Avant-garde artist Jeff Sanders’ offers his vision of everyday America in this fun and provocative exhibit, Tina’s Toys and Other Things, opening at the Museum of Ventura County on Sunday, December 8.

Sanders’ zest for life is reflected in his art and provokes viewers to think for themselves.  Not unlike Warhol, his muse is the everyday objects and images we often take for granted in American culture or freely associate with comfort, politics and entertainment. In his studio in Ojai, California, Sanders fabricates pieces using a variety of modern industrial materials. He works adeptly with aluminum, poly resins, patinas, and numerous other components, including electronic motors that provide dynamic effects. From small to monumental, his sculptures are executed with sensitivity, precision, and frequent expressions of tongue-in-cheek humor.

Tina’s Toys and Other Things takes its cue from Sanders’ Chihuahua Tina and her favorite toys.  These oversized, plush moving toys are sculptural machines and finished in a variety of materials.  His ability to engineer has put Sanders in the vanguard of contemporary art since his years of working at Gemini G.E.L. Studios, the print and sculpture workshop in Los Angeles, where he directed the fabrication of works by Oldenburg, Rauschenberg, and Lichtenstein.

In recent years Ventura County artist, John Nava sought Sanders’ expert artistry in developing a hanging system for the Magnolia Tapestry Project at a Los Angeles cathedral.  Sanders’ powerful ingenuity is also showcased in works of sheer beauty, as in another series of tapestries also included in the exhibit of solar system planets mounted on custom convex frames that give a decidedly three dimensional effect to their surfaces.

Sanders states, “It’s important to question the things around us: to study more carefully and find our own truths.” politically charged, his body of work is a testament to the thoughtful delight he takes in confronting corruption and injustice, if not the world’s plain lack of common sense. Often, his approach is hilarious and filled with animated colorful objects that belie their sharp, biting perspectives.

A public opening reception will be held Tuesday, December 10 from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Light refreshments and a no-host bar available.  Free for Museum members, $5 General Public.  The exhibit is open December 8, 2013 through February 2, 2014.

Join us for our gallery talk on Wednesday, December 11 at 2pm.  Get up close and personal as Sanders discusses his work and the provocative meaning behind it. Free with museum admission.

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Ventura. Hours are 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the exhibitions is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children 6-17, members and children under 6 are free. Paid events include free admission to the galleries, and the first Sundays of every month are free general admission for the public. For more museum information go to www.venturamuseum.org or call 805-653-0323.