A league of its own

Paul Saitowitz

Take one look around the art gallery at the Huntington Beach Central

Library and you will be well aware that art has a strong presence in Surf

City.

Several panels are adorned with everything from oil paintings, water

colors, sketches, photography and even digital art. There is a corner

gallery featuring show-worthy artists, and the waiting list to have work

shown there is almost two years.

All this is thanks to the Huntington Beach Art League, a group of

mainly-retired volunteers that tirelessly dedicate their time to the

arts.

The league was formed in 1962 by a group of artists determined to make

art a priority in Huntington Beach. Today there are more than 230

members.

“We have monthly meetings where we have an instructor teach a lesson

and give out an award for the most outstanding work,” League President

Louis LaCroix said.

The instructors are different at every meeting and often times are art

professors or working artists themselves.

Anyone can become a member of the art league, and even nonmembers are

permitted to rent panels in the gallery to display their work at certain

times of the year.

“We’ll basically allow any art to be shown unless it gets too racy,”

board member Bob Sigmon said. “Sometimes we have to be careful with some

of the nude work because a lot of kids come in here.”

Each member usually displays two works at time and they remain up for

three months.

One way the league supports the arts in the community is by awarding

scholarships to all seven area high schools as well as Golden West

College.

“We like to promote talent in the area, and giving out awards to the

kids has been a very positive thing for us,” LaCroix said.

The league meets at the Rodgers Senior’s Center, but members feature

people of all ages and all skill levels.

“The one thing we all have in common is a love for art,” board member

Diana Loschiavo said.

The display at the Corner Gallery this month is “Contemporary

Friends,” featuring the works of Barbara Lawson and Dianne Birnbaum.

“We signed up about 14 months ago for this, and it basically takes

that long to get everything ready to be shown,” Lawson said.

Works are on display at the Corner Gallery for a month at a time.

“We give the artists the opportunity to have a reception if they so

choose,” Corner Galley Chairman Dick Keys said. “I have people coming up

to me requesting the chance to show in the gallery and they’re always

astounded as to how long the wait is.”

The league will be hosting it’s eighth annual Open Juried Show from

May 5-31. The entry dates will be May 3-4. The event is open to the

public and will be juried by Roger Armstrong, past president of the

National Watercolor Society.

“It’s usually quite hectic before the event with everyone trying to

get their pieces in the show, but it’s a lot fun,” LaCroix said.

* PAUL SAITOWITZ is a news editor. He can be reached at (949) 574-4295

or by e-mail at paul.saitowitz@latimes.com.