Rotating Exhibits—Gallery

The Community Exhibits Program of the Museum was created in 1997 to allow community organizations to present exhibitions in the Gallery Room of the Museum. More than fifty exhibits have been presented by a diverse group of community entities, including the Santa Paula Historical Society, the Santa Paula Society of the Arts, the De Colores Art Group, the Heritage Valley Quilters, the Santa Paula High School Art and History Departments, and the Santa Paula Women’s History Project.

Men Quilting: Quits Made by Men
October 16, 2011 - February 5, 2012

“Men Quilting! Quilts Made by Men” is the theme for the 13th Annual Heritage Valley Festival of Quilts. The exhibit will showcase the talents of male quilters from Los Angeles, Ventura County and to as far north as Morro Bay, California.

This year the quilts on display are proof that designing and making quilts is not an accomplishment solely of women. Men were quilting professionally in England more than 200 years ago. Quilts constructed by English soldiers were prominently displayed during the 19th and early 20th centuries. In America there have undoubtedly been men who have quilted, but who gained no more recognition than did most of the anonymous women quilters through the years. With the resurgence of the quilt’s popularity since the 1970’s, there has been greater notice of the men who quilt. Partly because of the art quilt movement, where quilts are displayed on walls instead of hidden in bedrooms; partly because of the tools of the trade, long arm quilting machines, computer guided stitch controls, etc.; and partly because of the internet connecting people of like interests; quilting by men is becoming a small yet significant part of the quilting world.

Collecting Curiosities
November 6, 2011 – January 22, 2012

An image to be used on both the home page and the separate Gallery Room Exhibits page is attached above called collections invite front. The third image with file name “pedal car” can also be used on the Gallery Room exhibits page

On the Gallery Room Exhibits page in addition to the title and run dates and images the following description can be used:

The California Oil Museum and the Santa Paula Historical Society invite you to explore the curious and colorful collections of your neighbors in its newest exhibit entitled Collecting Curiosities.

Museums are repositories for collections of priceless artifacts, but often the objects we consider most valuable in the world are the unusual ones we collect ourselves or inherit from family and friends. Now, some of these personal and singular collections will be on display at the Oil Museum. The inspiration behind the exhibit is guest curator and retired Santa Paula Police Lieutenant Carlos Juarez’s retro lunchbox collection, of which he has collected over 400. For Juarez and many other collectors like him who scour flea markets and garage sales looking for their next big find, his collection “inspires memories.”

In organizing the exhibit, Juarez has quickly discovered that Ventura County residents collect a great many things including antique pedal cars, Hot Wheels, Cub Scout pinewood derby cars and model trains. The items will, hopefully, bring back fond memories of simple childhood fun…times when you were still of an appropriate age to play with such toys! The show also looks at how collections are passed from one generation to the next in the hopes of allowing the special memories of our families to survive.

The California Oil Museum is also excited to contribute to the show with never-before-seen items from its own collection including antique petroliana, an incredible assemblage of decorated belt buckles donated to the Museum by collector Garry Greysen, and its most recent acquisition of a collection of 1930s The Saturday Evening Post magazines, which were beautifully illustrated by artists like Norman Rockwell and J.C. Leyendecker.

For all of us, there are some things we just cannot seem to part with. Take some time to stroll through the memories of our contributors and see what history has passed down through the generations. The exhibit will be continuously evolving during its run time and we would enjoy showcasing your collectible items…if you can bear to part with them for a few months!

click image for larger view

click images for larger view