Exhibit by Southland Artists Opens at Plaza

The third in a series of contemporary art exhibits at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza focusing on Southern California artists kicks off tonight with a free opening and reception.

First View III, organized by the Civic Arts Plaza Visual Arts Committee, will feature watercolors from Gerd Koch of Ojai and paintings from Carole L. Milton of Ventura, Jennifer Orr of Oak Park and Mark John Pollard of Los Angeles.

It will also showcase the painting, silversmith and jewelry design of Ruth Askren and mixed media work by Diana Jacobs, both of Los Angeles.

The exhibit will run until June 23. The opening and reception will take place at the Charles E. Probst Center for the Performing Arts from 7 to 9 p.m.

First View III is the third in a series of rotating art exhibits at the Civic Arts Plaza. The events are sponsored by the Westlake Village Art Guild, which donated $4,500, the Civic Arts Plaza’s Board of Governors, which also gave $4,500, and the city of Thousand Oaks, which donated $3,000. The Arts Council of the Conejo Valley has provided money for the visual arts committee’s information line.

Volunteers from Friends of the Civic Arts Plaza provide free guided tours for each exhibit. For a guided tour, or other exhibit information, call (818) 889-5249.