VENTURA : County Museum Names Art Contest Winners

Three Ventura artists took top prizes at the annual Ventura County Museum of History and Art competition.

The winners of the 13th annual Assembly of the Arts, sponsored by the museum’s fine arts committee, were Ab Bornfeld, Carolyn Russell and her husband, Jim.

Bornfeld, who won first prize in the juried competition, took home $1,000 for an oil-on-canvas painting titled “Rose la Rose at the Empire.”

Carolyn Russell, who received second prize, was awarded $750 for her oil-on-canvas painting titled “Desert Storm 2.” And Jim Russell received $500 for his oil painting called “Old Boat Rapture.”

Receiving honorable mentions were Christine Brennan of Ojai for an oil-on-paper painting; Heather Young of Ojai for a ceramic piece called “Saurian Dance,” and Carol A. Simson of Ventura for a watercolor titled “Water Lily.”

The awards were presented last week at the Ventura museum before a crowd of 300 people during the opening of the annual arts show. Twenty-nine works will be on display through March 5.