@TO-Cal Stand Out hed:Backyard' vistas Discovery Gallery, Ventura From Ventura's beaches to the waters of the Santa Barbara Channel, Margery Spielman has always felt a deep coastal connection. She's been an avid scuba diver since 1964 and has taught scuba and oceanography courses at Ventura College and Ojai Valley School. She's even worked and dived with famed marine researcher Jacques Cousteau. Spielman is also an artist and her love for California seascapes is reflected in her work. Her new show, "In My Backyard," celebrates the area's oceans, beaches and wildlife. The exhibit is described as a "conscious meander along the shorelines and under the surface of our oceans." Featured is a variety of mixed-media work, including "Hope," pictured. "In My Backyard" will run through June 5 at the Discovery Gallery inside the Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau, 101 S. California St., Ventura. It's open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Call 648-1235 or visit http://www.buenaventuragallery.org. Courtesy photo

galleries + Art Exhibits

Ventura County

643 project space: Through May 16: Return to Pearl, multimedia works by Dean De Cocker. Gallery hours by appointment, 643 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura. 310-592-9127; http://www.643projectspace.com.

ART GALLERY OF GRACE: Ongoing: biblically themed mixed-media collage and acrylic artwork by Lee Hodges. Noon to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, Grace Church, 1560 E. Main St., Ventura. 302-3167.

ARTISTS' UNION GALLERY: Upstairs, through June 8: Lucky, a contemporary judged art show, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. May 17. Downstairs: Artist Fellowship Showcase. Noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, and noon to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 330 S. California St., Ventura. 643-3012; http://www.venturaartistsunion.org.

Bali Sea Boutique and Gallery: Ongoing: impressionist landscape oil paintings by Robbie D. Sayers. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, 493 E. Main St., Ventura. 652-0573.

beatrice wood center for the arts: In the Beato Gallery, through June 29: In Close Proximity, paintings by Richard Amend and sculptures by Richard Flores. In the Logan Gallery: Recent Works by Allison Newsome. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Sundays and by appointment, 8560 Ojai-Santa Paula Road, Upper Ojai. 646-3381; http://www.beatricewood.com.

blanchard community library: Through June 30: oil, acrylic, watercolor, ink and pastel pieces by Pat High Lemmon. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, 119 N. Eighth St., Santa Paula. 525-3615.

BUENAVENTURA GALLERY: Through May 24: California Places and Faces, pastel, watercolor and oil paintings by Judy Klement. Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 700 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura. 648-1235; http://www.buenaventuragallery.org.

CAFÉ ON A: May 16 through June 26: clay, plaster and wood sculptures by Ismael Cazarez, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. May 16. 438 South A St., Oxnard. 487-8170; http://www.networkaztlan.com/artists/ismael_cazarez.html.

CAFÉ VALENTINO: Through May 31: acrylics and digital works by Ashley Merrill. 5145 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. 527-4130.

CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY: In the Kwan Fong Gallery, through May 17: 12 Apart, the work of CLU senior art majors. Mondays through Saturdays, CLU, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. Free. 493-3241; http://www.callutheran.edu.

camarillo art center: Through May 18: Spring Forward, a judged art show, with a reception from 2 to 3 p.m. May 18. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 3150 Ponderosa Drive, Camarillo. 445-7061; http://www.camarilloartcenter.org.

capriccio: Through Aug. 1: floral expression watercolors by Phyllis Gubins. 298 E. Main St., Ventura. http://www.redbrickart.com.

CORNER ART GALLERY: Ongoing: oil, mixed-media, landscape and modern paintings by gallery owner Mamun Reazi. 1490 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura. 648-5728.

CROWNE PLAZA VENTURA BEACH HOTEL: Ongoing: 40 works by local artists, including prints, paintings and sculpture; the artwork changes every 3 1/2 months. 450 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. 648-2100.

downtown center for the arts: Through July: Uptown Cityscape, silkscreen art by Frank Romero, with a reception from 5 to 7:30 p.m. May 16. 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays through Sundays and by appointment, 519 South C St., Oxnard. Free. 798-0830; http://www.downtowncenter.org.

FOX FINE JEWELRY: Through July 14: paintings by Kathy Ikerd and Maudette Ball Fink, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. May 17. 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 210 E. Main St., Ventura. 652-1800.

gardens of the world: Through June 22: landscapes by Pamela Solakian. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, 2001 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 557-1135; http://www.gardensoftheworld.info.

high studio: Through June 25: landscape show by seven artists. 11 E. High St., Moorpark. 523-7957; http://www.highstudio.net.

jonathan's at Peiranos: Through Aug. 1: oil landscapes and pears with personality by Joe LaCorte. At J's Tapas: surf-inspired abstract acrylics by Eric Abel. 204 E. Main St., Ventura. 648-4853; http://jonathansatpeiranos.com.

