We all need a little cheer right now

So, this issue’s muse is video production/artist friends Joel Fox and Jennifer Jordan Day of Smile Mountain!

First up is a poem by Hayden Bean about one of Ojai’s most infamous textiles, the old Starr Market carpet. As Joel is fond of saying, “before that, it was called Bayless.”

Nicholas Weissman visits Joel and Jennifer for a post-apocalyptic tea party (oops, we forgot we were trying to be ‘cheery’). We’ve been listening to too many collapse-themed podcasts lately and reading too much Umair Haque.

We have a few more things in the works

Cassandra C. Jones is writing about some of Joel’s artwork. It might be too COVID-y this year for a big Valentine-making party, a tradition brought to Ojai by Jennifer that has been hosted by the couple, for like, ever, except since recently. We brought our VORTEX Valentine collage sheets to share at Chief’s Peak’s Valemtine card-making party.

Culture

Gallery shows thru March:

BEATRICE WOOD CENTER

THE BASIC PREMISE

CANVAS AND PAPER

PORCH GALLERY

CAROLYN GLASOE BAILEY FOUNTATION

FARMER AND THE COOK

Stream This: Winter

Since Joel and Jennifer are essentially video artists, there’s no shortage of fun streaming content.

Bret Bradigan recently invited the pair onto Ojai Talk of the Town to discuss their recent short about the James Webb Space Telescope. Both the podcast and the film can be found in our streaming round-up.

Also featured is a sampling of local Ojai musicians curated by frequent Smile Mountain collaborator Mikael Jorgensen.