By Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer | Photos by Viktor Budnik
This is a landmark year for the Ojai Art Center. The community organization, founded in 1939 by Dr. Charles Butler as a home for artistic endeavors of all kinds, celebrates its 85th anniversary in 2024. And what a year it has been: a special theatrical production about the founding of the center, an original musical, a splashy gala on Nov. 9…and that’s not all!
Helping to arrange these and other events is Executive Director Teri Mettala. She’s been with the Ojai Art Center for decades at this point, and has seen a lot of growth and change since she started as a part-timer in the 1980s. Ventana Monthly spoke to her about the center’s value to the community, how it celebrated 85 years, plans for the future and more.
Teri, you’ve been with the center for quite some time. When did you first get involved?
I was hired in the ’80s as a part-time secretary and somehow over time evolved into the director. I do a little bit of everything — from unclogging toilets to bookkeeping. I schedule classes and activities, maintain the membership, answer the phone and greet people, organize events, coordinate volunteers, create a monthly newsletter and do some public relations.
What kind of support do you have — from the community, other staff members, etc.?
The Art Center exists because of the tireless efforts of its many volunteers, including a Board of Trustees, branch chairs, casts and crews, committee members and a myriad of others.
Many are long-time Art Center supporters. Ruth Hemming is one such person. A retired school teacher, she initially became involved in 1999 and since then has served on the Board of Trustees in some capacity or other, from treasurer to president. When her partner, Joan Raymund, died, an endowment in her name was set up, ensuring financial security for the Art Center. We were able to dip into the interest of those funds during the pandemic.
Ruth invited her brother Herb to join the Art Center about 18 years ago, and he is currently president of the Board of Trustees. Lenny Klaif has been here for over 30 years. A lawyer by day, he found a passion for performing and has been in about 20 productions.
How has the Ojai Art Center celebrated its 85th anniversary in 2024?
The Art Center has been celebrating the 85th birthday with several special events in addition to promoting the 85th year in all of our publicity. In July we presented “Our Town,” a story of the Art Center written by Peter Fox from the perspective of our founder, Dr. Charles Butler. All of our eight branches gave a sampling of what they each do. In August we had “An Evening on the Lanai: Remembering the Golden Girls.” September we offered “Me and My Friends,” an original musical. On Nov. 9 we will have a gala birthday party opened to the public with dancing, food and alcohol. We close out the year with “Love Letters” performed by Amanda McBroom and George Ball on Nov. 23.
The community has been very supportive.
I understand you held a capital campaign to raise much-needed funds. Has it been successful? How much has been raised so far?
We ran a capital campaign and raised about $120,000. We have used the funds to paint the entire building, to install air conditioning in two rooms, to purchase state-of-the-art lighting for the theater, paint the men’s bathroom and refinish the gallery floor.
In addition to our capital campaigns and membership drives, major Art Center fundraisers include Art in the Park, held every Memorial Day weekend in Libbey Park, which is a juried fine art show. We will be doing the 48th annual Art in the Park in 2025. The Blues Fest hosted at the Art Center is in early June. Another is The Great Art Theft, in which local artists donate works of art, tickets are sold and when each ticket-holder’s name is pulled, they can choose the artwork of their choice.
What kinds of events and programs does the Ojai Art Center offer?
We have a fairly extensive Dance Branch program with classes from little ballet dancers to senior jazz dancers.
Our Art Branch arranges 12 gallery exhibits a year. We have several group art shows scheduled in 2025 — the Buenaventura Art Association and the Pastel Society of the Gold Coast. We have two open shows — The Figure Drawing Show and an open-themed exhibit. In addition, we will exhibit individual artists and an annual photography show.
Our active Theater Branch presents five plays a year, plus a youth production. In addition, we have a Music Branch, which hosts four chamber concerts a year, and a Literary Branch with monthly book readings/signings.
In what other ways does the center connect with the Ojai community?
The Ojai Art Center offers the community a central location where they can perform, learn and express their creative side.
One of the things not previously mentioned is the interaction we have with other community organizations. We love supporting and sharing our resources with the Ojai Storytellers, the Ojai Film Festival, the Ojai Music Festival, Help of Ojai, the Chamber of Commerce, the Ojai Raptor Society, the Ojai Playwrights Conference and several others.
We are proud of what we do. There are not many organizations like the Art Center. Not only for its tenure, but also for what it offers the people of the Ojai Valley.
Any great stories from your time working at the Ojai Art Center?
During the production of “Little Shop of Horrors” several years ago, one of the actors had a girlfriend who was increasingly upset and jealous of the time he spent with rehearsals, etc. The last straw was when he decided to socialize with other members of the cast (some female). One day the girlfriend broke into the green room and stole the costumes. The irony is that the director of the play was a private investigator in real life. He put his team on the hunt and was able to locate the discarded costumes in a field in the East End of Ojai.
Another time, we had an art exhibit which featured the work of many local artists. One of them, Norman Kirk, was a watercolorist who had taught at Ventura College for many years. He submitted a beautiful large, realistic landscape painting. It hung on the wall as you entered the main lobby right under a skylight.
There was a big storm during the night and the skylight leaked. The painting was under glass, but somehow water had seeped in. The realistic watercolor turned into a beautiful abstract with large dripping trees.
We were nervous to tell him but he was gracious and we decided to keep it with the new perspective.
What are your plans for the center in the future?
Plans for the future would include continuing to upgrade and improve what Dr. Butler started 85 years ago. I don’t know what the future holds. There have been people who have come with big plans for expansion and change, but we have somehow managed to maintain the early vision of Dr. Butler. It’s worked for this long. Why mess with it?
Any big dreams or wishes you’d like to see fulfilled?
If I had a million dollars, I would buy the property next door (vacant for years) and have it for Art Center use, whatever that may be.
What’s next for the Ojai Art Center?
Our 2025 Theater Season: “Beyond the Ordinary.” It will include a production of “Annie.” This classic musical tells the story of little orphan Annie, a spunky redhead determined to find her parents who abandoned her at a New York City orphanage during the Great Depression. It’s won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and is a timeless classic that brings joy to all ages!
Stay tuned for detailed show announcements, audition calls, and exciting looks behind-the-scenes throughout the year.
Ojai Art Center
113 South Montgomery Street, Ojai
805.646.0117
www.ojaiartcenter.org
