to last.

He observed that often we buy from stores furniture that breaks so easily, causing us to buy an entirely new set. Meisch instead encourages his clients to call him for repairs if a piece he made them is damaged.

“You really develop a relationship with your clients through that,” Meisch said. “Which I really think is something that’s missing in the world.”

Meisch champions his relationships with his clients and is always open to work with what they want. To him, creating a piece is a conversation.

“He is a joy to work with,” said Michal Mitchell, a repeat client of Meisch’s. “The thing about Riley is, he is so down to earth, not pushy or showy.”

Though repairs are an option, his pieces are made sturdy from the start. Meisch likes to use local wood from trees that fell naturally or were taken down anyway for construction. Trees like oak, English walnut, ash and pecan are some of his most common materials, though he enjoys working with black walnut when he gets the chance as well. Meisch will not use endangered species.

For his style, he prefers minimalist and traditional furniture, allowing the wood to maintain its natural look and accentuating its raw color rather than dyeing it. He also finds himself favoring live edge in his pieces, a method of incorporating the natural edge of the wood.

“Just let the wood be itself,” Meisch said. “We’re so busy, we just want

everything to be simple, and there’s beauty to that clean look.”

Meisch added he hopes that clients can attach meaning to the products he makes for them. Our furniture is often such a central part of our lives, and Meisch said he wants his creations to be a part of people’s stories.

“I was struck by his interest in the work and his attention to detail,” said Mitchell. “He is eager to see his work shine in life, and it does just like he does.”

Meisch said a lot of his skill comes from trial and error. “I’m open to what clients want. Every project you learn something. Even if you’re doing something that isn’t turning out well, you’re still learning what not to do the next time. I try to look at everything that way.” v

Riley Meisch Meisch Made 1340 Callens Road, Unit B, Ventura 805.223.5143 www.meischmade.com

MOST WOOD used by Meisch Made comes from local trees felled naturally.

FINISHING TOUCH Wiping down a recently built breakfast table.

SMOOTH MOVE Meisch sanding a dining room table.

“I AM QUITE OFTEN AT WHAT I CREATE”

Talking art, Italy, the magic of creation and “stretching the creative cord” with bead artist Mara Colecchia.

FBY NANCY D. LACKEY SHAFFER | PHOTOS BY VIKTOR BUDNIK

rom a young age, Mara Colecchia was steeped in art. She grew up in the picturesque Italian city of Urbino – a World Heritage Site notable for medieval architecture, majolica pottery and its many artists, including Raphael. She is related to the Palizzi family of painters, has an aunt that was a hatmaker and, as a child, enjoyed drawing scenes inspired by her favorite stories. After working as an illustrator and animator in Rome, she came to Los Angeles to seek her fortune and made her way to Ojai. Today, she is a passionate bead artist whose work has been featured in fashion magazines, galleries and museums

around the world, including the Ojai Art Center.

Despite busily preparing for an art show in Portugal this spring, and a jewelry show in Florida this month, Colecchia found time to answer some questions from Ventana Monthly about her life in Italy, her numerous creative endeavors, getting hooked on beads and more.

You’re originally from Italy. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Urbino, a small art town in the mid-eastern side of the peninsula, famous for a popular Renaissance patron, the Duke of Montefeltro, and also for its winter truffles.

Were any of your family members artists?

On my mom’s side. The Palizzi brothers (Giuseppe and Filippo) were my grandma’s cousins, and as a child I admired their paintings hanging at my grandparents’ house in southern Italy, and also some etchings from their students. My mom still has a few in her apartment and I feel like those artists are part of the family, even though I have never got to meet them. Also, one of my mom’s aunties was a modiste (she was making hats) and my grandma was a master of knitting. I think that maybe I inherited from them my natural proclivity for stitching. Who knows…

What inspired you to study illustration and animation at Scuola del Libro?

I have always been creating, since an early age, and I was lucky enough to be encouraged by my parents to take classes in many different media. Once I even took a class in mask making, held by a renowned artist from Venice, which I truly enjoyed.

As I graduated from classic literature high school, with the highest grade, my parents, who were both teachers, expected me to pursue an academic career. After a year spent in college, I became very depressed and I decided to quit. I felt that life was already too hard to have such low expectations of enjoying it: Better to have fun and keep creating things that make people smile! I believe that my first form of expression as a child was drawing and illustrating short stories, so at the time

MARA COLECCHIA wearing one of her handcrafted bead creations.

OFTEN SURPRISED

pursuing a career as an illustrator of children’s literature felt quite natural. I felt that I was honoring my true nature; my inner child, so to speak.

For many people, the idea of residing in a picturesque and historic city like Urbino is truly living the dream! What was it like to live and study there as a young woman?

Well, we spent every summer by the beach, so I feel very much like a Californian: I enjoyed the hills and the snow in winter, our magical countryside in autumn and spring, and the Adriatic Sea on the hottest days. We got just about everything when it comes to natural scenery and, on the other end, there was quite a vibrant cultural scene to be inspired by. Just to mention one: The part of my county that is by the sea, Pesaro, is the hometown of both Gioachino Rossini and Luciano Pavarotti, and it hosts one of the best Opera Festivals in the country.

My years at La Scuola del Libro were filled with restless experimental creations, and in the initial two years many of the classes were held inside the castle of the duke. We actually had to walk up through the horses’ ramp in the morning to reach the highest level of the palace, as there was no elevator. It was like living inside a set of some period movie. Thinking about it now, I consider myself privileged: I was not coming from money, but in a way I had benefited from all the things that my country could offer… including the great food.

Tell us about your animation work. What were some of your projects?

I worked in Rome on several Italian productions that are unknown to the USA. In Los Angeles, I worked briefly for an animation studio that was partnering with the Italian production Geronimo Stilton [a children’s chapter book series by Elisabetta Dami]. I believe that many American children love Geronimo, and so do I.

You moved to Southern California from Rome in 2009. What brought you here?

I moved to Los Angeles mostly out of frustration. I was tired of dealing with the lack of professionalism in an industry that was already dying at the time, in my country. I needed to think big and to push my limits. Or at least I thought so.

