Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts

This is a place you want to see if you’re an art nerd. Because I went to Scripps College, I knew all about Beatrice Wood, who had strong associations with the art department there, and I was an art major. She was huge in the ceramics world, and she was also the LOVER or associate of lots of famous artists like Marcel Duchamp (she’s called the Mama of Dada or something) and had this house in the middle of nowhere in Ojai.
There’s still a studio being run out here, and you can buy ceramics made by artists (some even made by her).
The art shows change regularly. Make sure the place is open before you go, and heed the directions and tips others gave.

The Beatrice Wood Center is the former home and studio of the named artist, author and potter, and this center is opened Friday to Sundays from 11:00 — 5:00. A mutual friend of ours was participating in «The President’s Show», presented by the American Ceramic Society of So Cal (ACS SoCA). Having no plans of our own, we drove the 2 hours from the South Bay to check it out.
Helpful tip: don’t rely on the map/​directions on the website if you are NOT coming from the Ojai Village (but coming from the 126 instead). If you have a smartphone, use Google Map to guide you. Other GPS systems like Waze may lead you to the wrong location.
As you navigate from the road toward the venue, follow the signs that bear up to the home, and when you get to the «DIVERGENT WAYS» sign, bear right, and then find the first available space that resembles parking, as there are no clear marked signs on where to park. If you cannot find parking, simply create a spot along the side of the road.
The inside venue is small, as its a converted home. Upon walking in, to the left is the family room, which was converted into the exhibit area. Down the hall is the restroom, kitchen, and a bedroom which was converted into the «Beatrice Wood Library».
On the opposite side of the entrance is a larger room, probably once the living room, which now house Beatrice’s permanent collection. Off to the side in another converted bedroom are photos and momentous occasions from Beatrice’s life and exhibits from around the world.
Outside is a gorgeous view of the Ojai valley, and also a window which you can peek inside her pottery studio, which could have been the garage or converted rumpus room.
Its a quaint little venue, but unfortunately not large enough for such a gathering. I would say 40 – 50 people attended this event, and we were elbow to elbow as we tried circulating the room.
Suggested donation: $ 5 to keep up the place, and if you’re stepping outside to enjoy the view, watch out for snakes. While heading to Ojai Village watch for police, who are looking for speeders.

Beautiful little museum of the lovely artist, Beatrice Woods, who incidently, lived to the age of 105! Besides a wonderful tribute of her legacy, it is also a gallery, a gift shop, and offers art education and youth scholarships.
Just a short 5 – 10 miles outside of the main part of Ojai, it makes a nice drive down a farm country road to get there… and can be quite a romantic outing… so pack a little picnic and blanket! For the cutest sign post EVER, see the pic I posted.