Local Artists Paint a Picture for FOOD Share

(VENTURA, CALIF.) – Terry Bray, curator of Gallery at the Crowne at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel, has spent 25 years in the promotion of art and as an artist in Ventura County. When asked to curate the art gallery inside this seaside resort she jumped at the opportunity.

This rotating exhibit has a twist though, providing donations through the sale of art to FOOD Share, Ventura County’s largest regional food bank, with a program dubbed Art Share.

“Gallery at the Crowne is the first gallery to showcase local art that will benefit FOOD Share through the Art Share program,” Bray said. “I want buyers to realize when they look at their purchased art they helped to financially support an artist, helped others in our community that may be battling hunger and maybe even changed a life.”

Bray said art sales since last November have resulted in a cash donation that will allow FOOD Share to purchase over $900 in food for those in need.

“FOOD Share is delighted our local artists are painting a brighter future for the friends we serve in our local communities,” said Bonnie Weigel, CEO of FOOD Share. “Terry has done an amazing job at securing beautiful art to benefit our programs and services.”

An artist reception featuring the newest works of art is from 6 to 8 pm on March 18 inside the Crowne’s Aqua Bar Lounge. The public is invited to meet the artists and view more than 70 different pieces of fine art.

Currently on display are works from 11 local artists: Elizabeth Azcarate, Tammy Carlson, Pat Richards Dobbs, Lois Freeman-Fox, Dorothea Heger, Sarah Kalvin, Lynn Letourneau, Tina O'Brien, Beatrix Rohlsen, Francine L. Tissot and Gerald Zwers.

“We are most excited about this rotation of artwork as several pieces depict local scenery in and around Ventura reminiscent of what the city is all about: that Ventura is a great place to live, work and visit,” said Douglas Wood, general manager of the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel.

Gallery at the Crowne is inside the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach hotel on the lobby level and inside the adjoining C-Street Restaurant at 450 East Harbor Blvd. in Ventura. For information on the exhibit, call Terry Bray, (805) 795-6076 or visit the website at www.cpventura.com.

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About FOOD Share

A major food bank distributing millions of pounds of food each year to those in need throughout Ventura County, FOOD Share collects and receives food year-round, distributing to more than 150 partner agencies throughout Ventura County.

Its Brown Bag and Snack Attack programs provide supplemental nutrition to nearly 2,000 low income seniors through 31 agencies and healthy nutritious after school snacks to approximately 2,400 children though 12 agencies countywide and provides food to more than 54,500 people each month. Information: (805) 983-7100 or www.foodshare.com.

About Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel

Established in 2005 the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach hotel offers balcony ocean views from each of its 258 guest rooms and suites, a first-class dining room serving California-inspired cuisine, a beachfront lounge, 19,000 square feet of meeting space, and its famous Top of the Harbor facility for larger functions.

Providence Hospitality Partners based in Denver, CO manages the hotel. Information: www.cpventura.com.

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