M/H DESIGNS: Ongoing: landscapes and seascapes by Randel Rogers. 21 Easy St., Suite 107, Simi Valley. 584-2600.

The oaks at ojai: Through June 15: pastel landscapes and seascapes by Birgitta Reveles 122 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. 646-5573.

OJAI ICE CREAM: Ongoing: Bill and Georgia Lee Scarlott's watercolor landscapes and Vernon "Skip" Baim's oil seascapes. 210 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. 646-6075.

old town studio gallery: Through June 15: photography and paintings by David Rivas, Laura Krifka and Jacques D' Auteuil. Noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, or by appointment, 2165 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo. 818-749-5598.

red brick art gallery: Through June 23: Water World, ocean-inspired art, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. May 17. 328 E. Main St., Ventura. 643-6400; http://www.redbrickart.com.

SCIART WEST: Through June 14: Rockin' 'n' Rollin', wheeled vehicles and strange collages by Bob Privitt. 1 to 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, or by appointment, 519 South C St., Oxnard. 483-3148; http://www.studiochannelislands.org.

Sea breeze art gallery: Through May 17: Earth and Sky features art connected to the environment. May 22 through June 28: Interwoven Circles: A Cycle of Works, new 3-D works by Lisa Moore, with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. May 24. 255 S. Laurel St., Ventura. Free. 643-3973; http://www.seabreezeartgallery.com.

Studio channel islands art center: In the Evans Gallery, through June 21: External/Internal, poetic renderings of landscapes by seven artists. In the O'Keeffe Gallery: Will You Love Me Tomorrow? paintings by William Solomon. In the Gerd Koch Gallery: Shreds, art from shredded documents by Arlene Mead. In the Hall Gallery, ongoing: a site-specific installation by Christine Cross. Noon to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, or by appointment, CSU ChanneI Islands, Building 18, Ventura Street, Camarillo. 383-1368; http://www.studiochannelislands.org.

THOUSAND OAKS COMMUNITY GALLERY: Through May 31: Annual Open Competition, transparent watercolor and aqua media. 2231-A Borchard Road, Newbury Park. 498-4390; http://www.thousandoaksartassoc.org.

UNDER THE SUN CULTURAL ART GALLERY: Through May 24: artwork by Otto "Tito" Sturcke. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, inside the Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura. 804-6433; http://www.underthesungallery.com.

UPFRONT GALLERY: Through May 31: New Paintings by Jack Reilly. 267 S. Laurel St., Ventura. 340-1448; http://www.upfrontgallery.org.

VENTURA COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER: Through June 3: An art and poetry exhibition, with a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. May 15. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, Atrium Lobby, Hall of Administration, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. Free. 658-2213.

ventura wine co.: Through Oct. 15: Pat and Cat Patterson's photographic images. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 4435 McGrath St., Ventura. 642-9449; http://www.venturawineco.com.

visions gallery: Ongoing: gallery, inside the Ventura Beach Marriott, features works by Brooks Institute students and alumni. Lobby level, 2055 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. 275-1112; http://www.marriottventurabeach.com.

weaver wines: Through June 2: wine-infused art by Ellen Germain. 14 S. California St., Ventura. 653-9463; http://www.weaverwines.com.

events

+ workshops

Ventura County

kids art show: Fundraising event benefiting Casa Pacifica, featuring artwork by children 16 and younger for sale. Noon to 2 p.m. May 17, Coffee N Dreams, Janss Marketplace, 265-A Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. 492-6546.

watercolor demonstration: The Camarillo Art Center will host a demonstration by Ventura artist Timberly Dunn. 7 p.m. May 21, 3150 Ponderosa Drive, Camarillo. $5 general admission, free for Art Center members. 445-7061; http://www.camarilloartcenter.org.

call

to artists

simi valley art association artwalk: Artists are invited to participate in the ArtWalk at the Simi Valley Street Fair on May 18. Space is available at $15 per artist. For more information, call Michelle Adler at 526-4599.

pleiN-air festival & Exhibit: Artists are invited to participate in the Ventura Maritime Museum's Plein-Air Festival & Exhibit. 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 27, 2731 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard. Cash prizes will be awarded. For more information or a prospectus, call Jackie Cavish at 984-6260.

ojai center for the arts: Photographers are invited to submit work for Road Show, featuring visions of people and sights found along the roads of the world. The annual juried show will run June 1 through July 2. Work must be submitted May 29-30. For details, visit http://www.ojaiartcenter.org.

ARTISTS' UNION GALLERY: Artists can submit work for the gallery's Taboo Topics show. Drop-off dates are June 9-10. For an online application, visit http://www.venturaartistunion.org.

museums

+ Institutions

Ventura County

CALIFORNIA OIL MUSEUM: Through July 27: St. Francis Dam Disaster, 80th Anniversary uses vintage photographs, detailed drawings and more to examine the disaster's history. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, 1001 E. Main St., Santa Paula. $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children. 933-0076; http://www.oilmuseum.net.

