In The Arts
Laguna Art Museum director leaving
The Laguna Art Museum director announced Monday that he is stepping down May 13.
Bolton Colburn started as a curator in 1987 and assumed the role of director after the Newport Harbor Art Museum and Laguna Art Museum merged in 1997.
“I love Laguna Art Museum, its mission, and the community, but it is time for someone else to take the lead and for me to pursue other opportunities in the art world,” Colburn said in a news statement. I wish the museum every good fortune and prosperity.”
Board President Robert Hayden III will help facilitate a transition and the board of trustees has created an executive search committee.
“Bolton Colburn is greatly responsible for setting the mission and direction of Laguna Art Museum,” Hayden said in a statement. “His extensive knowledge of California art history has been instrumental in programming groundbreaking and critically acclaimed exhibitions. His exceptional contributions to the museum will continue to be felt for many years to come.”
Prior to coming to the Laguna Art Museum in the late 1980s, Colburn worked at the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego, formerly the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art.
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Art and Sea Lion day
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is hosting a series of art workshops Saturday along with a docent-led tour of the facility, giving a peek at the rescued seals and sea lions.
After the tour, Laguna Outreach for Community Arts artist Reem Khalil will teach a silk painting course where participants will be able to paint a sea lion on silk. The finished product is theirs to take home.
The event is from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
All supplies are included upon purchase of a ticket. To register, contact (949) 363-4700 with your phone number and the best time to call back.
For more information, visit locaarts.org.
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AR4T Gallery new exhibit
On Thursday, the AR4T Gallery will kick off a new exhibition, “Foreign Affairs.”
The show features works by the Human Pyramids Artist Collective, which is a group of international painters, illustrators, designers, film makers and photographers. For some members, this will be their first show in the U.S.
According to the release, “the show demonstrates the ideas of art and culture between a group of artists/friends from diverse backgrounds.”
The artists include Ben Brough, Hovin Wang, Teddy Kelly, Pjota, Phillip Evans, Michael Hsiung, Mari Araki, the Love Movement and Tiffany Liu among others.
The opening party is from 7 to 10 p.m. May 14.
Juxtapoz is one of the sponsors.
For more information, visit ar4t.com.
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Sawdust doc to screen in Laguna
“Collecting Dust,” a feature documentary created by Rich Costales and Kailee McGee based on the Sawdust Festival will show at South Coast Cinema on May 19.
The film chronicles the Sawdust Festival artists and their struggles to make it during a recession.
“Living with the Sawdust artists day to day while we filmed showed me how special the festival truly is,” Costales said in a statement.
The show will start at 7 p.m. A pre-show reception at Wells Fargo Bank with wine and hors d’oeuvres is open to the public. Both require tickets, which can be bought from South Coast Theatre. For more information, contact JoAnne Story at (949) 494-8971 ext. 201.
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‘Shirley Valentine’ added to lineup at Playhouse
The Laguna Playhouse has announced that Tony-award winning comedy “Shirley Valentine” will be on stage from Sept. 27 to Oct. 23.
Dee Dee Rescher, whose credits include “Red Herring,” “The Pursuit of Happiness” and “The Underpants,” will star in the show.
The play chronicles a middle-aged Liverpool woman that ditches her dull life when her friend invites her on a trip to Greece.
For more information, call (949) 497-2787.
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Art Show at Methodist Church
The Laguna Beach Methodist Art Assn. is hosting a show May 14 to show off their weekly painting group’s accomplishments.
The group started 25 years ago and members meet once a week. Artists such as Judy Schroeder, Roger Folk, Jim Salchak, Marlene Georloff, David Soloman and Geri Medway have mentored the art group.
The art show runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Laguna Beach Methodist Church at 21632 Wesley Drive.
— Joanna Clay