For the love of art and community

Claudia Figueroa

For Juan Casado, showing his art at the Balboa Island Artwalk is like

being reunited with a group of old friends he hasn’t seen in years.

Casado, the event’s featured artist, will display his work along with 60

other local artists at Sunday’s fifth annual event at South Bay Front

promenade between Marine Avenue and the Ferry Landing.

Like other artists who will participate in this weekend’s event, Casado

is determined to use his art to help the community. He has participated

in the event for the past three years.

The 80-year-old Newport Beach artist’s work has been displayed at the

Newport Beach Public Library, an Arts Commission exhibit at City Hall and

Art-A-Fair in Laguna Beach. And one of his paintings, a portrait of

sailboats, is being featured on collector’s T-shirts and posters as a

commemoration for the event.

With a preference for outdoor work, the self-proclaimed plein-air painter

said he transforms scenes from Newport Beach’s Peninsula and Heisler Park

in Laguna Beach into contemporary works of art on paper.

“I’ve always had some connection with the beach ... this area offers a

lot of places to paint,” he said. “It’s the climate and ambience that

gives me inspiration to

paint.”

For his work, Casado uses a wide selection of solid-toned watercolors.

His brightly colored paintings are still life images of beach fronts, bay

views and various local scenery.

A native of Los Angeles, Casado studied at Chouinard Art Institute and

Art Center in Los Angeles during the 1930s before working as an art

director for a national advertising agency for 20 years.

Casado said his decision to be a full-time artist came after he retired

in 1984.

“The desire to paint pictures is something that doesn’t always go away,”

Casado said.

Even though Casado is serious about his work, he admits his involvement

in the Balboa Artwalk is not strictly business.

“Balboa Island is pretty tight-knit,” he said. “People who have homes

along bayfront are very nice and helpful to the artists. They’re very

involved in the whole effort and there’s a camaraderie that makes for

nice friendships.”

This year’s event will kick off the summer season with musical

entertainment by Rick Sherman, Mark Wood, the Fins and the Fabulous

Nomads, along with a host of food, refreshments and a whole lotta art.

In previous years, Artwalk has been a well-received affair for local

artists as well as business owners and residents, said Michele Roberge,

executive director of the Balboa Performing Arts Theater.

“It’s the perfect occasion for people to enjoy visual arts and visit the

island,” she said.

More importantly, Artwalk is an event where the arts comes to the aid of

the arts.

Roberge said a portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to

the Balboa Theater Restoration Project and the Balboa Island Museum and

Historical Society. The artists’ entry fees will be donated toward the

restoration of the theater and help with the museum’s expenses. Last year

about $500 was donated, Roberge added.

“These events are critical to building public support and awareness of

all of these wonderful community assets like the [Balboa Theater] and the

artists that live and work on the island,” Roberge said.

WHAT: Balboa Island Artwalk 2000

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday

WHERE: Balboa Island, between Marine Avenue and the Ferry Landing at Opal

Avenue.

HOW MUCH: Free

PHONE: (949) 720-1660