The story that brought me here is actually pretty meaningful in terms of synchronicity: I got into a small accident with my Vespa, in Rome, and I managed to get reimbursed 3,000 Euro. At the time the U.S. dollar was at its lowest, and I was able to almost duplicate that amount of money when I

converted it into dollars. I was then able to apply for an eight-week screenwriting class at the New York Film Academy in Burbank, and planned to live there for two months. Of course my life changed drastically and I stayed longer. But this is another story…

What brought you to Ojai?

I moved to Ojai after nine years in Los Angeles, when life over there was becoming pretty uncomfortable, especially due to the painful isolation and the heavy traffic, that made each day a true pain to go through. It came to the point where I was spending about four hours a day in my car. I realized that I was being really stupid living like that, and that I needed to let go. I looked for an alternative place to relocate, one that was close enough to be able to visit L.A. when I needed to. Ojai came to my attention because a friend was living there and so I had plenty of opportunities to go visiting and explore the potential.

What do you like about living in Ojai?

I love the nature, of course, the breathtaking wilderness and the power of the mountains. I can feel it: It’s a deep-rooted energy that wraps around people like a cocoon. It feels protective, in a way.

I can’t compare Ojai to any place in Italy, because even though appearances can say the opposite, it’s way too different at the core. I have heard that California is considered the Puglia of the USA, because some of the natural spots resemble Mediterranean sites, and I agree with that; but the cultural heritage is way too different to compare. Italy is closer [in ambience] to Mexico, for instance, than any place in California. In fact, when I visit Mexico I feel instantly at home, for some reason.

There is a certain type of lifestyle that involves much more human connection and walking through streets and plazas that are human size, a misura d’uomo, like we say in Italy. When I am visiting my hometown, for instance, I would have a friend buzz me after dinner (9 p.m. over there) to come down for a walk and a coffee chat. Social life goes on for longer hours

“EVERY PIECE THAT I MAKE is unique also for the rarity of the beads utilized.”

in Southern Europe, and I miss that very much, to be honest. Why did you decide to make the switch from animation to wearable art and jewelry?

I did not decide: It happened gradually and naturally. I was invited to join my very first group show in Downtown L.A., in May 2011 (I still remember it), at the gallery The Hive. At the time I was creating dioramic installations with plush dolls that functioned as illustrations of my children’s stories, so I was still expressing myself as a storyteller, matter of fact. Just, the size was larger.

I can still remember how excited I was at the opportunity to exhibit my work of art as a legitimate artist. I realized how much I was craving that experience, probably without knowing it. A few years and many accomplishments later I switched again, from visual to wearable art, and that also happened organically.

What media did you use when you were first making jewelry?

My very first experiment was a 3D printed Venetian nose ornament, which led to a series of other experiments with textiles (hats and masks). I still have a few of those and enjoy those designs very much.

When did you start working with beads?

I started in 2018, at the time of the Thomas Fire. I was evacuated to Los Angeles, where I stayed for a month, while the fire was slowly tamed. In that period of time I felt restless and obviously anxious, so I felt the need to try something new. So I took a beading class and something clicked. It was as if the fire had unraveled some transformative energy that was kept on hold and gave space to something new to emerge. I would have never thought that beads could become my main medium. It was very surprising.

Do you do custom work? What are some of the more interesting projects you’ve been commissioned to create?

I do take commissions, mostly through art exhibits and Instagram promotions. I also create pieces for themed exhibitions, like “Cross,” that I made specifically for the exhibit Artifactual Remakes, organized by the Baltimore Jewelry Center and the Walters Art Museum, in 2021. We were given a choice between many ancient jewelry, and I chose a Renaissance cross pendant. The idea was to remake the piece in a contemporary guise. I was very pleased with what I created, especially because I would have never thought of making a cross that way if it wasn’t suggested to me.

I also enjoy creating pieces for artist residencies, where I simply surrender to some meaningful concept that wants to emerge from within. You can never plan a design, when you embark in an artist residency. It is the place and the people around you that contribute to the manifestation of that special creation that was meant to exist at that time and space. It’s a magical process, comparable maybe only to ceramic making: One can never know what is coming out of the kiln.

What types of beads do you utilize in your art? What appeals to you about them?

I use exclusively size 11 and size 15 seed beads, which are extremely small and allow me to create a sturdy bead mesh, with a tiny texture. I am trying to pursue a sleek look and larger beads would not suit me. They are mostly Japanese Toho, metallic and ceramic coated. I love the ceramic type because the colors look so full and the texture confers a toy-like personality to my pieces. Both the metallic and the ceramic type can be pretty expensive, although there is a misconception about beads to be cheap. Most of the larger pieces in my collections are more costly for me to make than some common metalsmith work, but for some reason people still believe that metal is more valuable. Not sure why. Speaking of which, I also utilize 24K gold electroplated Czech beads, Charlotte cut, which is extremely rare. I have to hunt for these beads, at times, and it’s all part of the process. Every piece that I make is unique also for the rarity of the beads utilized.

Where do you source your materials?

I buy everything online, including rare findings such as the many vintage beads that I use as gemstones in my designs. I tried some beads expos, but I have always been disappointed; one can find much more online these days.

I am actually obsessed with spherical beads and my collection has grown exponentially during the pandemic. I mean, what else was I going to do with all that time in my hands? I definitely bought more than I can handle. It would take me probably five years of work to utilize all the beads that I have in stock at the moment. It’s almost embarrassing.

Describe some of the more unusual items you have made.

This question makes me reflect on the meaning of the word unusual. I never make things that I would find usual. First of all because ornaments, as well as sculptures, fulfill no purpose other than the pursuit of beauty. So the very act of creating something that has no function is unusual.

Then, if I was asked if I ever made something that was unusual for me, that was going really off the chart with regards to my habitual choices, I can say with absolute certainty: no, I didn’t. Because every time that I tell myself “try to create something normal, this time, something that you can actually sell,” it always turns into an incredible journey towards some sort of discovery, and the final piece is not at all what I had planned. I am quite often surprised at what I create unintentionally.

It’s very strange: Objects that need to emerge through me will always find their way to do it, and I am not in charge of the process. It sounds pretentious, but I mean it.

