Food And Home

Spring 2008

By Hudson Hornick

Photo by Brent Winebrenner

The first appearance of brick as an architectural element emerged roughly around 7500 B.C. Since then, some variations and improvements have been made in the material's construction; although, it remains essentially just fired earth and one of the most steadfast architectural rudiments around. Perhaps it is this timeless nature of brick that inspired artist and graphi designer Jennifer Livia to name her gallery the Red Brick Gallery.

Nesteled snugly amid the picturesque shops of downtown Ventura, the Red Brick Gallery's facade of red brick is a pleasant contrast to the surrounding concrete and plaster and thuly makes its first artistic statement before one even enters the door. "The brick is poignant because that's really how this gallery came about," explains Livia. "We change the theme of the gallery every five weeks and the very first one was 'Brick by Brick.' Artists submitted their work one piece at a time and we put them together to form what you see now."

Inside the Red Brick Gallery, one can find Livia's own work- photography, charcoal sketches and abstract painting- as well as the work of roughly twenty other artists depending on the current show. "At any given time about seventy percent of our art is by local artists," says Livia. And while many galleries like to boast local flavor, Livia has done a fine job of selecting work that both amatuer and venteran art enthusiasts will admire. From blown glass, to mosaic tile work, to limestone statues, to splendid photography, the artwork on display is truly fetching and very reasonably priced.

"It's the spectrum of artists we have to draw from," Livia explains. "We have work from Scott Aichner who has been on the cover of Blue Edge and Surfer Magazine, yet this is his fist and only gallery showing anywhere. We also have the work of Michellino, who did all the mosaic tiles in the Ventura Harbor, and we like to include work from many other amazing artists still waiting to get discovered."