Photo Festival: PhotoVentura 2007

From October 20 to November 3, 2007, dozens of photographic events will be hosted in Ventura, California. During PhotoVenura 2007, photographers, artists, and galleries in the area will act in tandem to fill the festival with slide shows, contests, workshops, and exhibits. Special events include an inaugural PhotoVentura Gallery Crawl. This year's event has drawn over 100 participating artists at more than 20 venues. Foremost among these is the Buenaventura Gallery, the city's oldest showing space, which will host both "17mm and 180°: Altered Views, New Visions" with Kim and Peter Binfield, and will also co-sponsor Kidz Snap, a photo safari for children with a presentation at Bell Arts Factory.

From the PhotoVentura website, quoting photographer and festival founder Stephen "Schaf" Schafer:

"After the success of PhotoVentura 2005, people just kept asking me, when's the next Photoventura?" With the City of Ventura promoting itself as California's New Art City, art programming has been multiplying in the Downtown Cultural District. The city has managed to use art as a catalyst in the downtown area, exciting locals, tourists, merchants and artists with the New Art City Concept."

This seems more than just a local art festival, one deserving of national notice. Ventura appears to have a passion for photography built into its arts scene, with so many galleries participating. Schafer and Co. have needed only to announce a date for all of these organizations to come together—such strong bonds in the community have clearly led to a strong sense of organization and cooperation. The event will be all-inclusive to the various forms of photography, from black and white to color, from traditional landscapes and portraits to cutting edge, abstract works.

For a full list of participating galleries and events, visit www.photoventura.com.