What is your process like? Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

I could define myself as a formalist, in the sense that my inspiration

SEED BEADS and spherical beads are used to manifest many of Colecchia’s original designs.

always originates from the medium. A color, a shape, a particular texture can evoke a concept. I frequently start from the vintage bead that will serve as a gemstone and I go from there.

Sometimes I have intuition about a combination of colors of beads, like a melancholic feeling for something that was part of my childhood, for instance. To give you a sample, my piece “Arcadia,” acquired by Hannah Gallery in 2020, started from my absolute obsession for some corn yellow seed beads that I purchased. I noticed that when paired to firetruck red Miyuki seed beads they would immediately send me back to my childhood. Not sure what it was… so I paired them with some vintage spheres that look like fragmented mosaics in primary colors. Some concept started to emerge, as I discovered that the mesh I was creating with these beads was resembling the pixelation of some video game that I was playing at the Arcade in the ’80s. I magically reconnected to something that I had lost: red and yellow were in fact frequently paired in the graphics of those vintage video games. This is also where the title comes from: Arcadia.

Another good sample of this process of association is my playful design named “Creaturo,” which resembles a character from some paintings by Gary Baseman. I came up with a chunky, sleek, black and white dynamic, with three spheres aligned in a row; as I added two dangling spheres side by side, I immediately saw the arms of a character hanging upside down. I could not resist extruding fingers from the dangling spheres, and before my very eyes a character was born.

What are you working on right now?

At the moment I am working on a jewelry set for the art gallery Collectiva in Porto, Portugal, where I have an upcoming exhibit. It’s a design inspired by Hispanic art and a childhood narrative, and I am naming it “Las Meninas.” It’s basically a personal interpretation of that lovely shape of little girls’ gowns in the homonymous painting by Diego Velazquez, which has been largely explored by other artists over decades, Picasso included. It’s been hard to find materials for this jewelry set, though, as the main type of beads I use are 24K electroplated gold Czech seed beads, Charlotte cut (meaning that one side of the bead is flat). Apparently there is a shortage of these beads in the U.S. at the moment, which caused me to have to pay double the price to acquire the few grams left. I guess it’s part of the game.

Do you have a particular type of bead or stone that you really love? If so, why?

Beside my profound appreciation for lucite (an industrial resin developed in Italy back in the 1970s), I am intrigued by natural stones. I developed an interest in crystals as I began to benefit from Reiki sessions and crystal healing a few years ago. I am getting to know crystals’ properties, appreciating their nuances, the crackles and irregularities of their surfaces. I have a taste for minimal designs, so I gravitate towards simple natural shapes or very sleek geometric carvings. Of course, being obsessed both with spheres and black crystals, the most attractive to me at this point are a couple of large black tourmalines that someone gave me. I wish I could drill them and make a super large necklace, or a pair of insanely heavy earrings!

Do you have other artistic endeavors besides your beadwork?

I always keep my door open to new opportunities and learning experiences. I think of wearable art on a large scale, so I explore different ways to make wearables, in a more artistic and experimental way. Such as, for

example, my series of brooches made with balloons and sequins, assembled with staples. I like to explore various media, and that’s why I am frequently attending classes, even though in most of the cases I won’t continue developing that specific technique. It’s all part of the creative process: stretching the creative cord, so to speak.

One thing that many people don’t know about me is that I am an excellent tarot reader. If you consider it a form of art, of course. I learned the Jodorowsky method during the pandemic and I keep learning from Alejandro’s publications and videos. I am absolutely intrigued by the whole concept of healing personal conflicts though Psychomagic practices. And my ambition of course is to become the highest form of an artist: a shaman.

Where can people find Mara Colecchia originals?

One of my pieces from 2020 has been recently acquired by the Museum of Beadwork in Portland, Maine, and I am frequently part of collective exhibits in Europe and China. You can find all the information on the latest exhibits on my Instagram page @maracole_artwear, while on my website maracole.com there are plenty of photos of the collections created so far.

Any interesting shows, projects or plans on the horizon?

I am headed to a big jewelry show held by the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Florida starting March 20. The event is named “Bijoux!” and is directed by Donna Schneider. I am truly excited about it, especially because fashion icon Iris Apfel will attend as a special guest. I also have an upcoming personal exhibit at the gallery Collectiva in Porto, from May to July, and I am possibly taking part in a larger trade show in Barcelona, Contemporanea, happening at the end of September. That is how far I go for the moment. v

“CROSS” based on a Renaissance cross pendant and created specifically for the Artifactual Remakes exhibit at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore in 2021.

MORAL FIBER

Shepherdess Land and Livestock integrates land management with sustainable wool production.

WBY NANCY D. LACKEY SHAFFER | PHOTOS BY VIKTOR BUDNIK

ide open skies. Rolling hills softened by velveteen carpets the color of emeralds. Oak trees, the Topatopa Mountains and a brisk, frigid, but exceptionally fresh wind blowing through it all. There’s no place quite like Upper Ojai in winter.

Making themselves at home in this bucolic setting are wooly sheep,

some with lambs underfoot, and a playful donkey colt antagonizing his patient mother. A white and brown dairy goat with her black-as-night billy hold court while two horses graze in the distance. Two dogs, a few cats, and a rustic home with a wide porch complete the picture of pastoral bliss.

Welcome to the 240-acre ranch of Brittany Cole Bush, known in the sheep herding community as Cole the Shepherdess. The ranch serves as the base of operations for her company, Shepherdess Land and Livestock, which she opened in 2020.

The lands on which this shepherdess operates go far beyond her ranch, however, and its resident animals are only a small part of the larger “flerd” she manages. Bush has around 550 sheep (the flock) and 150 goats (the herd) which she uses for what is known in the agricultural industry as “targeted grazing”: using livestock to address a variety of land management issues. Her mixed group of ruminants spend eight months of the year on the properties, mainly in the Ojai Valley and in Northern Los Angeles County, where they are employed to help remove invasive plants, reduce wildfire risk, control weeds and even increase soil fertility. Shepherdess Land and Livestock is one of dozens of outfits in California (Cuyama Lamb in Santa Barbara County is another, one which with Bush collaborates) with “herds for hire” for targeted grazing.

But here in Upper Ojai, she is beginning to embark on a new, smaller, but very special endeavor: wool that comes from animals raised close to home.

