Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Barker
Hi Wendy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Executive Director of the Ojai Valley Museum. I’ve been in this position for 9 1/2 years. I love this museum and our community. Ojai is small but has an extremely rich history, a deep relationship with nature, and is home to many very talented artists.
I started my museum career at Heritage Square Museum in LA where I worked for two years. I then moved to the Escondido History Center in San Diego County. I was there for near 17 years as their Executive Director. Like Heritage Square, both museums had multiple historic buildings that had been relocated to their museum site.
The Ojai Valley Museum is housed in one building. Our home is a former Catholic Church that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1918, it’s the “youngest” historic building I’ve ever worked in as a museum professional. We highlight the history, art, and culture of this beautiful and interesting valley. There are so many stories to tell! And it’s been a real pleasure to work with local artists since before this, I worked at history museums.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve worked in small museums with small staffs. I’m the only full-time employee at the Ojai Valley Museum. Luckily, I have a wonderful staff of 3 part-time employees. I love the variety of things I get to do in any given week.
One of the biggest joys, and sometimes the most challenging aspects of my job (like many jobs, I’m sure), is dealing with people of different opinions. I work for a Board of Directors. Many volunteers give their time and talents to the museum. We have members and donors. Requests from the public. I have to constantly balance the needs and requests of many people. It’s definitely a juggling act.
Luckily, people who enjoy museums and get involved in them, are generally lovely people.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As ED of a small museum, I am a generalist, much more than a specialist in any one thing. I’m on nearly every committee and have input in everything we do. We are an active museum, doing a lot of different things.
We typically install four new original exhibitions every year. I am very involved in the exhibition process. I’m proud of a 2024 exhibition called, “Does Agriculture Have a Future in the Ojai Valley?” We hired a local reporter to interview farmers, farm workers, and others involved in local agriculture. It was a different kind of exhibition for us, not history, but looking at the current state of a very important local industry. Instead of researching and writing an exhibition, in this case, it was a matter of choosing which quotes to use in the exhibit. It was a challenging job as the interviews were so interesting and quite extensive. I should have edited more! But I thought it was so important for our visitors to hear directly from the experts.
In addition to exhibitions, we put on some great parties. They are designed to appeal to adults, and families with children, to expand our reach and introduce the museum to new audiences in addition to our regular visitors. We recently had our 3rd annual New Year’s Eve Spectacular and it was so fun! From crafts and games to performances and a DJ, plus delicious food, there was something for everyone. We also have a Halloween Bash, and an event called Summer Fantasia. These creative parties are an entirely different museum experience.
Every 3rd Friday we’re open free, with later hours. From 5-7 pm we offer sips and snacks and something special. It might be an exhibition Opening Reception, artist demonstrations, or a craft night. Those are fun to plan and execute.
We offer Walking Tours of Historic Ojai every Saturday morning for 8 months of the year (it’s too hot during the other months). Our docents provide information about the architecture, people, places, and events that shaped Ojai. They are very interesting.
Occasional Town Talks cover a wide range of topics. Sometimes it’s a panel of experts on a specific topic, other times it’s one person giving a talk. From individual stories, to panels discussing important local issues, we provide a variety of experiences for our visitors.
What sets the Ojai Valley Museum apart is that we are very much a community museum. We reflect the people, and interests, of the Ojai Valley. We’re a small museum, in a small community, doing the big job of sharing what is special about Ojai with local residents and visitors from around the world.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Like all museums in California, our museum had to close during the Covid-19 crisis. And then when we were finally able to open, it was only for 3 weeks before being shut down again. It was such a challenging time for all cultural institutions. Luckily, our supporters kept us afloat. I learned that during the darkest times, people who appreciate your work and what your institution provides to the community, will be there for you. It’s humbling. And amazing!
Pricing:
- We’re donation based. We suggest $5 per adult and $1 per child but never turn anyone away. We want people to visit!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://OjaiValleyMuseum.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ojaivalleymuseum/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OjaiValleyMuseum/
Image Credits
All images provided by the Ojai Valley Museum.
