Eye on arts and entertainment -- Suzie Harrison

Kids ages 2 to 12 enjoyed creating art outdoors this week, as part of

the Festival of the Arts Junior Membership Program.

Mark Kirkoff, who won the Plein Air Invitational in 2000 for Acrylics,

offered his expertise by teaching them how to create Plein Air art. The

Festival will start a second session of this series on Monday.

The budding artists went to Heisler Park, where they made sketches and

started their paintings.

“They all got into it -- we took them to a point in Heisler where it

overlooks the ocean and Main Beach,” said Patrick Kelly Art Education

Director. “We wanted them experience this type of art.”

The program costs each student a scant $10 for the entire year.

Different artists teach free classes to the students.

“It’s an incredible program and really a great gift to the community,”

said marketing director Sharbie Higuchi. “Some of their work is displayed

and sold at First Thursday’s ArtWalk.”

There are about 150 junior members. Each week the students learn a

different medium.

“The Festival supplies everything -- the paints, canvas,” Kelly said.

“It’s very into giving to the community. The parents are nuts about it.”

Information: 464-4235.

FESTIVAL’S IMAGINATION CELEBRATION

The Festival of Arts is hosting “Imagination Celebration” on Sat., May

11. The event is dedicated to helping children discover their creativity

by allowing them to express themselves through a variety of artistic

media.

Festival of Arts artists will have hands-on workshops, noon to 4 p.m.

Kids will learn monoprints with Mada Leach; Raku/Japanese-pottery-making

with Monica Dunham; printmaking with Anne England; watercolors with Hal

Lambert; painting wildlife with Chris Hoy; chalk drawing with Patrick

Kelly; and jewelry making with Kathleen Croxton.

Pageant of the Masters technicians will show how they bring art to

life by demonstrating how a tableau vivant (living picture) is created.

All workshops, with the exception of Raku are free; the Raku workshop is

$5 for materials.

“The Festival is pleased to be a part of Imagination Celebration; the

two organizations have similar goals -- to bring the arts and arts

education to children and the community,” said Festival of Arts President

Scott Moore.

The Festival of Arts is at 650 Laguna Canyon Road. There’s also

musical entertainment throughout the day, including performances by

Laguna Beach’s community theater (No Square Theatre) singers and

singer/guitarist George Lawton.

Information: 833-8500 or visit www.icfestival.com.

CAP MURAL DEDICATION

Thursday night Community Art Project (CAP) unveiled a new mural with a

dedication by Councilwoman Toni Iseman. Uri Kuznetsov created the

original piece “Adventure” for CAP.

“Adventure is a piece that makes you smile,” said board member Connie

Butz. “That’s the whole idea.”

Support for CAP has been positive and strong, said Sawdust Festival

media relations coordinator Rebecca Meekma.

“We’re really pleased we were able to move forward with this project

so quickly,” Meekma said. “The support of the City and business owners

has been overwhelmingly positive.”

The mural is located behind Latitude 33 bookstore on Ocean Avenue.

Following the dedication, Elena Zass Gallery hosted a reception for

Kuznetsov. His work has been featured at the gallery.

[SEVEN-DEGREES] OF STYLE

Jacques L. Garnier and Douglas McCulloh’s “CAMERASKYOCEANLIGHT”

exhibit will begin May 18 and is something not to be missed.

These innovative artists captured the essence of Laguna Beach and

beach life with a creative photographic essay.

The artists set up their shoot on Main Beach and had people lined up,

volunteering to have their picture taken to be part of the exhibition. It

reflects the community’s different personalities no matter the age.

[seven-degrees] is at 891 Laguna Canyon Road.

Information: 376-1555 or www.sevendegrees.com.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Meekma wanted to make sure that event coordinator Lynne Powell got due

credit for the Sawdust Art Festival Art Walk Studio Tour.

“It’s important to note that Lynne was 100% responsible for the art

walk,” Meekma said. “It was her organized skills that kept the day

flowing without any problems.”

I had quoted her for an earlier story on the art walk -- she wanted to

make sure not to take all the credit.