“Wool is part of our ethos: Mindful sourcing of things that come from animals,” Bush explains.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF WOOL

Wool may not be the first textile used by humans — that distinction probably goes to linen, made from flax — but it’s close. According to the Brussels-based International Wool

RANCH HANDS Shepherdess Land and Livestock founder Brittany Cole Bush (left) with Ranch and Program Manager Diane Anastasio and border collie Rue.

FIBER

Textile Organization, “Humans have been washing, weaving, and wearing wool since 10,000 BCE.” Czech textile manufacturer Sartor Bohemia states that wool textiles date from about the fourth millennium BCE while the American Wool Council notes that by 3000 BC, wool was being distributed throughout Europe by Persians, Greeks and Romans. Through the centuries, it has been woven, worn, traded and transported across the globe, giving rise to major wool centers in Australia and New Zealand, England and Scotland, Argentina, Turkey, China and even here in the USA.

California’s own wool industry grew as the Gold Rush brought 49ers west. Warm, durable, water-resistant wool was a popular fabric for people living and working in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the growing demand meant more sheep (brought over from the Southwest, another major wool producing region), shepherds and mills. The California Wool Growers Association was founded in 1860 and is possibly the oldest agricultural organization in the state.

Wool was used heavily in all manner of clothing during the following decades, particularly in the construction of military uniforms. Following World War II and the Korean War, there was a marked decrease in wool availability. In order to bolster the declining wool industry, Congress passed the National Wool Act of 1954, offering price support to sheep producers based on a percentage of their market sales.

Around the same time, however, cheaper synthetic fibers like nylon, polyester and acrylic were coming onto the market. U.S. wool production continued to decline and commodity programs for wool and mohair ceased in 1995.

Despite the decline, the United States remains one of the largest wool-producing countries in the world. Around 22 million pounds of greasy (i.e. uncleaned) wool was produced in 2022, as reported by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. And of that, around 2.2 million pounds came from California, the second largest producer of domestic wool in the nation. Much of that is exported to China, where it’s processed and turned into textiles and apparel...that end up getting imported back into the U.S.

American wool producers are making an effort to change that, and they’re getting a boost from consumers’ growing concern for sustainability and buying local. Just as the farm-to-table concept has bolstered homegrown food production and encouraged more environmentally friendly growing practices, consumers, manufacturers and artisans are driving the demand for eco-conscious domestic fiber production…including wool.

A HERITAGE BREED

Shepherdess Land and Livestock is new to the wool game, and Bush is being mindful in her approach. She acquired her first wool flock in the summer of 2022, selecting a breed strongly tied to the Native American cultures of the Southwest: the Navajo-Churro.

Navajo-Churro sheep are descended from an ancient Iberian breed, the Churra, brought to North America by Don Juan de Oñate in 1598. Over time the Navajo and Pueblo people acquired and nurtured their own herds, using its lustrous, silky wool for their woven blankets and rugs.

Bush learned about the breed after attending the Sheep Is Life Festival in Arizona, and getting to know a Navajo shepherd.

“He had introduced me to folks in his clan and family group,” she explains. “It’s taken me some time to source these beautiful animals. I wanted to be mindful and respectful of not just ‘buying’ these sheep but to help preserve and protect the breed.”

She started with 13 head — 11 ewes and two rams. Four lambs have been born since. The first shearing took place over the winter.

“To have them in our valley is really quite special,” says Bush. “It’s an honor to have this threatened breed.”

THE TERROIR OF TEXTILES

Integral to Shepherdess Land and Livestock’s journey into wool is shepherd, ranch manager and program manager Diane Anastasio.

“What brought Diane to our work was through the fiber aspect of what we do,” says Bush.

A native of Connecticut, Anastasio went to college in New York City and graduate school in London.

“I was a city person for many years,” she says. “I had many lives...I never thought I’d live in a rural place again.”

After developing some health problems, she got interested in nutrition, which eventually led her to livestock.

“I got interested in food systems and how people can eat meat in a way that’s healthy for us, the animals and the land.”

She spent time shepherding in the Austrian Alps and Wales, and learned that “fiber was important to me. Terrior, the aspect of wool and fiber and traceability…having a piece of clothing rooted to a particuar place.

I was hooked after that.”

8 Continued on page 20

GATHERING WOOL Cleaned wool from Navajo-Churro sheep.

HERITAGE BREED Navajo-Churro sheep come from the Four Corners region and have a long, intricate history with the Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest.

After returning to the U.S., she learned to shear sheep at the University of California’s Hopland Research and Extension Center in Mendocino County, an agriculture education facility that has a historical sheep station onsite. She also took up weaving.

Her experience with many aspects of managing sheep, including building fences on steep hillsides, made Anastasio uniquely qualified to help Bush with her fiber flock. She joined Shepherdess Land and Livestock in August 2022.

“I wanted to be with the animals,” she said. “I jumped at the chance to work with Cole.”

THREADS COMING TOGETHER

They’re still at the start of their wooly adventure, but Bush and Anastasio have ambitious plans.

“We’re at the first steps of getting our [fiber] program established,” Bush explains. “Bringing consciousness to artisans and our community [about fiber sources]. We’re learning about the breed of the sheep and how we can best integrate fiber into the valley.”

The first shearing of the Navajo-Churro sheep yielded over 70 pounds of wool, which will be sent out to be processed for a variety of projects: weaving yarn for rugs (both Bush and Anastasio are enthusiastic weavers), a felting project being developed with a Los Angeles fiber artist, possibly a natural dye workshop and the planting of a dye garden.

Grazing animals, properly managed, can improve soil density and structure. A program under development, Wild Wool Flowers, involves planting flower seeds in areas where the Navajo-Churro sheep have grazed. Another idea is aimed at the textile industry. Bush would like to invite representatives from large clothing brands to learn about ways to bring “more sustainable materials into brand production.”

“It’s important for these big brands to know what it takes,” she says. That means understanding the full cycle of wool, which goes far beyond raising and shearing sheep. There’s all the processing wool requires: scouring, sorting, milling, spinning and finishing. The scarcity of wool mills in the U.S. limits what can be used domestically. Bush would like to see big brands leading the charge to bring the wool industry back to the U.S.

