The drive from Pasadena to Ventura is hectic with interstate freeway convergence zones every which way. Think "the 210 to the 134, to the 101..." on and on it goes. As one travels north away from the San Fernando Valley to Ventura where the 101 meets Pacific Coast 1, the vast ocean is instantly the main attraction. In honor of our pledge to go to the beach more often, we visited a place called Summerland. Sounds nice, right? I wanted to see samples of hand blocked fabric by
Les Indiennes at a shop called
Botanik on Lillie Avenue (the fabric was gorgeous albeit more dijon and than sun king gold). Across the street was the gallery,
Just Folk, a vast and stunning collection of primitive folk art in a modern structure that was inspired by a barn. One of my favorite things about this place was the smell of ocean, burning wood, antiques and a kind of beeswaxy, old church essence that made me happy. The collection belongs to the successful television producer, Marcy Carsey and her partners. Guy's eyes lit up when he found forged tools, and the upper deck where he could see across the highway to the sea. My favorite pieces of the collection were the Lion sculpture by American Folk Art hero, Elijah Pierce and the quilted textiles mounted on the weathered barn wood.
