Shopping at Human Arts Gallery was probably the highlight of our day out in Ojai. It is a cross…read morebetween an art gallery and a gift shop nestled in downtown Ojai. My husband bought a one-of-a-kind watch at there many years ago and he's had non-stop compliments on it ever since. We returned today and drooled over beautiful/unique wall art as well as fascinating cast bronze sculptures by local artist, Ted Gall. In the end we only bought birthday cards (they have some greats in that department too!), and will certainly return.

Out of what I saw on this street/strip this was one of my favorites. The place reeked of artists'…read morewares. I wished I could have bought something there but artists work can cost a lot, as they should. They had amazing artisan jewelry, whimsical and labor intensive. There were your silken/colorful clothing, wonderful to the touch and eyes. Unusual and wearable. There was furniture, that was not only handmade but painted in pictures. I could eat it all up it was that good.

Bells Art Factory is one of Ventura's true gems. Located in a beautifully repurposed former…read moremattress factory, this nonprofit community arts center is deeply rooted in creativity, accessibility, and community care. The space is home to 30+ local artists working in painting, ceramics, photography, jewelry, and more. In addition to artist studios, Bells offers youth art classes, artist-led workshops, and cultural programming including Ballet Folklórico, Aztec Dance, and yoga (Monday-Friday) with a suggested donation, making wellness and movement accessible to everyone. I've personally attended donation-based sound baths and their Día de Muertos event, and both were thoughtfully organized, welcoming, and grounded in community and cultural respect. The value here is undeniable. You are getting high-quality programming, meaningful cultural experiences, and direct support of local artists and educators, all without high price barriers. Parking is available in a small lot on site, though spaces are limited. Street parking is also available in the surrounding neighborhood. They also host First Fridays, which are always a great way to experience the space, meet artists, and support local creativity. Everything here feels intentional and community-driven. If you're looking for an affordable, enriching space that truly invests back into the community, Bells Art Factory is absolutely worth visiting and donating to.

Checked out a free Zumba class tonight! I had a blast! It was only 45mins but I really got a…read moreworkout!! Lots of smiles and so much fun!!! I think they also offer free art classes. I had never been here before and I'm so happy my friend recommended this place. What an maxing community center. I was told there is a Day of the Dead event November 2,2023. Not sure if I will be able to make it but will try :)

My mom and I found this amazing gallery today while walking the downtown parade and festival. Such…read morea hidden gem of a gallery. Lisa's shop has been open over a year and I realize now why we had never seen it (we never turn left down main street at this intersection) lol. Our mistake clearly! Don't be like us and definitely check out this gallery. The artwork is simply breathtaking. I am not a coastal beachy girl by any means but the artwork here was beyond stunning. Totally stopped us in our tracks. My mom was actually able to find a beach scene for her house and she fell in love with one piece and brought it home. Lisa's work is amazing. I have two pieces on my mind from here after stopping in.... Her desert landscapes are my personal favorite and remind me of the beauty of the desert. Also love her butterfly pieces. This artwork is fresh and a clean aesthetic, truly could look great in any space. Lisa was working the gallery and she couldn't have been lovelier. Such a sweet soul and beyond talented, definitely the kind of local business and artist that I would want to support. Walked away with a great piece and honestly may be back soon because a couple of her works are imprinted on my mind now....time to find some wall space :)

Great to see another art gallery budding up in downtown Ventura, very close to the Mission on Main…read moreStreet! Surrendered Echoes is a calm, serene space filled up with nice paintings, mostly inspired by local landscapes, scenery, by the proximity of the ocean. If you are looking for some art for your place, check out this gallery, see if the style fits your taste! The day we stopped by, the artist was working outside the gallery, so that was a nice touch, great to see! Enjoyable visit here, great addition to Main st. Ventura!

Open Tuesday thru Sunday with some permanent exhibits and other new exhibits which usually are…read morelocal artistic exhibits with various themes. They have a great gift shop with local history information and also gift items. The suggestion donation is $5 but not mandatory. The employees manning the gift shop desk are full Of local Information and extremely knowledgeable about Ojai and very friendly. So worthwhile!

If you have a little time to spare, check out this small museum in downtown Ojai. The kids love…read moremuseums, so thought this was perfect for them to explore. It is free to enter, but a donation is suggested to maintain the museum. Very charming surroundings with history of Ojai, gorgeous paintings, a tiny gift shop, and nature exhibit. My daughter was so fascinated by the old school typewriter. She had questions on how to utilize one. They allowed her to try it out with blank paper, but ink was completely faded. We spent about 30 mins tops taking pictures and exploring the museum. Good spot to check out while visiting Ojai.