“It’s not just about producing wool,” she explains. “It’s also about job growth. Raising sheep holistically will bring sustainable wool production back to the United States, and the industry involved in all aspects of it, offers opportunities for employment.”

A SHEPHERDING CULTURE

Wool doesn’t end with shepherding, of course, but a robust domestic 8

DIABLITO is a jet-black billy goat that resides on the 240-acre Upper Ojai ranch that serves as Shepherdess Land and Livestock's home base.

wool industry will have at its foundation people who know how to raise, herd, shear and manage sheep. Key to that, in Bush’s opinion, is the re-creation of “a shepherding culture.” To that end, Bush participates in a rigorous training and education program, offered by the Grazing School of the West, to teach a new generation of shepherds through apprenticeships, bootcamps and workshops.

“We need more sheep, shepherds and people buying wool,” Bush says simply. “More knowledge and skill — shepherding is a lost art that needs to be reinvigorated.”

Anastasio sees the interconnectedness of the company’s targeted grazing operation — Shepherdess Land and Livestock’s main focus — with ecological health and sustainable wool production.

“Wool is a renewable resource,” she says. “Humans have had a relationship with sheep for thousands of years. This is what sustainability is. When sheep are managed properly, they’re good for the land. There are so many ways we can all benefit.” v

Shepherdess Land and Livestock

805.705.3084

shepherdesslandl.co

PASTORAL BLISS Oak trees, green grass and animals leisurely roaming paint a picture of serene rural beauty.

HOMESPUN Weavers, knitters and other fiber artists are contributing to the demand for sustainable domestic wool production.

A BRUSH WITH CREATIVITY

Nicolette Warren strives to make oral hygiene fun.

WBY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

hen Nicolette Warren was in high school and college, she babysat for area families. There was one common thread among the kids: The children didn’t want to brush their teeth.

“It didn’t matter if they were 2 or 8 years old, everyone dreaded it and didn’t want to do it,” Warren said. “I realized that even adults don’t view it as fun. It’s a habit that needs to be formed at a young age. I started brainstorming ideas to make tooth brushing fun.”

The Thousand Oaks native founded Toothbrush Toys, which encourage children to build better brushing habits with fun toothbrushes, associated storybooks and animations. Large grip sizes and extra soft bristles complement characters like Chompers the Shark and Brushy the Brushasaurus. Toothbrush Toys hit online stores — Amazon and toothbrushtoys.com — on March 1 for $19.95 each.

“I’m really excited,” said Warren, who graduated from Westlake High School. “I’ve spent a lot of time working on this. It’s a work in progress, but I’m excited to launch and hopefully we can expand and grow throughout the country.”

These objects are more than simple, manual toothbrushes: When the brush head is removed, it becomes a toy.

“You never have to throw it away,” she added.

Toothbrush Toys also has a charitable mission in mind. To that extent, the company has partnered with America’s ToothFairy, a nonprofit that provides dental care products nationwide to those in need.

Warren studied communications and entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California, a university she longed to attend. She is close to her family and wanted to stay relatively near Thousand Oaks, so USC was perfect.

“I loved growing up in Thousand Oaks,” she said. “I loved every part of it — my schools, my friends, the area. It makes sense why so many people stay here.”

She found USC just as inspirational, especially one particular professor who sparked her creative mind.

“I met a lot of great people — hard-working, motivated people,” she added. “I had great classes and great professors. I took my first entrepreneur class my freshman year and the professor, Marianne Szymanski, was in the toy industry.

“That may have sparked something in the back of my head in the realm of toys and kids. She wasn’t just a teacher. She was in the world, in

the industry, had hands-on experience. I learned everything about starting a business from her.”

Warren has high hopes for Toothbrush Toys, for which she has a small office space in Thousand Oaks. Wanting to remain in Southern California, Warren said if this endeavor doesn’t work out, she’ll put her talents toward something new. In the meantime, she’s focused on supplying kids (and their parents) with the tools they need to make and keep teeth clean and healthy, and build lifelong oral hygiene habits.

“I truly hope our new approach to teeth brushing and our charitable initiatives will make a difference in dental hygiene among children. Habits really do start young but last a lifetime,” Warren said. v

THE TOOTHBRUSH TOYS GANG includes Princess Pearly, Petey the Puppy, Brushy the Brushasaurus, Captain Cavity, Aqua the Mermaid and Chompers the Shark.

Photo courtesy Nicolette Warren/Toothbrush Toys

Views, Island Views, Mountain

From the Santa Monica Mountains to Santa Cruz Island enjoy the views from this one-of-a-kind property. The main house features 3 bedrooms and 2 ¼ bathrooms with 1,266 sq. ft. From the master suite you can enjoy the morning sunrise, the evening sunset, and even catch the beam of the Anacapa Lighthouse. For rental income, home office, or extended family, the permitted Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is detached with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 608 sq. ft., with ocean & island views too. One block away from Cemetery Memorial Park and within walking distance of downtown Ventura – this is the one!

RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL

March 24 – April 2 | Thousand Oaks

MARCH

MARCH

CELEBRATION OF THE WHALES

Based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, this musical tapestry depicts an African American family, a Jewish immigrant family, and a wealthy white suburban family in turn-of-the-century America, who collide in pursuit of the American Dream. Nominated for 13 Tony Awards® including “Best Musical,” and the winner of “Best Original Score” and “Best Book of a Musical,” Ragtime is a powerful portrait of life during the late 1800s and early 1900s, exploring America’s timeless contradictions of freedom and prejudice, wealth and poverty, hope and despair. Presented by 5-Star Theatricals, the resident theater company of the Bank of America Performing Arts Center. $30-$91. Fred Kavli Theatre at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, 805.449.2787, bapacthousandoaks.com.

