The Crowd -- B.W. Cook

The Newport-Mesa community has a long-standing tradition of supporting

the visual arts. If we extend this relationship to neighboring Laguna

Beach, the regional association with the painter’s brush goes back more

than a century.

This focus has been revitalized in recent times. Arts organizations

with very specific goals, ranging from supporting local museums to

creating and supporting arts programs in our local schools, are being

funded by the generosity of citizens who not only know the importance of

art, but feel the importance of art in their world and in their

community, day by day, season by season.

Karen Butera King, an internationally recognized designer,

headquartered in Corona del Mar, has been the champion of the Newport

Beach Arts Foundation. King and her volunteer committee have been working

in conjunction with the city of Newport Beach, assuming the role of

private fund-raising in order to fund community arts projects that will

benefit all the citizens of Newport.

For more than two years, King and her crew have been working together

to promote both the vision and the need for a greater community

connection to the arts.

Just returning from Atlanta, Ga. where she has been working on an

interior design project for celebrity client Celine Dion, King reports,

“We have recently confirmed the production of the first annual Newport

Beach Arts Foundation Gala Tribute. Our first honoree will be

award-winning performer and humanitarian Connie Stevens. The show will be

emceed by comedian Red Buttons, with very special celebrity appearances

also in the works, but not yet confirmed.”

King, a local dynamo who has created some of the spectacular interiors

in Newport Beach and in the sage-covered hills of the Newport Coast, is

committed to the goal of raising substantial funds to provide “free to

the public” arts programs and exhibitions.

“Free is never free,” states King. “We need to raise money in order to

provide the free services to the public. To this end we will produce the

classiest and the most fun gala dinner ever experienced in Newport.”

King continued, “We want this event to be an annual extravaganza

recognizing the accomplishments of people in the fields of visual and

performing arts. And we are looking to create an award that represents

the spirit of Newport Beach, possibly being named after a local artist or

philanthropist. This award will hopefully come to represent the amazing

generosity of this community year after year. But we are still in the

planning stages, so we haven’t set this element as of yet.”

King promised to let us in on her progress as information becomes

available. Her extravaganza is set to debut Saturday, May 4, under the

elegant tented ballroom adjacent to the Four Seasons Hotel, Newport

Beach. Former Newport Beach Arts Commissioner and Tony Award-winning

producer Don Gregory will produce the event for King.

For more information and/or to help underwrite the program, please

call (949) 640-1300.

* * *

Meanwhile, last week in Costa Mesa a wonderful exhibition and

reception unfolded at the Mondavi Wine and Food Center featuring

“Painters of Costa Mesa.” A record number of guests filled the handsome

center, exploring the diverse artistic talents of local residents

tastefully hung on the Mondavi walls.

Costa Mesa Mayor Linda Dixon welcomed the arriving crush, including a

number of the artists being displayed in the show.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.