In The Arts
Yve Evans at Hotel Laguna
Laguna Beach Live! will present vocalist and keyboardist Yve Evans and her band as part of the summer jazz series from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the outdoor Rose Garden of the Hotel Laguna, 435 S. Coast Hwy.
“Yve Evans is a captivating artist who turns everything she sings into a vehicle for soulful expression,” Bill Kohlhasse stated in the Los Angeles Times. “Equally commanding performing jazz, blues and gospel, Evans is also an accomplished pianist with a bright, ringing keyboard touch.”
Cover charge is $10 and food and beverages will be available for purchase. Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. A limited number of reservations for 8 or more are accepted if prepaid. For information, visit https://www.lagunabeachlive.org or call (949) 715-9713.
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Music to make you smile
The soulful Folk trio, Big Wide Grin, will make a special appearance at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Neighborhood Congregational Church in Laguna Beach.
Suggested donation is $15 and includes parking and child care.
For more information or to reserve childcare, e-mail info@ncclaguna.org or call (949) 494-8061.
The church is at 340 St. Ann’s Drive.
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‘Today’ opens at 210 AR4T
Curator Danny Zapalac’s will present “Today,” a group photography exhibit from Thursday to Sept. 26 at 210 AR4T, 210 N. Coast Hwy.
The show is a collection of prints embracing juxtapositions of individuals, nature, and culture. The work revolves around the current aspirations of each featured artist, including Adam Fedderly, Baldemar Fierro, Corey Arnold, Cheyenne Ellis, Jack Coleman, Jake Stangel, Lindsey Byrnes and Zapalac.
An opening reception will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. during First Thursday’s Artwalk.
For more information, e-mail info@AR4T.com.
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Richard Rice at Artist Eye
Plein Air Painter Richard Rice will present his contemporary impressionism from Wednesday to Sept. 30 at Artist Eye Laguna Gallery, 1294 S. Coast Hwy.
An opening reception for the artist will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday during Art Walk.
The multi-award-winning artist, who began his career in the arts in graphic design before taking up painting, has studied with Ken Auster, John Cosby and John Budicin, among others.
Recent awards include third place in the Mission Capistrano show in 2009; fourth place in the San Clemente show in 2009; and second place and honorable mention in the SOCALPAPA “Paint the Peninsula” show in 2008, a show in which he took the grand prize the previous year.
For more information, call (949) 497-5898.
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September Sunset Serenades
The city of Laguna Beach will present September Sunset Serenades from 5:30 p.m. to sunset every Friday in September at the Heisler Park picnic area.
The Global Beat Foundation will perform world beats on Sept. 3. Fugowies, a pop harmony duo, performs Sept. 10; Arte Hernandez performs Latin Jazz on Sept. 17; and Nancy Sanchez, a contemporary jazz singer/songwriter, performs Sept. 24.
Admission is free. For more information, call (949) 497-0722 or e-mail spoeschl@lagunabeachcity.net.
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Artist opportunities with city
The city of Laguna Beach is now accepting applications for its Juried Exhibition, Palette and Mural competitions.
Juried show
The deadline for the 2010-11 Juried Exhibition Competition, juried by Martin Betz, is Sept. 10. The exhibition, at City Hall, will take place from Oct. 19 to Nov. 28. First-place prize will be $1,000; second place $500; and third place $250.
Applicants should submit one disc for preliminary judging by this date, and may enter up to three pieces. All CD digital images must be in .jpeg format and should be saved at the highest setting and sized at 72 DPI with the longest side of the image set at 12 inches. Each image should be titled with the artist’s name and image number.
All artwork must be completely dry, framed, wired and ready for hanging, or otherwise suitably prepared for exhibition. No saw tooth hangers will be accepted.
The contest is open to all Orange County artists 18 or older. Work must be original and executed within the past two years, and must not have been previously exhibited at City Hall.