COLLECTORS CHOICE: THE GREAT GALLERY ART GRAB GAMESHOW

March 25 | Camarillo

Studio Channel Islands’ biggest fundraiser of the year is your chance to take home an extraordinary work of art while supporting one of the area’s finest art institutions. The Collectors Choice Gala for 2023 will feature a game show theme. Each ticket includes one entry into the prize draw. When your ticket is drawn, you have 60 seconds to select your artwork. Every ticket holder walks away with a work of art valued from $300 to possibly $1,000(s). This is your chance to pillage a piece of art from this year’s outstanding collection of work. Join our nefarious host in this fun game show-style lottery and steal from donated artworks by contemporary artists from across the country. So don’t miss this opportunity to snatch a fabulous artwork and make your getaway! All proceeds raised will go to support Studio Channel Islands in delivering its mission of providing art education programs in the schools, the community, as well as programs focused on helping with dementia and stroke patients. Tickets start at $300 for two people. Studio Channel Islands, 2222 East Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo, 805.383.1368. More information at studiochannelislands.org.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH MALCOM MCDOWELL

March 25 | Ventura

Join us at the Museum of Ventura County for the next installment of Ivor Davis: Up Close and Personal. Returning, this time in-person, is legendary actor and raconteur extraordinaire Malcolm McDowell, winner of Ojai Film Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award. McDowell’s impressive career puts him in the pantheon of the all-time great British-born actors from Laurence Olivier to Michael Caine to Anthony Hopkins. McDowell’s dazzling career has spanned more than 50 years, where he has starred in scores of movies, including Stanley Kubrick’s iconic Clockwork Orange, Caligula, The Artist and many more. His vast television credits include Entourage, the animated series South Park and Mozart in the Jungle. MVC Members can attend in-person or tune-in on Zoom for free. Nonmembers can purchase in-person tickets for $10 or $5 for Zoom tickets. Saturday, March 25, 6:30-8 p.m. at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 East Main Street, Ventura, 805.653.0323, venturamuseum.org.

CELEBRATION OF THE WHALES

March 26 | Oxnard

Visitors who attend the 24th Annual Celebration of the Whales Festival at the Channel Islands Harbor are going to be in for a variety of surprises! This year’s event will feature two new activities — a concert in the park by Unkle Monkey and a community “paint a whale” mural project. In addition, there will be family-friendly activities, chalk art, shopping, a children’s fun zone and more.The event is being held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 26. Activities will be held at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum, 3900 Bluefin Circle; and the Channel Islands Harbor Farmers Market, 3600 Harbor Boulevard. In addition, the “Gray Whale Migration Trail” that runs through Harbor View Park will connect these two activity centers. All outdoor activities are free. For more information, visit www.channelislandsharbor.org/event/2023-celebration-of-the-whales-festival-2/.

DARK OF THE MOON

March 29 – April 16 | Ventura

Twilight meets West Side Story in a developmental world premiere musical based on the classic 1942 play of the same name by Howard Richardson and William Berney. This tragic love story set in the Appalachian Mountains centers on John, a “witch-boy” who seeks to become human after falling in love with a human girl, Barbara Allen. A thrilling rock and bluegrass score by is provided by an award-winning team of musicians. Directed by the Rubicon’s own James O’Neil with musical direction by Brent Crayon. Tickets start at $30. Rubicon Theatre Company, 1006 East Main Street, Ventura, 805.667.2900, www.rubicontheatre.org.

MERMAID MONTH AT VENTURA HARBOR VILLAGE

Through March 31 | Ventura

A tail of a good time awaits mermaids and mermen as they return to the sea for the Eighth Annual “March Is Mermaid Month” at Ventura Harbor Village, a mer-mazing, month-long celebration. All events are FREE to the public with the exception of vendor activities, dining and retail merchandise. Visitors across all oceans can meet to enjoy a myriad of mermaid activities. Kids’ Scavenger Hunt, mermaid meet and greets, crafts, live entertainment and more. Ventura Harbor Village, 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, 805.477.0470, www.VenturaHarborVillage.com.

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME

Through April 2 | Simi Valley

Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame showcases the film’s Academy Award-nominated score, as well as new songs by Menken and Schwartz. Peter Parnell’s new book embraces story theatre and features verbatim passages from Hugo’s gothic novel. The musical begins as the bells of Notre Dame sound through the famed cathedral in 15th century Paris. Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer who longs to be “Out There,” observes all of Paris reveling in the Feast of Fools. Held captive by his devious caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, he escapes for the day and joins the boisterous crowd, only to be treated cruelly by all but the beautiful Romani woman, Esmeralda. Quasimodo isn’t the only one captivated by her free spirit, though – the handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the Roma – and it’s up to Quasimodo to save them all. A sweeping score and powerful story make The Hunchback of Notre Dame an instant classic. Audiences will be swept away by the magic of this truly unforgettable musical. May be too intense for very young children. $22-$28. ARTSpace Black Box Theater, 2956 School Street, Simi Valley, www.actorsrepofsimi.org.

MARCH 26 | OXNARD

Mural rendering courtesy Channel Islands Harbor

“The Blue Building,” Louise Kleinsorge Williams

MERMAID MONTH AT VENTURA HARBOR VILLAGE THROUGH MARCH 31 | VENTURA

SHORT LIST

VENTURA SPRING WINE WALK AND VENDOR FAIR

April 1 | Ventura

The Ventura Spring Wine Walk and Vendor Fair will once again return to beautiful Ventura on Saturday, April 1, 2023! This wonderful spring day will kick off with the free Vendor Fair from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Downtown Ventura from the Museum of Ventura County through the 600 block of Main Street with vendors and live entertainment. Shop artists, crafters, nonprofit organizations, commercial and food vendors. The street fair and entertainment is FREE and open to the public! The Wine Walk proper starts at 3 p.m. with local businesses showcasing wineries and breweries that you can sample (guests receive a tasting cup and map). Want the VIP treatment? The VIP Bunny Lounge is back and will offer a brunch buffet, exclusive wine pours and special entertainment. Tickets start at $50; www.springwinewalk.com.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

April 7 – May 7 | Moorpak

The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new variety of flower he names “Audrey II,” after his beautiful coworker, Audrey, on whom he has a crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivorous plant promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn…as long as he keeps feeding it. The special diet? BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out-of-this-world origins and intent towards global domination! $23-$25. High Street Arts Center, 45 East High Street, Moorpark, 805.529.8700, highstreetartscenter.com.

