Eye on arts and entertainment

Suzie Harrison

It’s finally here: summer!

‘Tis the season of art, art and more art here in Laguna. There’s no

more familiar sign of it than the traffic that’s beginning to beg its way

into town for the masses to explore what’s going on in our eclectic

realm.

Applause, cheers and congratulations to the Art’s Commission

It was announced at the City Council meeting this week that the

current arts commissioners will serve again. They are Nancy Beverage,

Joan Corman, Linda Dietrich, Pat Kollenda, Jan Sattler, Mike Tauber, Les

Thomas and alternate Dora Wexell.

The commission has been doing such an outstanding job for our city by

adding art in public places and really putting in a lot of work to make

these projects happen.

It will be wonderful for the commission to work together on the

projects that are already in the works, as well as future endeavors. They

have been doing an incredible job, congratulations and thanks.

Early Pageant and Festival preview

Now through June 30, the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters

will be holding court at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa for a sneak peek

at the world-renowned shows and what’s in store for this summer’s

excitement.

The display is taking place at Jewel Court, where there will be

Pageant of the Masters costumes and props and also some art pieces by

festival artists including Anne England, Brenda Brevik, Gavin Heath,

David Brunetta, Miriam Shelton, Randy Bader, David Speck, Julita Jones,

Bruce Rasner, Jacquie Moffett, Fred Stodder, Scott Young, Walter Reiss,

Ray Friesz, Michael Obermeyer, Mark Kerckhoff, Shelly Rapp Evans and

Patrick Kelly.

The Festival will also present artist demonstrations from 1:30 to 3:30

p.m. every Saturday.

“We thank South Coast Plaza for providing us with this opportunity for

supporting this satellite exhibit,” said Scott Moore, festival board

president.

Mike Tauber Laguna artist and designer coordinated the installation of

the special exhibition.

Also, to celebrate the festival’s 70th anniversary, there will be

special events later this summer. The festival will begin July 4 and the

pageant opens July 7.

For general information, please call 494-1145. For further information

or to purchase tickets, call (800) 487-3378 or stop by the box office at

the Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

Artist reception and open house at Gallery McCollum

Tomorrow night from 5 to 9 p.m., Gallery McCollum, at 206 North Coast

Highway, will host an artist reception for Patrick Tobin and his latest

work “Ranch to Ralphs.”

“Patrick has been showing in Laguna for about 30 years,” said Nancy

McCollum. “The theme ‘Ranch to Ralphs’ is of landscapes and surf spots

from Santa Barbara to San Diego. It’s a really unique and nice

collection.”

An original painting by Tobin will be raffled and all of the proceeds

will be donated to the Surfrider Foundation.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Christopher Arpad, playing

steel drums. The gallery will also be serving drinks.

Tickets for the raffle are $10 a piece and can be purchased today or

tomorrow at the the show or in advance by calling the gallery at 497-4027

or by e-mail to o7 Karen@gallerymccollum.comf7 .

Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Gallery McCollum will be hosting an open

house.

Students enter the art scene

Students who attend Laguna College of Art & Design, formerly the Art

Institute of Southern California, will host an exhibit at Gallery 821,

which is aptly located at 821 Laguna Canyon Road.

Gallery 821 provides an off-campus exhibition center for the college,

where students will exhibit paintings, sculptures, drawings and animation

cells.

“All the work is created by the highly talented students from Laguna

College of Art & Design, continuing Laguna’s extraordinary legacy in the

visual arts,” said Caroline Butler, marketing manager.

The exhibit will open July 4. Gallery 821 is in Festival Center,

located between the Sawdust Art Festival and Art-a-Fair.