June First Friday ArtRide the Santacon: where we will go & what we will see

So where are we going on the First Friday ArtRide this month you wonder? Where is Santa cycling?

Some of us will gather at 5:15pm in the free parking lot at the City of Ventura’s Maintenance Yard  at San Jon Road near Thompson. We’ll ride down the hill to the ocean and along the bike path to the State Beach where LifeCycle, the fundraising bike ride from SF to LA is camping out over night. From there, we’ll ride to the Artists Union Gallery where California Street intersects with the Promenade and the ocean.  depending on the group, we may ride back to see if any of the LifeCyclers want to join with the Santa Cyclers!

Since this First Friday ArtRide is a SantaConvention, we decided to bring the ride to some of the retail establishments downtown. So from the Promenade, we’ll ride up the river trail to Main and make our first stop at Architexture (corner of Main and Ventura Avenue) to see the photographs of Jessica Lindley. From there, we’ll ride up Main to Oak and Santa Clara where Winston Braun has a show up at Buffalo Records. Back on Main, we’ll ride up to at least Fir, and then ride back down Main to Fox Fine Jewelry (210 E. Main). From there, we’ll ride up Ventura Ave past Bell Arts to 643 Gallery.

The ride ends at Bell Arts Factory, 432 Ventura Ave, where a bluesy rock band will start playing around 7pm, and where at 7:30pm chips & salsa, quasadillas & corn burritos & fresh fish tacos and other Mexican food will be served along with fresh lemonade for a $10 donation ($5 for children), and where a pony keg of Anacapa beer will flow for a donation of $3 for one and $5 for two for you if you bring your own cup!

Art is always in abundance at Bell Arts Factory; many artists will hold open studios, and there are openings for Bobbi Jo Free in the Tool Room and in the Community Room for Ricardo Ortega whose work represents and honors the history of the Mexica/Azteca people (Mexican).  Danza Mexica Cuauhtemoc will be present to give a traditional blessing and dance for the artist, his art, and the stories that his paintings tell. Danza will start at 7:00 PM followed by the artist himself who will explain what each painting represents. This will be a wonderful opportunity, not only to enjoy the beauty of Ricardo’s artwork and Danza Mexica Cuauhtemoc’s dances, but to also learn about the rich and fascinating history of our Mexica ancestors.

Bobbi Jo Free’s show in the Tool Room Gallery “A Retrospective of Creativity” takes the viewer through the production stages of Free’s fine art, fabric sculptures. Often viewed as dolls, Bobbi Jo takes her craft and expertise to inspiring levels by imbuing them with the spirit of life and fairytale. Free has had an illustrious career which includes production for Christian Dior, Hue and The Muppets. Bobbi Jo Free lives in Ventura and enjoys creating in her Studio 94 at Bell Arts Factory.