Surfers were out in style

OUR LAGUNA

There were more flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts at the Laguna Art

Museum Saturday night than on the shelves at Hobie.

Surfer-casual was the dress code for the gala opening of “Surf

Culture -- The Art History of Surfing.”

“I swear that’s the same jacket that my prom date wore,” said

museum volunteer Marsha Daniels when she spotted Randy Hild, senior

vice president of marketing for Quiksilver Inc., makers of clothing,

accessories and related items for active people.

Quiksilver is a major sponsor of the show.

“It was a natural, organic partnership,” said Andrea Feldberg,

Quiksilver public relations manager.

“Randy and Steve Jones, Quiksilver’s vice president of visuals,

both live in Laguna Beach and both are members of the museum.

They are avid collectors of vintage surf art and supporters of the

arts,”

Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight, who hosted an opening night party at

Royal Hawaiian, lives in Emerald Bay.

The show was conceived in tandem with LAM’s “Kustom Kulture,”

exhibition in 1993, which exalted custom-crafted and painted vehicles

to the status of art. Cars and surfing create the subtext of Southern

California life.

Exhibits include art by surfers, artifacts of the surfing culture,

and surfing movies. Even the gift shop got into the act, featuring

books such as “Surfing” by Nancy Schiffer in cooperation with the San

Francisco Airport Museums, “Hula Girls and Surfer Boys” and “Surf’s

Up” by Mark Blackburn, “Girl in the Curl” by Andrea Gabbard and “The

Hawaiian Shirt” by H. Thomas Steele.

Store Manager Susan Tucker also stocked up on flip-flop magnets,

pooka shell necklaces we haven’t seen since the 1960s and miniature

“woodies,” the venerated wood-side vehicle of choice to transport

surfboards and surfers to the beaches.

“I bought all this last January,” Tucker said.

Daughter Caroline, a Laguna Beach High School graduate, helped out

behind the counter Saturday night.

Exhibited artists Sandow Birk, whose revision of “Washington

Crossing the Delaware” replaced the general with a surfer, Laguna’s

Ken Auster and Kevin Ancell attended the opening.

Ancell’s “Aloha Oa” is a far cry from the happy-go-lucky surfer

dude image. And cry is the operative word. His brilliantly modeled

Hula Girl mannequins are so lifelike you can see the pores in the

“skin” on the beautiful, undulating bodies, but their battered faces

and shattered limbs bring tears to your eyes. Their blackened eyes

make you cringe. The vacant stares and the weapons clutched in some

of the hands make you shiver.

“They are disconcerting,” said Alita Connor. “They all had bad

vibes.”

More than 1,000 guests were expected to attend the opening.

Invitations included an advisory that entry to the museum might be

delayed due to the number of guests expected.

“We anticipated it, but it is overwhelming,” said Bibe Stockman,

museum special events chair.

“It was unusual, but we actually started at 3 p.m. with a

reception for the underwriters.”

The members’ reception began at 6 p.m. and people were still

pouring in at 8:25 p.m.

Lynne Biscieglia and George Woods tucked themselves behind a table

where they could observe the art and sip their drinks without being

jostled.

Laguna Beach historian Anne Frank arrived wearing a lei, presented

to her by a passerby.

“We’re here so we can tell our son, Ben, about it,” said Dick

Frank. “He’s in Maui, waiting for the surf.”

The show brought back memories to artist Patricia Turnier of the

1960s at the Oak Street Beach.

Ditto, Patricia Whiteside Phillips.

“My mom, who is 96 and still lives in Laguna Beach, and I used to

go to Oak Street to watch the surfers,” Phillips said.

She ditched a night at her booth at the Festival of Arts to

volunteer her services for the opening.

Her daughter, Katie, a Laguna Beach High School graduate, in town

on a vacation from her job in public broadcasting for Humbolt (not

sure of spelling) State University, also attended the opening.

“Katie is looking for Corky Smith to teach her to surf,” Pat said.

Other volunteers included Zahide and Harry Lawrence, owner of

Warren Imports; Norma Young, a museum volunteer for 10 years; Lew and

Joan Hansen, museum members since 1974; and Mary E. Horton, a member

for seven years and a Laguna Beach resident since 1967. Gracie Boyd

was the museum’s poster girl, handing out free posters to the crowd.

Board members Kathy Conway and Bonnie MacMillan also were on hand.

“It’s a great show,” said photographer/artist Tom Swimm, who had

just returned from a trip to the Amazon.

The show will run through Oct. 6.

“We expect it to bring in a lot of young people,” said Museum

Director Bolton Colburn.

Bolton will participate Saturday in a lecture at 11 a.m. on

“Perspectives of the Surf Culture.”

He knows whereof he speaks on the art and the activity. Bolton was

a champion amateur surfer in his youth, raised by parents who were

both artists, leading to his interest in California-art and the

museum directorship.

The show is truly a cross-cultural event, companioned by a lecture

series, films, a concert and other events Some are free.

“It’s more than an exhibit, it’s a summer-long series of events,”

said museum public relations director Stuart Byer.

For information about all events, visit Web site www.lagunaart

museum.org or call (949) 494-8971.

ALL BOOKED UP

We’re in the height of the tourist season, but community

organizations that rely on local patronage for volunteers and

donations know its time to start preparing for the fall

The Friends of the Laguna Beach Library recently secured author T.

Jefferson Parker as the guest speaker for the annual membership

meeting Oct. 24. Parker is a former Laguna Beach resident.

He began his career as an author here while supporting himself as

a crime reporter.

His most recent thriller is “Black Water.” His first book was

“Laguna Heat,” set here and later filmed here for television. Parker

followed that with “Little Saigon,” “Pacific Beat,” “Summer of Fear,”

“The Triggerman’s Dance,” “Where Serpents Lie,” “The Blue Hour,” “Red

Light” and “Silent Joe.”

The election of new -- well, really not all that many new --

directors and officers will be held at the meeting.

The 2002-03 slate has repeaters Martha Lydick for president; Diane

Lichterman, vice president; Angela Irish, secretary; Diane Connell,

treasurer; Sherwood Kiraly, Beverly and Bob Mosier, and Judy Jameson

Trulock, directors.

Nancy and Howard Pink, Sue Cohen and Debra Rabben also have been

nominated as directors; Magda Herliscka as Book Shop Liaison.

The Friends raise funds for the library through the sale of books

donated to the bookshop they operate next door to the Chamber of

Commerce, under the library.

The shop is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and

until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, or 7 p.m., if busy.

Volunteers for the bookshop are always needed, but there is no

pressure.

Dues-paying members who just want to support the library are also

welcomed. The dinner is a great way to meet members.

Individual memberships are $5 a year.

“We’re the biggest bargain in town,” said Lydick. “Be as active or

inactive as you want.”

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

call 494-4321 or fax 494-8979.