PhotoVentura 2005 is taking over the Ventura, California cultural scene with dozens of exhibits and events all themed around photography. The first-ever PhotoVentura Gallery Night, July 30th should prove to be a snapshot of success!

PhotoVentura is the brainchild of Buenaventura Gallery president and longtime Ventura photographer Stephen Schafer who goes by the moniker of Schaf. (www.schafphoto.com) His concept is to bring together all the photographers and artists in the Ventura area and have them coordinate their receptions, events, lectures, slideshows, workshops, and exhibits into the four weeks between July 20 and August 20, 2005. "The art scene has really been thriving in our little beachside town," says Schaf, "the concept of a photo-themed event was just a natural progression after the success of local ArtWalks, the Studio Artists Tours, and the City of Ventura granting art fellowships and doing a lot of public art."

The Buenaventura Gallery, (www.buenaventuragallery.org) the oldest arts organization in the city of Ventura, has continuously supported its member artists and exhibited their work since it was founded 51 years ago. The ArtWalks that now pack Ventura's downtown sidewalks were first organized as a simple gallery night by the gallery in the early 90's, but have since grown so big they are now run by the City of Ventura. Three times a year in Spring, Summer and Fall, ArtWalks bring thousands of people to Historic Downtown Ventura to see and buy art. It was inevitable that another art concept would percolate out of the Buenaventura Gallery and take over the city. Twenty years ago the Gallery members didn't even consider photography an art form worthy of exhibition, but now photographers make up a large percentage of the gallery members. "With the Brooks Institute of Photography campuses in Santa Barbara and Ventura, and the fabulous photo program at Ventura College, this area is just crawling with photographers. Everyone who comes to Southern California to learn photography never wants to leave - would you"? Schaf laughs, "With all this talent, why not devote a month to events that showcase our local photographers and the artists who use photos in their creative process?"

The big event for PhotoVentura 2005 will be a Gallery Night on Saturday, July 30, 2005 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. The four weeks of events and exhibits will wind down at one of Ventura's famous Downtown ArtWalks on August 20. Participating artists will have receptions those 2 evenings with maps and schedules created to bring patrons, and photography lovers out for the evening. Additional events are also scheduled for July and August which will include: slide & multi-media shows by photographers, photo contests, and photo workshops & lectures. The PhotoVentura concept of encouraging photographers and artists to exhibit and produce photo events simultaneously in the city of Ventura, has brought together over 40 artists, at more than 25 venues. "The enthusiasm of participants has really been beyond our wildest dreams, we originally sought to put together a few photo displays, but there's this new arts energy in Ventura, even the City Council is calling Ventura - California's New Art City," says Schaf. "It's especially exciting to see artists come forward with a really broad spectrum of alternative media in addition to traditional fine art black & white and color photography."

Some of the types of art on exhibit will be: Art from photos and photos of art, collage & mixed media with photos, encaustic wax with photos, paintings and sculpture created from photos and exhibited along side these reference photos, hand-colored photos, digital art with its origin in photos, and digital photo manipulations, photojournalism, documentary & historical photo collections, multi-media & slide shows, photograms, macro-photography and photography through microscopes, and photographers are still finding venues and inventing events.

Some Participating Venues
Buenaventura Gallery
Stoneworks Studio & Gallery
Art City Studios & Gallery
Bell Arts Factory Studios & Gallery
Brooks institute of Photography
The Ventura County Museum of History and Art
The San Buenaventura Foundation for the Arts
The Ventura Visitors Bureau
The Artists' Union Gallery
The Image Source
Accolades Gallery
Art City
Photo-Artist MB Hanrahan
The Loft Studio
Dexter's Camera
The VC Reporter
Ventura Life & Style
Sea Breeze Gallery
Focus on the Masters
Harbor Village Gallery
...And more!

The Photo Ventura 2005 event is co-sponsored by the Buenaventura Gallery and the San Buenaventura Foundation for the Arts. The PhotoVentura Gallery Night is one of the Foundation's 13 Ventura Arts Explosion Events in 2005.

For publicity photos or the PhotoVentura 2005 logo please contact... e-mail protected from spam bots

For more information about the arts in Ventura or PhotoVentura 2005 check out the Buenaventura Gallery Website at:
http://www.photoventura.com or the San Buenaventura Foundation for the Arts website at: http://www.venturaarts.org

Gallery Night and ArtWalk exhibits are free, some of the lectures and photo workshops have fees, check the list of events that will be updated weekly at http://www.photoventura.com

For information about visiting the city of Ventura, or accommodations, contact the Ventura Visitors Bureau at 1-800-483-6213 or http://www.ventura-usa.com