PODS® Creates Downtown Artists Village for ArtWalk Ventura

PODS containers will once again serve as mini art galleries that will transform the streets for the signature event, ArtWalk Ventura.  On Saturday, Oct. 1, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. & Sunday, Oct. 2 noon – 5 p.m., the donation of 25 PODS containers will connect local artists and galleries for attendees to engage and interact along Downtown and Ventura’s Westside Cultural District.

The PODS containers, which are used by many artists at events like the Downtown LA’s Little Tokyo Design Week and the Woodlands Waterway Art Festival, have reimagined the way ArtWalk Ventura has engaged the public’s appreciation for art.

“A PODS container is the perfect blank canvas for an artist to create their masterpieces on and educate the public on the importance of art,” explained Yapp.  “We have always been passionate about supporting our local community and supporting the arts, so we enjoy helping this signature event grow every year.”

To honor the 37 visiting Oaxaqueno artists, Ventura College students will paint a collaborative piece on one of the donated PODS container to reflect the artistic styles and techniques of the Oaxacan culture and compliment the mural and exhibits showcased at this year’s ArtWalk Ventura. In addition, Ventura College will also showcase visual and performing arts like their Percussion Ensemble which will havestudents perform “Toccata” by Mexican composer Carlos Chavez  and VC Symphony Orchestra which will perform “A Night in Mexico,” conducted by Robert Lawson.

A highly anticipated piece created by the City of Ventura Public Art Program will convert a 12-foot PODS container into an interactive work of art that will help to promote their Adopt-A-Box program which transforms utility boxes into new public artworks.  The container will showcase a bright and lively mural created by four talented artists; Lynn Fogel, Patricia Cadenas, Michelle Gould and Jen Livia while allowing local residents to paint their own masterpieces on a sample utility box.

Event-goers can also tour the largest collection of PODS container galleries, displaying various mediums of art by exhibiting artists from around the county.

“We’re thrilled to be able to expand ArtWalk Ventura 2016 with the addition of 25 PODS containers,” said Mary Perez, ArtWalk Ventura organizer and owner of Vita Art Center. “The PODS galleries allow for more people to display their artwork and become involved in ArtWalk. Downtown becomes so much more vibrant, the art totally fills the streets, and the PODS Containers help it become a mini artist’s village.”

ArtWalk Ventura is a free, self-guided tour that draws thousands of people every year to the dozens of galleries, studios and pop-up venues in Ventura's historic Downtown and Westside Cultural District that features the work of the finest regional artists, drawing cultural tourists from all over the world.

For a full schedule of Ventura College performances as well as other PODS galleries visit http://artwalkventura.org//.

Event Information:

What:   ArtWalk Ventura: PODS Galleries

When: Saturday, Oct. 1, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. & Sunday, Oct. 2 noon – 5 p.m.

Where: Ventura’s Historic Downtown and Westside Cultural District, 432 N. Ventura Avenue 

Ventura, Calif. 93001

Who:    Design professionals, Ventura businesses, nonprofit communities, film and television communities, entrepreneurs, students, the design savvy public, tourists and more.

 About PODS

Steve Yapp is the owner of three Tri-Counties PODS franchises that serve residents and businesses in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. 

Dedicated to the local community, Yapp’s franchises have donated hundreds of PODS containers to nonprofit and charitable organizations throughout Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Diego and Los Angeles counties since opening their doors in 2005.

A partial list of recipients include: Boys & Girls Clubs, FOOD Share of Ventura County, Casa Pacifica, Toys 4 Tots, California Strawberry Festival, Ojai Music Festival, Relay for Life, C.H.P. Holiday Toy Drive, Salvation Army, Santa Maria Good Samaritan, Oxnard Downtown Management District, Boy Scouts of Ventura County, California Visitors Center, Simi Valley Days, the Oxnard Salsa Festival, and Catholic Charities. PODS is a leader in the moving and storage industry providing both residential and commercial services in 46 U.S. states, Canada, Australia and the UK.

Founded in 1998, PODS pioneered the portable moving and storage industry now preferred by many customers’ increasingly active and mobile lifestyles. To date, the PODS network has completed more than 700,000 long-distance moves, exceeded 3 million deliveries and has more than 170,000 PODS containers in service.

For more information, go to: www.mylocalpods.com.