RED

Through April 9 | Ojai

VENTURA SPRING WINE WALK AND VENDOR FAIR APRIL 1 | VENTURA

The New York Times called John Logan’s two-person play about artist Mark Rothko “a fresh, exciting portrait of a brilliant mind.” Set in the 1950s in Rothko’s studio, this multi-award-winning drama captures Rothko at the height of his creativity. He struggles to complete a valuable commissioned work, one that violates all his principles as an artist. A perfect fit for Ojai, Red explores the ever-changing relationship between an artist and his creations.. $24. Ojai Art Center Theater, 113 South Montgomery Street, Ojai, 805.640.8797, ojaiact.org.

SPRINGTIME EASTER FESTIVAL

Through April 10 | Moorpark

Come celebrate with us at our Springtime Easter Festival! With acres to visit and numerous activities, there is plenty of space to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine with family and friends. Take photos at our Giant Easter Egg Basket and with the Easter Bunny, listen to stories in the labyrinth, compete in the egg ’n’ spoon or sack races and enjoy numerous games, arts and crafts and activities designed around Easter and spring. Adorable baby ducks will be hatching; see them and other barnyard animals in our Animal Center. And of course, you can always take a wagon ride out to our pick-your-own fields to get farm-fresh produce to bring home. So much fun for everyone! Note: Nonrefundable weekend tickets required for weekend admission; no walk-ins on Saturdays, Sundays or on Friday, April 7. $12-$16; free for children under 2. Discounts for military, veterans, emergency first responders and seniors. 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark and 5696 East Los Angeles Avenue, Somis. underwoodfamilyfarms.com.

WINTER WHALE WATCHING SEASON

Through April 15 | Ventura

SPRINGTIME EASTER FESTIVAL THROUGH APRIL 10 | MOORPARK

Join popular whale watching trips with Island Packers’ Gray Whale excursions. Trips depart from Ventura Harbor or Channel Islands Harbor and each 3-3.5 hour cruise takes you to the Southern California waters of the Santa Barbara Channel, with views of the Channel Islands National Park. These waters are known for their marine mammal diversity, and you may get to see other species of marine mammals along with the migrating Gray Whales. Seals, sea lions and several species of dolphins along with occasional Orca Whale pods may also be seen on your trip. Fun for all ages! Afterward, enjoy dining at the Ventura Harbor Village or Channel Islands Harbor eateries and restaurants. For more information and booking, contact Island Packers at 805.642.1393 or reserve online at islandpackers.com/winter-whale-watching/.

SHADOW AND LIGHT: THE LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS OF BRUCE EVERETT

Through July 9 | Santa Paula

With an eye for the drama of shadow and light, San Luis Obispo County artist Bruce Everett presents a survey of sweeping landscape paintings from his 60-year career. Everett’s work has been exhibited in museums and galleries in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California, Oregon, Seattle, New York, Connecticut and Texas. His art is included in numerous books, exhibition catalogs, and publications on Photorealism and landscape painting. Everett currently lives and paints in Templeton, California. In addition, Field Trip: 30 Days at Higher Elevation with mixed media paintings by Mary Neville will be on exhibit through May 7. Two great exhibits not to be missed! Santa Paula Art Museum, 117 North 10th Street, Santa Paula, 805.525.5554, www.santapaulaartmuseum.org

ON THE HORIZON

BINGING ON MOZART

April 15-16 | Camarillo, Thousand Oaks

No matter what genre of music he composed, Mozart did so with masterful skill – operas, choral works, concertos, chamber music, solo songs, sonatas and symphonies – making him what many consider the greatest composer in history. Highlights from more than six hundred works will take you on a Grand Tour of Mozart’s musical genius. Selections include Symphony No. 35, Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, Piano Sonata No. 11, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and more. Thousand Oaks performance: Saturday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks. Camarillo performance: Sunday, April 16, at 3 p.m. at the Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center, 4235 Mar Vista Drive, Camarillo. Tickets: $30-$120. newwestsymphony.org

Photo courtesy Ventura Harbor Village

Beautifully

and 2.5 baths, the master suite also has

large

closet. Private and quiet end unit in the hightly desirable Cape Weston Regatta condos! OFFERED AT $630,000

Beautifully upgraded featuring 3 generous bedrooms and 2.5 baths, the master suite also has a large walk in closet. Private and quiet end unit in the hightly desirable Cape Weston Regatta condos! Offered at $630,000

ONDULANDO - Breaktaking unobstructed views in this spectacular Nob Hill Estates new build! 4+3 and open living spaces in this 2858sf single level on a two tier nearly 18,000sf lot! SOLD $1,950,000 - MULTIPLE OFFERS

Fabulous updates inside and out. 3br+2.5ba, ~1,660sf, 2-car garage.

Single Story, 3br+2ba in ~2,106sf

2022 Build, 4br+3.5ba in ~2,826sf

Ideal Homesideal HOMES

1369/1367 BUENA VISTA STREET, VENTURA

3692 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, FARIA BEACH

Views, Views, Views!

Ocean Views, Island Views, Mountain Views. From the Santa Monica Mountains to Santa Cruz Island enjoy the views from this one-of-a-kind property. The main house features 3 bedrooms and 2 ¼ bathrooms with 1,266 sq. ft. The lower-level features solid oak floors in the dining and living area, as well as the two bedrooms. Upstairs, you enjoy more views off the upper deck and master suite. From the master

suite you can enjoy the morning sunrise, the evening sunset, and even catch the beam of the Anacapa Lighthouse. Out back, you have a covered patio, putting green, yoga wall, and outdoor butler’s pantry, perfect for entertaining or a relaxing staycation. For rental income, home office, or extended family, the permitted Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is detached with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 608 sq. ft., with

ocean & island views too. One block away from Cemetery Memorial Park and within walking distance of downtown Ventura – this is the one!

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 3 1/4

SQ FT: 1,874

PRICE: $1,550,000

174 MONTCLAIR DRIVE, VENTURA

JUST SOLD Sold Price... $1,950,000!

Enter on your gracious circular drive and be prepared to be greeted warmly as you pull up to your new home. You’ll feel like you’re on top of the world; with room to roam in

this 2858sf single level home with 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, and large open living spaces on a two tier nearly 18,000sf lot!

