Creative coast: Ocean-inspired art and culture is always on exhibit at Indoek Gallery | Art & Culture

The aspects that make Ventura County unique are frequently celebrated by local art institutions. Ojai’s Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts pays homage to the late, great ceramicist, Mama of Dada and Ojai Valley resident. The Santa Paula Art Museum puts the local farming legacy in the spotlight during its annual “Art About Agriculture” exhibition. California State University Channel Islands has featured exhibits on local activist Dolores Huerte, Mexican land grant Rancho Guadalasca, contemporary Latinx artists and works by CSUCI students on the walls of its John Spoor Broome Library. And in Thousand Oaks, the Chumash Indian Museum provides a deep dive into Indigenous history and culture.

One of Ventura County’s most famous aspects is, of course, its coastline…which encompasses some world-class surf breaks. And while other galleries and museums have certainly featured ocean-themed art through the decades, one in particular is dedicated exclusively to highlighting Southern California beach environments, activities and culture. The Indoek Gallery is honored to create a home for what owner Matt Titone described as “coastal contemporary art.”

Passion Project

Titone is a surfing enthusiast and resident of Oxnard who has made a living as a graphic designer and illustrator through Italic Studio, the design agency he runs with business partner Ron Thompson. Indoek is the surf-centric “sister brand” to Italic and the label under which Titone publishes his “Surf Shacks” books — photographs of surfers and their creative homes.

“This is a passion project of mine,” Titone explained. “I needed a project to get me out [away from the computer] and doing photography…The brand has grown around these books.”

Italic once had an office in Venice, but it closed a few years ago and its team now works completely remote. But Titone liked the idea of having something brick and mortar again. In a very Ventura turn of events, he had a neighbor who knew about a space opening up at Bell Arts Factory (the studio once occupied by Vita Art Center and, later, Buenaventura Art Association). Before long, he found himself taking it over to create the Indoek Gallery.

“I was thinking, what would the brand be if it was a physical space?” Titone recalled. “A gallery made sense; we’re celebrating creatives in the surf industry.”

In addition to featuring several shows a year by artists connected in some way to the surfing, skating or coastal community, Indoek also gives Titone a spot to sell t-shirts, hats and other branded merchandise. In fact, he puts together a collection of merch for every show, giving him a chance to flex his design muscles.

“County Lines”

Since its debut in January 2023, Indoek has featured seven shows, and Titone has been impressed by the gallery’s popularity.

“People seemed to really miss this,” he said, referring to the numerous art lovers who show up at gallery openings to gaze, converse and simply share in the sense of community.

Nowhere was this more true than during the latest ArtWalk Ventura, which took place in September 2023.

“It was super busy,” recalled gallery manager Rachel Cano. “That was really awesome that we had that many bodies come in here.”

While all of Indoek Gallery’s shows so far have some connection to the coast, its latest, “County Lines,” which opened in February, is directly linked to Southern California’s surf spots, from Santa Barbara down to Venice.

“We’re featuring influential counter-culture artworks, artists inspired by surf culture,” Titone explained.

Curated by Ojai photographer Matt Wessen, “County Lines” represents more than 20 artists, with photos by Scott Soens and Anthony Friedkin; eccentric surfboard sculptures by Peter Schroff; skateboard, surfboard and helmet art by Vince Felix; even vintage Nardcore punk posters and zines by Fred Hammer.

A collection of work from influential airbrush artist and surfboard shaper Cliff Collinge is also included. Collinge, who died in 1992, worked with the Campbell Brothers to create the Bonzer surfboard in the 1970s, and designed most of the Bonzer logos. He also spent many years working at Channel Islands Surf Boards

“He was Al Merrick’s main airbrusher in the 1980s,” said Cano. She would know: Cano is Collinge’s daughter.

Indoek’s “jambalaya of a show,” in the words of Titone, will be on exhibit through March 3.

Up Next

Indoek Gallery has another surfing superstar ready for the spotlight this spring: Jim Ganzer.

“It’s our first solo exhibit,” Titone said.

Now almost 80, Ganzer is a renowned surfer and artist from Malibu. He was the founder of Jimmy’Z sportswear, maker of the E-Z-In E-Z-Out shorts with Velcro side closure, which became a staple for surfers and skateboarders in the 1980s. Rumor also holds that the character of The Dude from the Coen Brothers’ 1998 film “The Big Lebowski” was based, in part, on Ganzer.

For the upcoming show, Indoek Gallery will present a collection of Ganzer’s photographs, sculptures and drawings. “He makes really interesting furniture,” Titone added, expressing hope that he can include a few pieces in the show. He plans to open the exhibit by mid-March or early April, and has one more trick up his sleeve to celebrate the Malibu legend.

“We’re making a book for that show, so we’ll have a book signing at the opening.”

Indoek Gallery, 432 N. Ventura Ave., Studio 30, Ventura, indoek.com.