During my last trip to Ojai, I was attracted by some cool t-shirts, on sale, outside Nomad Gallery…read more It was a funny coincidence since we read recently in Ojai Quarterly a good article about Leslie Clark (the owner of this gallery), her art (she paints beautiful art pieces, mostly inspired by her trips to Africa- Niger) and her foundation and the great work she does to help people in Niger. The gallery is more than a gallery, it's a cool store that sells clothing, jewelry, sculptures, masks, paintings, home decor items mostly imported from Africa, Niger and Mali. Sure, the prices are a bit higher, but everything in here is unique, one of a kind item, hand made by various artists. I had to get a t-shirt, they were cool, cheap, made in Africa, in a process to help women there use their skills to try to make a living. One of a kind t-shirts, fair trade. We had a nice time chatting with Leslie and she was nice and accommodating with me because I had to try the shirt on, make sure it fits me. Beautiful merchandise, nice store. They'll have a major sale on July 8th, if you'll be in the area, stop by. Or whenever you'll visit Ojai, pop in Nomad Gallery, it's next to Libbey Park, but it's a cool place that will transport you far away, on another continent.

Nomad Gallery is my favorite store in Ojai. Unique one of a kind African fabrics and jewelry. I…read morealways stop by to browse and buy whenever I am in Ojai. The owner is lovely and travels there herself to support local tribal artists and artisans.

I joined this club in hopes to help preserve Camarillo History. What a mistake I made. The people…read moreare rude members and they have meeting at 4:00 p.m. many cannot attend. The President wanted to change a zoning law to allow a Pet Cementary in Camarillo at the new owners of Ivy Lawn Morturary off Daily. Without researching the project the President spoke at a Public Camarillo City Council Meeting and said the group was for this! Well many members might not want this. I have a close friend who's business in next door. She would be totally impacted by the change of zoning. My advice before you go to a City Council meeting read and research what you plan on speaking about. I am glad the City of Camarillo Planning and City Council did not allow this stupid plan of a Pet Cementary by Ivy Lawn.

This is an overdue review. On our ongoing quest to fill up the Passport 2 History book, we stopped…read morein at the Pleasant Valley Historical Society's site some months ago. A couple of docents were happy to show us around the indoor space, telling tales all the while. They have an amazing collection of vintage telephones, including some very early ones, rare samples, plus some whimsical collectible ones like Mickey Mouse and Snoopy. They were donated by a gentleman with a connection to the organization. He may have been on the board at one time. I've forgotten that detail, but not the sight of those phones. For today's kids that only know cell phones, these would be a revelation. The indoor space of the museum section is on the small side. They were recently extended a long lease for the property and are launching a building campaign to expand their facility, allowing for more historical items to be displayed for visitors. Following the inside part of our time on the property, we proceeded out to their botanical gardens. Anchored by a large gazebo, the grounds were a riot of seasonal color. This is a bit of a wild child of a garden design. I think they're trying to move from a more formal, water-intensive style to a drought tolerant landscape. It's evolving. Seems like they rely on volunteers to tend the gardens, or to make improvements. The end result felt a bit disjointed, but with great intentions. The father back in, the wilder it gets. Overall, this is a community gem and worth a visit. You could linger for an hour or so, especially if you find a seat in the garden to soak up the colors and textures of the plantings. In this 90th anniversary year of the St. Francis Dam disaster, various materials on the event were featured, also.

What an amazing artist...if you have the time to visit this shop, don't hesitate. He is generous…read morewith his time and will chat about anything you want. Art, life, etc.... But most importantly, his paintings are amazing and reasonably priced. We purchased his DVD instructional and a print.

I visited this gallery in the month of sept./oct. If you…read moreappreciate landscape art and plain air Painting then you will appreciate this gallery. the work is beautiful and I purchased 4 small Paintings on the spot. Dan was in the gallery And we spoke at length about landscapes and Outdoor painting, it was nice to meet and speak With him about his work. I found this artist to Be as sincere and creative and lovely as his Work. He loves beauty and it shows in his Paintings. I gave the gallery 4 Stars only Because there is always room for growth and I am looking forward to see how this artist Grows. I highly recommend This gallery to all lovers of art and beautiful Painting.

Dance Ojai at the Ojai Art Center is INCREDIBLE. I found out about them online when I was looking…read morefor activities for my friend's bachelorette party. I reached out to Isha from their website, and was blown away by how kind and helpful she was. I was toying with the idea of doing a private dance class, and she was eager to help, but unfortunately the timing wasn't quite right. In the end, we decided to attend the Beginners Bollywood Dance class together. I could not believe it was only $5. If I lived in Ojai, I'd be there every week, and telling all my friends about it! The class was energetic, approachable, fun, and a great work out. We had SO MUCH FUN. And Isha was an incredible instructor. She helped us take some cute pictures before the class began, and allowed our group to do the choreography together just us so we could record it. I cannot recommend Dance Ojai highly enough!

Free museum with interesting artwork from local artists. We met & spoke with two of the artists. It…read morewas fascinating speaking with Ted Gall, a well known sculptor in Ojai. He's 83 years old & he's still creating art. He told us a little about his life & his artwork. He even let us touch one of his sculpture in the glass case. We saw his art at the Ojai Valley of History and Art & the OVA arts store too. We spoke with his sister Laurie Byrne & learned about her art displayed, technique & inspirations.