In honor of Ventura County’s 150th Anniversary, the Museum of Ventura County (MVC) will present an exhibit, Ventura County, The Place We Call Home, Oct. 21-Nov. 6 at the Santa Paula Agriculture Museum’s Mountains to Sea Jubilee event.

In a black and white postcard predating the 101 Freeway, four old cars are stopped on a wood plank road along the oceanfront.
Black and white postcard shows oceanfront scene that predates construction of the 101 Freeway. Credit: Museum of Ventura County

Curated by Carlos Ortega, the exhibit celebrates the county’s diversity by exploring different interpretations of home.

“As MVC’s recently appointed chief curator, Ventura County, The Place We Call Home is the first of what I hope will be many engaging, immersive exhibits that seamlessly blend the past with the present and reflect the stories and experiences of our diverse community,” Ortega said.

Home means something different to everyone. Some people think of home as a place: the house or the neighborhood where they grew up. For some, home lives in their memories of celebrations and hardships. For others, family and friends make them feel at home.

Amadeo Suma takes a selfie photo as he stands in front of a field of farmworkers. He is wearing a gray hoodie and baseball cap.
Amadeo Suma takes a selfie photo as he stands in front of a field of farmworkers. Credit: Amadeo Suma

Using installations as well as photographs, this exhibit highlights the lives of people living in Ventura County and examines their relationship to home, to community, and to each other.

The historical photos are drawn from the museum’s research library, as well as historical societies throughout the county. Photographs of Ventura County today are by a diverse group of photographers and artists.

The contemporary photographers and artists contributing to the exhibit are: Ben Bribriesca, Cristian Castro, Jorge Corralejo, Blake Fagan, Leah Mata Fragua, Porfirio Gutierrez, MB Hanrahan, Oliver Krisch, Trinh Mai, Cris Mejia, Amy Oliver, Liisa Pynnonen, Zaydee Sanchez, George Sandoval, and Amadeo Sumano.

The display will also be on view at the following venues: Bank of America Performing Arts Center Thousand Oaks, opens Nov. 11; Oxnard College at Condor Hall, opens Nov. 27; and Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District Activity Center, opens Dec. 9.

“We are thrilled to unveil an exceptional museum exhibition that delves deep into the intricate tapestry of ‘Home’ within our community,” said Elena Brokaw, the Barbara Barnard Smith executive director. “I am immensely proud to present this thought-provoking exploration of the myriad ways in which ‘home’ resonates with each and every one of us.”

For more about the exhibit and related events, visit https://venturamuseum.org/exhibits/.

The Museum of Ventura County celebrates, preserves and interprets the art, history and culture of Ventura County, the California Channel Islands and the surrounding region through its collections, exhibitions, events, educational programs, publications and its research library, and serves as a gathering place for the community.

The museum has two locations: the main museum, 100 E. Main St., Ventura, phone 805-653-0323; and the Agriculture Museum, 926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula, phone 805-525-3100. Both are open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Learn more at venturamuseum.org.