OJAI : Arts Commission to Honor George Stuart for His Detailed Figurines of Historic Folk

George Stuart, a historian, monologist and craftsman who has achieved international recognition for his one-quarter scale figurines of historic characters, has been chosen for the city of Ojai’s Lifetime Achievement in the Arts award.

Stuart uses his handcrafted, mixed-media statuary to illustrate his opinionated theatrical monologues explaining world-changing events and the people who shaped them.

Permanent displays of his finely detailed work are at the Ventura County Museum of History and Art and at his own Gallery of Historical Figures in the east end of the Ojai Valley. He presents his monologues each month at both locations.

Stuart, who worked on the display staff at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington before moving to the Ojai Valley in 1959, is preparing an exhibit of figures of Russian imperial families for display in a museum in Leningrad.

Other examples of his work are in various public and private collections.

The Ojai Arts Commission will present Stuart with a bronze medallion commemorating his achievements at the annual city of Ojai Christmas dinner on Friday.

“We chose Mr. Stuart because of his unique genius and body of work as well as his tremendous contribution to the community,” Ojai Arts Commission Chairwoman Kathleen McCann said.

Stuart, who characterizes his craft as “very idiosyncratic,” said he is flattered and surprised by the local award.

“It’s very touching, but you never know how unanimous the sentiment is,” he said.

“I can’t imagine that the general resident in the Ojai Valley has heard of me. I’m delighted that some (have), but I’m always surprised.”

His advice to other artists is to be focused and to persevere.

“You have to stay at it forever,” he said.

“It’s very important for a whole generation of youngsters to get that straight. The media has developed this idea of instant gratification, but significant artistic achievement does not come at age 18 unless you are one of the immortals, and few of us are.

They have to have such a driving, consuming passion.

They must focus on that and nothing else if they are going to be an achiever.

“I’m always busy doing what I do. It takes my whole time.”