Relatives With Roots was an arts education program to encourage students to learn how to draw and paint through observation of the natural world. We believe that a sustainable and resilient Ojai Valley begins with empowering youth and advocating for the rights of Nature.
The program sessions took place in the City of Ojai, at Cluff Vista Park which has a diverse collection of native plants, ample seating, and community accessibility that is an ideal outdoor classroom for this program.
Click on each image to enlarge — Cluff Vista Park and art kit photos.
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~ Free to children ages 8-11 in the Ojai Valley ~
~ 20 students max per session ~
Sponsored by:
City of Ojai Arts Commission | Rotary Club of Ojai
The Mel and Leta Ramos Family Foundation
Ojai Creates! | Chisums
All classes met on Saturday mornings from 9:00 am -11:30 am.
Session I Saturday, June 5 & Saturday, June 12 – Done and had fun.
Session II Saturday, June 19 & Saturday, June 26 – Done and had fun.
Session III – canceled – expected high noise of July 3 parade near Cluff Park.
Session IV Saturdays, Jul 17 & Saturday, Jul 24 – Done and had fun.
Materials
Each student was provided art materials for their use during class and then taken home for their ongoing personal use, as well as being Covid-safe. The kit included a spiral-bound Field Journal consisting of 15 pages of 140 lb. watercolor paper and 15 pages of 60 lb. sketch paper, drawing pencils, a pencil sharpener, eraser, and a portable Field Sketch watercolor palette with a refillable water brush will be distributed to each student.
Exhibition
To highlight student learning outcomes and celebrate their creative accomplishments, we will have an exhibition
Instructors
Pacha Maia — Local Artist & Healer — Maia Bielak (aka, Pacha Maia) integrates 20+ years of experience in art and Earth-based healing practices into medicine art, installations and experiences for individuals, groups and organizations. Medicine art is created with the intention and effect of promoting health, healing, and ecology. It is generated using Earth-based healing practices and materials, honors the concept of narrative medicine, and uses the most sustainable media when possible. Maia’s art can be found in various locations all over the country. For more about this, see: https://www.pachamaia.com/.
Julie Tumamait-Stenslie — Ethnobotany Educator — Julie is also Tribal Chair of the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (Chumash); a cultural resources consultant from Malibu to Santa Barbara to the Channel Islands, providing guidance for private groups and state, county, and city regulatory agencies, including the Ventura and Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s offices; Spiritual Advisor for the Cal State University at Channel Islands; lifelong Ojai resident.
Lanny Kaufer — Ethnobotany Educator — Lanny has been leading “Herb Walks” ––interpretive native plant walks and nature hikes–– in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties since 1976. He focuses on herbs that have multiple uses for survival, crafts, home remedies, gardening, ceremony, fiber-making, and wildcrafting of all sorts. His mission is to pass on this time-honored knowledge to the next generation of herbalists, ethnobotanists, and regular folks who want to regain their ancestral connection to the plants. Lanny has a degree in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and has conducted extensive independent studies in the field of naturopathic medicine under the supervision of Dr. Henry Hilgard. He worked in the UCSC Arboretum; he has taught Science, Health and Natural History to middle school and high school students at Santa Paula High School, Happy Valley School, Ojai Valley School, Mountain View High School, and Renaissance Continuation High School. He has also served as Outdoor Education Director for Happy Valley School and Education Director for The C.R.E.W. (Concerned Resource and Environmental Workers) and was a co-founder of the Sunbow Ecology Center. Most recently, he was teaching Science and Special Education at Santa Paula High School.