A non-refundable entry fee of $20 for up to three entries must accompany submissions. Checks should be made payable to the City of Laguna Beach, and can be dropped off at 505 Forest Ave.
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Postcards from Laguna
Temporary murals are being sought to replace the murals at 364 Ocean Ave. near the bus depot. Four murals, 7’ by 5’, will be on display for as long as five years. Proposals should be colorful and include the theme of “postcards” and draw from Laguna Beach’s past, present or future. The murals, with a $2,000 honorarium, are expected to be installed at the end of January.
Proposals must be delivered to the Cultural Arts Department, 505 Forest Ave. by Sept. 20. The Arts Commission will judge the entries.
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Palette designs sought
The Arts Commission is seeking proposed designs for the city’s Holiday Palettes, hung on lampposts throughout the city during the holiday season.
Designs may be submitted on 81/2”x11” paper by Oct. 4.
For more information on any of the artist opportunities, call Siân Poeschl, cultural arts manager, at (949) 497-0722 or e-mail spoeschl@lagunabeachcity.net.
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Playhouse artistic director resigns post
Laguna Playhouse’s chairman of the board, Henry Mayhew, has accepted the resignation of long-time Artistic Director Andrew Barnicle, who will leave the Playhouse to pursue outside directing and other creative opportunities.
“Andy has had a stellar two-decade career here, during which he produced 120 shows, including 14 world premieres, eight U.S. premieres, and 24 West Coast premieres,” Mayhew said. “He has also directed 39 productions for the Playhouse. We are grateful for his years of leadership and expect more great theater from him as he moves on to new creative opportunities.”
Barnicle said he plans to continue to work as a consultant with Playhouse Managing Director Karen Wood and the board through the transitional period throughout the remainder of the year.
“We’ll continue to work together to make sure the season is successful for all, and the transition smooth. I am looking forward to staying involved for the 90th anniversary celebration, as well as directing the final play of this season, ‘Private Lives’,” Barnicle said. “The past few years have proved challenging for non-profit arts organizations across the nation and the Playhouse is among those that have been agile and fortunate to navigate those rough waters. I feel I am able to step away at this point and shift my focus to directing and other creative projects.”
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LCAD enhances animation program
Laguna College of Art and Design recently announced the acquisition of a 9,500-square-foot facility in Laguna Canyon, just north of the main campus, which will house the visual communication program.
The expansion will be home to animation, graphic design, illustration and game art majors, and the enhanced facility keeps LCAD at the forefront of the rapidly expanding genre of technology-driven digital arts and will accommodate future growth.
This technical epicenter immerses students in digital environments through the integration of traditional teaching methods and cutting edge hardware and software.
To usher in the era of growth, LCAD will also welcome new Vice President and Dean of Visual Communication Jack Lew.
“This is an exciting time for me to be part of LCAD. The college, with its outstanding reputation in representational figurative painting, is now poised to have one of the premier digital media facilities on the West Coast,” Lew said. “The new building is equipped with the latest in technology providing students with professional level software and instant connections to web based resources.”
Lew previously served as the interim director of the School of Visual Arts and Design at the University of Central Florida.
Before returning to academia, he held a position in University Relations and Global Talent Resources at Electronic Arts, the world leader in developing and publishing video games, where he developed relationships with art schools and strategies for identifying and recruiting top talent.
He has visited close to 50 colleges throughout the U.S. and Canada identifying top digital art programs where EA has had collaborations and curriculum development.
He’s also served as senior manager of artist and professional development at Disney Feature Animation in Florida, and prior to entering the entertainment industry, he was a professor and department head at the Kansas City Art Institute.
He received his MFA degree from Syracuse University and BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art, where he graduated with highest honors. He has been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from the Memphis College of Art and Laguna College of Art & Design.
“I’m thrilled to be associated with Laguna Beach, a city with a long history of culture immersed in the arts,” Lew continued. “I look forward to engaging with community organizations and regional educational institutions such as UC Irvine to develop further connections with the college.”