CAMARILLO RANCH: The restored Queen Anne-style Victorian house contains Camarillo family correspondence, restoration photos, and silver saddles and uniforms worn on the original Camarillo white horses. Guided tours, noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. 201 Camarillo Ranch Road, Camarillo. $5 suggested donation. 389-8182; http://www.camarilloranch.org.

Carnegie art museum: Through May 18: Photos and Phantasy highlights how fantasy and photography create a new art form. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays, 424 South C St., Oxnard. 385-8157; http://www.vcnet.com/carnart.

CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK VISITOR CENTER: Museum, bookstore, marine life displays and exhibits. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, 901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura. Programs about the park offered at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekends and holidays. Free. 658-5730; http://www.nps.gov/chis.

COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WING WWII AVIATION MUSEUM: Historical aircraft, displays and artifacts about World War II, and a research library. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except Mondays and Wednesdays, Camarillo Airport, 455 Aviation Drive, Camarillo. 482-0064.

HERITAGE SQUARE TOURS: Costumed docents lead 45-minute tours of historical homes built from 1887 through 1912. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, 715 South A St., Oxnard. 483-7960.

MURPHY AUTO MUSEUM: Showcases cars from all decades. The Gold Coast Modular Railroad Club has now joined the museum and runs its HO scale model train setup. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 2230 Statham Blvd., Oxnard. $9 adults and teens, $5 children 12 and younger. 487-4333; http://www.murphyautomuseum.com.

MUSEUM OF VENTURA COUNTY: Through Aug. 17: The Past on a Plate, photographs of Ventura County from 1874 to 1909, by John Calvin Brewster. Through May 18: PlaceScapes, photographs by Stephen Schafer of places frozen in time. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays; 89 S. California St., Ventura (temporary location while the museum on Main Street undergoes renovation). Free admission. 653-0323; http://www.venturamuseum.org.

OJAI VALLEY MUSEUM: Through June 15: Made in Ojai reflects 25 years of studio tours and exhibitions. Ongoing: art by Beatrice Wood, Jesse Arms Botke and others, plus displays of Chumash artifacts and tools used by early settlers. 1 to 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, 150 W. Ojai Ave., Ojai. $3 adults; free for students and children under 6. 640-1390; http://www.ojaivalleymuseum.org.

OLIVAS ADOBE HISTORICAL PARK: Ongoing: The two-story adobe hacienda on the park grounds, built by Don Raymundo Olivas in 1847, features furnishings from the early California rancho era. Docents in period costumes offer tours. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 4200 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura. For group tours, call 658-4728.

pleasant valley historical society museum: Ongoing: exhibits on Chumash culture, local ranchos, the Camarillo Ranch House, Springville, early 20th-century telephones and tools, and historical photographs. 720 N. Las Posas Road, Camarillo. 482-3660; http://www.pleasantvalleyhistoricalsociety.org.

rancho camulos museum: National Historic Landmark preserves the early California lifestyle with adobe buildings, a cocina, chapel, schoolhouse and more. 5164 E. Telegraph Road, Piru. 521-1501; http://www.ranchocamulos.org.

REYES ADOBE HISTORICAL SITE: Docent tours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month and 1 to 4 p.m. the second and fourth Saturdays. 5464 Reyes Adobe Road, Agoura Hills. $3 adults, $2 seniors, $1 children 5 to 12, free for kids 4 and younger. 818-597-7361; http://www.reyesadobe.org.

RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM: Through Nov. 10: Nancy Reagan: A First Lady's Style, more than 80 items from the former first lady's wardrobe. Ongoing: Permanent exhibits explore Ronald Reagan's youth, movie career, marriage to Nancy and involvement in politics. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. $12 adults, $3 youths 11 to 17, free for children 10 and younger. 800-410-8354; http://www.reaganfoundation.org.

SANTA SUSANA RAILROAD DEPOT & MUSEUM: The restored Southern Pacific Railroad depot, more than 100 years old, contains railroad artifacts and model trains. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 6503 Katherine Road, Simi Valley. $1 suggested donation; free for children accompanied by adults. 581-3462; http://santasusanadepot.org.

STAGECOACH INN MUSEUM: Permanent and changing exhibits from the Chumash, Spanish mission and Conejo Valley pioneer eras. 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, 51 S. Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park. 498-9441.

STRATHEARN HISTORICAL PARK AND MUSEUM: The 6-acre park includes artifacts, a gift shop, and elements of the Chumash, Spanish rancho and American periods of Simi Valley history. Docent tours from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. Grounds open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley. $3 donation. 526-6453; http://www.simihistory.com.