Fest organizers say event was a success despite low ticket sales
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

ARTS AND JAZZ- Artist Leslie McQuaide sits behind one of her clay pieces at the Camarillo Art and Jazz Festival at Cal State Channel Islands on Saturday evening. In describing her work, she says: "My pieces are metaphors about my daily life and what I've figured out so far about life and growth and the joys of being human." IRIS SMOOT Acorn Newspapers

The foggy night air on Friday did little to chill the spirits of concertgoers who turned out for the opening night concert of the second annual Camarillo Art and Jazz Festival that saturated the city in artwork and live music during the three-day event.

On Friday evening, jazz keyboardist Greg Karukas and special guest saxophonist Michael Paolo played to a crowd of several hundred during the free concert in Constitution Park.

"I liked it," said Mike Kredar, a Camarillo resident and guitarist. "I just wish there was more of an audience for smooth jazz."

"It's wonderful; I had a fantastic time," said his girlfriend, Michelle Deits of Oxnard.

On Saturday, jazz enthusiasts joined art lovers for a day of free concerts in Old Town and an art walk along Ventura Boulevard.

The night's events included watching artists at work at Studio Channel Islands Art Center on the California State University Channel Islands campus and an openair performance in the studio's courtyard under the stars by world-acclaimed saxophonist Eric Marienthal.

A Sunday afternoon performance by vocalist Christine Day and surprise performer Everette Harp on saxophone at the Camarillo Ranch House concluded the weekend events.

Tom Kelley, president of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce, one of the festival's sponsors, said although ticket sales for the Saturday and Sunday performances didn't meet expectations, they're nonetheless happy with the festival.

Dinner tickets for Saturday evening sold out, but Kelley said he did not know the number of tickets sold for the other events. Nonetheless, Kelley said Old Town merchants estimated that as many as 2,000 more people came through their businesses this year during Saturday's art walk than at last year's event.

"It was a good second year," Kelley said. "It's a good step toward the future."

Kelley said they measure the festival's success through attendance and the money raised for the nonprofit Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo, the Camarillo Arts Council and Studio Channel Islands Art Center.

"In the long run the idea is to build this up to have a festival that benefits the charities," Kelley said.

Despite lower-than-expected ticket sales, organizers see the festival as extending longterm economic benefits for the city and business, something that is difficult to measure, Kelley added.

Festival organizer Maggie Kildee said holding the event on the same weekend as the Long Beach Jazz Festival may have hurt ticket sales. Coinciding with the final weekend of the Ventura County Fair, however, probably didn't impact the event because the entertainment offered there was of a different genre, she said.

"It was a success . . . our sponsors are already saying, 'Yes, talk to us in September,"' Kildee said, referring to the time when many of their backers plan their yearly budget. "That was encouraging."

Boys & Girls Club President Greg Stuart said last year's festival just about broke even, and he hopes this year will be better.