Call Laurie Rutledge (805) 340-4854 for more information or

This ocean front new construction home with unbelievable views is a Modern Cape Cod nestled on the water’s edge in Faria Beach. On the coastline between Ventura and Montecito, this idyllic spot allows for its residents to surf, kayak, swim, fish, sunbathe, take in the sunset, and stargaze. Enjoy phenomenal views from the family room, dining room, kitchen, wine-tasting room, and primary suite. The many windows, decks and balconies provide incredible vistas of blue waves, marine life, white water, and the surfers’ paradise known as Mondo’s Beach. The first level includes a three-car garage, great room with incredible views, a winetasting room or den with water views, a downstairs bedroom, a downstairs laundry room

and two downstairs baths. The chef’s kitchen offers an expansive island, custom cabinetry, natural stone counters, gourmet appliances, and a built-in espresso maker, all overlooking the Pacific. Upstairs, the oceanfront primary suite includes a bedroom with a private beachside balcony, multiple windows for enjoying the views and catching the breeze, an ocean view spa-inspired bathroom and a luxury walk-in closet and dressing room. There are three additional bedrooms, two more baths, as well as a media room and upstairs laundry room. Wellplaced skylights, transom windows and large glass doors offer natural light, and a curated palette of stone, wood and beautiful tile combine with lighting and plumbing fixtures selected to provide each room with

its own special features. Built by Central Coast Engineering, this ocean front home has been thoughtfully designed to include a timeless elegance that will blend cohesively with a variety of interior furnishing selections. Whether for a primary residence or oceanfront escape, this incredible brand-new home will delight your senses as you enjoy the good life on the California coast. Contact Ariel Palmieri with Coldwell Banker Global Luxury at 805-746-2070.

BEDROOMS: 5

BATHROOMS: 6

SQ FT: 4,700

PRICE: $8,700,000

to schedule a showing.

DRE: 01156115

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 3

SQ FT: 2,858

PRICE: $1,895,000

WOW! Ideally Located In MidTown Ventura, Arguably Ventura’s HOTTEST Sub-Market For Its Proximity To Shopping, ‘Local’s Only’ Restaurants, Coffee Houses & More, While Being But A Fun n’

Fast Bike Ride To The Beach Or To Bustling Downtown Ventura!

4 Bedrooms! 2 Full Bathrooms!

Single-Story, Eichler-Esque Design! Vaulted Ceilings! Original Hardwood Floors! Living Room! Dining Area! Galley Kitchen With Stove/Oven, Refrigerator Included! Interior Laundry With

Washer/Dryer Included! Added California Room, Great For Additional Living & Entertaining Space! PLUS, Detached ‘She Shed’ With Electrical Holds All Sorts Of Possibilities! Pond With Waterfall!

(fish excluded) OWNED Solar Electric System! (2017) Newer Roof! (2017) Dual-Pane Windows!

Forced-Air Furnace! Attached

2-Car Garage With Auto-Opener And Roll-Up Garage Door!

Currently Mid-Town Ventura’s MOST AFFORDABLE Offering.

BETTER HURRY!

BETTER CALL BLAKE BLAKE MASHBURN 805.368.0202

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 2 SQ FT: 1,1,293 SOLD: SOLD AT OVER

3161 STRATHMORE DR, VENTURA

5Bedroom+6Bath-Waterfront!

3692 Pacific Coast Highway, Faria Beach - Ventura –Nearly Complete New Construction with 40 feet of Ocean Frontage!

This ocean front home with unbelievable views is a Modern Cape Cod nestled on the water’s edge in Faria Beach. On the coastline between Ventura and Montecito, this idyllic spot allows for its residents to surf, kayak, swim, fish, sunbathe, take in the sunset, and stargaze. Enjoy phenomenal views from the family room, dining room, kitchen, wine-tasting room, and primary suite. The many windows, decks and balconies provide incredible vistas of blue waves, marine life, white water, and the surfers’ paradise known as Mondo’s Beach. Approx. 4,700 Square Feet, 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms. Listed for $8,700,000

POOL HOME

LOT FOR SALE

1002 Ayers Ave, Ojai

This is a cool renovated Ojai 1960s pool home situated on a spacious corner lot. There are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms in approx 1,193 sq ft of living space. The backyard is an entertainer’s dream with a fabulous pool and oversized jetted spa built in 2021, as well as incredible scenic views.

Listed for: $1,175,000

SOLD

2823 Seahorse Avenue, Ventura

West-facing Ventura Keys boat dock home with approximately 35’ boat dock! Beautiful 4 + 3 with gorgeous kitchen overlooking the channel. Incredible outdoor space including a spacious side yard and courtyard in addition to the waterfront decks.

Sold for $2,000,000

00 South Skyline Drive, Thousand Oaks

This 1/2 acre lot is located on a quiet road off the beaten path while situated in an area with some beautiful existing homes, new construction, and lovely green terrain. It is close to Westlake Village, shopping, dining and conveniently located near the 101 Freeway. APN# 676 0080 130

Listed for: $160,000

SOLD

5118 Sealane Way, Mandalay Shores

Ideal for entertaining! Spacious home down the block from the beach. More than 3000 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Open concept living makes this a great getaway to host family and friends or full-time home to enjoy casual coastal living and incredible weather. Roof deck with peek a boo ocean view! Great outdoor space and a 3-car garage too.

Sold for $1,653,000

SOLD

2957 Harbor Blvd, Hollywood Beach

Designer condo in Hollywood Beach fully renovated with stunning features. Community has pools, spas and tennis. Nestled where the sandy shores meet the thriving marina in Channel Islands Harbor. Local highlights include Sunday farmers market, surfing, sailing and incredible sunsets.

Sold for $690,000

SOLD

707

Incredible pool home in sought after Brock Hills community. Original owners lovingly maintained this property, cultivating a garden paradise surrounding the home and pool. Interior features include fresh paint, flooring and lots of windows offering garden and hillside views and great light.

Sold for $971,500

Ariel Palmieri CalDRE #01501968

Karen Stein CalDRE #01505059

JulietCalDREEsquibias #01831073

Sara Carlson CalDRE #02177285

Karen Stein

Esquibias Ariel Palmieri Sara Carlson

Algonquian Street, Ventura