Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Ojai

The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts lies on the outskirts of Ojai Amid a breathtaking mountainous setting.The Center exhibits Beatrice Wood's master works in Ceramics. Her travels, especially to India, are evident in the Center's display of portions of her extraordinary collection of Indian Folk Art. Fascinating glimpses of her exceptional life can be read from photos and documents displayed in historic house fashion in one section of the Center. Far from just being about Wood, the Center celebrates the best in ceramic work by other artists too. One of the exhibitions on view at the time of my visit was The Presidents' Show a showcase for The American Ceramic Society of Southern California (ACS SoCA) the premier ceramic artists' organization in Southern California . The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts also showcases different kinds of art by diverse artists. Perhaps with a leaning towards Beado's love of Indian Folk Art , I came to visit the Center this time to view the new exhibition of Gond Art a tribal form of Indian painting done by individual artists in Ink and Acrylic Paint. The works are drawn from the mythological stories of one of the largest tribes in India with whom it shares its name. The works are compelling, mysterious and beautiful. In addition to the visual explosion of delights there is much more to be found at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts . The Center boasts one of the most ambitious and diverse educational programs I have ever encountered at a small arts organization.. They offer a full range of lectures, performances, workshops, classes for adults and children and internships too. What is utterly amazing is that this whole operation is run on a virtual shoestring. It is in the words of the Center's Director ,Kevin Wallace (noted artist, author, curator, & 'magician'), " a labor of love". There is no endowment, no staff really, most instruction is done for the love of the craft by seasoned professionals who believe in the vision of the place. Rounding out all of this wonder is a great SHOPPING EXPERIENCE! Since Beatrice Wood was so prolific, there is a rich secondary market of her work for sale at the Center and there are many exquisite pieces for sale .The Center Store sells some of her matted and framed droll, wonderful drawings as well as lovely ceramic works by a number of regionally and nationally known ceramicists. Other types of original art are also sold in the store. There is an interesting variety of art related books available to buy as well. Visit The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, the setting called aptly called Happy Valley ( another story) is magnificent. In popular culture the name Shangri-La has attached itself to the Ojai Valley since the 1937 film Lost Horizon. If you are searching for a Shangri-La of the Arts in Ojai take a journey to the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts. You will find it there!

Amazing Dadaist ceramicist that was also a Theosophist.