In the Arts

Gallimaufry offers improv class with ‘Rugrats’ star

Noted television comedian Melanie Chartoff will teach “The ‘Fun’damentals of Improv Acting By Didi Pickles” from noon to 3 p.m. June 11 at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, 1085 Laguna Canyon Road. Registration is $50.

Gallimaufry founder Steve Josephson said he is delighted to bring Chartoff to Laguna Beach. Chartoff gained fame as the voice of Didi Pickles, the mother of the “Rugrats” series, but she also sings, is an author and a teacher, Josephson stated in a press release.

Participants are encouraged to register by Monday. For more information, visit https://www.gallimaufry.org/classes.html or call (949) 499-5060.

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Artists sought for bench competition

Artists from Southern California can apply by July 18 to compete for an Artist-Designed Bench to be located at Mountain Street and South Coast Highway in Laguna Beach.

The winning artist will be given an honorarium of $10,000 to produce a bench that will be placed on the inland side of the highway and accommodate four to six people, according to the Laguna Beach Arts Commission.

The commission will select a committee of three commissioners to evaluate the applications. Finalists will enter into a design contract to develop a proposal for the site. The commission’s recommendation will be presented to the City Council for final approval.

For more information and an application, call (949) 497-0722 or e-mail spoeschl@lagunabeachcity.net.

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Banner deadline extended

The deadline for proposals for the 2011 Laguna Beach City Council Banner Competition has been extended to July 8. Artists from Laguna Beach can submit proposals for the banners, which are displayed in the Council Chambers. The 3-foot by 10-foot banners must depict Laguna Beach scenes.

For information about how to apply, contact Siân Poeschl, Cultural Arts Manager, at (949) 497-0722 or via e-mail at spoeschl@lagunabeachcity.net.

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Rodin sculptures at LCAD

Fourteen figure sculptures by Auguste Rodin will be on display at Laguna College of Art & Design from July 11 through Sept. 23 at the college gallery, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road.

The exhibit includes 10 pieces of the lost wax casting process of Rodin’s “Sorrow,” according to a press statement from the college. The exhibit is organized by the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation. The couple owned about 750 Rodin sculptures, and the foundation organizes traveling exhibits of works by the noted French artist.

Rodin works are considered especially appropriate for the college, which emphasizes classical figure drawing and sculpting. Rodin lived from 1840 to 1917 and was once considered one of the greatest sculptors of all time.

— Compiled by Cindy Frazier