Johanna Spinks

Pictured top, from L to R, SCIART founding member Gerd Koch, SCIART president Karin Beer-Koller and portrait artist Johanna Spinks.

Ventura County Studio Channel Islands Art Center has honored former college drama professor Edwin Hugh Barron after he recently left a surprise endowment of his whole estate to the art group, home to many local artists with studio and gallery space.



Over 60 people just attended an elegant music-filled afternoon reception for Eddy, as he was known, a beloved professor of drama at Ventura College from 1971 to 1991, who also produced and directed many plays locally.



A special gallery tribute wall featured photos, nostalgic playbills, and written anecdotes bespeaking of Eddy's life dedicated to drama and the arts followed by friends and colleagues giving tearful testimonials of his wit, warmth and booming voice.



An oil portrait of Eddy painted by SCIART classical portrait artist Johanna Spinks, was also unveiled at the event (pictured) to honor Eddy and will hang permanently at SCIART which is located on the Studio Channel Islands University Campus.



Artist Gerd Koch, a SCIART co-founder, who spoke at the event, is sited as a key reason for the surprise endowment. Gerd, an active arts advocate, was a full time professor in the art department of Ventura College from 1967 to 1995 and led European art tours for SCIART. Eddy Barron, who passed away last August, went on two of these tours.



Speaking of the 'out of the blue' surprise substantial Eddy Barron Endowment, SCIART president Karin Beer -Koller, said: "Eddy's gift jumpstarts the Eddy Barron Memorial Fund which will help secure SCIART's future. We will use those funds to make sure SCIART continues to be this wonderful center for resident artists and high class exhibitions, just as you can see it today."





Eddy was a Shakespearian trained actor producing and directing various plays over 20 years while teaching at Ventura College including Ring Around The Moon, Phantom Toll Booth, What the Butler Saw, The Importance of Being Earnest, Night of the Iguana, Ten Little Indians, and the musicals Magic Flute and Orpheus in the Underworld.







...ENDS





For further information, contact:



Karin Beer-Koller, President, Studio Channel Islands Art Centre, 805-383-1368

Johanna Spinks Portrait Artist,310 384 7029