Party for marine mammals

EYE ON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Every week I get quite a few calls from local artists or people

drop by the Coastline Pilot office and suggest that I do a story on

them.

Believe me it’s hard to decide what we are going to run each week.

There are so many amazing artists, accomplishments, gallery openings,

artist receptions and events that it would be nice to write stories

about everything. But we can’t or it would be one big happenings

section with no room for other news like City Council meetings or the

Laguna Canyon Conservancy’s next meeting. Luckily we have the

Datebook to get most everything in.

As the weeks go by, know that I diligently try to make the

newspaper all about the arts -- well, most of it anyway.

Masquerade fund-raising party Saturday night

The Friends of the Sea Lion is having a party -- actually it’s

called the Marine Mammal Masquerade and it’s the group’s fund-raiser

with a Halloween party flair. The event is from 6 to 10:30 p.m.

tomorrow at Richard MacDonald Gallery, 326 Glenneyre St.

The benefit gala will have hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, a dinner,

buffet music and a silent auction. Folks at the center promised it

will be a lot of fun while helping the much in need sea lions.

Seventy percent of the center’s operating expenses come from this

event. Because of last year’s horrible toxic illness that affected

the intake of marine mammals greatly -- it had 300 or double the

usual amount of sick animals to care for -- anything will help.

The proceeds also go toward youth programs.

You’re invited to wear a mask, or wear what you will, but the

important thing is to have fun.

Tickets are $45 per person for more information call Michele

Hunter or Patty Humphreys-Waters at 494-3050.

Community Art Project offers a fun tour Sunday

Community Art Project is sponsoring a tour of Laguna Beach artist

James Koch’s home and sculpture garden from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

“The gregarious Koch will be on hand to discuss his found-object

sculptures, his home and garden,” Rebecca Meekma of Community Art

Project said. “The 1927 architecturally eclectic home and its grounds

highlight James’ imaginative work.”

The event is open to Community Art Project members. A one-year

membership is $25 and memberships will be available Sunday.

Community Art Project sponsors art-related activities and the

primary goal is placing artwork for public enjoyment on privately

owned properties. They endeavors include sculptures at Bank of

America and Wells Fargo Bank and also a mural boarding the Pepper

Tree parking lot on Ocean Avenue. For information, please call

497-9806.

Laguna College of Art and Design’s latest exhibit

“Unconventional Views -- New Concepts in Still Life Paintings” a

new exhibit at Laguna College of Art & Design, will Begin Nov. 1 and

show through Dec. 15, with an artist reception from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Nov. 7.

The school has been exhibiting mostly abstract art the last few

decades and will highlight an exhibit that features art that depicts

nature.

Laguna College of Art and Design is at 2222 Laguna Canyon Road.

Information: 376-6000.

Laguna Beach Artist Wins First Place

Laguna artist Micha von Doring received first place in the mixed

media category at last weekend’s exhibit, Affaire, in the Gardens in

Beverly Hills.

“I’m best known for my sculpture creations in wood,” von Doring

said. “My feature piece called Sacred Space, my meditation sculpture

called Midoism, as well as my altar tables were all received

favorably.”

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321 or suzie.harrison@latimes.com.