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Blog Entry 2 of 4 Visual Ventura

Thoughts about Ventura's aesthetics, visual culture, public art program, and more.

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Life outside the "Cultural District"

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Contributed by: Wendy Halderman on 11/17/2007

While at a public meeting the other night, I heard someone say that formally labeling Ventura's downtown a "Cultural District" sounded elitist. While I'm not sure I agree with that, I must admit that the highest concentration of amazingly good wine, food, entertainment and overall ambiance--both positive and negative--is likely at the west end of town.

I never liked the label "Downtown Cultural District," either. Not because I thought it was elitist, but because it seemed like a forced label. It would be like putting banners along Main Street--all the way from the Pacific View Mall to Kohl's, down Victoria Avenue to Trader Joe's--which say "CONSUMERISM DISTRICT." Or banners all over the east end which say "SUBURBIA."

Even now, when I venture too far--out of sight of the "Downtown Cultural District" banners--I feel slightly uncomfortable, as if I've ventured into dangerous territory, into --aack!- - neighborhoods without culture.

Where I live, the neighborhoods are not designated a "cultural" zone and, since I consider myself a creative type, I'm trying to be OK with that.

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