The Venice Artblock takes place today from 11:00am – 6:00pm The Artists of Venice are perhaps some of the most fiercely independent, eclectic, colorful, inspiring, people you might find anywhere in the world. They have organized themselves into a coherent group with the singular purpose of celebrating the products and processes of the highly creative mind.

Local Venice Artists began to meet on a regular basis, eventually forming an artist ‐ run collective, VENICE ARTBLOCK. The group gradually expanded studio by studio to include painters, sculptors, ceramicists, glass artists, street artists, conceptual artists and photographers focused on creating inspiring, interactive studio events in Venice.

Glass artist John Mooney will be open (705 Hampton Dr.) and hosting a fun art party. 

Michele Castagnetti will be open for business… His studio is just a few blocks off Abbot Kinney at 549 Venice Way Venice, CA 90291.

Pop by West Venice Four (22 Sunset Court), Sandy Bleifer’s studio….a longtime Venice artist who will be unfurling her 17-foot long Waves IV for the first time along with several other pieces spotlighting her fascination with the ocean over the years.

Also at Sandy’s space, enjoy the art of three others…Bee Colman’s hand pleated and dyed silk scarves in various sizes, colors and prices complement any style from glam to grunge. Hellena Jone Elbling has been designing jewelry since 2006. As a self-taught jewelry designer, some of her best pieces have been happy mistakes. Why? Because it was in that moment that she let go of perfection and embraced what was meant to be. One more artist to show at Sandy Bleifer’s studio is Natasa Prosenc Stearns. Her work spans across several fields: single channel videos and films, video installations, video objects and prints. The most frequent motifs are elements from nature, human body and urban environment. Her work explores the physical and psychological limitations of humans and hints on their potential limitlessness.

There are MANY open studios…be sure to check the website….

What: Art Block
Where: Various studios all over Venice
When: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Website: http://www.veniceartblock.com/

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Also in Venice…Team (gallery, inc.) presents a solo exhibit featuring the art of Sam McKinniss. Team (bungalow) is located at 306 Windward Avenue in Venice, CA. The opening runs from 4 – 7pm. http://www.teamgal.com/

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LA Artcore Brewery Annex (650 A South Avenue 21, LA 90031) hosts a reception from 1-3pm. Then stop by its other location from 3-5 pm (120 Judge John Aiso St., LA 10012). http://www.laartcore.org/

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In Ojai….

Following on the overwhelmingly positive reception at the opening of the international juried show Water Works II at Porch Gallery Ojai on Saturday, May 9, the Porch Gallery Ojai and the Venice Institute of Contemporary Art present our sculpture tour, led by Juri Koll of ViCA and Lisa Casoni of the Porch Gallery Ojai and by members of the community such as John Fonteyn of Rio Gozo Farm, a locally celebrated farmer.

See image: sculpture by Sonja Schenk

The tour will commence on June 7 at 4pm at the Porch Gallery Ojai to visit Alberto Bevacqua’s majestic 14 foot high brass sculpture Mika, a beautiful study in flow and movement. Then the tour moves to Besant Hill School, where KuBO has installed the massive WaterMark, a metaphor for the drought and the perennial issue that water and it’s scarcity plays in our lives here in California and in many places across the world. It’s constructed of a 25 foot high telephone pole, which was of course once a tree, painted in specialized pigments invented by the artist in iridescent blues, in hues evoking the beauty of water, reflecting light in different directions, revealing complex structures. The tour then moves on to the Farmer and the Cook in Meiner’s Oaks, where Sonja Schenk has installed her sculpture Marker another 14 foot high sculpture that moves with the wind, it’s strips of white material feeling like a waterfall, albeit created with recycled plastic, wax, acrylic and rebar. Guests can then stay and enjoy “pizza on the plaza” at the farmer and the cook starting at 6:00 p.m. followed by live music starting at 6:30.

You can also find more info on the FB Page.

What: Water Works II Sculpture Tour in Ojai
Where: Porch Gallery Ojai is located at 310 E. Matilija Avenue, Ojai, CA
When: 4 pm
Website: www.porchgalleryojai.com